Debates of Nov. 17th, 1998

Canadian Human Rights Act

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I commend the hon. member for raising the question about the crisis in farm income.

The minister of agriculture is very concerned about the farm income situation. When the official opposition requested a debate in the House of Commons on farm income, it was the minister who led the debate.

Further to the debate in the House of Commons the minister convened a meeting on November 4 with industry leaders, provincial ministers and farm leaders. At that time officials were instructed to accelerate the process to consider both short term and long term solutions to the expected farm income declines in 1998 and 1999. Federal and provincial deputy ministers of agriculture met on November 5 and 6 and are actively developing a full range of options that could be considered.

As well, the industry advisory group on safety nets met on November 10 and will be sharing with the minister and officials its view on alternative actions that could be undertaken by governments including the possible approaches in designing a national disaster program.

We have worked co-operatively with our provincial colleagues and industry players on developing the current safety net system. We will continue to work co-operatively on making the system even better. This is a key priority for the minister of agriculture. He is diligent in his efforts to ensure that farmers across Canada have the necessary tools to manage price and income fluctuations that are beyond their control.

The minister is committed to acting as quickly as possible but not rashly, irresponsibly or prematurely. The necessary tools are being developed to improve the effectiveness of the farm safety net system as quickly as possible, but I am sure the hon. member will agree that inequitable, ineffective and unaffordable ad hoc measures are not the answer.

Action must be taken quickly, however. It is important to take the time necessary to ensure the actions taken are the best ones for farmers and for all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask questions about the aircraft safety issue following the horrible crash of Swissair flight 111 off Peggy's Cove some time ago. Coincidentally just last night another aircraft had a forced landing in Gander, Newfoundland. The problem was similar to the one reported in the Swissair crash. This one did not crash but it was a forced landing because of loss of cabin pressure and smoke in the cockpit.

When I asked this question before the minister responded that we have no evidence that there is a wiring deficiency or a wiring problem in aircraft in Canada. I take exception to that and I will get into it in a second.

Another thing he said was that there certainly was no hazard or no danger as long as planes are properly maintained. I would like to address both those issues and ask the parliamentary secretary to respond.

Certainly on the question of wiring, it is very clear in the report called “FAA Aging Transport Non-Structural Systems Plans” that the organization or the task force identified to research the situation acknowledged that a more extensive examination of aging aircraft systems was needed. More aging airplane models need to be evaluated and the wire analysed in laboratories to fully characterize the condition of the wire on our aging transport airplane fleet. Certainly wiring was the big issue in that report.

The FAA went on to identify the top four aging concerns. It is probably the most highly recognized aircraft safety organization in the world. The top four aging concerns were wiring, connectors to wiring, grounds and ground straps, and circuit breakers. These concerns are all related to wiring. That is exactly what we have been saying all along. Wiring is an issue that should be addressed.

The second issue that I want to bring forward is maintenance. The minister said that even though these planes perhaps have problems as long as they are properly maintained everything is okay. However the FAA went on to say that its studies also revealed that current maintenance practices for systems were too general and that standard repair practices were needed. It said that there was definitely a need to improve inspections. The review found that some wiring systems were difficult to inspect and that there were insufficient inspection criteria for corrosion on flight control and hydraulic systems.

Again I bring to the attention of the parliamentary secretary that wiring is an issue and inspections do not cover it. That is very clear from the FAA report.

I would like the parliamentary secretary to address those remarks of the FAA. I would like him to acknowledge the problem like the FAA has done. There is a problem with wiring. There is a problem with aging aircraft. There is a problem with inspections.

I would also like the parliamentary secretary to comment on the specific wiring deficiencies and any efforts made or attempts right now to try to determine what the problems are. I would like him to comment on the FAA remarks that improved inspections and maintenance procedures were definitely required right away.

If the parliamentary secretary could address those three issues by the FAA I would be very grateful.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the matter raised by the hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester on October 20, 1998 as well as this evening regarding aircraft safety and kapton wiring.

During the certification of both foreign and domestic aircraft used in Canada, Transport Canada assesses aircraft wiring systems including the use of kapton wiring for appropriate installation. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration addresses the limitations associated with the use of kapton wiring. It does not prohibit its use but it does caution on proper installation.

When installed in accordance with FAA guidelines and subjected to the appropriate maintenance inspection procedures, there are no identified problems associated with the use of kapton wire. While Transport Canada is aware of Department of National Defence initiatives concerning this wire, there is no evidence of an identified safety problem with the use of kapton in the civil environment.

Despite the position taken by the U.S. navy that kapton was totally unacceptable for its aircraft, there was no clear experience to indicate a widespread problem on civil aircraft. It is not Transport Canada's practice to require changes on in service aircraft unless experience has shown it to be necessary to take such action. If it is shown through inspections, service difficulty reporting or occurrence investigation results that there is a problem with kapton, Transport Canada as regulator will take prompt and appropriate action to mitigate the safety risk.

In closing, Transport Canada continues to monitor closely the overall transportation safety board investigation into the Swissair accident and to evaluate information as it becomes available.

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since January 1, 1997, the federal program implemented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has resulted in the elimination of some 11,500 lambs and sheep in 236 herds.

This massive slaughter of nearly 10% of the animals has seriously affected the sheep industry in Quebec. Most animals have been slaughtered as a preventive measure, and some producers have lost their whole herd.

Last June, the Bloc Quebecois requested a moratorium on the slaughtering of sheep, and this moratorium has been respected, because it was imperative to take stock and put an end to the carnage.

Today, we are asking the government and the minister of agriculture to act responsibly and fairly toward sheep producers and to prevent there being two categories of victims—those predating the October 27, 1998 order increasing maximum compensation and those of January 1, 1997.

Fair treatment. Since the industry and the department have agreed on maximum compensation after October 27 of some $600 a head, it would be fair if all producers received the same settlement. If the agency cannot legally act retroactively, the minister can set up ad hoc programs or income security measures similar to disaster relief.

The Government of Quebec is doing its very large part to support sheep producers. Today, in fact, it accorded a maximum loan of $100,000 per business interest free for three years to all Quebec producers whose animals were slaughtered between January 1, 1997 and October 27, 1998.

So now what are those primarily responsible for the slaughter of these many sheep—the agency and the department of agriculture—waiting for to do likewise? We simply want them to be fair and equitable.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question on September 30 was: “Can the minister assure us that Quebec sheep farmers are receiving the same treatment from the agency in all aspects as their counterparts in other provinces, and is he prepared to produce agency documents to prove this?”

I am happy to report that the information requested was provided to the hon. member for Louis-Hébert in writing.

As the hon. member has stated, we have ordered a number of sheep quarantined and slaughtered, primarily in Quebec. These actions have been taken to control and prevent the spread of scrapie and to protect Canadian consumers and the sheep industry. Our actions have been based on Health Canada's recommendation that animals that have been infected or exposed to scrapie must be kept out of the food chain.

As a result of the difficult but necessary actions to date, there has been significant progress made in containing the further spread of scrapie in the sheep population in Quebec.

We sympathize with the situation of these farmers who have worked hard to develop their industry. We have taken a number of steps to assist them.

Since the beginning of 1997 the Government of Canada has paid out more than $2 billion in compensation to sheep farmers in Quebec. In February we amended our legislation to include compensation for disposal costs. Recently we doubled the maximum level for compensation available for sheep destroyed to $600.

In addition, the Farm Credit Corporation developed a deferred loan program to assist affected farmers in re-establishing their flocks. We have also committed close to $400,000 to research into validating a test for scrapie in live animals. In taking all these steps we have made every effort to consult with and to work with representatives of the sheep industry.

I can assure the House this government has treated Quebec sheep farmers fairly and equitably.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted.

Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7.33 p.m.)