House of Commons Hansard #58 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was grain.
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, we are at the beginning of the most important EI reform in 25 years, a reform designed to adapt our system to the market economy we now live in.
As a government, we promised five reports and five there will be. This morning, I tabled the first one, which evaluates the impact of our reform on the clients we serve and on the Canadian economy. I think that this report contains some information of great importance for us.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, meanwhile, the unemployed are starving.
What sort of credibility can a minister who is constantly claiming to be following the situation very closely have when in fact, as we see today, he is relying on a worthless report?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the opposition is interested exclusively in the report itself. Is it because the report indeed shows that, on the basis of preliminary data, the reform's effects are more positive than those he is busy describing, in other words, people are not starving?
Perhaps he should take an interest in the fact that unemployment is down in Canada since our government took office and that our economic policies are perhaps the right ones. That may be what the report is starting to show and that is why he is rejecting it.
Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said yesterday that Canadian fishermen have access to foreign quotas. He said “It is only when they choose not to fish that the offer is made to foreign fleets”. How dare this minister accuse Canadian fishermen of choosing not to fish. He knows that is not true. Will the minister apologize to Canadian fishermen right now for his false accusations?
FisheriesOral Question Period
The Speaker
Be very judicious. I will permit the minister to answer that question.
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, thank you for permitting me to answer a question that is clearly out of order.
The fact is that on the east coast fishermen are offered to fish various stocks. If it is not taken up by Canadian fishermen, under international law we offer it to other nations who may wish to fish that stock.
In addition, there are certain pelagic species such as bluefin tuna where quotas are established for the whole of the ocean because these fish move. Certain nations such as Japan fish in our waters but they are fish that we would be unable to take ourselves if the Japanese were not taking them.
We tried to interfere with the—
Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, let me tell the minister a few facts.
His own officials told the committee this morning that there are presently 22 foreign factory freezer trawlers off the coast of Canada. I have in my possession 21 letters from Canadian fish companies asking for these quotas which they are being denied.
Will the minister now tell us that he will not renew any foreign quotas to anyone until Canadian fishermen and Canadian plant workers are back to work?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should not inflate himself with indignation beyond the point where he can conveniently contain it.
The fact is that in this instance on the east coast we offered to Canadian fishermen the various quotas of various stocks. Only in situations where they do not wish to fish for some reason or another is it offered to others.
In addition to the mistake he is making, he is also saying in effect that the foreign fleets that operate in that way and that deliver to Canadian plants for Canadian shore workers to get work from would not get that work. What is he trying to do? Is he trying to deny Canadian—
Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This morning we learned in the National Defence Committee that any military confrontation with Iraq will result in heavy casualties, particularly because of the Iraqi policy of using human shields. This is one more argument in favour of a diplomatic solution.
Does the minister believe that he has really contributed to the search for a diplomatic solution by doing the rounds of the Arab countries, as he did yesterday, merely in order to justify Canada's support for the American position?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, if I may correct the record, I was in New York and not in the Arab countries. I returned with the sense that there is a possibility of working for an accommodation of the major difficulties. But we still come down to the bottom line that Saddam Hussein has to agree to live up to the rules of the United Nations.
We are trying to defend the integrity of that organization and to ensure there is a degree of rule of law around the world, which the United Nations represents. We can continue to work and use our good offices around the world to try to see that accommodation but we must maintain the bottom line is that people—
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Canadians are horrified at the situation in Algeria, where innocent victims have been dying in horrific massacres for months now.
We want to know what our government is doing to express our support to the people of Algeria, particularly the Algerian women and children who have been the victims of numerous atrocities.
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, this morning a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians was officially invited by the Algerian parliamentarians to visit Algeria. The Minister of State and the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons will head that delegation in the coming weeks, and our parliamentarians will meet with their Algerian counterparts and with representatives of the civilian community and of the government in order to exchange views on the situation.
Canadians are in solidarity with the people of Algeria in these difficult times, and I trust that we will have the support of this entire Parliament.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Over a month ago we exposed the fact that a confidential letter was leaked from the office of the minister of Indian affairs. The minister says she is investigating this breach of confidentiality but her actions indicate that she is not taking this matter very seriously. Yesterday she could not even remember the name of the investigator until the Deputy Prime Minister slipped her a note.
Can the Prime Minister assure this House that this investigator's report will be tabled in its entirety in this House?
Bernard Patry LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, in response to the question by the hon. member, an investigation is currently under way. When it is completed, the findings will be sent to the Minister of Indian Affairs, and then we will see exactly what the situation is. That could be done under the Privacy and Access to Information legislation.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have the ludicrous scenario of the minister investigating herself and then reporting to herself.
The Prime Minister should know as a former minister of Indian affairs that trust is very important to aboriginals and indeed to all Canadians. There is a very real sense of betrayal on the part of grassroots Indian people as a result of this unacceptable breach of confidentiality.
Can the Prime Minister tell us what particular steps he will take to restore the faith of grassroots aboriginal peoples in his government?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I have had the occasion to talk with some aboriginal people. I think the work that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has done since she has been responsible for that department has been outstanding. She has the confidence of the government and of the native people.
Wendy Lill NDP Dartmouth, NS
Mr. Speaker, if this government signs the MAI without a full cultural exemption, the protection of Canadian culture is at risk. If there is no protection we will be signing our cultural sovereignty over to Blockbuster, Walt Disney and Ted Turner giving them the freedom to strike down our cultural programs.
The Minister for International Trade will be making a MAI policy statement to the Centre of Trade Policy and Law on Friday. Why not tell us first? Will the minister tell Parliament today how this government intends to protect Canadian culture under the MAI?
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, we said very clearly at the outset of the negotiations at the MAI that we would prefer a complete carve out for culture, that it should not be on the table. If it is going to be on the table we have said that we are going to move for an exemption. If there is no exemption, there is no signature to the MAI.
The only party in this Parliament that does not want an exemption for culture is the Reform Party of Canada.
Wendy Lill NDP Dartmouth, NS
Mr. Speaker, the minister then is telling us there will be a complete carve out for culture in the MAI or they will walk away from the table. Am I hearing the minister correctly?
TradeOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would ask hon. members to please address the Chair when they are asking or answering questions.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this new Iraqi crisis we have had trouble getting any information here in Parliament. The Government refuses to inform the House properly.
Our role here as MPs is to be informed, but we have to get the information from the Pentagon on what the situation really is as far as the safety of our troops is concerned.
How can the Minister of Defence imagine that our troops, even with an inoculation in Crete, will be protected, when he knows that three injections, and four weeks, are required before they are properly protected? It is not true that they will have some protection. Is he going to call up Saddam Hussein and ask him to wait four weeks until our troops are prepared?