Debates of Sept. 29th, 1997

Taxation

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, frankly I am shocked at that answer. This is a simple question. Can this minister not stand up in this House and say that it is not the policy of this government to pursue and chase down severely disabled Canadians in the courts to try to squeeze money out of them? Are they or are they not running businesses by employing personal care givers at home?

I do not see anything in the Income Tax Act about that. Is this minister in charge of his department and its policy or is this minister's department in charge of him?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the work we have done in the disabled community.

The solicitor general was involved in a one year task force which made recommendations to the government. If we look at the last budget we have made substantial commitments and this finance minister in his last financial budget made a commitment of over $300 million for the disabled community.

We are proud of what we have done for the disabled community and we will continue it. It surprised a few on that side of the House. The members of the Reform did not support those items—

Mirabel Airport

[Maurice Dumas, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau, QC]

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

Last week, the mayor of Montreal stated that he had met with the Prime Minister of Canada and solicited his help, adding that the business community was in favour of moving international flights to Dorval and that they had settled the matter between themselves with Ottawa's help.

How does the Minister of Transport explain the fact that mayor of Montreal himself said he met with the Prime Minister to discuss the Dorval issue, and a settlement was reached with Ottawa's help?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I said last Friday, the decision to move flights from Mirabel to Dorval was made by Aéroports de Montréal. That was not a political decision. The Aéroports de Montréal group has that power and exercised it.

[Maurice Dumas, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will the minister tell us how the Prime Minister can agree to discuss the Dorval airport issue with the mayor of Montreal but refuse to discuss the Mirabel airport issue with the premier of Quebec, as he told us on Friday?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has received from the premier of Quebec a letter to which he will reply.

Health

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Health Canada officials lied to obtain the personal protected files of Dr. Michèle Brill-Edwards. This scientist is a thorn in the side of the department, with personal allegations that there are problems where profits take precedence over safety.

The minister promised us a full report here in the House. What has he found about his officials?

[The Speaker]

Was the word “lied” used in the hon. member's question? I did not hear it. Would the hon. member be kind enough to rephrase the question?

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Health Canada officials covered up the truth.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can use any words he chooses. The reality is he does not have the faintest idea of what he is talking about. Another example of all kinds of noise and fury.

Last Friday afternoon department officials explained why they had asked for the file in question.

As long as I am Minister of Health we will focus on the issues affecting the health system. We will not be involved in any smear campaigns. We are going to work to improve medicare in this country and make sure—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Macleod.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have their feeble excuse for accessing this file too.

The fact of the matter is permission must be sought of the individual. It was not. A valid reason must be there to access the file. There is not.

The minister has a choice opportunity here. He could choose to support out of control bureaucrats on a witch hunt or he could choose to support the scientist who has allegations of truth. Which will it be?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has taken the facts wrongly and then he has misinterpreted them.

What we are going to do is what I announced last week. We are going to work to renew and strengthen the health protection branch. I have already explained that we are going to appoint an arm's length science advisory board to get independent assessment. We are going to have a public consultation and we are freezing further cuts. That is the best way to respond.

Federal Detention Centres

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.

Events in recent months have shown that working conditions for employees in federal detention centres in Quebec are extremely dangerous.

Will the Solicitor General respond to the request that I made of him at the beginning of September to establish an external inquiry into the volatile situation that prevails in federal detention centres in Quebec?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to reassure the employees of Correctional Services Canada that we are very mindful of the danger their job carries with it. We say this specifically after the recognition of peace officers which took place yesterday.

Yes, I would like to confirm to the member that we are very mindful of the dangerous situation which all correctional officers face, which is a part of what they do every day.

Policing Of Airports

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question concerns the safety of Montreal's airports.

The maintenance of RCMP services at Dorval and Mirabel continues to be the subject of a wide range of speculation.

My question is for the Minister of Transport. Can the minister tell the House, so as to clarify matters, who will be responsible for policing Montreal's airports?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the safety of air transportation continues to be the Government of Canada's priority. As the member well knows, there are two airports in Montreal, and international flights have just been transferred. There are also major renovations under way at Dorval.

For these reasons, the Government of Canada has decided to leave the RCMP forces in place during this period of change.

The RCMP will stay at Dorval and Mirabel.

Supreme Court Of Canada

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Canada announced that he was retiring.

He publicly called on the Liberal government to select his replacement through an open review process. These comments are unheard of and ground breaking. The justices themselves are asking for reform.

My question is for the Minister of Justice. Will the Liberal government hold a public review of any new justice appointed to the supreme court? Or will it continue on making its appointments in secret and behind closed doors?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

I would like to point out, and I hope all members agree, that over the past 130-some years the appointment process by which supreme court justices have been appointed has led to some of the most distinguished and meritorious people serving on the Supreme Court of Canada.

I have indicated that there is some merit in considering how we could broaden the consultation process in relation to prospective appointments to the court. I will take that under advisement.

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this new justice of the supreme court will be determining whether Quebec has the right to unilaterally secede. This is perhaps one of the most important issues in our country's history.

Will the justice minister allow elected members of Parliament to ratify this new supreme court justice or will she simply consult her backroom dealmakers and continue to leave the Canadian people out of the process?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of chief justices in this country, on behalf of my provincial counterparts, the attorneys general, on behalf of presidents of law societies and distinguished members of the practising bar in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere, I fundamentally reject your characterization of those people as, what was it? Backroom dealmakers?

Mining

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

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

The Cheviot mine proposal will place a large development in a pristine wilderness area across the divide from previous mine sites and adjacent to the Jasper National Park, a world heritage site.

Is the minister satisfied that all options, such as project relocation, have been explored to ensure that the ecosystem impacts are minimized and, at the same time, protecting important jobs in the area?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the proposal to put in place the Cheviot mine project in Alberta has been reviewed by a joint panel under the Environmental Assessment Agency which brought together federal representatives with provincial representatives.

Evidence was put forward by three federal government departments and many others from across the country who are concerned about this project. We have received a report from the panel and are reviewing its recommendations.

Our concern is to protect the environment to the highest standards and also allow—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.

Law Enforcement Officers

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended a memorial service honouring those law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

One way of ensuring protection for peace officers, indeed all Canadians, is to ensure individuals convicted of first degree murder do not receive early release. This summer the Olson hearing as well as the 300 murderers with the right to apply for early release highlight the need for change in this area.

Will the Minister of Justice stop worrying about the protection of the rights of criminals, do the right thing and repeal section 745, this offensive and potentially dangerous piece of legislation.