Debates of Dec. 10th, 1997

Canadian Labour Relations Board

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the report of the auditor general has prompted the Minister of Labour to initiate dismissal action against the chairman of the Canadian Labour Relations Board.

Given that members are routinely given severance packages at the end of their terms, will this minister tell Canadians how much the golden handshake to Ted Weatherill is expected to cost?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the House previously, there are a number of legal steps required in this process and I will have no further comment.

Status Of Women

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the budgets allocated to the advancement of women by the Government of Canada have been drastically reduced and do not allow the kind of effective action required to make any significant progress.

Could the Secretary of State responsible for the Status of Women give us a real answer for the sake of all women? Will she accede to the request made to her by women's groups in Quebec and Canada, which are asking for increased funding?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. The finance minister has looked at the issue because we are doing gender based analysis across the board on finance issues and on social issues.

We recognize that as we move forward assistance for women does not come only from the program of the secretary of state but from every single department within the federal government.

Iraq

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Last month UNICEF reported that nearly one million Iraqi children are suffering from chronic malnutrition and thousands have died of hunger and shortage of medical supplies as a result of the impact of UN sanctions.

What action is our government taking to respond to this humanitarian crisis? Will the minister on this international human rights day urge the UN security council to lift sanctions and stop punishing innocent Iraqi children for the deeds of their leaders?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the security council has once again confirmed the activity of resolution 986 which allows the Iraqi government to trade oil for foodstuffs and other humanitarian services for women and children.

Frankly, the problem in Iraq is Saddam Hussein, who refuses to deal properly, who does not want to deal under that program of exchange. If he wanted to get money to women and children, he could do so rather than expanding on biological weapons or his military base.

Transfer Payments

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

In its report on children released yesterday, the Canadian Council on Social Development sends a serious warning to the government and clearly shows that cuts in provincial transfers have a detrimental effect on our children. This impact can be felt not only among poor children but also among middle-class children. I should remind him that one child out of every five lives in poverty.

Does this government intend to change the way provincial transfers for health and social services are made so that our children can have a chance to achieve their full potential?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Shefford for her question.

I must tell her that we have already raised by $1.5 billion the cash floor of the provincial transfers. This means that, instead of going down to $11 billion, cash transfers will remain at $12.5 billion.

We also made a commitment to help low income families with children by spending an initial $850 million starting July 1, 1998, and an additional $850 million during that mandate.

In last year's budget, my colleague, the Hon. Minister of Finance, allocated $100 million to the Minister of Health for the Community Action Plan for Children, which we are implementing in partnership with the provinces. I would say we are off to a good start—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan.

Infrastructure

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON]

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

Recently a funding agreement for the improvement of the Trans-Canada highway was announced between the federal government and its counterpart in New Brunswick. Can the minister tell this House what progress is being made with the province of Ontario for the national Trans-Canada Highway agreement?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there has been federal assistance for highways going back to 1919. In fact, we have about $2.3 billion in programs now entrained which will last until 2003. In the case of Ontario, I believe about $213 million is in the current program, which will expire next year.

The availability of funds is always a key question and obviously the hon. member knows that we have been trying to balance the financial books of the government. When the finances are in order, I hope that the government will be able to spend once again on highway construction beyond the present agreements.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, that would bring to a close our question period.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in our gallery of the Hon. Charles Furey, Minister of Mines and Energy for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, I have notice of a question of privilege from the hon. member for Thunder Bay.

Privilege

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question of privilege relates to the rights and privileges that are imposed on me as co-chair of an interparliamentary group and involves a change in the structure of that committee made by one of your officials.

Neither the co-chair nor I were informed or consulted until after the fact. In fact, the change came during the 38th annual meeting on which I subsequently reported to the House.

The executive committee met in October and unanimously agreed that the co-chairs should meet with you to discuss this issue. We proceeded to meet with you, Mr. Speaker, and we thought we had arrived at an arrangement which was satisfactory to the executive committee and satisfactory to you, Mr. Speaker, and your officials.

Unfortunately, the arrangements arrived at have not been implemented to this date. It only makes sense that committee chairs have the right to be consulted on these matters. It affects the performance of the duties and obligations of members of Parliament as they report through you, Mr. Speaker, to the House.

A similar situation arose in another committee and that situation was satisfactorily resolved between you and your officials. You know that we have proposed a satisfactory resolution to this situation.

[The Speaker]

My dear colleague, as you say in your preamble, we have had discussions about this particular matter. I am trying to find how this is attached to privilege of the House. I view this as an administrative matter.

I was under the impression that this had been resolved.

I invite my hon. colleague to have further discussions with me. I do not think this is a question of privilege but it is an administrative matter. I will do everything I can to accommodate the committee in question and the hon. member.

From the member's point of view, could he identify precisely which privilege is being infringed upon?

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I was just coming to that point. As early as this morning in an attempt to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion, we were advised by your official that it is not required to discuss these issues with the member of Parliament or the committee's co-chairs.

Mr. Speaker, you must agree with me that if a member of Parliament is to fulfil his duties to his electorate and to this House, there must be a smooth transition, there must be co-operation between the member and the Speaker. We feel those privileges have been denied and as a result—

[The Speaker]

I thank the hon. member for his consent to further discussion on this. I will be happy to see you at any time you would like to see me. For the time being this would not be a question of privilege.

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to this opportunity, since the chairman of the Canada—United States committee has spoken and since I am the deputy chairman of that committee—

[The Speaker]

Dear colleague, as I said to the member sitting on the other side, this is an administrative issue. I will look into it and I hope we can discuss it, but it is not a question of privilege.

Technology Partnerships Canada

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Technology Partnerships Canada annual report for 1996-97 entitled “Investing in Jobs and Growth”.

Government Response To Petitions

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to eight petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the selection of votable items in accordance with Standing Order 92.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the associate membership of the liaison committee.

With leave of the House, I intend to move later this day that the 17th report be concurred in.

[Shaughnessy Cohen, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three reports to present. The first report which I have the honour to present, in both official languages, is the third report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, November 18, 1997, your committee has considered Bill C-18, an act to amend the Customs Act and the Criminal Code, and your committee has agreed to report it without amendment.

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pursuant to the order of reference of Thursday, October 30, 1997, your committee has considered the draft regulations on firearms and your committee has agreed to report it with recommendations.

Finally, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, November 3, 1997, your committee has considered Bill C-12, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act and your committee has agreed to report it without amendment.

I would like to say that the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has worked very hard this term and I want to thank all members of the committee for their co-operation and their assistance in what was a very difficult workload.