Debates of Oct. 23rd, 1998

Apec Inquiry

[Maurice Vellacott, Reform, Wanuskewin, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Gerald Morin was overheard in a casino prejudging the outcomes. The solicitor general did exactly the same thing. Loose lips. I would say what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

In view of the prejudging of the solicitor general and Gerald Morin, which is serious enough that the chair even acknowledged it was that kind of comment, would the solicitor general strike immediately an independent judicial inquiry, or is he still saying that he has confidence in the present inquiry?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this whole process has been created through an act passed by this parliament. If the hon. member wants to reflect on an act of parliament he is entitled to do so. I do not intend to make that reflection.

I would also add that I have been advised that Mr. Morin has categorically rejected the allegations against him, as confirmed by his colleague who asked the previous question. Why does he not listen to his hon. friend's question? He will learn something.

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of question period the Deputy Prime Minister said “Pay attention to my answer”. We did. He said “We will wait for a statement from the commission and when we know what is happening we will make a judgment”.

We know what is happening. Justice has been denied to the students who sought answers. The commission is mired in distrust. It is adjourned until November 16. The matter has been referred to the federal court.

When will he set up a judicial inquiry?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think it could be argued that there is some sense in waiting to hear what the federal court says about this matter. If he wants some independent comment, surely it comes from the federal court.

Also, if there is an atmosphere of distrust, I have to say that this was created in an unfair and unwarranted way by the kinds of questions asked by the hon. member.

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the allegations about the comments the commissioner made came from the government's lawyer.

If that is the situation, when did the government know about these allegations and why did it not deal with them initially?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the lawyers for the government acted in a perfectly responsible way in this matter, bringing the allegations to the attention of the commission counsel.

This is the proper step to have taken. I am surprised the hon. member has not risen to praise the government's lawyers for their responsible actions.

Transport

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

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

The New Brunswick government has just revealed that its new toll highway through the province will generate a profit of $321 million at the expense of other provinces. This creates a major interprovincial trade barrier. It means that New Brunswick will be exploiting Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland.

In committee the minister said that he has the authority to regulate all interprovincial trade when that trade extends from one province to another. Will the minister clarify the source of his authority and does that authority apply to interprovincial highways?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know, and I am sure he does, that the designing, building, financing and operating of highways is within the provincial jurisdiction.

It is true that federal-provincial highway agreements have not contemplated the use of tolls. The hon. member has raised this in the House a number of times before and I have said that he raised a good public policy question that should be examined. Perhaps the Standing Committee on Transport could examine it. It is being examined by a council of deputy ministers from across the country and their report should be made public very soon.

We are sorry about the dispute in Atlantic Canada, but hopefully it can be resolved in an amicable way.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I say to the minister that there is some urgency to the situation because the provinces of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are now preparing lawsuits against New Brunswick for forcing trucks bound for their provinces through the toll booths.

The lawsuit will pit three provinces against each other in a region that needs total co-operation, not division and confrontation.

Considering the regulatory authority that the minister holds over these interprovincial trade links, will the minister take a leadership role, bring the four provinces involved together to find a political solution, rather than go through a costly, protracted, painful legal battle?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows there is an agreement on internal trade that has been reached between the federal government and the provincial governments. My interpretation of the transportation provisions of that particular agreement is that what is happening on the east coast is fully within the ambit of that agreement.

Is the Conservative Party asking the Government of Canada to walk away from that agreement on internal trade and use its constitutional powers, which would cause quite a fuss across the country? Is the Tory party asking us to do that?

Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, recently the Minister of Industry opened a new $6.4 million industry partnership facility at the National Research Council in Ottawa to support the start-up of the high tech industry.

What is the government doing to ensure that the work of the National Research Council of Canada is of direct benefit to communities across Canada?

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, within its national vision and role, the National Research Council has become recognized as one of the leading advocates of new research facilities. Special programs and collaborations across this country have resulted in additional prime examples of NRC's work in the regions, such as the Biotechnology Research Institute's impact on the bio-pharmaceutical industry in Montreal, the Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon and the role of the Institute for Marine Dynamics in St. John's, Newfoundland, which have all had a positive effect on Canadians across Canada.

Apec Inquiry

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister has charged some people here as being pretzel-like. I will tell this House where the pretzel is. The pretzel is over on that side where truth and integrity have been put into jeopardy. We now have the commissioner saying “Look, I have to be investigated because I deny that I ever said anything wrong”. Canadians are waiting for truth and justice to take place.

When will the Deputy Prime Minister appoint an independent judicial inquiry to look into things, get the truth on the table, establish integrity and get fairness and justice into this inquiry?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this commission and its work is independent, pursuant to the law passed by this parliament.

A situation has arisen which the commission has asked the federal court to examine. Let us hear what the federal court has to say about this. Certainly we want to see this looked into thoroughly so that any appropriate action that is necessary can be taken. Let us wait to hear what the federal court has to say about the statement made today.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, now there is a new refrain we are going to have to get used to: “Wait for the court”. Before that, it was “Wait for the commission”.

It is obvious that the commission is an annoyance to the government. Based on mere allegations not made under oath, the chair of the commission has just suspended proceedings until November 16, a date which coincides with the Prime Minister's departure on a long trip out of the country.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister guarantee that there has been no governmental pressure or intervention of any kind?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Yes. Mr. Speaker.

National Defence

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the recent Labrador helicopter crash killed six Canadian crew, 12 Sea King crashes killed 7 Canadians and Chinooks were sold to the Netherlands at a loss of millions.

Instead of gambling with more Canadian lives in proven unsafe Sea Kings over one-third of a century old, will this government now provide safer options for our military and civilians that come to terms with this government's fatal mismanagement of the search and rescue helicopters?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we do not gamble with people's lives. Safety is our utmost concern; safety for our crews and safety for those Canadians who require the search and rescue operations that we will continue to operate using safe equipment.

Apec Inquiry

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

Mr. Speaker, denials, delays and police fall guys are becoming this government's trademark.

The chair of the panel, Gerald Morin, has just publicly denied these allegations, saying that he did not speak publicly about APEC and prejudice the inquiry. We heard similar denials from the solicitor general in response to his prejudicial remarks.

When will we see some shred of accountability and respect for a credible process like a judicial inquiry from this government? Let us get on with it.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the House leader for the Conservative Party for endorsing the vote of confidence his leader gave to this government because if there is another inquiry the only authority this government has is under the Inquiries Act which means that the government would set up the inquiry, the government would appoint the commissioner, the government would set out the terms of reference and the government would establish the length of the life of the commission.

I do not see how the hon. member can be on the one hand criticizing the government for its alleged role in this matter and on the other hand asking the government to take the action he wants.

Thanks again for the vote of confidence. I hope it is recorded on the record.

United Nations Day

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of National Defence. I ask the minister if he could tell this House what the department has planned for United Nations Day to honour the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who served on UN missions?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is United Nations Day and I cannot think of a more appropriate way to commemorate it than to honour our peacekeepers, those Canadian men and women who have served in UN missions abroad, some 107 of them who have lost their lives.

I invite all members of the House to join us tomorrow morning at the peacekeeping monument on Sussex Drive at 9 a.m. for a commemorative service as we honour those who have worn the blue beret.

Apec Inquiry

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Gerald Morin's denials are not enough. All we have heard in this House are denials, denials and more denials from the solicitor general to the Prime Minister. Canadians have lost confidence in the RCMP Public Complaints Commission.

Will Canadians also have to lose confidence in this government, or is this government going to appoint a public judicial inquiry and do the right thing for Canadians?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I question the premise of the hon. member's question. The answers of the ministers on this side of the House have been informative and factual, and certainly not only denials.

Secondly, I question the premise that Canadians have lost confidence in the independent Public Complaints Commission.

I do want to thank the member again for confirming the vote of confidence of the Reform Party in the government when again he asked the government to set up an inquiry.

Canada Customs And Revenue Agency

[Paul Mercier, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

Because it runs a public service, Aéroports de Montréal is accountable to no one. It is the same with Nav Canada and the millennium scholarships. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency would also be almost completely free of parliamentary control and unaccountable.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister think it is acceptable to limit Parliament's control when it comes to issues so important to the public interest?