House of Commons Hansard #147 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, a year ago I questioned the Liberal patronage appointment of Ron Fewchuk, the CEO of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board.
After a year of turmoil it seems the minister is about to make some changes, including the infamous Mr. Fewchuk.
Does the minister not realize that it takes more than running a bait shop to run a $50 million operation?
Is the minister prepared to stand today, take responsibility and admit that he made a mistake with this patronage appointment?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Fewchuk has resigned as president of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.
I intend to seek a replacement for him in due course. I will announce that person's name to the House when in fact I have chosen such person.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, when Ron Fewchuk was appointed as the CEO of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board there was a CEO in place already. In fact, for the last year there have been two CEOs.
Mr. Fewchuk has resigned. As a matter of fact, when he gets his pink slip there is going to be a severance package paid to Mr. Fewchuk. He had a severance package when he left parliament. He had a $100,000 salary and now he has another severance package.
Will the minister please tell us how much it cost Canadian taxpayers to have this Liberal appointment made to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the member asked me a question which he knows full well I cannot answer for the reason that privacy provisions prevent us from commenting on severance packages or anything else of that like.
With respect to his comments about patronage, I can assure him that we are not following the practice of the previous Tory government which was awash with patronage.
Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions.
The Bank of Canada is saying it plans to print more money to deal with the possibility of excessive withdrawals from our banks brought on by the public's concern over the year 2000 bug.
Are our banks themselves fully prepared for the year 2000?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question.
I am assured by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions that they have had extensive discussions with the banks to ensure that they will be compliant by the year 2000.
Moreover, they have encouraged the banks in dealing with their customers to also pass on the message that it is critical that all Canadian businesses be compliant by the year 2000.
Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, when Canadians tune in to Hockey Night in Canada they notice a large Government of Canada sign on the ice surface of the Molson Centre. Those signs cost $540,000.
How can this government justify spending over half a million dollars on these signs when the other emblem of our Canadian self, the RCMP, is not receiving enough funds?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada participates in different sports activities, whether it is Formula 1, hockey, baseball or football. These sports are sponsored by the Government of Canada. I think the member should be proud that when Canadians and the rest of the world are watching a hockey game they will see that Canada is there.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government took money away from Canada's francophones to reduce its deficit.
That much is clear, because between 1993, when the Liberals came to office, and the year 2000, the total official language budget of the Department of Canadian Heritage will have been reduced by 40%, which is also the case with its direct contributions to francophone groups in Canada.
Will the Minister of Canadian Heritage give a positive answer to the francophone groups from all over Canada, which have often asked her to raise the amounts set aside for agreements between Canada and French speaking communities?
Mauril Bélanger LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, as is usual with them, our friends opposite come to the rescue of Canadian francophones when it suits them.
They forget to mention the school system, the community radio stations, the expansion of the TVA television network from sea to sea and the support that the Canadian government gives to many institutions to help the French speaking community not only to survive, but to flourish.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Centre for Social Justice has proven that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. The Centre for the Study of Living Standards has proven that economic well-being is in decline. A study by HRDC has proven that urban poverty is increasing. They all point to a critical need for government action.
Instead we hear that the government plans to address poverty by redefining the way it is measured.
My question is simply this: Is this government planning to eradicate poverty by scrapping the LICO and redefining poor people out of existence?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this government is very concerned about the issue of poverty. This has been demonstrated by the fact that it has committed $850 million to enrich the child tax benefit aimed at poor children and poor families. It is devoting another $850 million to further fight poverty.
This is proof. It is not just talk like the hon. member is doing. It is action that Canadians want and they are getting positive action from this government.
Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.
In two recent airplane crashes both planes were determined to have not been equipped with emergency locator transmitters. The transportation safety board has now said that all planes should be equipped with ELTs, but the industry has responded by saying that it is going to be too expensive.
Considering that the price of an ELT is about the same price as a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Halifax, will the minister make it a requirement that all planes in Canada be equipped with ELTs so that every time a Canadian gets on a plane they will know the plane is equipped with an ELT?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member I am sure forgets that some months ago I made this assurance. In fact, the committee on air regulations has been meeting with the industry to make sure this goes into effect. There are meetings happening in the next few weeks.
I think the hon. member's point is well taken, but he is a little late. We have already announced that decision.
Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is important for Canadians to have a better understanding of their history and truly live out their culture.
My question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. What is the minister doing to encourage Canadian museums to make Canadians across the country aware of their exhibits?
Mauril Bélanger LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Nickel Belt for his question.
This is a happy coincidence, but this morning the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced funding for the museums assistance program will increase by $2 million to $9.4 million, which will allow all museums and galleries to do more to promote our common heritage.
The minister also announced an indemnification program for travelling exhibitions, which would allow Canadian museums and galleries to attract international exhibitions to Canada to travel across the country without having to cover insurance costs. This will foster a better knowledge of our heritage.
Jim Abbott Reform Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Speaker, I stand on behalf of RCMP officers all over Canada and especially on behalf of those in the province of British Columbia. Why can the solicitor general not understand the chagrin, the anger and the frustration of RCMP officers when the commissioner flies out in the RCMP private jet for a retirement party while there is a cutback of $8.5 million, there is no overtime and there are no boats and no planes? Why can he not understand that?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, why can the hon. member across the way not understand what a discredit it is to him to taint the reputation of the RCMP based on information that is inaccurate? He suggests that the only reason the commissioner was there was for that purpose when, in fact, there was a whole series of business conducted during that trip.
Pierrette Venne Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, with Bill C-44, the federal government is trying to put the chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on an ejection seat. According to the President of the Treasury Board, however, there is no such threat in there since the independence of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is recognized in the act.
If what the President of the Treasury Board says is right, how can he explain that the last three CEOs of the CBC and 21 well-known journalists are saying they are very concerned about the provisions of Bill C-44?
Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, once again, the full independence of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is guaranteed by the Broadcasting Act. However I would like to ask a question of my colleague from the Bloc. If holding office during pleasure under the federal act is so dangerous, how is it that the chairman of Télé-Québec is appointed under the very same conditions?
Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK
Mr. Speaker, in announcing a multibillion dollar income assistance program for U.S. farmers, which starts tomorrow, the U.S. secretary of agriculture said “the package will get out some real help to farmers whose livelihoods are on the line”.
My question is to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. When will this government announce a relief program that will allow Canadian farmers whose livelihoods are equally on the line to begin planning their 1999 crop instead of their 1999 auction sale?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I have already pointed out to the hon. member the attributes of our safety net system in Canada. There is $2.5 billion allotted to that system.
Also of importance, as we all know, is the fact that I have called a meeting for Wednesday of the farm leaders and provincial ministers. This will allow us to continue to plan a “coherent and clear national strategy to provide producers with security”.
The hon. member should recognize exactly what we are doing and what we are about to do because that is a quote from “A Framework for Canada's Future”, the NDP platform from the last election.
André Harvey Progressive Conservative Chicoutimi, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.
To follow up on my colleague's question, I think an instrument landing system is important, particularly in outlying areas. Unfortunately, it took the Clarenceville accident to shed light on some of the deficiencies involved here.
Does the minister know that it can take months to have an instrument landing system repaired, and that meanwhile the aircraft has to do without the system? That is the unfortunate explanation for some accidents.
I would like to know if the minister intends to force companies to temporarily replace instrument landing systems that are being repaired.
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the service period involved has been revealed. I believe in the Air Canada accident some time ago it was inordinately long.
This is one of the aspects of the regulation that will be looked at by the committee in developing the new regime under which all these planes will operate.
Lynn Myers Liberal Waterloo—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. According to a recent study there is a growing gap between Canada's richest and Canada's poorest families. By 1996 Canada's richest families were making 314 times the average income of the poorest.
What does the minister suggest be done to rectify this situation?