Debates of Oct. 2nd, 1998

Aboriginal Affairs

[David Iftody, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and his renewed interest in the welfare of aboriginal people in Canada.

I would only suggest to the hon. member that if he is interested in the welfare of aboriginal people, which he ought to be as the deputy critic, perhaps he could make those same suggestions to the member for Skeena who keeps opposing the Nisga'a deal.

Agriculture

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, as the global economy teeters on the edge and commodity prices plummet, farmers are feeling pretty cynical and very nervous. Farm prices are dropping and fear is rising. Farm incomes are falling by as much as 40% this year and farm leaders are pleading with the minister of agriculture to help. Farmers want to know if he is listening.

What is the minister of agriculture prepared to do to stem the looming crisis facing Canadian farm families?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, we are doing a lot of things in that we are assisting the agriculture and agri-food industry to find markets for their products not only in Canada but on the international scene as well. We are managing with them in co-operation with the producers, provincial governments and the federal government the best safety net system that any farm group has in the world.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, NISA right now covers one month's expenses for the average farmer while the U.S. Congress is debating an extra $7 billion to help its farmers. U.S. and European farmers receive massive support from their governments but here in Canada the Liberal government has killed the Crow rate, has gutted the rail system and slashes farm support by over two-thirds. Farmers want backbone, not backdown.

Will the minister of agriculture stand up for farmers and bring forward a farm aid package quickly? Will he assure that it is more than just a band-aid on a hemorrhage?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, farmers already know that the package is there. As a matter of fact, in the net income stabilization accounts alone there is $2.5 billion. In a conference call on this and a number of issues, the farm leaders in the member's part of the country just two days ago advised me not to go into ad hoc payments, we need the strength of our industry and to use the safety net system that is there already.

Government Of Canada

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general exposed the deceitful accounting of the millennium scholarship fund and he was reprimanded. Bernard Dussault tried to tell Canadians the truth about their pensions and he was fired. George Baker tried to tell Canadians the truth about their fishery and he was fired.

Are George Baker and Bernard Dussault the latest victims of a government addicted to abuse of power? Was the objectivity and integrity of these individuals incompatible with the oppressive style of this government?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the superintendent of financial institutions has made it very clear that there were management differences between him and the chief actuary. He has also made it very clear that there was no political interference. There was no political influence. The superintendent runs an independent agency. He is very jealous of his own independence, and properly so. He acted within his own mandate.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the superintendent was jealous of Bernard Dussault and his objectivity. I would like to know as well who is going to be paying the legal fees for the superintendent?

Another abuse of power we learn of today is that the Prime Minister was directly involved in the lawsuit, the witch hunt against former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The Prime Minister quashed an offer made to Mulroney to settle out of court. When the former justice minister wanted to apologize to the former prime minister, the Prime Minister said no.

Will the Prime Minister apologize for his petty partisan and pathetically political attack on former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney or was this simply another abuse of power?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the lawsuit in question was settled with the plaintiff, Mr. Mulroney, dropping his claim for damages and accepting through a signed minutes of settlement that the RCMP instituted the investigation on its own. The investigation is continuing. I think the hon. member ought to read carefully the minutes of settlement. It will show that his questions are completely groundless.

Forestry

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The forest industry in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta has expressed grave concern about the recent decision in the Sunpine case, a case involving access to timber resources. This decision could very negatively impact the forest industry. Will the minister be taking action on this very important matter?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, the government naturally wants to have thorough environmental examinations. We want to make sure public involvement is at the appropriate level and we want to make sure we improve the management of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. It is for these reasons that I have decided to appeal the Sunpine decision. If left unappealed, the decision would undermine the discretion of federal departments to determine the scope of environmental assessments which is a very important part of CEAA.

Canada Pension Plan

[Philip Mayfield, Reform, Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister sure took quick action when he fired the chairman of the fisheries committee but I want to ask a question of the finance minister. He says that the rules allow the taxpayers to cover the cost of Palmer's lawsuit against Mr. Dussault. Does the finance minister think this is an acceptable use of taxpayer dollars?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, that is not what I said. I said there are rules that cover this kind of thing and those rules will apply.

Kosovo

[Daniel Turp, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed his sorrow at and concern over the situation in Kosovo, but is still banking on an American diplomatic mission and on discussions between his personal representative and President Milosevic, the very person who has caused negotiations to fail three times over the past six months.

Is it not time Canada called clearly for the use of armed force to put an end to the massacres, the exodus and the extermination of the Kosovar people?

[Julian Reed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I can report to the House that the Minister of Foreign Affairs met yesterday morning with the secretary general of the United Nations to express Canada's very deep concern.

I thank all the members who supported the resolution that was passed in this House. Canada stands by our NATO commitments and we are still urging the security council to pass a resolution. I expect that—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Churchill River.

Banff National Park

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the minister of heritage. The Liberal government tells Canadians that only basic and essential development can occur at the Banff National Park. For this reason the village of Lake Louise is denied improved medical facilities, a small church and a school. But when CP Hotels wants a seven storey convention centre on the lakeshore, this government jumps to its approval. Can the minister of heritage explain why a conference centre is more essential than the basic needs of a community?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member who belongs to a party that supports the integrity of Canada's national park system will understand that the government wants a plan that will keep parks for all Canadians and not turn them into residential areas.

In the Lake Louise approval we were able to recuperate 42 acres of land which would have gone to a golf course and for other activities. Instead we have put them back to nature. If the member and his party look at the overall Banff plan they will see we have a good plan to save the park for all Canadians.

Bombardier

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

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

Bombardier, which is located in my riding, submitted an application to the Department of Transport for the certification of a low-speed vehicle called Bombardier NV.

The NV is the first close range electrical vehicle produced on a large scale. This vehicle, which has already been certified in the United States, was recognized by the American department of energy as the leader in air quality protection.

Since I am convinced the Canadian government will appreciate the jobs created to produce this vehicle, I ask the minister whether he can make sure that—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Transport.

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are currently evaluating the risks associated with this type of vehicle, to determine the relevance and usefulness of creating a new category of vehicles, and to develop new safety standards.

This is a particularly good initiative that Bombardier is taking in having a small electric battery driven vehicle that could be used in Canada's cities and help with the cutting down of pollution. Our department is seriously evaluating the use of that vehicle.

Canadian Forces

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, concern has been raised whether the Canadian Forces assist British Columbia in case of natural disaster.

Can the Minister of National Defence tell the House what the Canadian Forces did to assist British Columbia during the summer battle against forest fires?

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question because it gives me an opportunity to talk about our fine Canadian Forces.

The Canadian Forces are a multipurpose, combat capable force. As such they are equipped and receive a broad range of training suitable for a wide spectrum of operations. They may on some occasions receive mission specific training before being deployed. This kind of training has enabled them to assist many communities across the country which have been ravaged by natural disasters over the past couple of years.

Justice

[Chuck Cadman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a man has recently been charged for a rape committed two and half years ago while he was on bail for an earlier sexual assault. He could have been charged much earlier had the Burnaby RCMP not taken two years to report the first assault into the violent crime linkage analysis system.

I have asked the solicitor general in the past regarding problems with delays in reporting and data entry backlog for ViCLAS. Again, has he done anything and if not, why not?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I will be pleased to look at what is happening regarding this issue and to report to the hon. member at the first opportunity.