House of Commons Hansard #57 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tribunal.
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, that is a good question because I did sign a letter of response to Mr. Starlight. If he has not received it I will have to investigate.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Starlight family confirms it never received even an acknowledgement. The only response Bruce Starlight has to date is a lawsuit by his chief. We know the minister has not contacted Mr. Starlight.
I have another question motivated by concerns that the minister may be trying to protect the chief who happens to be a prominent Liberal. The minister has not contacted Mr. Starlight. What contact has she had with the Liberal chief?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I have met with Chief Whitney on other occasions in his role as chief of the First Nations.
With regard to this particular issue we have not discussed anything.
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.
Yesterday, we learned that the federal government is indeed involved alongside the United States in setting up the strike force against Iraq.
How can the Deputy Prime Minister justify the fact that Canada is already jumping with both feet into the upcoming conflict alongside the United States when most of Canada's international partners are still seeking a diplomatic solution to this conflict?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are also seeking a diplomatic solution. That is why the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in New York at the United Nations today.
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister are singing from very different song sheets.
In 1991, he wanted military operations to come under the control of the UN. In 1998, he has changed his tune. Back in 1991, he wanted members to be able to vote on Canada's involvement. In 1998, that too has gone by the boards.
How does the Deputy Prime Minister explain this about-face between the fine words of 1991 and the government's actions in 1998?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are working together not just with the United States, but with Great Britain, Germany, Kuwait and Bahrain as well to find a diplomatic solution.
We are guided in our efforts by UN resolutions that go back many years and I wonder why the hon. member cannot accept the fact that there are UN resolutions still in force.
Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, grassroots Indians need to know that they can write to their minister in confidence about problems they are having. By leaking Bruce Starlight's letter back to a chief with strong Liberal connections, the minister seriously eroded the trust between her office and grassroots Indians.
Four weeks ago the minister appointed a bureaucrat to look into the leak. We still have not heard back from the investigator and the minister will not even tell us who it is.
How can Indians trust her so-called investigator when they do not even know who it is? Why will the minister not tell us the name?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions I have indicated to this House the importance I put on this very issue.
To me it was critical that we have an investigation done to follow the path of that letter. The letter is being tracked, the investigation is under way and I am looking forward to receiving direction from that investigation.
Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, the minister's so-called investigation is starting to look a lot more like an exercise in damage control than a true fact finding mission. Indians on reserves everywhere want to know when this investigation will be completed.
Will she release a report in the House by the end of the week or will this drag on and be swept under the rug?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, as I said, it is important to me to ensure that the investigation is done thoroughly and completely and that I get good factual information on which to make decisions and to take action.
That is the way it will be and we will proceed under that direction.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the opposition asked whether the new provisions in Bill C-28, which is sponsored by the Minister of Finance, might benefit Canada Steamship Lines, the Prime Minister replied “No”.
However, yesterday, a senior official from the Department of Finance who is responsible for tax issues stated that Bill C-28 may apply to a Canadian corporation with subsidiaries abroad and with the exact same structure as the finance minister's shipping companies.
How can the Prime Minister be more categorical than the official in the finance department who is responsible for tax issues?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that all related research, discussions and decisions have always been under the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Financial Institutions and have been conducted by officials from the Department of Finance, and not by the Minister of Finance himself.
This is why we insist that the hon. member's insinuations and allegations have no basis.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Deputy Prime Minister to take a look at the bill. It says in the bottom right hand corner that it is introduced by “the Minister of Finance”. The minister is the sponsor of the bill. He is the one who referred us to the senior official, who said the opposite of what the minister thought he would say.
Was the Prime Minister a little to quick to come to the defence of his finance minister, considering that even tax officials say the opposite of what he said, thus clearly putting the finance minister in an apparent conflict of interest?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, there is no conflict of interest. There is no apparent conflict of interest. This was confirmed by the ethics commissioner, Mr. Wilson.
Again, all the minister's assets are in a blind trust. This is why I urge the hon. member to retract himself, because his allegations have no basis, no foundation at all.
Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB
Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs has said that her investigator is looking into this leaked letter issue. We appreciate that, but there is something we would like to know. Who is he and what is his name?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned on a number of occasions, it is critically important for me to have someone that has the calibre of the person that has been identified to do this investigation. He is a man with experience. He has had police experience. I know that he will effectively provide us with the kind of advice I need to not only deal with this letter but also to understand the implications in procedures in my department.
Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB
Mr. Speaker, this is just getting more and more unbelievable by the day. She thinks that there is somebody there. She says what a terrific fellow he is. If she is so proud of the job that he is doing on this botched investigation after a botched leak, who is he and what does he know about this case? We want to know what his name is and when he is going to report to Parliament. Who is he, what does he know and when is he going to report?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the investigator will make his report to me when he has completed it.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
Refusing to give us details about Bill C-28, the Minister of Finance suggested last week, at the outset, that we talk with Mr. Len Farber, who, he said, would help us understand.
Since this tax official from his own department stated, as we have, that clause 241 could apply to companies with the same structure as Canada Steamship Lines, who does the minister suggest we consult next for an opinion that would finally be in his favour?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the premise of the member's question is erroneous, because I am told that Mr. Farber did not say that. There is therefore no serious grounds for the member's question.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC
Mr. Speaker, could the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs inform the members of this House of the important statement made on Monday by Jacques Chirac, the president of the French Republic?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, here is what the French president said:
France is one country indivisible. It is indeed made up of regions and provinces each different from the other, each with its own population, customs, history and sometimes language. This is especially true of Corsica, whose identity and uniqueness are recognized by all. France is diverse and this constitutes our wealth. But it is a single France, a single national territory, with the same laws and rights throughout.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, Saddam Hussein has not hesitated in the past to use chemical and biological weapons against his own people and also his neighbours. In common language he is a thug and he will not hesitate to use such tactics against the coalition forces.
Since Canada is sending approximately 300 Canadian forces personnel into the region, will the defence minister inform Canadians and in particular the families of our troops that our forces are adequately equipped in the event of a chemical and biological threat?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as the Deputy Prime Minister has said today, we are hoping that there will not be a conflict, that we will still find a diplomatic resolution.
However, if there is a conflict, given that we have approximately 330 personnel in the area yes, I can assure the hon. member they will be properly equipped. They will have protective clothing, inoculations, appropriate training and information to help counteract any possibility of those weapons being used against them.