House of Commons Hansard #145 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was magazines.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has a choice to make. He can either tear the heart out of the military further by reducing manpower, or commit the appropriate resources for a combat capable force. Which is it going to be?
Robert Bertrand LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the government's position has always been to have a very competent army that was combat capable. That is what we want and that is what we will continue to strive for.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the federalist forces in Quebec noted that the Prime Minister's one-step-at-a-time strategy is completely unacceptable and ineffective.
Has the Prime Minister's very credibility not suffered a blow when the rest of Canada realizes today that even Quebec's federalists want nothing to do with him?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we were successful at having a resolution on distinct society passed, establishing a veto for the regions, resolving the manpower problem, resolving the problem of Quebec's school system by means of a constitutional amendment, and clarifying the situation with respect to mining, forestry, tourism and other areas.
We have made much progress. There are far fewer disagreements between the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and myself than there are between the member for Roberval and the leader of the Bloc Quebecois.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, I did not think the Prime Minister would drag out the resolutions again.
I remind him that even Jean Charest, a former federal member of parliament, preferred to be away from the House partying rather than have to vote on these resolutions the Prime Minister is boasting about. That is the fact of the matter.
Given the turn events are taking between the Prime Minister and the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, does the Prime Minister not find himself in a paradoxical situation promising us four years of bliss with his friend Mr. Charest?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are making considerable progress. That is why I am happy.
We see that Mr. Parizeau, who is back, told Mr. Bouchard that what was needed was a clear, not an ambiguous, question. That is what we are calling for.
We want people to know very clearly that the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois want to hold a referendum, whereas two thirds of Quebeckers are opposed, because they know that a referendum is bad for economic growth and employment, and means less revenue to put towards health and education.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, there are new allegations about the paper shredders working overtime at the health protection branch. This time it is over the controversial milk drug BST. After all of the other foul-ups at Health Canada, what are they trying to cover up now?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that that complaint has been made. I understand that the information commissioner is looking into the matter. I am told the deputy minister has instructed the staff of the department to co-operate in every way. I am sure that the information commissioner will get to the bottom of it.
I might add that these are serious allegations. If they are proven to be true, then there will be steps taken that are appropriate.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, it started with shredded documents over tainted blood. Now we have allegations about shredded documents over tainted milk.
There is rot in the health protection branch. It is interesting, is it not?
What is it about this health minister that wherever he goes, in justice or in health, incompetence just seems to follow him around?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member would not want to mislead the public into thinking that BST has been approved in Canada. It has not been approved in Canada. It may have been approved in the United States, but in this country we take our time to examine an application for approval. BST will not be approved in this country unless and until it is proven to be safe. We have been looking at it for nine years. We are looking at it very carefully. We will not approve BST in this country unless we are satisfied it is safe for use.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, a potentially deadly hallucinogenic fruit was recently introduced on the black market. In the past month, Quebec's poison control centre recorded about 45 cases where people had to be hospitalized.
Will the Minister of Health act quickly to prohibit the sale of datura stramonium?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the hon. member and her colleagues for raising this issue yesterday. I raised the issue with my department and I can tell you that we are considering measures to prevent this problem on our city streets. I hope to soon be able to provide a more detailed reply.
Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Canada Post Corporation.
How does Canada Post use its network of rural post offices to provide more services to Canadians living in rural areas and to contribute to the future strength of Canada's rural communities?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is at the crossroads of our rural communities and it will not only continue to provide traditional services to the public, but also introduce government services, thanks to the new technology. For example, we are currently setting up DHRD employment and training information booths, in Quebec and in Newfoundland, and we will soon be announcing other additional services throughout the country, to serve Canadians wherever they live.
Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, the drug problem in the lower mainland of British Columbia is out of control.
Crack cocaine pushers have been busted in Vancouver. They have moved down into Burnaby and now they are in New Westminster and crossing the Fraser River into my constituency of Surrey North.
The Surrey RCMP tell me that due to underfunding they have neither the resources nor the manpower to meet this onslaught.
What is this government going to do about the drug pushers; not the addicts, the pushers?
Will it restore RCMP funding, put the handcuffs on the drug dealers and take the handcuffs off the RCMP?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his question.
Very specifically, we are working, as I have said many times, on organized crime. It is the law enforcement priority of this government. As it happens, we are meeting with the attorney general of British Columbia tomorrow on this very subject.
Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, in my riding there is a standoff between police and drug dealers.
Children as young as 11 years old are selling drugs. The government says that it is just a police problem, yet the solicitor general has cut police funding. The evidence of government failure is right on the streets of my riding.
When will the government act? Will it restore police funding, stop the drugs and not the police?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, perhaps if the member had listened to the previous answer he would understand that organized crime and drugs are the law enforcement priorities of this government.
We are meeting tomorrow with the attorney general of British Columbia and other attorneys general and solicitors general on this very subject.
Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
The minister will know that in 1993 Canada agreed to reduce its subsidies under the WTO by 20% over six years, but instead of doing that we gutted our farm support program by more than 60% in that period of time.
The result is that U.S. wheat farmers now receive five times more in subsidies than Canadian farmers, making it impossible for our farmers to compete.
When is the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food going to admit that there is an honest to goodness crisis on many farms in this country and announce a new emergency relief program?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, it is too bad that particular member cannot get his facts straight. He tries to do that in other areas.
The work that was done on the WTO, the World Trade Organization, which reduced a number of tariffs to 85%, referred specifically to our supply managed area. In the other areas we worked in conjunction with the industry.
As I said earlier today and many times in this House, we worked with them to put a safety net program in place. There is one. We are reviewing it at the present time. I am meeting with the industry. I am meeting with my provincial counterparts. We will work to get—
AgricultureOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre.
John Solomon NDP Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government got suckered by Europe and the Americans at the international trade talks. They raced right home to chop farm subsidies and the Crow rate while the Europeans and Americans chopped nothing.
This government's gullibility would be laughable if the consequences were not so serious for our farmers. European parliamentarians told me there was no way they were sacrificing their farmers.
Why is this government sacrificing our farmers? Why is it hanging Canadian farmers out to dry?
Bob Speller LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, in fact that is not right. As a government we have begun consultations with all of our farmers across the country to make sure that we have a very strong independent position when we go to the new talks coming up.
The hon. member should know coming from western Canada that the Canadian government has well represented the farmers of western Canada on the trade front.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, the only line of defence the health minister has for what has been going on in the health protection branch is that BST has not yet been approved. “Don't worry”.
Unfortunately, when the government says “Don't worry” it always sweeps it under the rug. In this case, the government swept it into the shredder. The minister obviously misses the point. The point is about public disclosure.
Why is the minister allowing the approval process to be tainted with the destruction of information in his department? Or are those orders coming from the top?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member did not hear my earlier response when I said that it is true a complaint has been made. I think in fact it was a Tory staffer in the Senate who made the complaint to which the member has referred.
The information commissioner is looking into it. The deputy minister has instructed the department to co-operate fully. Therefore, matters will be clarified in due course.
I also stress that this is a very serious allegation. If indeed it is substantiated, then I assure the House that appropriate steps will be taken.