House of Commons Hansard #71 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was aboriginal.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, we have already made our response to the cries from across this land to do something about that issue in our private member's bill which was tabled in the House last September.
I want to know why the justice minister has been dragging her feet for so long on a whole host of issues that not only the parliamentary report submitted to this House has urged her to move on but others as well. Why has she dragged her feet so long on this issue?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would hope that most people in this honourable House know that the renewal of the youth justice system in this country is a complex, multifaceted issue. Therefore, unlike some in this House, I actually want to consult with those who are key stakeholders in the youth justice system.
I want to reassure the hon. member that our response to the standing committee report will be forthcoming in a matter of weeks.
Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister is pushing alternative service delivery at military bases across this country, saying it will save money. He has failed to produce one single audit to substantiate this claim.
At 5 Wing base in Labrador the British company SERCO contracted to run the base will receive bonuses of $1 million annually.
While several hundred civilian employees are condemned to unemployment and wage reductions, the minister sits idly by as ex-military brass line their pockets with SERCO.
When will the minister halt this unfair attack on the people of Goose Bay, Labrador?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the research behind the statement before the question is wrong. What we are attempting to do is in fact save the base, save jobs and provide a service to our allies who use the base for low level flying in an efficient and effective way in the hopes they will use the base in the future.
We have to cut costs to do that. However, in doing that we are treating people fairly and humanely. We are giving them options under the EDI and ERI departure incentives as well as options for other possible jobs.
As well, the company which is taking over the contract has a plan to offer most of them a job.
Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, Canada Ports Corporation is offering former ports police in Halifax hush money. Cash for silence in Halifax.
The solicitor general indicated on Newsworld yesterday that he met with the RCMP about these and other matters.
Can the solicitor general assure this House that former ports police in Halifax who signed the gag orders will face no criminal or civil liability or repercussions if they voluntarily speak with the RCMP and co-operate with investigations into Canada Ports Corporation?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, no contract, no relationship, can interfere with an RCMP criminal investigation.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, I want to correct the health minister. In 1991 the government did act unilaterally to compensate the HIV victims. He is wrong on that.
What we are asking is for him to exercise the same moral responsibility and political leadership that has to be there to meet this pressing need.
Will he exercise that moral responsibility and political leadership and compensate these innocent victims?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, if we want to look at the history, the fact is no effort was made to come to grips with the hepatitis C victims. It is that about which I was being asked by the hon. member for Saint John.
I hope we can put the hon. member's political thrust aside and deal with the interest of the victims because that is where our interest lies.
Over the past several months I have been working with my provincial counterparts to find a way to compensate the victims of the hepatitis C tragedy which is humane and fair and keeps the issue out of the courts. If we can do that I shall be very happy. That is my objective.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, the way we are headed, these innocent victims are going to be in court for 10 years because of lack of leadership by the health minister. Most of them will be dead before their families receive any compensation at all.
Is the health minister going to continue to cave in to the finance minister or is he going to exercise leadership at the cabinet table? Last week he acknowledged that Canadians are going to have to come to his rescue and lobby the government. What does he want, 65,000 victims marching on Parliament Hill to get action or will he do it on his own?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is so distracted by his own tiresome rhetoric that he is not listening to the answer.
The answer is that this government, with one voice, is trying to find a way in collaboration with provincial governments to compensate victims. That will remain our priority. I am very hopeful that in the near future we will be able to announce progress.
Claude Drouin Liberal Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Today marks an important milestone in the history of Canada. On March 11, 1848, the first cabinet of the responsible government of the time was sworn in in the Province of Canada, now Ontario and Quebec. It was the achievement of a coalition involving Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin.
What is the government doing to mark this most important milestone in the history of Canada, which may serve as a rallying point for all Canadians?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
It was indeed a very important point. The capital of the united province, or Province of Canada, was Montreal in 1848. Today, after question period, I invite all members who believe in responsible democracy to come and join with us. There was Mr. Lafontaine, who had a seat in Ontario, and Mr. Baldwin, who had a seat in Quebec. In Canada we can live together whatever language we speak.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, since the induction of the Young Offenders Act in 1984 to today the crimes committed by young offenders, particularly violent ones, have escalated to unbelievable proportions. I cannot understand for a moment why some things are so dense that this cannot get through, that it is not working.
My question is for the justice minister. The minister is going to be introducing some white paper regarding the Young Offenders Act. Apparently her first priority of animal abusers is over with and now we are going to get serious. My question to the minister is simple. What is taking so long?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I want to clarify for the hon. member that we have no intention of introducing a white paper in relation to the renewal of the youth justice system.
As I have already pointed out in response to another hon. member's question, the youth justice system and its renewal is a complex and important issue. I am going to take the time required to consult the people most concerned.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
There are 50,000 people living with HIV or AIDS in Canada. However, six drugs, whose efficiency in the treatment of HIV and AIDS has been proven, have yet to be approved by the Health Protection Branch, and this after more than 14 months.
What does the Minister of Health have to say to people with HIV or AIDS who need these drugs but have to do without because of the inefficiency of the drug licensing process in Canada?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health has the responsibility to ensure that drugs submitted for assessment are safe before we approve them.
Last week in Vancouver I met several persons concerned by this issue. I made the commitment to review once again the process in place within the department to ensure that we are effectively fulfilling our responsibilities.
Angela Vautour NDP Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada.
Since the southern part of Albert County and the Salisbury—Petitcodiac area are rural areas, and are outside the Moncton Census Agglomeration, since the minister has all the statistics indicating that these areas have a very high unemployment rate, and since the federal government excluded the parish of Dorchester in 1994, in between the five year review, will the minister immediately exclude the southern part of Albert County and the Salisbury—Petitcodiac area from the urban employment insurance zone for New Brunswick?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the member has had the opportunity to meet with some of my officials. I know she presented her case at that time. I understand that my officials have asked her to present more information to support her case.
I will be happy to look into it more carefully when she has provided the information we need.
Scott Brison Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, I would like the Minister of Health to listen to the words of an innocent hepatitis C victim, a constituent of mine, Connie Lake.
Connie told me: “I just wish they would put an end to the games they are playing with the compensation. I am so disappointed in this Liberal government”.
On what date can Connie Lake expect compensation or will she be forced to sign on to a class action suit as her last resort?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, in my judgment the interests of that victim and the interests of all Canadians affected by the hepatitis C tragedy are best served by an approach toward compensation involving both levels of government. That has been our objective.
We could have acted by ourselves but we chose not to. We are looking for an agreement with provincial governments and I think we are now close to that agreement. I hope in the weeks ahead to be in a position to announce co-ordinated action between both levels of government to deal with the interests of that victim and others.
Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Agri-Food.
As a member who represents a large rural riding I am very concerned about farm safety. Between 1991 and 1995 there were 502 work related fatalities on the farm. Of those, 10% were children.
Can he tell this House what this government is doing to promote safety on our Canadian farms?
Gilbert Normand LiberalSecretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food)(Fisheries and Oceans)
Mr. Speaker, in my 27 years of medical practice, I have had the opportunity to see the tragic consequences of farm accidents.
That is why my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, and I want to acknowledge National Farm Safety Week this year. More than 500 Canadians, 10% of whom were children, died in farm accidents between 1991 and 1995, and farm equipment was involved in 70% of these accidents.
I want to say to Canadian farmers, take care of your life, take care of your health and take care of your family.
Bill Gilmour Reform Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister as recently as this week has said he is in favour of a reformed Senate. He has also said he is in favour of an elected Senate.
This year Albertans will be electing representatives to fill the Senate vacancies. Will the Prime Minister commit to this House and to Canadians today that he will appoint those duly elected Albertans to the Senate when a vacancy arises?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, when we had the occasion to vote for an elected Senate I remember very well that his party opposed an elected Senate and rejected the Charlottetown accord.
When there is a reform of the Senate it will apply to all elements, election, equality and effectiveness. Otherwise there will be 6 senators from Alberta and 30 from the maritimes forever. The maritimes, having 30 senators, will never give them up. They will keep them and I would not blame them.
René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for regional development.
Two hundred employees of the seafood plant of eastern Quebec have worked long and hard finalizing plans to buy the plant. Only the federal government is dragging its feet.
Is the future of 200 families in Matane important to this minister and to this government? If so, let them give the go-ahead as quickly as possible.