Debates of March 12th, 1998

Cfb Calgary

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, these people have been talking to the local officials and they are outraged with the way this government is treating Calgary to a double standard.

When it comes to the Downsview air force base in the Minister of National Defence's riding they get a special deal for the land. When it comes to the Collège militaire in Quebec, they get a special deal. But when it comes to CFB Calgary, the elected officials are saying that they are being penalized by this government, which will not let the Canadian lands corporation negotiate.

Why do you have an unelected senator telling Calgary elected officials that they are going to have to pay through the nose for this land they own?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the senator in question is a member of the local committee that is working with the municipal and provincial authorities.

I will tell you what we have been doing at the new Calgary base: a new school on the site; an interim housing rental program, a promise to maintain a military legacy, a first-class plan working on proposals, environment programs, major job creation and tax breaks—

[Some hon. members]

More, more.

Multilateral Agreement On Investment

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.

Yesterday, European parliamentarians stressed the need to be represented in the negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment and said that the agreement in its present form should not be signed at any cost.

Does the minister understand that the request by the European parliamentarians is the same request the Bloc Quebecois has been making for a number of weeks now? Is he prepared to submit the proposed agreement to the parliamentary committee before it is signed?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the government's position on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment with the OECD is very clear.

We are prepared to underwrite firms only when the Canadian objective is very clear. We have stated publicly in the House the importance of culture, social services, aboriginal issues and ethnic groups. On the matter of the standstill, we are willing—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore.

Francophonie Games

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, according to reports on the francophonie games to be held in Ottawa-Hull in 2001, the offer of travel costs is causing some confusion and is the topic of conversation in my riding.

Would the government House leader clarify the offer to pay athletes' travel costs? Does this offer include costs for all athletes coming to Canada for these games?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, in practice this is not a precedent, as was alleged. The information that was given is totally wrong. One-tenth of the athletes will be subsidized, all from developing countries, not 2000 of them but merely 200. This is the same as was done for other francophonie games and it is also very similar to what is done for other major sporting events.

Finally, the total cost is less than one-half of what was alleged by both the media and an hon. member across.

Hockey

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I think the government misunderstood the question from the member for Peace River.

U.S. hockey teams, as all members know, are very heavily subsidized. We believe that is contrary certainly to the spirit and perhaps the letter of NAFTA and the WTO.

I would ask the Minister for International Trade what steps can be taken, either under NAFTA or the WTO, to stop this high level of subsidization which hurts the Canadian franchises.

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage was saying that through the leadership of our caucus members, particularly the member of Parliament for Broadview—Greenwood, we have established a subcommittee to look into the entire game of hockey.

We have also had a number of discussions with a number of hockey teams in Canada with respect to the kinds of subsidies provided both from the municipal and federal perspective in the United States. That is important and is something the subcommittee will address.

No one is dismissing the issue. It will certainly be looked at and should be.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has identified giving subsidies. We are talking about taking them away.

If something can be done at the business level to get more fair competition in the NHL, as all members know this would enormously benefit Canadian NHL franchises, in particular the Edmonton Oilers at this time.

I ask the minister not what will be done or studied, but what steps if any have been taken under NAFTA or the WTO to address this subsidy.

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the whole question of subsidies and trying to attract investment in the United States or Canada is much more complex than simply the hockey teams. It is an issue that is of concern to our teams but it also enters the whole world of investment.

When we are competing for investment we are also competing with what municipalities, states and provinces and national governments could do. It is not as clear cut as the member says because quite often he puts his skate guards on while he is skating.

The Environment

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the environment minister.

The minister has tabled a new Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Bill C-32. Even though there are problems enforcing the current act, does Environment Canada have sufficient resources to fulfil legal responsibilities and enforce regulations contained in the current CEPA?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it was a great honour today to be able to table legislation to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The act is meant to enhance our environment, to improve our air and water quality, and to ensure that we have a good natural environment.

Important principles are embodied in this legislation, one of them being pollution prevention. It is less costly to be engaged in pollution prevention than to have to deal with the issues of enforcement after pollution occurs.

This department has sufficient resources to deal with every element of environmental protection under the current act and the one to come into force.

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government has time and time again proven that it cannot handle environmental issues.

In January the environment minister signed the Environmental Harmonization Act and three subagreements with the provinces. Will the minister today support that no single veto from the provinces will reduce federal powers to enforce CEPA regulations?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, under the current Canadian Environmental Protection Act the government has accomplished a great deal to protect the natural environment.

We no longer have dioxins and furans going into water the way we did before. We have removed lead from gasoline. We are dealing with benzene. We have accomplished untold numbers of things.

The government will continue to work through the existing legislation and the new legislation to improve the quality of our environment.

Immigration

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

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

The minister's advisory group did indeed make a recommendation that all future immigrants coming to Canada speak either English or French. That recommendation has come about because of the costs incurred by the provinces in providing language training to immigrant families.

Will the minister agree today to advance the necessary funds to the provinces to provide that language training and eliminate the recommendation that immigrants speak either English or French before coming to Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, a few moments ago I answered that question by another member of the same party. I said that I am concerned about that requirement.

Having said that, it is clear the federal government has settlement services and provides funds for training and other activities.

When we receive newcomers to Canada we must welcome them and help them to integrate. Last year we added $63 million to the budget to help newcomers to the country. We are taking our responsibility but it is clear that the provinces—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for St. John's East.

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's legislative advisory group recommended that prospective immigrants meet stricter financial requirements. That would appear to favour immigrants from wealthy countries.

Is the minister not aware that this will lead to the rejection of perfectly viable immigrants simply because they are not rich?

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

Mr. Speaker, I invite the member to read all the report. It is not a report from government, which is why we are studying it.

The member will see some very good proposals concerning family categories including how to extend the definition of spouse, the sponsorship of kids and how to reduce the length of sponsorship for women and children. We have a very good proposal in front of us which we have to analyse and take a position on.

Foreign Affairs

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton West—Mississauga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago Canada hosted an unprecedented multilateral symposium on human rights with representation from the Chinese government.

Given the critical importance of bringing about transparency and justice to the Chinese political and judicial systems, could the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House of the results of this symposium?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, last fall the Prime Minister announced with the Chinese president that we would start a new initiative on human rights to have a major dialogue.

As the member said, that took place 10 days ago when Canadian and Chinese senior officials met along with other Asian observers.

I am pleased to tell the House the Chinese foreign minister just announced that China will now sign the United Nations covenant on civil and political rights, which shows that the dividend of constructive engagement can work.

Home Care

[Eric C. Lowther, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, many in the House recognize that the most critical relationship in a healthy society is the parent-child bond. Sadly the government's budget increased discrimination against parents who choose to care for their children at home.

Parents are crying out. When if ever will the government stop saying to stay at home parents that they will be given a tax break if someone else looks after their children but if they do it there is no value in it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member ought to know, the Income Tax Act contains a number of measures such as the spousal credit which help parents if one of the two parents stays at home.

At the same time the hon. member will recognize there is a huge number of families in which both parents are working. The government believes it is our responsibility to help those families as well.