Debates of March 10th, 1998

Shipping

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is the minister aware that the cruise industry is very lucrative for the St. Lawrence and that it should be promoted and not further taxed?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the value of the cruise industry not only to the St. Lawrence but also to the Great Lakes. Last fall in my home city of Toronto we welcomed the first cruise ship in many years. We hope it is the first of many more to come.

This is a matter we are concerned about. We are interested in encouraging these cruise ships and we are making sure when they do come that health standards are respected.

Employment Insurance

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, here we are with the third employment insurance reform since 1990, and the consequences are clear. Fewer people draw benefits, and when they do, it is just a pittance. At the present time, scarcely 40% of this country's unemployed qualify for EI.

When will the situation be critical enough to make the Minister of Human Resources Development act? When that figure drops to 25%? When it drops to 15%? What will it take to get the minister to revise the eligibility criteria for employment insurance?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst for his question.

I have already stated on a number of occasions, including last week at Rivière-du-Loup, that I am concerned by the fact that the proportion of EI recipients is only 42%, when it used to be 80%.

Before making any decision whatsoever, we must have a proper grasp of the figures and I have yet to receive an explanation. Once we have understood the reality, we will take corrective action.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Human Resources Development not realize that human beings are suffering, that children are going hungry?

Is the minister prepared to strike a parliamentary committee to settle the EI problem for once and for all?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst would do well to start learning about his own region. The employment insurance participation rate in the Atlantic region is 75%. The participation rate in the province of New Brunswick is over 80%.

The problem as he describes it may not even exist in his own region.

Canadian Armed Forces

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our soldiers in the gulf have finally received their vaccine against anthrax. However, our sources at the Pentagon inform us that the anthrax vaccine was tainted while being shipped to the gulf.

What information can the minister add? Can he assure this House that the vaccine taken by Canadians is 100% effective and safe?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have medical professionals who are administering inoculations, the first dose of which has already been given. They ensure that anything we give to our troops is safe.

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the minister of defence for taking my party's advice and finally having our men and women who are now in the gulf vaccinated for anthrax.

Canadians who have served under the flag of the United Nations in the Golan Heights since 1967 are in the direct line of fire of any attack on Israel by Saddam's anthrax. Why are these Canadians not being vaccinated for anthrax?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member had been following the news, he would know that the threat in the area is even lower than it was previously and it was very low to start with.

With the agreement that secretary-general Kofi Annan has been able to work out, hopefully we will see the appropriate diplomatic resolution of this matter. Meanwhile, any of our people in the area will receive the appropriate medical support that they require. There are antibiotics and other inoculations for other possible diseases. Anything that our allies get we will be getting as well to ensure that we give the maximum support to our troops.

Status Of Women

[Joe Jordan, Liberal, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this year's theme for International Women's Week is the evolution of women's rights, a lifelong commitment.

As someone who has had experience working in Ethiopia, I would like to know what the government is doing to bring help to as well as to engage women in developing countries.

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the leader in terms of development work with women in the developing world. Many of our programs focus on women and young girls, including the access to potable water, adequate sources of nutrition and education. We even go as far as to have a program to help them with micro credit.

Helping women in the developing world is very important for Canadians.

Seniors' Benefit

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government is now reviewing the existing system of retirement income security.

Instead of being based on individual income, this new seniors' benefit would henceforth be based on family income, thus depriving many women of a pension. Since this was announced, we have heard an outcry of protest, from the AFEAS among others.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Does the minister admit that an approach such as the one he appears to favour may well strike a hard blow to women's economic independence?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, since the basic principles of the reform were set out in 1976, we have consulted with a number of groups, including the AFEAS. It is our intention, following the consultations, to introduce legislation this year.

Health Care

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we witnessed earlier today a form of parliamentary hooliganism. Unlike the Reform Party, I am going to ask the government a question regarding home care. Hooliganism has no place on the floor of this Parliament. I think it is time we consider question period in a serious vein.

My question is for the Minister of Health. When will Canadians see a commitment in financial dollars for home care?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I made it plain yesterday that when we have consensus among the governments which must act in partnership, when we have a clear plan as to how to achieve this priority, the Government of Canada will be there to fulfil its responsibility to make its contribution of an appropriate amount.

We cannot now spend before we know what we are spending on. It is one thing to say there is a problem. It is quite another to take the time and trouble to develop the right solution. That is exactly what we are going to do.

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have raised a number of times in the House the compensation issue for victims of hepatitis C. I have repeatedly asked the minister to act unilaterally to save a great deal of hardship.

The minister is on the record as saying, and I have to believe him, that he does not want to see this issue go to the courts because it will be very costly and it will be a very protracted legal entanglement.

I am asking the minister today, on compassionate grounds, will he act unilaterally on behalf of these innocent victims?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in my judgment, and I hope the hon. member would agree, the interests of the victims themselves are best served by some form of out of court resolution or compensation which involves both levels of government. That is exactly what we have been working on.

In recent weeks I have been engaged in discussions with my provincial counterparts. We are making progress. I believe we are going in the right direction. I am very hopeful that before too long we will have a co-ordinated announcement to make in relation to compensation.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the Secretary of State for Children and Youth. I know that she is very knowledgeable about the issue of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. I also know she is aware that the Canadian Paediatric Society and Health Canada have issued a joint statement which states that the best decision for pregnant women is to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.

Will the secretary of state advise the House as to exactly what her ministry is doing under the youth strategy program with regard to fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects?

[Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, FAS and FAE, fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects in some parts of Vancouver affect one out of every five children.

The costs attributed to FAS and FAE are in the billions of dollars for aftercare. Many correlations are made between FAS, FAE, young offenders and young people who are incarcerated.

The government in all of its programs has to take note of this problem and work on it. It cannot be just one department. I think the main players would be human resources development and Health Canada.

There are outstanding reports from previous governments which contain good recommendations. There are things which we can look at and actively pursue.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, that will bring to a close our question period.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of Emmanuel Akoghe Mba, delegate to the Prime Minister and head of the Government of Gabon.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I have received notice of a number of points of order and I will hear them.

Points Of Order

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in a reply to the hon. member for Longueuil, it appears that I referred to a consultation process that started in 1976. The year was 1996. Let me explain: it was not my father who did this in 1976.