House of Commons Hansard #29 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was gst.

Topics

Candu ReactorsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Quebec.

Candu ReactorsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to this same cabinet document, the government intends to break the law in the name of international competitiveness.

Is this because Canadian environmental laws are no good or is it simply that the government is irresponsible and prepared to do anything to sell its last CANDU reactors?

Candu ReactorsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, if I understood the question correctly, it was whether the government is being irresponsible. The answer is no.

The SenateOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the prime minister angrily dismissed the idea of letting Albertans elect their own senator. In doing so he stuck his finger in the eyes of Alberta's premier, Alberta's Liberal leader, the legislature and the people of the province.

As a diversion he pointed to the Charlottetown accord but, as the justice minister will know, there is nothing in the current Canadian Constitution which prevents the government from appointing the winner of a provincial Senate election to the Senate.

What possible legal and constitutional reason does the government have—

The SenateOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

The SenateOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the position of the Constitution is very clear. Appointments to the Senate are made by the Government of Canada via the prime minister. We intend to abide by the Constitution.

Before in question period Reform Party members were talking about obeying the law. Why do they not want us to obey the law when it comes to the Canadian Constitution?

The SenateOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister knows better than that. There is nothing in the law that prevents the Government of Canada from appointing to the Senate someone who has been elected provincially.

Albertans are sick and tired. They have made this clear numerous times. They do not want unelected, unaccountable senators having anything to do with passing laws or spending money.

When is democracy, not patronage, going to govern appointments to the Canadian Senate?

The SenateOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I wonder why the leader of the Reform Party is rejecting the very process which led to his own father's serving here for so many years.

If the leader of the Reform Party wants to have senators who are accountable, why does he propose a system for which there is no re-election after someone is first elected?

Vcn Marine RadioOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Bernier Bloc Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for the Coast Guard.

The future of the Magdalen Islands marine radio station is still unclear. About ten days ago, the parliamentary secretary announced that it would be moved to Rivière-au-Renard and this week, departmental officials are meeting with the employees to talk about their relocation.

Can the minister give us the assurance that before taking a final decision, he will review the warnings I gave him about the breakdowns that would create huge security problems in the Gulf of St. Lawrence?

Vcn Marine RadioOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of Oral Question Period, the hon. member handed me an envelope. Apparently, this envelope contains some information about the Coast Guard radio station in Cap-aux-Meules.

Of course, before giving him an answer, I would like to carefully read the information he has given me. Then, I will be able to make a decision in light of his information.

Vcn Marine RadioOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Bernier Bloc Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to give the minister a reminder, as he already received a copy and discussed the issue with me.

If I understand correctly, the minister just told us a few moments ago that he has yet to make a final decision. He intends to take our arguments into account.

Why is the minister wasting $75,000 to relocate these employees, when he is not sure yet if these people will have to move or not?

Vcn Marine RadioOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, I just received an envelope that contains a letter from the hon. member. If he wants me to provide him with a straight answer, to tell him if the Cap-aux-Meules station stays or goes, then I would prefer to review the information he just handed me. I have not had the opportunity yet to look at it and I would like to do so out of courtesy for the hon. member.

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Diane Ablonczy Reform Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's new CPP fund is already in trouble. It turns out its 10 year value will be $41 billion less than the figure he gave us just two months ago. It makes one wonder how shaky his other predictions are.

Will the minister tell us how much premiums will have to increase to cover his $41 billion mistake?

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, there is no change in the premiums. The hon. member ought to know that actuarial assumptions, economic projections, are updated. It is simply a question of projections and indeed there will be changes in those projections next year. It all depends on what one assumes for interest rates, for mortality and growth.

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Diane Ablonczy Reform Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately this is just the latest example that the minister cannot do his math when it comes to the Canada pension plan. It took only two months before his CPP fund figures were wrong by a whopping $41 billion. Here is the chance for him to get it right. Will he give Canadians his best estimate about how long it will be before he hikes their CPP premiums over 9.9%?

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the federal finance minister and the provincial finance ministers very clearly stated at the time it was set up, and I will repeat it now, that there will not be an increase in the premiums beyond 9.9%.

I will now ask if the Reform Party will admit to the Canadian people that it is prepared to renege on the $600 billion liability to Canadians who are currently contributing to the plan.

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Réjean Lefebvre Bloc Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour.

Yesterday, Marc Gravel, the conciliation commissioner in the postal dispute, tabled his conciliation report. We understand that it will be eight or ten days before both parties receive the report.

Is the minister aware that any delay in making the report public will increase tensions at Canada Post and the likelihood of a postal strike before Christmas?

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Labour

Mr. Speaker, I have received the conciliation commissioner's report. It is my responsibility under the Canada Labour Code to have the report translated and then released to both parties. Over the last 10 years or so it has taken on average nine days to evaluate, translate and release these reports. This is a short report and I would expect that it would be released sooner than that.

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Lynn Myers Liberal Waterloo—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, an experimental index of social health developed by Human Resources Development Canada suggests there is a growing gap between the health of the economy and the well-being of Canadians.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Does he concur with the findings in the report, and if so, what does he suggest be done to narrow the gap?

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his very important question.

The government has a very important role to play to level the playing field between the economic health and the social health of this country.

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister and with the hard work of the finance minister our fiscal house is in order. That allows us to have surpluses in the country which we will be investing toward children, in the national child benefit, toward programs for persons with disabilities and toward the aboriginal head start program in order to have a better society.

Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC

Mr. Speaker, recently we stood in this House and honoured the men and women of the junior ranks in the Canadian Armed Forces for their outstanding performance during the Manitoba flood. They did not get a pay raise. In contrast, Canadians are shocked to learn today that tainted colonels and generals in the Canadian Armed Forces have received so-called performance bonuses.

Can the minister explain how people the likes of Vanier, Roy, Boyle, Murray and Labbé have received performance bonuses while our troops have received nothing?

Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, again the research from the Reform Party is not very good. It was over a year ago that this performance pay was allowed. It was allowed in accordance with a Treasury Board decision. It reinstated performance pay for people at executive levels throughout the public service and included the RCMP and the Canadian forces.

I cannot comment specifically on who got it and who did not get it because that is not in accordance with the Privacy Act. Individuals within the forces as within all the public service have a right to privacy in this case.

Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is fun to get up to do a few rounds with the latest Minister of National Defence. What he is saying is 100% pure balderdash. The minister knows that some of the most infamous senior brass in the military not only qualified for but pocketed that performance bonus, people like Murray, Boyle, Labbé, all cited in the Somalia commission report for lacking leadership capabilities.

How can the minister stand in this House in front of Canadians and justify performance bonuses for these people?

Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member cannot assume who got it and who did not get it. He does not know. He is guessing.

It is in accordance with a general provision for people in the public service. It was also provided for the people in the Canadian forces. I might add that in terms of the rank and file, there have been two increases to close the gap between public service and Canadian forces personnel this year, one on April 1 and one on October 1. We are also working on another economic increase which will certainly give the rank and file of the Canadian forces a very deserved increase in pay.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the minister of defence. In paying $474 million to cancel the EH-101 in 1993, the Prime Minister said that it was a Cadillac when we needed a Chev. This government is on the verge of reversing itself when it announces the decision to purchase the Cormoran which is the kissing cousin to the EH-101 and if not a Cadillac certainly is a very heavy Chevy.

When the minister makes this announcement next week, what assurances will he give the public that the Cormoran is the top value for money helicopter for our search and rescue team?