Debates of Dec. 4th, 1998

Professional Sports

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw it.

But this is a government we have been after for months to help the poor and the unemployed—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I know it hurts to lose the majority in an election.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

But what matters is that we are doing—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

—an in-depth analysis of the amateur sport recommendations. Give us the time to examine the report in its entirety and we will—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Order. After question period we will deal with the question of the request to withdraw the statement. We will go now to the hon. member for Halifax.

Human Rights

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the UN declaration of human rights.

On this day the federal government, despite its bragging, has been caught by the United Nations and roundly condemned for abusing the basic human rights of our poorest and most vulnerable citizens. The government has consistently ignored the pleas of Canadians. Will it now listen to the UN and reverse the policies that are creating so much hardship for so many Canadians?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as far as I am aware, the UN report has not been formally presented to Canada. We have not had a chance therefore to review the text, but I think we have made serious and important efforts to combat child poverty. We have introduced the national child tax benefit, $1.7 billion a year for families with poor children. We have increased deductions for child care. We have provided a family income supplement for some 350,000 low income parents on employment insurance. We have introduced tax relief for low and middle income Canadians, taking—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. member for Halifax.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government should be humiliated by the two very different Canadas that exist today for our citizens. But what does it do instead? It continues to boast. I am humiliated and so are most Canadians.

When will the government clean up its act and respect its international obligations? When will the government respect the rights of all Canadians?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are respecting our international obligations but even more important, we are respecting our obligation to Canadians through the kinds of programs I have just outlined. I am sure we will continue these efforts to do more and more for low income Canadians and all Canadians.

Parliament Hill

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

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister said in 1991: “The rule is simple. You take the blame when something is wrong. You do not finger anybody else but yourself. This is what a person of dignity does”.

Does the Prime Minister support the decision of the public works minister to not take the blame for cost overruns on Parliament Hill renovations and to instead blame a civil servant and ruin his career?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not know exactly what the hon. member is referring to. Maybe he should be more clear. I did not blame any public servant. My officials are doing a very good job in my department.

We are preparing a long term plan. I did not ruin anybody's career. Perhaps, if the member wants to be more specific, I can answer.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am talking about Mr. Glen Duncan. I will quote what the Prime Minister also said: “Every minister in the cabinet that I will be presiding over will have to take full responsibility for his department. If there is any bungling, nobody will be singled out”.

The cost of parliament renovations are out of control, but the minister is more interested in hanging his own staff out to dry.

Will the Prime Minister direct his public works minister to take full responsibility for these cost overrides?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am taking full responsibility for my department every day. The work plan that has been approved is within budget.

We are looking at the complete long term plan. When that long term plan and the budget are approved I will announce it. The member does not know what he is talking about. He does not even know how this place works.

Hockey

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberals announced an emergency aid package. No, not for farmers. No, not for hepatitis C victims. Guess what? It is for millionaire hockey players and billionaire club owners.

How could the Liberal government possibly justify government handouts to rich hockey players and club owners while it is nickel and diming starving farmers?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the government made no such announcement.

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the sports committee got one thing right yesterday. It blamed our hockey woes on Canada's low dollar and high taxes. That is true.

How can Canadian teams compete with their American counterparts? Farmers and businesses have the same problem. There is one solution to all this. It should cut taxes and get our dollar back up to where it should be.

My question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Is professional hockey's number one problem not the finance minister?

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, once again I am amazed at the level of questions coming from the Reform Party. This one tops them all.

I cannot believe that Reformers would actually take the time and spend taxpayers money to ask such a ridiculous question. Are those the priorities of Canadians? I think not.

Montreal Convention Centre

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

The expansion of the convention centre is important for the Montreal region. With double the area, this significant economic infrastructure could draw 15% of the American convention market, thus creating 2,732 jobs.

While his government is considering paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to sports millionaires, will the minister acknowledge that, by refusing to become involved in the expansion of the convention centre, he is undermining Montreal's competitive position in the international convention market and causing the loss of thousands of jobs held by ordinary people?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the preamble to the question is erroneous.

I must say that we did hear Montrealers' views on the convention centre. At this point, there is no program available to help with this project. There was the infrastructure program, which was used for the Quebec City congress centre. It was also used in Toronto for the same purpose. However, it was decided not to use it for the Montreal convention centre.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here again, the minister is refusing to do his part for Montreal, whereas his colleague from Bourassa says he is prepared to support the construction of seven new stadiums, seven white elephants, elsewhere in Canada in order to support a potential application to hold the World Cup.

Does this government's priorities lie in the sports fantasies of the member for Bourassa or in Montreal's economic development?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, what I find sad about Bloc Quebecois members is that they are trying, as usual, to talk out of both sides of their mouths.