House of Commons Hansard #45 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was ports.

Topics

Calgary DeclarationOral Question Period

11:20 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Order, please. The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

Millenium FundOral Question Period

11:20 a.m.

Bloc

Stéphan Tremblay Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, here is further evience of the great reform brought about by renewed federalism. This morning, we learned that the government was about to increase the millennium fund from one to three billion dollars. Three billion dollars in new duplication, another flagrant violation of Quebec's jurisdiction and another example of inefficiency.

Can the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs make the commitment that he will give Quebec its fair share of the three billion dollars, as the federal government has always done over the past 30 years with the student loans program?

Millenium FundOral Question Period

11:20 a.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we have to wonder why the Bloc Quebecois is opposed to the improvement of the level of education of all Canadians, including Quebeckers.

Millenium FundOral Question Period

11:20 a.m.

Bloc

Stéphan Tremblay Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, not even Mr. Trudeau would have wanted to interfere in areas under provincial jurisdiction. I wonder what throne speeches are for, because in 1996 the government said it would offer opting out provisions to the provinces if it interfered in their jurisdiction.

Is the minister refusing to tell us right now if, yes or no, the federal government will give to the Government of Quebec its fair share of the millennium fund, since the Government of Quebec, on its part, has already made known its intention to use this right?

Millenium FundOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the millennium fund is not interference in Quebec's jurisdiction. It is based on the same principle as the grants givenb by the Medical Research Council.

The Government of Quebec was never opposed to such grants and, again, I wonder why the Bloc Quebecois is opposed to improving the level of education of Quebeckers and of all Canadians.

BanksOral Question Period

December 5th, 1997 / 11:25 a.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK

My question is for the Minister of Industry, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday in the House in response to the bank profits going up by $7.4 billion, the minister in his generosity announced that there would be a calculator on the website so people can shop around for lower bank service charges.

My question for him this morning is very simple. How is this calculator on the website going to help the millions of Canadians who are living in poverty in this country?

BanksOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the hon. member is a little bit confused about the value of competition in our society.

He expresses concern about bank service charges. What does he want to do in his usual socialist way? He wants to intervene. He wants to nationalize the banks. I guess an NDP run bank would have lower service charges. I do not know.

I think competition is the way to drive down service charges. We are making sure that Canadians can easily and directly compare all the offerings that are there in banks so that they can find the ones that provide the best and cheapest service for them. That is how to drive down service charges.

BanksOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK

What a stupid answer, Mr. Speaker.

BanksOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

I know that hon. members on both sides would not want to get into accusations as to whether a question or an answer is less than intelligent. I think the hon. member knows that and he would want to respect the rules of the House in that regard and avoid that kind of language.

BanksOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, if low income people in this country are having trouble paying $8, or $9 or $12 service charges in a bank, can the minister please explain to us how they can afford a computer and how can they afford Internet fees of about $15 or $20 a month so they can shop around for lower bank service charges? How can they afford this if they cannot afford those services charges in the first place?

Could he please answer the question?

BanksOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I think this member is hopelessly confused about the variety of issues that he is trying to put on the table here.

In fact, I am sure if he is really concerned about those issues he will support the government's agenda to make Canada the most connected nation in the world. He will support the idea of making connectedness available in every rural, remote community in Canada by the end of next year. He will support the idea of ensuring that access to the information highway is available at the cheapest rates possible to all Canadians.

This is part of obtaining the kinds of information that are vital to every Canadian of whatever income class to function in the new economy.

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Matthews Progressive Conservative Burin—St. George's, NL

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Thousands of Atlantic Canadian fishermen and fish plant workers are unemployed because they have no fish to catch or process. Can the minister confirm for the House that the foreign nations of Japan, Russia, France, Cuba and the Faroe Islands presently have fish quotas inside of our 200 mile limit given by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans?

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct in saying that we have serious problems on the east coast.

We have, however, a substantial number of stocks which are in good shape. For example, as he is well aware, in dollar terms the value of landings in Atlantic Canada last year was the second highest on record.

I would point out, however, with respect to the foreign fleets where there is no Canadian company or fishermen who wish to fish a particular stock, where that stock is available we do under international law allow foreign ships to come in.

The reason for this is very straightforward. If we did not do that, we would then not succeed with respect to the nose and tail of the Grand Banks where we are using international—

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member for Burin—St. George's.

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:25 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Matthews Progressive Conservative Burin—St. George's, NL

Mr. Speaker, the fish I am talking about are inside of Canada's 200 mile limit.

I want to ask the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans this. Why do these foreign nations have fish quotas of cod, red fish, squid, tuna, silver hake, argentine, turbot and capelin when our own fishermen do not have any fish to catch and our plant workers do not have any fish to process?

The minister knows that I have a request in to him for 5,000 tonnes of Argentine to put the people of Burgeo back to work. Japan and Russia today are catching 8,000 tonnes.

Why is the minister allowing foreigners to take the fish when we should be catching it and processing it?

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the concern with respect to foreign fishing is perfectly legitimate. I point out, though, that current fishing within the 200 mile limit is probably below 4% of what it was in the eighties when his government was in power.

I also point out that if we do not permit stocks that are not being utilized by Canadian fishers to be taken by fishermen of other nations, we will not be able to protect the cod and groundfish stocks on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks. We cannot take an international law when it is to our benefit, reject it when it is not, and expect other nations to agree with us.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Reform

Gerry Ritz Reform Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, we have had 86 months of 9% unemployment and the highest income tax rates in the G-7. These might be just numbers to members opposite but back home in our ridings families are hurting.

Excessive Liberal taxes make it impossible for Canadians to compete in the global economy. They make it impossible for ordinary people to find employment. Canadians have spoken clearly.

Will the government stop tinkering with its agenda and give Canadians income tax relief now?

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I have already demonstrated how the government, prior to the deficit being eliminated, began the process of income tax reduction.

The Reform Party's official position is that there should be no income tax cuts until the deficit is eliminated. Is the hon. member now standing in the House and telling the country that they have flip flopped and that prior to the deficit being eliminated they agree with us that we should begin the process of income tax reduction?

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Reform

Gerry Ritz Reform Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, according to the Liberals' own statements they have balanced the books and it is now time for personal income tax cuts. They have been raised $12 billion since they took office in 1993. Average Canadian families have $3,000 less disposable income now than they had in 1993.

When will minister stand and give Canadians income tax relief?

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the wealth of Canadian households is up. It is up substantially since we have taken office.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC

Those are the numbers. Hon. members may have some trouble understanding them. They are Statistics Canada numbers and the hon. member should look to them.

I am asking a question. Have Reformers flip flopped on their position? Does it now believe there should be income tax reduction prior to the deficit being eliminated? If so, why do they not have the courage to stand and tell the world that once again they have swallowed themselves whole?

Violence Against WomenOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Bloc

Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the secretary of state responsible for the status of women.

In Canada, more than 51% of women have been victims of physical assault as defined in the Criminal Code. The tragic events of the École polytechnique serve as a painful reminder of this sad reality. It is our duty to fight the societal trend toward greater tolerance of violence against women.

Will the government make a commitment to attaining the objective of zero tolerance of violence against women?

Violence Against WomenOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Vancouver Centre B.C.

Liberal

Hedy Fry LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the hon. member across the way being very interested in this issue. It is a great commitment of the government to reduce violence against women.

First and foremost, the biggest tool we have used is gun control legislation. Second, we are setting up $32 million for crime prevention initiatives that will be aimed at the prevention of crimes against women. Last year we added $7 million to the already extensive budget we have to deal with violence against women, which will go to housing and other initiatives.

In spite of that, in laws we have done a great deal and intend to do far—

Violence Against WomenOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member for Longueuil.