House of Commons Hansard #131 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was business.

Topics

Canada Pension PlanOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, once again, Mr. Palmer categorically denied that there was any political influence or interference.

The condition precedent to the member's question simply does not bear examination in the light of day.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Bloc

René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The minister has brought in a short week pilot project, in order to remedy some of the shortcomings in his employment insurance reform.

Since the majority of seasonal workers are just about to come to the end of their peak work period, and are liable to be penalized by any additional short weeks, can the minister confirm that he will be bringing in the necessary amendments to the legislation to correct this serious problem?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Yes, Mr. Speaker. As you know, our government has undertaken an extremely important employment insurance reform, one which included a commitment to monitor very closely the impact of our reform.

That is why, when we learned that the short week situation was creating problems, in eastern Canada in particular but in other regions as well, we reacted promptly and set up the short week program, that is two pilot projects we are in the process of evaluating to see which is more effective and serves people better.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Bloc

René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC

Mr. Speaker, that does not solve the problem in the least.

When is the minister going to stop harassing people with unstable employment, and settle the problem for once and for all?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, that is what I, as Minister of Human Resources Development, and we, as a government, have been doing all along.

We are addressing the situation of those with precarious employment and that is why we have put into place the body of measures that accompany employment insurance reform, which has yielded extremely positive results in a number of regions of our country.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:30 a.m.

Reform

Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, small businesses create more than 85% of jobs in Canada. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, with 90,000 members, says that the number one thing this government can do to create more jobs is to lower payroll taxes like EI and CPP.

Either we believe this taxman or small business. Either the money is better spent by this taxman or by businesses, workers and their families.

Why would anyone take his word over the word of small business?

TaxationOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, every year since we have taken office we have reduced payroll taxes. We will continue to do that.

In addition, we eliminated the EI premiums for young Canadians. At the same time we brought in a special measure to help small and medium size business in terms of the millennium bug problem. If we go through the Income Tax Act and the various measures that the federal government has brought in, there is a whole series of measures which recognize the great importance of small business.

The only question is—

TaxationOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member for New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Reform

Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister says that he will not reduce excessively high employment insurance premiums, saying that such a move relates to recession.

Why is that the case? What happened to the minister's rainy day fund? What happened to sound fiscal management?

Why are the nation's finances so badly mismanaged that spending the savings of workers and employers is his only way out?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, it is precisely because of what is happening in the world that we want to keep in place the caution and the prudent measures that we have put in place.

Perhaps the hon. member has been asleep for the last couple of months. There have been fundamental changes that have occurred worldwide. Russia is virtually without a government. The Japanese banking system is in great difficulty. All of these measures are impinging upon North America and ultimately the Canadian economy.

We want to make sure that the same caution that allowed us to eliminate the deficit, the same caution that saw our productivity rise, continues.

Canadian Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

With his response yesterday on icebreaking, either he does not understand the matter or he could not care less.

Does he realize that the new icebreaking fee will hit port activity even harder in Quebec than elsewhere?

Canadian Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the question yesterday and the one today come from the imposition of fees for ice breaking and marine aids which total approximately 17% of the actual costs of the services provided. We are attempting to make sure that those who use the services pay at least 17% of the costs. Then the general taxpayer is, of course, relieved of that.

The problem with the ports of Quebec is that to get to them vessels have to go through waters much closer to Newfoundland. Therefore, if there is ice breaking, the inevitable result is they could just ice break in the St. Lawrence, but it would not do much good because the ships would never get to port.

Canadian Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, given the devastating effect of the icebreaking fees, is the minister prepared to call for a moratorium and have an impact study done immediately?

Canadian Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, we have been setting this particular proposal for the last four years. We have had intense consultations with the industry. We have re-examined this in every possible way.

The very suggestion that the member makes makes clear that the Bloc Quebecois simply does not understand the importance of making sure that those who use services pay at least some measure of the services provided by the general taxpayer of Canada.

In this case they will pay approximately 17%. We think that is a good start.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Reform

Roy H. Bailey Reform Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Mr. Speaker, I believe the people of Canada need this answer. My question is to the Minister of Finance.

Will taxpayer dollars be used to help in the case of the firing of Mr. Dussault? Yes or no?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, there are established rules of the Public Service Commission in these kinds of conditions and those rules will apply.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Reform

Lee Morrison Reform Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Finance.

I gather from his recent reply that the answer is yes, but would he please confirm for this House that Canadian taxpayer dollars are indeed going to be used in the lawsuit against Mr. Dussault?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I am again going to say that there are established rules on how to handle this kind of thing and those established rules will be followed.

Merchant Marine VeteransOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC

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

On September 28, three veterans of the second world war who had been in the merchant marines began a hunger strike in a call for justice from the government.

During the review of the Pension Act and the War Veterans Allowance Act, will the minister make measures applying to veterans of the merchant marines retroactive as they would like?

Merchant Marine VeteransOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Nipissing Ontario

Liberal

Bob Wood LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the hon. member that the 1992 legislation was introduced by the previous government and supported by members on all sides of the House, including myself. The legislation was introduced by the former Conservative government and it did not provide retroactive benefits to merchant navy veterans.

I for one accept that the legislation introduced by that government was not retroactive.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Roger Gallaway Liberal Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade.

One of our largest trading partners, the state of Michigan, has now imposed a single business tax which applies to all companies doing business in that state, but allows American corporations a distinct advantage in that they have the right to recover the tax.

I would like to know from the parliamentary secretary what action will be taken under NAFTA to stop this blatant discriminatory action against Canadian companies.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant Ontario

Liberal

Bob Speller LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is well aware that the state of Michigan has revised its single business tax. I want to thank him and particularly the deputy prime minister for working hard on this issue.

The Minister for International Trade has instructed our consulate in Detroit to meet with the Michigan treasury department to express to them in the strongest of terms our concern with this issue.

We will continue to work with the province of Ontario and all affected businesses to help resolve this dispute.

EqualityOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Reform

Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK

Mr. Speaker, last week in a joint session of the Houses of Parliament the Prime Minister honoured Nelson Mandela for having fought for the creation of a non-race based constitution and a democratic society.

What makes that a big, square pill for the rest of Canadians to swallow is that the Prime Minister was part of creating Canada's race based constitution and is creating government across this country based on race.

When will the Prime Minister admit to the hypocrisy and start to build a legacy for himself and all Canadians of racial equality?

EqualityOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I think we have to categorically reject the unwarranted, inaccurate and false assertion that our Constitution is race based. The core is the charter of rights and freedoms which is intended to treat people on the basis of fairness wherever they live and whatever their origin in our great country.

I do not know why the Reform Party is unwilling to support our Constitution inside and outside our country. Look at what the leader of the Reform Party said when he made his trip outside the country when the House was adjourned.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Reform

Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, recently the Indian affairs minister travelled to the Alexander reserve in Alberta and declared it as an ideal type of reserve and the way that reserves ought to operate.

I more recently went to the same reserve. I visited the homes of many grassroots natives. They were sitting on apple crates and tree stumps. Their homes do not have electricity or running water. There are holes in the roofs and there is poverty. There are third world conditions on these reserves and this government will not recognize it.

When is this government going to get out of its ivory tower and demand that the chiefs and councils be accountable to grassroots natives across this country?