House of Commons Hansard #150 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was aboriginal.

Topics

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Cheap.

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I think cheap is correct. I think we saw a demonstration of it yesterday by that party and by that member in a shameful exploitation of people who served in the Canadian forces.

As to this specific matter I do not rely upon any information that he would give and I will certainly check into the matter.

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Reform

Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, 40 other officers and soldiers witnessed this horrible sight.

Instead of disciplining the general the government gave him a lucrative contract to teach his brand of twisted ethics to other officers. Why?

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member were really interested in an answer he would have submitted this information previously.

What he is doing is casting aspersions on a senior officer of the Canadian forces. I think that is shameful. Any of these accusations will be looked into.

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont, QC

Mr. Speaker, today the Fédération des étudiants universitaires du Québec has come to Ottawa to support the Bloc Quebecois's initiative of introducing a bill on opting out of the millennium scholarship plan with full compensation.

Does the Minister of Human Resources Development intend to support this initiative and thus comply with the wishes of the Quebec students, who do not want anything to do with the millennium scholarship program?

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, students will be very glad to have assistance from the Canadian government for their studies.

At any rate, the National Assembly voted unanimously on an arrangement that has been approved by the Canadian government and does not contain any right to opt out with financial compensation.

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont, QC

Mr. Speaker, what the Quebec students want is scholarships based on need, not scholarships based on merit. That is what they want.

Even certain members of cabinet are not doing a very good job at disguising their desire to respect the wishes of the Quebec coalition and to allow Quebec to withdraw from the millennium scholarship program, receive its financial share, and use it according to its priorities.

Why is the Minister of Human Resources Development still obstinately rejecting the Quebec consensus on this matter?

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I do not presume to speak for all students, as the hon. member has.

Let us look at the figures. Since education is what we are talking about, from 1994 to 1998, the PQ government made cuts in education of around 8%, while other provinces were putting 10.8% more into education.

Political choices were made, and the political uncertainty has cost Quebec and Quebec students dearly.

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, Reform's defence critic was not casting aspersions on the soldiers. He was casting aspersions on the minister and the government.

Yesterday the minister said he cared about military personnel. He has now had 24 hours to look into Matt Stopford's case so he must be aware that his officials removed the doctor's report which indicated Matt Stopford had been exposed to radioactive waste while serving in Bosnia.

Has the minister instructed officials to return the doctor's report so Matt Stopford can get the medical attention he deserves?

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, the matter of pensions is a matter of privacy. It is a matter that is before the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As to the other allegations, those are matters that are being looked into. I do not rely on what members of the Reform Party say. Most of the time they get it quite wrong.

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, Matt Stopford has a copy of the doctor's report that was put in his file originally. When he had this file returned under access to information the report was missing. The minister ought to know that. He has had 24 hours to look into this matter.

There are 3,200 other soldiers at least who were exposed to this radioactive waste. Will the minister ensure that the doctor's reports are returned to their files so they get the medical pensions they deserve?

Canadian ForcesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, again those are allegations. I believe they are creating unnecessary harm. They are fear-mongering and creating harm for our armed forces personnel. Without the evidence they are just shameful allegations.

Any case that is brought to our attention will be properly examined and an appropriate response will be given.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, we had to wait until the Minister of the Environment was actually at the Kyoto conference on greenhouse gases before we learned what Canada's position was.

Now the minister is leaving for Buenos Aires and this is her last day in the House before her departure.

Would the minister be good enough to tell the House what she will be saying, on behalf of Canada, at the meeting in Buenos Aires?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Northumberland Ontario

Liberal

Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the meeting that will be taking place next week, which is now in place in Buenos Aires, is very important for Canada and the world.

Canada will be taking a leading role in helping international communities to develop timetables and targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases through defining flexibility mechanisms.

We will also be encouraging developing nations to take a role and to help them to understand how this issue is a win, win, win situation. It is a win for the environment, a win for sustainable development in development countries, and a win for our economy and our goal to achieve greenhouse gas reductions.

Technological DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the secretary of state responsible for the economic development of Quebec.

We are all aware that technological innovation is essential to this country's economy. Among the sectors of technological development that are located in the Montreal region, the Biotechnology Research Institute and the Space Agency play an important role.

What then is the government doing, not just to assist technological development in this region, but also to continue to enhance it?

Technological DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

Martin Cauchon LiberalSecretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his important question, which demonstrates the importance this government attaches to the greater Montreal region.

Since February 1996, we have developed a five-point response strategy which has enabled us to take action in one of the fundamental areas, science and technology. In this connection, I take pride in saying that this government has invested in excess of $650 million in the greater Montreal region, for a total of over $2 billion in investments. As a result, we have been able to create or maintain 9,500 jobs at Behaviour Communications, the Biotechnology Research Institute, and Bombardier, to name but a few.

Apec InquiryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, the APEC commission has turned into an expensive joke.

Yesterday lawyers for the RCMP announced that they are going to ask a judge to remove the commission's chairman because he is biased.

The RCMP believes the commission is biased. The students believe it is biased. The public believes it is biased. The Prime Minister and his government are the only people happy with the commission because it is covering the Prime Minister's tracks.

Why will the Prime Minister not appoint an independent judicial inquiry to look into his involvement at APEC?

Apec InquiryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, to interfere with this process once it has commenced by virtue of a complaint issued by a complainant would be political interference of the worst kind. We will not do it.

Apec InquiryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, first the Prime Minister directed police involvement at APEC. Then he refused to answer any questions about it. He set up a toothless commission without real court powers to look into it. The solicitor general allegedly prejudges the commission and the Prime Minister refuses to release any key evidence. He refuses to pay the students' lawyers. Finally, the commission chair may have jeopardized the outcome of the inquiry.

When are we going to get an independent judicial inquiry from this government?

Apec InquiryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I think the real question is: When will we allow the commission to get to the truth and past all of this political rhetoric?

Canadian FarmersOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. This morning in Regina his colleague, the minister of agriculture, speaking to a UGG convention, said that the net farm income of Saskatchewan farmers has dropped 70% in 1998 and will probably get worse in 1999.

This is a real crisis that demands immediate action. I do not believe farmers can wait until the February budget.

Instead of waiting for the February budget, can the minister tell us when we can expect an announcement from the government of a national disaster relief program for prairie farmers?

Canadian FarmersOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Egmont P.E.I.

Liberal

Joe McGuire LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon the minister of agriculture convened a meeting with his counterparts in the provinces and with farm leaders to discuss the very serious question of the downturn in farm incomes.

Today the deputy ministers are meeting. The next steps will be taken. We are addressing the problem of farm incomes.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Poverty and homelessness in the Shamattawa First Nation have led to a suicide and solvent abuse crisis. There have been over 100 suicide attempts since 1992. Eighty per cent of the community's youths, children as young as four, are addicted to solvents.

On September 10 Chief Paddy Massen urgently appealed to Indian affairs for treatment beds and a healing centre to address these urgent health needs. It has been two months and he has heard nothing.

Why has this government ignored this first nation's appeal? When will it take direct measures to address these problems in Shamattawa and in other first nations?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Provencher Manitoba

Liberal

David Iftody LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question.

The Government of Canada is concerned about the level of poverty, in particular in the community of Shamattawa. We are very aware of the problems in this first nation. They have been going on for many years. We are working closely with the first nation's community to resolve these issues, as we are in a number of other communities.

I share the member's concern about the children and the gas sniffing. I can assure all members of this House that we are working diligently on these problems and we will address them.

Social Insurance NumbersOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Jean Dubé Progressive Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Speaker, in September the auditor general reported that our social insurance number system was in total disarray.

According to the auditor general there are approximately 311,000 valid social insurance numbers for persons over 100 years of age, even though most of these individuals are deceased.

Related fraud cases are costing Canadian taxpayers millions of dollars. Not one department is willing to take responsibility for SIN reform. Not one department has given the taxpayers a timetable for the completion of this project.

Will the Minister of Human Resources Development step forward, take responsibility and act now?