Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1998

Apec Inquiry

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, now that the Prime Minister has said that, then surely he will be happy to set up an inquiry and testify before the inquiry that his answer is none.

The solicitor general said that a senior Mountie named Hughie was going to take the fall. Take the fall for whom, the Prime Minister?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that there is an inquiry and the inquiry will do its job.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that in my reply to the member I thought he was still a member of parliament at that time but he had turned to being a Socred in British Columbia. So I do not know. Now he is a Reformer. It is difficult to follow. I am sorry. I made a mistake.

Icebreaking Policy

[Yves Rocheleau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans introduced the concept of intraharbour transit to exempt the Quebec City-Lévis ferry service from icebreaking charges. However, the Sorel and Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferries also run an intraharbour service.

Why, therefore, has the minister not announced an exemption for the Sorel—Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferry service?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I replied to several questions on this topic, and I pointed out that we were considering what we heard about the region's industry. When we have considered all submissions, we will announce our fee schedule.

[Yves Rocheleau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when all is said and done, does the minister realize that it is not just the ferries, but Quebec shipping in its entirety that will be penalized by his unfair policy on icebreaking fees?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I must point out that the idea is to recover 17.5% of costs, leaving Canadian taxpayers to cover the remaining 82.5%. Two-thirds of vessels will be foreign owned.

Apec Inquiry

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister seems to be implying that the statements made by his former solicitor general did not prejudice the RCMP complaints inquiry. But there are two affidavits before that inquiry where his solicitor general, referring to someone being investigated by that inquiry, said “Oh Hughie. Oh you mean Hughie” and commented to the effect that Hughie might have to take “a” or “the” “hit” or “fall” for that.

Is the Prime Minister saying that that statement by his former solicitor general did not prejudice the RCMP complaints commission?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the affidavit of November 18, 1998 by Frederick Toole, the gentleman who was there, it very clearly said that in no way anything Mr. Scott said could affect the outcome of the inquiry. Some lawyers are arguing that at this moment in front of the commission and I do not want to comment. Let the commission do its work.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, that affidavit from which the Prime Minister just read and which he acknowledges must be valid also contains these words “Oh Hughie. Oh you mean Hughie” and commented to the effect that Hughie might have to take a hit or a fall.

Is the Prime Minister saying that this statement, not the one he read, the one I read, that that does not prejudice the RCMP complaints commission?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there is a debate going on at this moment in front of the commission. The commission will look into the matter. The commission exists because there is a law of parliament which gave the commission the authority. It is being debated at this time in front of the commission. Just let the commission do its work. That is the only thing I am asking of the Leader of the Opposition.

Social Union

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the premiers of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan asked the federal government again, as they did last summer in Saskatoon, to restore by the next budget funding that was cut from health and to stop interfering in areas of provincial jurisdiction.

My question is for the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for the social union. Can the minister tell us if the federal government intends to settle the social union issue before the end of 1998, as unanimously requested by the premiers?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is definitely in the federal government's interest to co-operate with the provincial governments to improve one of the world's best social unions, a union that the member, his party and his leader in Quebec City seek to destroy.

Housing

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as winter sets in and the condition of the homeless grows more serious and urgent in Canada's urban centres, I would like to ask a question of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

Would the government convene a meeting of interested parties, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, for the purpose of launching an adequate program for the homeless for this winter and for the years ahead?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the homeless situation. As a matter of fact, the Canadian government has already contributed $300,000 to the task force headed by Mrs. Ann Golden.

I understand that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is involved in the discussion. CMHC is preparing regional workshops. We hope we can combine this together in a national conference. I am pleased to say that CMHC is also ready to give a financial contribution so that this conference can be organized.

Hepatitis C

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, today the Government of Ontario followed through with its promise to compensate unilaterally pre-1986 and post-1990 hepatitis C victims. Recognizing the federal government's failure to do the same, will the minister provide us with an update on the unacceptable slow delivery of the compensation package several months ago? What is the status of that package? What is the minister doing to expedite the delivery?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in this context, I want to remind the member what the Government of Canada has done.

We have committed $1.3 billion for those who have contracted hepatitis C through the blood system; $800 million with the provinces to settle the class action lawsuit; $300 million to share the cost of medical services not covered by insurance for those who got the disease at any time; $125 million to strengthen the regulation of the blood system following on the recommendations of Mr. Justice Krever; $50 million for research; and $50 million for trace back programs.

We have taken our responsibilities very seriously. We have done what is right in the interests of those who have this disease.

Veterans Affairs

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the merchant navy men are back up here on the Hill. They have been wronged since returning to Canada after World War II. They were denied the same benefits that were provided to other veterans. Every other allied nation in the world has recognized and compensated their merchant navy men, even Germany. The Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion called last week and fully support the men. The Department of Veterans Affairs had over $46 million in lapsed funds in 1997, more than enough to compensate these men.

Will the minister please give these brave men what they deserve, or will he allow them to die fighting for their—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Veterans Affairs.

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, seven years ago I was very proud as a member of the opposition to put forward legislation with three other members that would give merchant navy veterans the same benefits as other veterans.

I am even more proud as the Minister of Veterans Affairs for this government to write the final chapter that will give them total fairness in all areas, not a few, not some, not many, not most, but all, every single one.

The hon. member should get out of Wayne's world and get in the real world.

[The Speaker]

I would appeal to hon. members not to use each other's names in question period.

Hepatitis C

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today the province of Ontario announced hepatitis C compensation for every single victim. No lawyers. No hassle. Just help. Does that not prove Premier Harris has more compassion for hepatitis C victims than this minister has in his whole body?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was barely able to keep a straight face during that question. He knows along with everybody else in this House that it means no such thing.

To judge the measure of a government's commitment, look at what the Government of Canada has done. It has dedicated $1.3 billion to help. In terms of those before 1986 and after 1990, we have taken the position that those who are sick should get care, not cash; they should get treatment, not payment. That is the approach taken by this government. We believe it is in the interests of those who are sick.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Premier Harris made the promise of compensation for all the victims and today he delivered. This Liberal health minister made the promise of compensation for a few victims and what has he delivered? Zip. Nothing.

Do his actions not prove who really cares more for the victims of hepatitis C? I am not interested in rhetoric.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, when I met some weeks ago with my provincial counterparts in Regina I offered to share the cost of medical services not covered by insurance so that no one who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system would have to pay out of pocket. I offered up to $300 million to share that cost. I have yet to have agreement from the minister of health for Ontario.

I wish Ontario would join with this government in making sure that those who are sick are looked after properly. In Ontario today it can cost up to $10,000 to get interferon, the only drug that can be used. Will the Government of Ontario not work with us to provide care to the—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst.