House of Commons Hansard #42 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, there was a meeting of concerned citizens yesterday in Ottawa to discuss the future of TFO, the French educational network of TV Ontario, where there was strong opposition to its privatisation.
Can the heritage minister reassure us as to the type of support TFO can count on from her department?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I would like first of all to congratulate the member who has always shown great interest in the development of francophone communities across Canada.
I can assure him that we are working with our counterparts so that this TFO can continue to serve the public and, second, so that Télévision française de l'Ontario, which has already started to broadcast in New Brunswick, can broadcast in the province of Quebec and in all of Canada, so as to increase French programming for children and for everyone.
Lee Morrison Reform Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have a Christmas inspired question for the grinches over there.
Why is the Minister of Transport letting his bureaucrats run amok with reregulation of the air charter industry so that thousands of Canadians planning Christmas travel will have to pay hundreds of dollars more for their flights or stay home?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the government is not in the process of reregulating the air charter industry.
What is happening is quite normal. The Canadian Transportation Agency reviews periodically all the regulations. It has solicited public reaction to a certain set of proposed regulations. Those are now available for comment by the general public. Then they are presented to me as minister. No regulatory change will be made without a cabinet decision.
I would ask the hon. member not to believe everything he reads in the newspapers.
Lee Morrison Reform Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. minister that I do not get my information only from the newspapers. He can expect at least one lump of coal in his stocking come Christmas.
Last minute discount bookings on charter flights have become big business because they respond to consumer demand. Now the Liberals with their pathological hatred for the free market want to kill it.
Why does the minister want to restrict overseas travel to well heeled Canadians?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary. What the CTA regulations intend to do is further liberalize the air charter industry.
In any event, this shows the process works, because the CTA has gazetted its proposed regulations, inviting public comment. The hon. member and others are giving that comment. That gives an informed debate to a very interesting and important issue.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
The auditor general's report on the sustainability of the Pacific salmon resource base points to habitat destruction as a key factor contributing to the lower numbers of chinook and coho salmon returning to spawn in B.C. waters.
He claims the DFO has neglected its responsibility to monitor and review its policies for habitat conservation.
Will the minister inform the House why, despite warnings from an internal DFO audit in 1994, the government has failed to ever monitor and review its own habitat policy?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, we have an active habitat policy in British Columbia. One of the problems, however, is the provincial government is responsible for agriculture, mining, forestry, urban development and highway construction.
In the last 6 years we have had 13 charges and 7 cases against the provincial government.
I hope the hon. member will talk to his friends in the provincial Government of British Columbia so that we can truly have co-operation to protect the habitat of Pacific salmon in British Columbia.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general placed the blame squarely on the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
B.C. fishers face Alaskan government threats in their legal action to seize their fish boats and effectively to destroy their livelihoods.
What specific action is he taking with respect to this very serious threat by the Alaskan government that would in effect destroy the livelihoods of B.C. fishers and will he join in the counter-suit of B.C. fishers against the illegal theft of salmon by the Alaskans?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's reference to illegal theft is interesting. The overkill that he uses in this issue is demonstrated by that comment.
I would point out to him that we are doing whatever we can to get an agreement with the Americans, both Alaskans and those in Washington state, to make sure that the Pacific salmon fishery is managed in the interests of the fishermen of both nations.
With reference to the specific case of the fishermen who took part in the blockade in Prince Rupert, that comes under the normal process of the Canadian courts, under Canadian judges, under Canadian law—
FisheriesOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, in the early morning hours of May 9, 1992 a violent explosion ripped through the Westray mine in Plymouth, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, killing 26 men underground.
Yesterday Mr. Justice Peter Richard released his public inquiry report into the Westray disaster. The report recommended that “the Government of Canada, through the Department of Justice, should institute a study of the accountability of corporate executives and directors for the wrongful or negligent acts of the corporation and should introduce in the Parliament of Canada such amendments to legislation as are necessary to ensure that corporate executives and directors are held accountable”.
Will the Minister of Justice tell us if she is going to act—
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises the very important issue of the tremendous tragedy which took place at the Westray mine.
We received the final report of Mr. Justice Richard yesterday. My officials are reviewing that report. We will be reviewing that report in conjunction with other interested departments, including the departments of industry, HRD and others.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the Minister of Labour.
Recommendation 64 of the same report calls on the province of Nova Scotia to enter into an agreement with the federal Department of Labour and transfer responsibility for underground coal mining and inspection from Nova Scotia to the federal government. It also calls for the Nova Scotian government to update the federal government on drafting regulations.
Is the Minister of Labour prepared to enter into this slippery slope of downloading federal responsibilities to the provinces?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the Minister of Labour and the Department of Labour are concerned about health and safety issues across Canada in the mining industry.
Reg Alcock Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, last week the prime minister announced a new bilateral agreement with China.
Winport Logistics of Winnipeg is teamed with Kelowna Flightcraft and is ready to enter this new market now. Can the Minister of Transport tell us what he is doing to ensure that Canadian companies can take advantage of this new agreement?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, we are indeed very pleased about this agreement because it does give new opportunities to the airline cargo industries in both countries.
Prior to the negotiations with China I instructed my officials to develop guidelines for application in Canada. Once I have those guidelines I will immediately move on designating an air carrier to handle the cargo trade with China.
Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, the job of the auditor general is to drag skeletons out of the closet and there is one right here. A consultant's report prepared by a first nations reserve in Ontario estimated the cost of repairing a water treatment plant at $26,000. When the Canadian taxpayers got the bill it was for $2.3 million.
Given that the final cost of this project is about 100 times the original estimate, my question to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is why did she go to the expense of replacement rather than sticking with the original plans which were adequate for the purposes?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, in the case in point, the community is located by a river which has mine activity to the north of it. The river has aluminium in the water and the first nation had decided it would not accept water from that source.
As a result, and I think fairly so, the community, for the safety and security of its people, decided that it needed a new water source. Indeed we worked with them to find an alternate source.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
With the Atlantic groundfish strategy soon coming to an end, a parliamentary committee is currently gathering information on ways to follow up on the program, which over 20,000 people depend on. Meanwhile, we learn that Department of Human Resources Development officials are preparing to handle a major social crisis in anticipation of the end of the program.
Would the minister tell us whether current consultations will lead to follow-up measures or whether this is a first class burial that will leave people with nothing come next spring?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, we are following the situation very closely.
We are certainly getting ready for the end of TAGS. I have already spoken out against what is being claimed as our policy regarding training for our officers. It is absolutely not the case.
I have made it very clear that one of our officials is preparing a very detailed report. The parliamentary committee also went on location to consider the post-TAGS situation in various communities and provinces. We will assume our responsibilities as a government.
Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS
Mr. Speaker, 26 miners lost their lives in the Westray mine disaster and I know all members of this House recognize the suffering of the families and communities involved.
Will this government immediately follow up on the recommendation of Westray inquiry chair Justice Peter Richard that the Government of Canada should institute a study of the accountability of corporate executives and directors for the wrongful or negligent acts of the corporation and should introduce amendments to legislation to ensure that corporate executives and directors are held properly accountable for workplace safety?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I advise the member that an extensive review of the Canada Business Corporations Act, including responsibilities of officers and directors, has been ongoing now for a period of time.
I think the comments of the Westray inquiry yesterday will be important contributions to the overall review of the act. We are anticipating extensive reform of the act. I will take into consideration all recommendations at that time.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade. First I want him to know that I am also a passionate person, particularly when it comes to Canada's sugar export quotas to the U.S., which have been reduced from 35,000 to 10,000 tonnes due to the 1995 WTO. Lantic Sugar refineries in Saint John and in Montreal are suffering because of this.
Will the minister inform this House regarding what steps he will take at the next WTO negotiations to restore Canadian sugar exports to the U.S.?