Debates of Nov. 18th, 1998

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

Environment

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a year has passed since Canada went to Kyoto and signed the environmental agreement and this government still refuses to admit how much it is going to cost Canadians. We have been asking that question for over a year.

The results of a study that Standard and Poor's prepared for this government, and which the government had in its hands before it went to Kyoto, indicated that compliance with Kyoto could cost Canadians up to $7,000 per household.

How does the environment minister think that already overtaxed Canadians are going to come up with another $7,000?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it is incredible how out of step the Reform Party is on the issue of climate change.

Since Kyoto we have seen a lot of movement across Canada from coast to coast to coast. The vast majority of Canadians tell us that they are concerned about this issue. They want action and they will take action. We are providing them with the tools to do so.

I am gratified that other Canadians feel it is a very important issue and do not take their guidance from that party.

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, nothing was achieved in Kyoto or in Argentina.

The U.S. Senate has stated that it will not sign the deal regardless of what Canada does. Developing countries will not buy into it.

Once again I ask the question. Where are Canadian families that are already overtaxed and with dwindling take home pay going to find another $7,000?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the member is very ill informed about what this government has been doing in the international community.

The developing nations are onside. They agreed in Buenos Aires to a timetable and the development of definitions for three mechanisms. One of them is the clean development mechanism which they understand will bring them great environmental and sustainable development advantages.

Canada is working with all parties internationally to make sure that we can all meet our climate change objectives. This is important for the security not only of Canada but the world.

Tobacco

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

Mr. Speaker, on June 3, 1998 the health minister said publicly that he supports the principles of Bill S-13. He said it is a clever bill and it ties money from smoking to prevention programs.

This past Monday the minister refused to answer a question about his intentions with respect to a levy on cartons of cigarettes.

I ask the minister, and I hope that he does not evade the question today, does the minister still believe that a levy of 50 cents a carton for prevention purposes is a good thing or not?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, since 1994 this government has introduced taxes on cigarettes three times with the result that taxes have gone up between $2.50 and $5 per carton, depending on the province.

Since 1994 we have introduced the toughest anti-smoking legislation in the western world. We have committed $100 million to reduce smoking in this country. We have shown time and time again our commitment to tackling smoking in Canada and we will continue to do so.

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

Mr. Speaker, for the record, on June 3 the minister said “S-13 is a good bill, a clever bill, a valid bill and I think we should go forward with it”. But he also said interestingly that there is some institutional resistance to the idea of a 50 cents a carton levy on the tobacco industry.

I want to ask the minister today, is that resistance coming from his own government?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we all support the principle of reducing smoking particularly among young people. That is something we all agree with, but that is not the issue. The member well knows there are procedural and constitutional issues with respect to that bill.

I want to say that regardless of what may happen to that bill, we are going to be examining the principles behind it to see how they can be adapted in the plans we already have, to spend money and energy and all the forces we can muster to tackle smoking among young people. We will take the principles of that bill, no matter what happens to it, and direct it to those efforts.

Apec Inquiry

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

Mr. Speaker, in June 1991 while the Prime Minister was in opposition he said “If the system of ministerial accountability and integrity is not respected, people will never have confidence in the Public Service of Canada”.

By refusing to give a full accounting of his irresponsible and indiscreet discussions of October 1 the solicitor general and his leader are yet to stand by this principle.

I ask the solicitor general, now that he has filed an affidavit, is he willing to go before the public complaints commission and testify under oath and submit himself to cross-examination?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I filed an affidavit. As such the public complaints commission is now responsible for what happens from here. I will be co-operating in any way it deems appropriate.

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

Mr. Speaker, I hope that does include testifying.

A blanket denial from the solicitor general will not cut it with Canadians. They want truth and accountability. Canadians want credible details on this issue from the solicitor general who is unfamiliar with candour.

The member for Palliser—

[The Speaker]

Be very judicious in the choice of words. Go directly to the question, please.

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

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general is quoted as having discussed the financial matters of Gerald Morin. I am asking the solicitor general now if he will confirm or deny that those discussions took place. If he will not tell us here, will he tell us if it is in the affidavit?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, surely the hon. member with his background would know that now that I have filed an affidavit it is now part of the process. Basically I am waiting on the public complaints commission to determine what will happen from here, as is appropriate.

Central America

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Fanshawe, ON]

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

Considering the devastation which hurricane Mitch has wreaked on Central America and the social and economic upheaval which has been left in its wake, will the minister commit to delaying deportations to that troubled part of the world?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member for London—Fanshawe and all members of parliament that we are monitoring the situation very closely in Central America. All removals to that part of the globe are being reviewed on a case by case basis. It is clear that we do not want to put people at risk.

I must add that for the people also from Central America who are on our territory right now on a legal basis, and I am thinking about the visitors, foreign students or temporary workers, there is a possibility to extend their visas.

Health

[Eric C. Lowther, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have heard a lot lately about the climate of fear in the health protection branch. Scientists are supposed to be independent. They are supposed to be protectors of the health of Canadians.

These same scientists have testified about intimidation tactics in the department. The deputy minister himself has said there are problems that must not be swept under the rug. An internal investigation has been promised. Will the minister commit today in this House that he will make that report public?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the deputy minister acknowledged, there are difficulties in the health protection branch which must be addressed and which are being addressed.

Even in the last year and a half look at what has happened. We have cut back on the reductions in the food labs. We have appointed an arm's length science advisory board. We have undertaken an intensive three-year transition process involving public consultations to renew the health protection branch.

We have put $125 million over the next five years into improving the regulations of blood supply. We are committed to ensuring the health protection branch does its job for the safety of Canadians.

Augusto Pinochet

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

Mr. Speaker, Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, has been accused of crimes against humanity by Spanish courts and is today being held in a London hospital awaiting a verdict on his release or extradition.

My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. If the government considers that human rights are more than just rhetoric, and given the request by a Canadian torture victim, is the government prepared to support the request to charge General Pinochet with crimes against humanity and seek his extradition to Canada?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think that goes under the general political rubric of a hypothetical question.

The fact is that Mr. Pinochet is at present in Great Britain. The matter is being considered by the House of Lords legal committee. We expect we will have a decision by that committee under the British law at that point in time. How it would apply under the present Canadian law would be a matter that would have to be examined if, when and how it ever happened here.

I would like to remind the House that a major bill dealing with extradition is going through the House of Commons at the present moment. It would substantially change the rules under which extradition would be applied.

National Defence

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government is in the process of trying to cut a deal with the province of Nova Scotia to sell assets associated with the Shearwater base, including land and property rights from the jetty to the airfield, including some downtown property.

It is time for the government to come clean regarding the impact of its closed door negotiations on workers in the Halifax region. How many jobs would be lost? Would any work be contracted out and if so, which jobs?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, our effort here and our discussions with the province of Nova Scotia and with Shearwater Development Corporation is to use lands that are no longer required for Department of National Defence purposes for the benefit of the people of that province, of that community and to create economic development opportunities so that jobs can be created there. We will continue with those discussions and bring about that very positive outcome.

Immigration

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of immigration. A number of persecuted Turkish Kurds have reached Canada and have been granted refugee status.

The minister should be aware that being a Kurd in Turkey often involves the use of false papers. Two of these refugees were caught using false papers by Turkish authorities. Even though they are now safely in Canada, the immigration department is charging them $1,000 each as a rehabilitation fee for having used these documents.

How does the minister justify that fee to penniless refugees whose only crime was to use false papers to escape repression in their own country?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, our refugee determination process is one of the most generous in the world, and our legislation enables us to welcome people from the world over who have been persecuted.

That said, it is clear that persons seeking asylum in Canada must provide Canadian authorities with accurate information.