Debates of Nov. 20th, 1998

Business Development Bank Of Canada

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I know there was a tendency in Tory days to direct right into the bank exactly what to do and how to do it, in particular transactions. We do not do it that way.

The bank operates as an independent commercial entity. I am aware of the situation the member has raised. I am informed that the bank was unaware that this situation would arise when it entered into an arm's length negotiation with the landlord in a particular situation. I am sure the bank is doing its best to deal in a sensitive manner with the situation.

Health

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health.

In a recent television documentary concerns were raised regarding the increased amount of caffeine that was being added to soft drinks and bottled water and how this would negatively impact our youth.

Could the Minister of Health tell the House today why Health Canada would allow this to happen?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the TV program that may have left a misimpression with some people. The fact this use of caffeine has not been approved by Health Canada and I can assure the member and everyone in the House that while we are conducting consultations we will not approve this unless we determine it is safe. Safety is always a priority for Health Canada.

Solicitor General

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question asked earlier by one of my colleagues, the parliamentary secretary declared that the cries for the solicitor general's resignation are based on innuendo and hearsay.

My question is simple. Is the parliamentary secretary saying that sworn affidavits by Fred Toole, by the member for Palliser and from the solicitor general are innuendo?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I ask the hon. member to take due account of paragraphs 21 and 22 in Mr. Toole's affidavit. They will indicate that Mr. Toole confirms, as far as he is concerned, he heard nothing that would indicate that the solicitor general prejudged the matter. If the parliamentary secretary is referring to innuendo and insinuation, he is referring to the questions of the hon. member and his colleagues.

When they ask those kinds of questions it shows they know they have a very weak case.

Icebreaking Policy

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the Atlantic groundfish strategy, the federal government has placed Quebec at a disadvantage compared to Newfoundland.

The government is doing it again on the icebreaking issue.

What does the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans have to say to all ferry service users, particularly those in Rivière-du-Loup, Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau, who will have to bear the brunt of this new tax?

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I thought that by this time the member opposite, given all the minister's answers over the past week, would be standing to congratulate the Government of Canada for what it does in the province of Quebec.

The hon. member should be praising the Government of Canada for its support of the fishery, increasing the value of the landings by 39% as compared to an 18% increase in Atlantic Canada. The minister already indicated to members opposite that we are spending $36 million on bridges across the St. Lawrence—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Sydney—Victoria.

Devco

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear the member for Scarborough East and the Minister of Human Resource Development discuss jobs today. It bears on a question I asked in the House two weeks ago today to the Minister of Natural Resources. I asked what plans the government had for the hundreds of workers who have been laid off by Devco, a crown corporation in Cape Breton.

The chairman of that federal crown corporation has said it may not be able to meet its December 1 payroll. What plans if any does the government have to deal with the payroll commitments of Devco to the miners who work there?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, production has resumed in that operation. I commend the United Mine Workers of America for their constructive participation in that. We will go forward from there in a positive way to work with everyone to make a greater success of Devco.

Agriculture

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, farmers in Atlantic Canada are also feeling the crunch from the government.

We have grain in abundance because of a bumper crop and the market is flooded, which drives prices down. Yet the government is allowing grain from Europe into the port of Halifax and the port of Saint John.

If the minister is as much of a Canadian as he feels he is, is it not time that he took care of Canadian farmers instead of farmers from Europe?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, after the completion of the feed freight assistance program that was wound down with support to the producers over the last number of years the producers in Atlantic Canada wanted the availability to buy their inputs and their grain where they could buy them the cheapest. They have that availability.

Public Service Alliance Of Canada

[Ian Murray, Liberal, Lanark—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

The government has announced a tentative agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada on the first collective bargaining agreement since 1991.

Can the President of the Treasury Board inform the House on the contents of the collective agreement and tell us when employees can expect to receive their raises?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to confirm that we have reached an agreement with 90% of our civil servants. It lasted 18 months and it was difficult, but it is an excellent agreement.

I am also glad to say that in that same agreement we have put into place now the pay equity for the future, the structure necessary to implement it, so that there will no further gender bias against women in our pay scales for the future. This is an extraordinarily important achievement.

This agreement is to be ratified between December 6 and 16. We will be able to pay the amounts within a few weeks after the ratification.

Solicitor General Of Canada

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that politics and perceptions are what people see. The Canadian perception now is that there is a bad apple in the Liberal barrel, namely the solicitor general.

Prime Minister Mulroney got rid of Sinclair Stevens, yet this government does not do anything with the current solicitor general. How far are the Liberals prepared to let the rot in that barrel expand? When are they going to get rid of the solicitor general?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

What a great country, Mr. Speaker. If you wait long enough you too can be acting Prime Minister.

The very comparison being drawn indicates an inability on the part of the Reform Party to make a judgment as to what is in fact an ethical issue. What is clear in this case, and the affidavits tabled yesterday make it clear, is that the solicitor general did not in any way direct or prejudge the inquiry. That is the issue that really is germane here. That is all.

Aid To Victims Of Hurricane Mitch

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, hurricane Mitch is the worst natural disaster to hit Central America. The Prime Minister must show compassion in view of this tragedy.

Since the social and economic infrastructures of Honduras, Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua have been all but destroyed, will the Prime Minister make a commitment here and now to write off these countries' debt to Canada and support the Chirac plan for a reconstruction summit?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, we have already done a lot in response to this devastating storm. We have announced that $9 million has been set aside for emergency humanitarian assistance. National Defence has deployed troops who are providing direct assistance to the people of Honduras.

Last Sunday, I had the honour and privilege of announcing that $100 million has been set aside for reconstruction assistance for Central America. We have declared a moratorium on its debt and hopefully we will be able to do more for Central America in the near future.

Health Care

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

Mr. Speaker, the Alberta legislature is debating a bill as we speak about allowing for a hospital to operate on a private for profit basis. This opens the door to American style corporate hospitals in this country.

At the same time private spending on health is skyrocketing due to an ailing, hard hit public system covering fewer and fewer medical needs.

I would like to know from the parliamentary secretary what specific steps the government is taking to prevent the increasing privatization of health care in Canada.

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, specifically the government and the minister are very aware of Bill 37 before the Alberta legislature.

The position has been made very clear that this government supports absolutely and unequivocally the principles of the Canada Health Act and will not tolerate a move to two tier medicine in Canada.

Solicitor General Of Canada

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as members of this House recognize, I am a relative newcomer to the parliamentary system.

I was very pleased with the way the parliamentary process worked until recently and generally with the solicitor general. When I came to the House I brought with me the integrity I had learned before coming here.

Liberal members were quick to call for the resignations of federal ministers for relatively minor indiscretions when they were in opposition. Could the parliamentary secretary tell me if his government will do the right thing and ask the solicitor general for his resignation?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I would like the hon. member to review the record of the last Conservative government and look at the nature of the incidents that led to scandal after scandal and resignation after resignation of ministers of that party.

We can well understand the desperate case of scandal envy the hon. member suffers from as he tries to raise this incident to that level.

Central America

[George Proud, Liberal, Hillsborough, PE]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by hurricane Mitch, could the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence tell the House what the contribution of the Canadian forces has been in bringing relief to the populations of Central America?

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and the Canadian forces have a long tradition of rendering assistance to populations in need following natural disasters. We have deployed to Honduras the disaster assistance response team and four Griffon helicopters. We are also involved in the transport of humanitarian aid to the Honduras and Nicaragua.

Approximately 300 Canadian forces personnel are now stationed in Honduras, including doctors, nurses, engineers and security personnel. The Minister of National Defence will travel to Honduras on Sunday. He will visit our personnel in La Ceiba and Sonaguera and assess the situation in the region where our Canadian forces are deployed.

Point Of Order

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday you asked the Deputy Prime Minister to honour the tradition in the House of not referring to members present or absent.

Today, he did not answer the second question I put to him, but alluded to the fact that all the first row seats between you and me were empty.

It is unfortunate that the Deputy Prime Minister has already left, I would have liked him to retract—