Debates of Feb. 24th, 1998

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, as has been said often by members on this side of the House, it is because of the hard work and the support of Canadians that we have been able to accomplish the successes we have had as a government. It is with the support of Canadians that we will be able to allow Canadians in partnership with the government to go into the next century working hard together and building Canada.

We have no lessons to take from the Reform Party. If those tax changes that the Reform Party continues to talk about in any way imperil the finances of this government, it is not what Canadians support. We will continue on our track.

Fisheries

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has stated to our committee that there is no 12-mile protection zone around Langara Island on B.C.'s west coast from commercial trawlers. However, DFO documents clearly state otherwise.

He has also stated that one should never give allocation of quota from one sector of the fishing industry to another. This is exactly what has happened when DFO cut off chinook salmon to the B.C. fisheries and gave it to the sport fishing institute. Miss Velma McColl, who worked for that sport fishing institute, is now the minister's assistant in B.C.

Why does this government allow DFO to have a policy which helps the minister's friends in B.C.—

[The Speaker]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Gilbert Normand, Liberal, Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food)(Fisheries and Oceans)]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is referring to a specific case. I will have to obtain the necessary information before I can respond. I will be pleased to provide him with an answer next time.

Immigration

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The immigration legislative review hearings are beginning in Vancouver this week. I have met with a number of local organizations. There is increasing concern because the minister has not allowed anywhere near adequate time for people to respond and be heard.

Will the minister give the community more time to be heard and assure us that the recommendations, as suspected by many, will not be forced through in a big rush?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the report submitted for public consultation is not a government report. It was done by three individuals not connected with either the government or the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.>

Second, yes, there will be public consultations. Initially, I had announced I would conduct five days of consultations across the country, but we have doubled that figure in response to pressures from a variety of groups. There will therefore be consultations across the country for 10 days, providing many interested parties with the opportunity to be heard in connection with this report.

The Economy

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today is an important day for all Canadians who have sacrificed heavily.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, before the seals become too excited, they should realize that The Economist magazine says much of the credit for the fiscal surplus is due to structural changes made by the Conservative government in the early 1990s.

Let us face it. The real heroes are ordinary Canadians who have suffered under Liberal cuts to health care and education and who have suffered under the highest taxation of all the G-7 countries. Will the Prime Minister give a millennium tax—

[The Speaker]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

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

Mr. Speaker, the last Conservative budget, and God willing the last ever, projected government spending would rise this year to $128 billion. That is more than $20 billion higher than will actually happen. How much money does the Conservative Party think would be left for tax cuts if we stuck to its plan?

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians will see this afternoon in this budget is not necessarily what they will get. The Minister of Finance may have black ink on his hands but Canadians are still covered in red ink. Personal debt is up. Personal savings are down. Personal bankruptcies are up. Personal income in terms of take home pay is down. And the Prime Minister and his party are actually celebrating over there.

Will the Prime Minister offer Canadians broad based tax relief so they too can be in the black?

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

Mr. Speaker, again I would have to remind the member that he should be in this House at 4.30 p.m. to listen to what the budget has to say.

I find it absolutely incredible. Listening to the Tories talk about taxes is like watching someone return to the scene of the crime.

Disaster Assistance

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture.

The Reform member for Prince George—Peace River accused the government of having one set of rules for compensating farmers for losses because of the ice storm and different rules for the farmers in Nova Scotia and the Peace River area of B.C. and Alberta. Can the minister tell this House clearly what the rules are for disaster assistance in Canada?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly clarify it very easily.

There is a net income stabilization account available to all farmers in Canada. There is crop insurance available to all farmers in Canada. There are companion programs available to all farmers in Canada.

When a province calls upon the disaster funding assistance agreement as was the case in the Saguenay, the Red River and Ontario and Quebec recently, we treat them the very same. If the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia wish to call upon that agreement, this government will discuss it with them, but to date they have not done so.

Calgary Declaration

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday when I asked the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs about promoting the Calgary declaration in Quebec, he replied that according to all the information we have, including polls, the Calgary declaration is strongly supported in Quebec. The minister's answer reflects the same overconfidence this government had prior to the 1995 referendum.

What consultation and what polling is this minister referring to that gives him this confidence? Will he make that information public?

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

Mr. Speaker, here are the results of a December 8, 1997 Angus Reid poll.

“The Canadian Constitution should recognize the unique character of Quebec society”; in Quebec, 85% agreed with the statement.

“It is desirable for the federal parliament and the provincial legislatures to recognize the unique character of Quebec, while affirming the principle of provincial equality”; 80% agreed.

“It is possible to reform the Canadian federation on the basis of these two principles”; 69% agreed.

Environics, October 1997: Would you say you support what the premiers have proposed? Support, 61% in Quebec. Opposed, 39% in Quebec.

Hepatitis C Victims

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the federal government has primary responsibility for the blood supply system, since the provinces already defray the health costs of hepatitis C victims and given the huge cuts made in transfer payments to the provinces for health, is the federal government prepared to take into account the substantial amounts already paid by the provinces for the treatment of hepatitis C victims in negotiating compensation for these people?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is in the best interest of the victims of this tragedy for both levels of government, federal and provincial, to work together to compensate victims.

I am working on it. I have already met with my counterparts and I hope that, within a few days, we will be in a position to meet these important needs.

Post-Secondary Education

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, funding for post-secondary education for deaf students in Ontario will be folded into the OSAP. Deaf students will join the ranks of thousands of others in raking up debts to get a post-secondary education, only for these students it will be much worse. They will have to assume expenses of up to $60,000 for sign language interpreters, notetakers and tuition to specialized universities.

Does the Prime Minister agree that students with disabilities should pay more for their education? If so, could he tell me exactly on what page and at what paragraph in the budget this will be addressed?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I do not have the budget documents yet. I will have them in one hour and 37 minutes.

Employment Insurance

[Jean Dubé, Progressive Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in December, the government maintained employment insurance premiums at $2.70 in spite of the fact that the actuary in charge of the EI fund believed the fund could run on a $2 premium.

In his very first budget, the Minister of Finance stated that payroll taxes were a barrier to employment.

Will the minister draw inspiration from his own words and give small business and Canadian workers the tax break they deserve, which is required to promote job creation?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member from the Conservative Party for giving me this opportunity to explain that, two months ago, we reduced employment insurance premiums by $1.4 billion.

This cut in the EI account is over four consecutive years. I realize that the Conservatives have a problem grasping this, but we are fiscally responsible. We have the people's interests at heart and intend to ensure that, should the economy falter, we will not have to raise premiums when the situation is at its most difficult, as the Conservatives did.

Justice

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

In upholding an acquittal of a man charged with sexual assault 11 days ago, a justice of the Alberta court of appeal made inappropriate comments about the complainant's mode of dress, suggesting she “was asking for it”.

What is the justice minister going to do to protect the women of this country from these kinds of outrageous comments and rulings which suggest that no means yes?

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my colleague for this important question.

I cannot comment, however, as there may be an appeal. I must say that the federal legislation is clear: no means no.

We have to challenge the myths and stereotypes, including the view that a victim, usually a woman, has to forcibly resist to indicate denial of consent.

Let me assure all members of the House that this government will stand behind the legislation, including the new rape shield legislation, so that victims will not be victimized again by the justice system.