House of Commons Hansard #81 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was finance.
Eleni Bakopanos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has said in this House, and if hon. members on the other side of the House will wait, she will be bringing back her response in legislation. Be patient, it will come.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, unlike the justice minister, I do not have a team of lawyers and bureaucrats, yet six months ago I tabled a very complex bill to amend the Young Offenders Act in this House.
Who is causing the delay over there on the justice minister's side? Is it her team or is it her bleeding heart caucus which still feels that coddling violent young offenders is the way to go? Who is causing the delay over there?
Eleni Bakopanos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I do not think the hon. member heard me. I just said that the minister will be, if he will be patient, tabling our response to the committee's report.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
The more experts look at the so-called millennium bug, the more they realize the magnitude of the problem, the uncertainty of the results and, consequently, the urgency to act.
Can the Prime Minister confirm that he just wrote to all his ministers to tell them that the year 2000 computer bug is now the government's top priority and that it takes precedence over everything else?
Walt Lastewka LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows very well that a number of reports on the year 2000 problem have been submitted to the industry committee. She knows that the industry minister started the research program with Jean Monty as chair to alert people about the year 2000 problem.
The government has a program in place. This has been reported to the industry committee. The next report on the government's progress with respect to the year 2000 problem will be coming in September.
We really need everyone in the House to publicize the importance of the year 2000 problem to everyone in their—
Sophia Leung Liberal Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for the Status of Women. I campaigned in Port Moody, B.C., over the past few weekends. I heard from many women who are concerned about poverty, education and their children's futures. What measures does the government have to help women and children?
Hedy Fry LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has hit it right on the head. There are women living in poverty in many of the ridings we represent in Vancouver. There are single women who need education. A $3,000 a year grant will be given to women in financial hardship who have dependants so they can go to school and upgrade their training. This will be very important for some of the women in Vancouver East, in my riding, in the riding of the hon. member and in the riding she is talking about.
We are also talking about money for women entrepreneurs—
Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, unsettled native land claims and the supreme court's Delgamuutw decision are making land tenure in B.C. extremely uncertain. Mining and forestry jobs are disappearing for both natives and non-natives. How many more thousands of jobs must B.C. lose before the federal government addresses this burning issue?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, we are there in partnership with the province, First Nations and third parties to deal with a long outstanding issue.
For the sake of the House, members may not understand that in the province of British Columbia we do not have treaties with our First Nations.
I applaud the people of British Columbia for understanding the importance of negotiating treaties with the First Nations in that province. It will bring certainty not only to the third parties referred to by the hon. member but to First Nations as well.
Rick Casson Reform Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the last Parliament endangered species legislation died on the Order Paper because Canadians could not accept it. There was no public consultation and no respect for individual property rights. The environment minister has indicated that this heavy-handed legislation is about to reappear. Will the environment minister tell Canadians what steps she will take to protect individual property rights while endangered species are being protected?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, this government has made a commitment to re-table our endangered species protection legislation and we will do so. Before doing so, I am in the process of consulting with the different sectors that may be implicated or impacted by this legislation. I believe we are coming to a consensus about a good piece of legislation to protect endangered species.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, according to the estimates tabled yesterday, the employment insurance surplus will be $19.6 billion next year.
The President of the Treasury Board thinks a huge surplus is essential in case we fall upon more difficult economic times in the future. But Canadian workers, from Kamloops to Caraquet to St. John's, Newfoundland, are already going through tough times as a result of the changes to employment insurance.
My question is for the President of the Treasury Board. Instead of letting people suffer, is the government prepared to immediately use the surplus in the employment insurance fund to help all the unemployed from coast to coast?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, the amount of the surplus from contributions is set on a yearly basis by the commission. We must ensure that there will be enough for the economic cycle.
Jim Peterson Liberal Willowdale, ON
We have already cut employment insurance premiums by more than $7 billion based on past economic conditions.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, when will this government start working for the people of this country and deal with issues of concern to all Canadians, such as job creation and a health system that meets everyone's needs? Does this government think that having 1.4 million unemployed people in Canada is acceptable?
My question is for the Prime Minister. Will the government keep its promise to Canadian voters to create jobs? Is it prepared to implement a full employment strategy and to set job creation targets?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, last year, the Canadian economy generated 372,000 jobs. Since we have been in office, the economy has generated more than 1 million jobs.
It is not enough, but we will carry on with our economic policies to ensure that the progress made so far continues to generate numerous jobs.
Gilles Bernier Progressive Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Speaker, reports published today indicate that the Minister of Health has put together a compensation package which offers a one time payment of $22,000 to $30,000 to victims of tainted blood who contracted hepatitis C between 1986 and 1990.
Could the minister confirm this? Does he feel that this is just compensation for hepatitis C victims?
Joe Volpe LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, what I can confirm is what I said earlier. The issue is on the table. It is being discussed as we speak with our colleagues at the provincial level.
When the compensation package is revealed in its entirety tomorrow we will know the specifics. At that time he will be able to judge better whether or not this is proper.
Gilles Bernier Progressive Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Speaker, there are provinces that disagree with the federal government on the matter of compensation.
Justice Krever, who was appointed by the federal government to conduct the inquiry, also seems to disagree. In his final report, he indicated that, in his opinion, providing compensation to some victims but not to others would be unjustifiable.
Is the Minister of Health prepared to defend the federal government's position, which neither the provinces nor Justice Krever support?
Joe Volpe LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that when Judge Krever submitted his interim report the federal government acted swiftly, immediately, to implement all the recommendations that applied to the Government of Canada and to Health Canada.
The Minister of Health has moved with the same alacrity to ensure that this issue is dealt with honourably and justly so that all affected could be dealt with in the appropriate manner.
I ask him to be patient and to wait until the announcement comes tomorrow so that we can deal with the specifics of the matter.
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification.
Contrary to what the opposition believes, British Columbia has many friends on this side of the House. There is always room for one or many more.
The central ingredient for economic prosperity being participation in emerging technologies, will the minister tell the House what the government has done and is doing to help support high technology in B.C.?
Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalSecretary of State (Science
Mr. Speaker, high technology investments in British Columbia have been significant. I want to give two examples.
The Canadian Space Agency announced a contract to MacDonald Dettwiler of $225 million for an earth observation system securing 300 jobs.
Besides that, Technology Partnerships Canada has invested roughly $58 million for the creation of 4,800 jobs in British Columbia. Ballard Power Systems has received $29.3 million for the creation of 2,200 jobs and Western Star Trucks, $8.9 million for over 1,000 jobs.
Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC
Mr. Speaker, I hate to break from the theme of today, but I think we will have to do that.
Today there was a recent IRB appointee, Anna Terrana, who appeared before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to be asked about her competence and qualifications. When asked about her appointment she said that others had applied for the position who had equal, if not better, qualifications.
Will the minister admit that the factor that tipped the scales in Anna Terrana's favour was the fact that she is—