Debates of April 11th, 1997

Health Care

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, no party is more committed to the health of Canadians that the Reform Party, and that is a fact.

The hon. member needs to be corrected. I am talking about substances that people have been using for decades, substances which are found in our own bodies, like tryptothan.

The health minister first wants to ban cheese and now he wants to ban vitamins. I suggest that he get his priorities straight. While Canadians a dying on waiting lists, this is what the government is doing.

Will the minister get his priorities straight and allow people the choice in health care that they deserve?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, all choices are, in effect, good choices if they result in a consequence that is healthy and productive.

The member opposite would surely not ask us to allow a product like Ephedra into Canada. It was widely allowed into the United States.

For example, in Texas over 500 reports of adverse reactions have already been reported. Or comfrey, which has been identified as a causing agent of liver diseases and deaths.

We could go on on this list but it is important-

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Carleton-Gloucester.

Montfort Hospital

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Carleton—Gloucester, ON]

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

Mike Harris and his Conservative government are slashing Ontario's hospital services. They are trying to lay the blame on the federal government, citing cuts to the province's transfer payments.

Of the large hospitals slated for closure, three are in the national capital, including the Montfort hospital, the only French language teaching hospital in Ontario.

Would the minister inform the House who is really to blame and responsible for shutting down hospitals, especially the only francophone teaching hospital in Ontario?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is to be seen in the actions of this government in comparison with the government in question.

First, in 1996 the budget delivered on what the provinces had asked for specifically: stable, predictable and secure cash transfers. In the 1997 budget, an additional $150 million in investment for the future of health care was added in the health transition fund to take Canada into the 21st century. That is in addition to funds that had been already put in place for other health related measures including prenatal nutrition, community action programs for children.

I caution all members in the House to put that in the context of what is going on in Ontario where the government had the opportunity to impose tax cuts or to close-

Parc Technologique Du Québec Métropolitain

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec.

Last March 8, 23 days before the end of the fiscal year, my colleague, the member for Louis-Hébert, reminded the Secretary of State for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec that his government had not yet kept its promise to turn over a quarter of a million dollars in funding to the Parc technologique du Québec métropolitain. Last March 26, the Minister of Industry told the Sainte-Foy chamber of commerce that the amount would be only $150,000.

How can a minister who says that the jobs of the future will be built on savoir faire and knowledge break the government's promises like this, by depriving the Parc technologique du Québec métropolitain of financial resources, the very purpose of which is to create jobs in the high tech sector?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I will confirm what my colleague, the Minister of Industry said: this government has focused on job creation based on businesses in the new economy.

As for the Parc technologique du Québec, it was created and exists in large measure because the Canadian government supported it from the very beginning. We recently stepped in with an additional $150,000, which seems to have satisfied the people of the Parc technologique.

However, I would just like to mention that the Parc technologique du Québec is a paragovernmental corporation belonging to the Province of Quebec, and I think that members of the official opposition are knocking on the wrong door. I think the Canadian government has more than done its part for the Parc technologique and we are happy to have done so. They can try knocking at the door of head office now.

[English]

Aquaculture

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the task force on aquaculture appointed by the Prime Minister has finished its field work and submitted its report in January.

When is the report going to be made public? Why is the government sitting on it and losing valuable time?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is absolutely right that the report is finished. I have had a look at it. We are studying it and when we are ready to act, we will.

Employment

[David Iftody, Liberal, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture. Jobs and education are just as important to rural Canadians as they are to people living in urban centres.

Can the minister tell me, regarding the government's jobs strategy, what benefits are planned to be available for those Canadians living in rural Canada?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the last budget provided about $275 million in tax benefits to help all students and parents to defray the costs of post-secondary education.

Second, my department is developing a national agricultural scholarships program and is committing about $1 million over the next two years to provide 30 masters and doctoral awards per year in agricultural related fields.

Third, within the national system of internships, which is being supported by the government, there is a science horizons program to assist young Canadians interested in finding first jobs related to the agricultural sciences. That is a part of the internship strategy.

Finally, we have a summer fair program by which we will be providing Canada kiosks at some 164 rural locations across the country. They will be managed on a local level by 4-H members across the country.

Presence In The Gallery

[The Deputy Speaker]

I would draw to your attention the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Atlantic Treaty Organization.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Committees Of The House

[Gordon Kirkby, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, April 7, 1997, your committee has considered Bill C-46, an act to amend the Criminal Code (production of records in sexual offence proceedings), and your committee has agreed to report it with amendments.

[Dianne Brushett, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Finance has the honour to present its 10th report.

In accordance with its order of reference of Monday, June 17, 1996, your committee has considered Bill C-37, an act to implement an agreement between Canada and the Russian Federation, a convention between Canada and the Republic of South Africa, an agreement between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania, an agreement between Canada and the Republic of India, and a convention between Canada and Ukraine for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, and has agreed to report it without amendment.

A copy of the minutes of proceedings related to this bill is tabled.

Broadcasting Act

[Ian Murray, Liberal, Lanark—Carleton, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-401, an act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy for Canada).

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce my private member's bill entitled an act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy for Canada).

The bill would change the mandate of the CBC to include in its responsibilities the duty to "contribute to the development of national unity and provide for a continuing expression of Canadian identity". This obligation was originally included in the CBC mandate but was removed by the previous government.

I strongly believe that the CBC is a national institution which helps more than any other to foster understanding among Cana-

dians which in turn contributes to the development of national unity. I think its mandate should support this fact.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

Petitions

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity that was denied me the other day by the government to present a couple of petitions.

I have two petitions. In the first one, the petitioners pray and request that Parliament introduce mid-term disability benefits legislation which allows working Canadians who suffer from a debilitating illness or injury to receive continuous sickness benefits in the following form: 15 weeks of unemployment insurance, mid-term disability and Canadian disability pension plan.

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition I would like to present today, the petitioners urge all levels of government to demonstrate their support of education and literacy by eliminating the sales tax on reading materials.

The petitioners ask Parliament to zero rate books, magazines and newspapers under the GST. As the provinces and Ottawa are considering harmonizing the sales taxes, reading materials must be zero rated under the provincial sales taxes as well as GST.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions that I would like to introduce today.

In the first, 28 petitioners call on Parliament to urge the federal government to join with the provincial governments to make a national highway system upgrading possible beginning this year.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, is one on "don't tax reading". It has 103 signatures and I concur with the comments of the petitioners.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

I have several petitions, Mr. Speaker, dealing with pedophiles.

In the first one, the petitioners call on Parliament to eliminate the right of convicted pedophiles to be let out of jail on bail pending an appeal.

The second petition on pedophiles deals with a registry and states that Parliament enact legislation to establish a pedophile registry.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition calls on Parliament to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to set the age of consent at 18 years of age except within a husband and wife relationship so as to provide protection from exploitation and abuse.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions dealing with two strikes legislation. They have 273 signatures.

The petitioners call on Parliament to enact two strikes legislation requiring everyone who is convicted for the second time of one or more sexual offences against a minor to be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility of parole or early release.

Also, for anyone awaiting trial on any such offences mentioned in the petition, the petitioners pray that such a person be held in custody without eligibility for bail or release in any form or any manner until the case is concluded in a court of law.

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege to present more petitions on "don't tax reading".

The petitioners ask Parliament to zero rate books, magazines and newspapers under the GST. They also ask Parliament and the provincial governments to zero rate reading materials under the proposed harmonized sales tax.

These petitioners are from Edmonton, from Rocky Mountain House and other parts of Alberta. This is very important and I hope the government takes it seriously. We should not be taxing reading material.

Questions On The Order Paper

[George Proud, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.