Debates of Oct. 26th, 1998

Agriculture

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday of last week members of the Nova Scotia legislature held a two hour emergency debate to discuss the serious plight of our farmers who for the second consecutive year have suffered enormous financial losses due to unusually dry conditions.

Considering the devastation farmers have experienced with their crops over the past two years, will the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food make a firm commitment here and now to provide our farmers with emergency relief?

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

Mr. Speaker, had the hon. member been listening, I just answered that question a few minutes ago. I said that I am calling the ministers of agriculture in Nova Scotia and across the country and farm leaders across the country to discuss that very issue on November 4.

Immigration

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

I understand that the minister sets immigration targets each year in order to meet the needs of the Canadian population. For 1998 why is the department not expected to meet the immigration targets?

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the projected number of immigrants each year is a planning target. These targets are established for the different categories. The department has been successful in meeting the targets for the refugee category and the family class category, satisfying our very important commitment to both humanitarian assistance and family reunification.

Unfortunately due to events beyond our control, notably the civil economic crisis in Asia, we are experiencing a decline in the skilled worker category. We expect to meet the target—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. member for Medicine Hat.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, for five years the Reform Party has been asking questions about third world conditions on native reserves across this country. For five years we have had nothing but stonewalling from Indian affairs ministers across the way. They seem to be more interested in protecting entrenched interests than in really helping natives.

If the minister really cares about natives, why in the world will she not give us a forensic audit to ensure that money gets to natives on reserve?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, it is just the opposite I am afraid. For the last five years all I have heard coming from the Reform Party are things like “Why do we not just get rid of section 35 in the Constitution. Why do we not cut $900 million from the department of Indian affairs for the provision of services and programs for aboriginal people. Why do we not just pay aboriginal people a lump sum of money and tell them to go and build their schools and roads”. I do not hear those questions coming from the hon. member at all.

The Constitution

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister claims that everything is settled. Yet, nothing is settled regarding Quebec's role on the international scene.

If everything is settled, how does the minister explain that, at international meetings on culture, the Quebec Minister of Culture is left behind and it is the Minister of Canadian Heritage who speaks on behalf of Anne Hébert, Gilles Vigneault and Robert Lepage, and who defends Quebec's culture, which the Prime Minister of Canada said did not exist?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we form such a partnership that, next week, a meeting will be held in Mont-Tremblant to deal with cultural issues, and I personally invited Mrs. Beaudoin to take part in it.

Health

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, private health care is a booming business in Canada. In this region alone, private health care businesses are on the rise for the second year in a row. This rise in private health care is a sure sign that this government's deep cuts to transfer payments for health care are creating two systems of health care in Canada, one for the wealthy and one for everyone else.

Will the health minister admit that health care cuts are leading us down the road to two tier American style health care?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, over a year ago this government announced that the era of cuts to health care was over. Last year one of the first things we did as we emerged from the deficit of the past was to reinvest in health care by restoring $1.5 billion to the transfer payments. The commitment of this government to the public single funder system of health care is unequivocal. That is why the Prime Minister has said clearly that health will be the subject of our next major reinvestment, and it will be.

Highways

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the only unfinished stretch of Highway 101 in Nova Scotia is located in my riding between Digby and Weymouth. A heavy increase in commercial traffic has local residents fearing for their own safety and that of their children who must travel these dangerous roads by school bus every day.

Can the Minister of Transport tell this House whether he and his provincial counterparts have entered into any negotiations on a cost sharing agreement to complete this unfinished section of highway? If so, when can we anticipate the completion of these negotiations?

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transport has done everything in its power to provide a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system. In this situation the provincial ministry is responsible for a great number of the concerns. However, we will not renege on our responsibility to continue to provide Canadians with one of the safest transportation systems in the world.

Bill C-44

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board told the House, in reference to Bill C-44, that the administrators of cultural organizations are appointed at the government's pleasure.

Does the minister mean that public organizations will be under the government's direction, under the yoke of the party in office and, ultimately, under the authority of a temperamental minister?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the CBC's independence is clearly guaranteed under section 46(5) of the Broadcasting Act, which reads: “The Corporation shall, in the pursuit of its objects and in the exercise of its powers, enjoy freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence”.

I think the government clearly indicated its desire to see the CBC enjoy total cultural freedom.

Taxation

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I notice the Minister of National Revenue is to tax Canadians who will be attending Christmas parties.

I have the Liberal caucus budget. It suggests that it is to spend $86,700, not including donations and gifts, at a Christmas party. I wonder if these Liberal MPs will be taxed or report that as a taxable income.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

As was quite rightly pointed out to me, that does not fall within the administrative responsibility of government. It is a caucus responsibility.

Canadian Coast Guard

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday in the Standing Committee of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Turner, acting director for the coast guard, indicated that in no way would there be $55 million worth of cuts to the coast guards.

In Saturday's Daily News , Neil Bellefontaine, regional director for Atlantic Canada, said that they were close to reaching their goal of $45 million in cuts. Commander Turner also indicated that close to $200 million had been diverted from the coast guard into DFO. What a wasteful move that was.

My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Are you or are you not going to privatize the coast guard in the very near future?

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Before the minister responds, I would remind all members to address each other through the Chair.

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

Mr. Speaker, the question of the hon. member is whether we intend to privatize the coast guard.

I can assure him that is not the intention of the government. I can also assure him that we have made certain reductions in expenditures which are necessary.

Nevertheless we have put safety, in particular search and rescue, first. We will not have any reduction of safety levels because we regard that as our most critical role.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 19 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Yolande Thibeault, Liberal, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of a Canadian parliamentary delegation that travelled to Cameroon last June.

This is a particularly opportune moment, moreover, because we have the honour of receiving parliamentarians from Cameroon this week.

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the pleasure of presenting, in both official languages, three reports of the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group, namely the report of the third annual visit to Japan to meet with Diet members, business persons, community leaders and academics. The visit was held in Tokyo, Tohoku and Hokkaido from May 22 to June 2, 1998.

Second is the report of the ninth annual meeting between the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group and the Japan-Canada Parliamentarian Friendship League held in Banff, Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray from August 21 to August 28, 1998.

Third is the report of the executive committee meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in Lima, Peru, from September 6 to September 8, 1998.

Interparliamentary associations provide forums at which parliamentarians are ambassadors for their countries. Members of the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group have been able to address and promote issues such as the anti-personnel landmines convention, cultural exchanges and trade matters.

We wish to thank all those who supported us in our work.

Criminal Code

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-448, an act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentences).

Mr. Speaker, I am most pleased to introduce this private member's bill today to the House of Commons. I do it because Canadians have been crying out for some serious changes to our justice system. One of the areas that they demand to be changed is the area that deals with sentencing, in particular concurrent sentencing.

This enactment would require that a court, when sentencing an offender for the commission of any certain or specific violent offences against a person, shall direct that the sentence of imprisonment imposed be served consecutively to any sentence for another such offence.

I am pleased to introduce the bill today. I am certain that members of the House will realize the importance of getting this change done.

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

Petitions

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by many constituents in Ontario who are requesting that parliament amend the Divorce Act to include a provision, as supported in Bill C-340, regarding the right of a spouse's parent, the grandparent, to have access to or custody of the children or the child.