House of Commons Hansard #143 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agency.
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I suggest the hon. member might want to look at the new child tax benefit which is directed at exactly that.
In the last budget the government put in an additional $750 million to bring it to over $1.7 billion, precisely to deal with that kind of situation.
Jim Pankiw Reform Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, this is about giving working Canadians a break so they can keep themselves out of poverty.
Mr. Tkatch also pays about $700 a month in taxes, EI and CPP. It is close to the point where he might just as well sign over his paycheque to the government and live off the deductions.
Will the finance minister explain to Mr. Tkatch and others like him why they should not just quit their jobs and go on welfare?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, in the last budget the government provided $7 billion worth of tax relief to Canadians who are in exactly that situation.
At the same time 400,000 Canadians have been taken off the tax rolls. That is precisely what this government has done to help the gentleman in question.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
In the interview he gave La Presse , the Prime Minister said he had asked his ministers for a list of Quebec's traditional demands in February 1996.
Since this is a cabinet document, is the Prime Minister prepared to table it in the House, so that we may verify whether or not his cabinet is up on Quebec's traditional demands?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would suggest the member read the February 1996 throne speech.
But, since we are on the topic of traditional demands, and since the Bloc Quebecois is so quick to think them up, I have a few traditional demands to suggest to Quebec: an end to the constant threat of referendums; an end to the separatist freeze; an end to referendums; an end to trickery and other flip-flops; an end to going around in circles.
Our objectives are the same as those of the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party: a better economic union, a better social union, a stronger Quebec within a united Canada.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC
Mr. Speaker, by reducing Quebec's traditional demands, basic issues defended by all Quebec premiers for more than 40 years, to nothing more than a shopping list, is the Prime Minister not proving that he has understood nothing about Quebec, and that he would do a better job as the manager of a general store than as the Prime Minister?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the limitation on the federal government's spending authority, taken even further than in any—
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers will not be very edified to see how low the Bloc Quebecois is willing to stoop in order to drag Quebec's election campaign into the House.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
But, as my counterpart in Quebec even admitted, there have been in recent years important changes designed to improve service to the public.
I was going to mention, if I can make myself heard—which is by no means certain—the limitation on the federal government's spending authority, taken even further than during the Meech Lake Accord, which had the support of Lucien Bouchard at the time; the passage of the regional veto legislation; the distinct society resolution; the fewer conditions attached to the principal federal transfer payment to the provinces, the Canada social transfer; the clarification of roles in various areas, such as mining, forestry, recreation, tourism, social housing—
The ConstitutionOral Question Period
The Speaker
The member for Dauphin—Swan River has the floor.
Inky Mark Reform Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just cannot stand dissent. Just ask the former chair of the committee on fisheries or the former chief actuary of the CPP fund or students at APEC or Terry Milewski.
This House should know that the Prime Minister has introduced a bill that will allow him to fire—I say again fire—the president and every director of the CBC—
The Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Question Period
The Speaker
Colleagues, we are taking up a lot of time with my standing and sitting. I would prefer that we listen to the questions and, of course, listen to the answers.
Inky Mark Reform Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, members of the House should know that the Prime Minister has introduced a bill that will allow him to fire—and I say again fire—the president and every director of the CBC without cause.
Who is in line to be the next CBC president? Peter Donolo?
Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, the law of the CBC is quite clear and I quoted article 46(5) yesterday, which says that the society has, in the implementation of its mission and the exercise of its powers, freedom of expression and total independence in terms of journalism, creation and programming.
That is the position of the government.
Inky Mark Reform Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, could we imagine the APEC coverage if the Prime Minister's office was running the CBC? Jean Carle would be the news director and if Jason Moscovitz said anything controversial they would immediately cut to a commercial. Peter Mansbridge's newscast would be a lot shorter because Ivan Whitehall would read it first and cross out anything embarrassing.
Why is the Prime Minister trying to control the CBC? Whatever happened to freedom of the press?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to get some advice from the Reform Party on the CBC because in its last policy paper the Reform Party had a plan for the CBC. It was to abolish it.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the interview he gave to La Presse , the Prime Minister explained that his one-step-at-a-time strategy was the right one, because it avoided stirring up what he called regional squabbling and jealousies.
How can the Prime Minister get worked up today about regional jealousies when the demands of Quebec are involved, when that was precisely the strategy he used, and made the most of, when it came time to causing the failure of the Meech Lake Accord?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, it is hardly appropriate for the Bloc Quebecois to talk about jealousy. That party is here in the House only to defend the interests of a single province, with no solidarity whatsoever with the others and, by so doing, it unfortunately sometimes encourages the same attitude in other parties.
What both Quebeckers and all Canadians need is for there to be an opposition some day—for the Liberals are governing very well—that will be able to reconcile regional interests among themselves, as we within this government, and this party, manage to do.
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec sheep farmers are experiencing an untenable situation at the present time, because of scrapie.
Can the Minister of Agriculture explain to us what the Government of Canada is doing, and will do, to help this important industry in Quebec?