House of Commons Hansard #88 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was senators.
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I said before, those on that side of the House seem to think there is a simplistic approach to the renewal of the youth justice system in this country. They seem to think it only involves toughening up the Young Offenders Act.
People on this side of the House take a more holistic and integrated approach to what is a very complex issue. That approach will be reflected in this government's response.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, we understand that she is not even going to accept the recommendations provided by the justice committee to Parliament, that she is not going to accept the recommendations made by hundreds of people across this country, including the chiefs of police and the Canadian Police Association.
If she is in charge of her own portfolio, will she stand today and tell us when she will bring in amendments to the Young Offenders Act?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of other occasions in this House, the government's response will be filed in a timely manner.
Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. We heard today that there is no clear figure to determine how many victims fall outside the government's hepatitis C compensation package.
Can the minister tell this House what that figure is and how it was determined?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am told by epidemiologists at Health Canada that somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 people were affected pre-1986. That is the best they can do.
The number is not precise because not all provincial governments have done trace back programs to determine the exact number. In general, that is the present belief regarding the number of people infected prior to 1986 through the blood system in general.
Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, we also learned today that the hepatitis C victims in Ireland were forced to fight a long and hard battle for compensation. Tragically, it took the death of a prominent Irish activist and victim to convince that government to compensate all victims.
What will it take for this government to finally do what is fair and just? Is there anything these people can do to convince this government to reconsider?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it was precisely to prevent decades of fighting and litigation that I put on the agenda of health ministers last summer the whole question of compensation for hepatitis C victims.
As a result, discussions ensued. We analysed the facts. We looked at the history and together as governments, federal and provincial, including New Democratic governments in British Columbia and in Saskatchewan, we are taking the right approach by compensating those who were affected during a period when something could have been done to stop it.
If we take a different approach, we will imperil the sustainability of public health care in Canada. That is the basis of the decision we made.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, the minister is absolutely wrong when he uses the timeframe of 1986 to 1990. It is simply a frame of convenience.
He knows full well that tests were available that other countries use, specifically West Germany, to identify the problem which is now known as hepatitis C. Will the minister not acknowledge that and with that consideration reverse his decision and include all victims of hepatitis C in this country?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right in saying that, as Mr. Justice Krever pointed out, at various points in time and in various countries prior to 1986 there were tests that were in place. I think even one American state had a test before 1986.
The balance of the evidence and certainly the better judgment is that it was in early 1986 that Canada should have acted to follow the lead of competitor countries like the United States which then put the test in place federally.
That is the point in time at which most informed commentators believe the line is drawn between infections—
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if we have an accountant or a lawyer speaking on behalf of the ministry or the government today.
That is a flawed position. These people deserve compensation. It is as simple as that. He should not simply be looking at the dollars because he does not know himself how many victims are out there. It could be as few as 20,000. It could be 30,000. It could be 40,000.
Will he not do the honourable thing and act unilaterally to compensate these victims?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it is not a question of dollars. It is a question of the sustainability of the public health care system.
If the honourable member is suggesting because a test came on stream in 1981 or 1982 that the victims back to that year should be compensated, then he is agreeing with the ministers of health of Canada. He is just drawing the line at a different place. He is just saying that was the date after which something could have been done to make a difference.
If the honourable member is agreeing with me in principle but drawing the line at a different place on the calendar then that says a lot about his position. He is indeed supporting the position of the ministers of health of Canada.
Susan Whelan Liberal Essex, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the president of Treasury Board.
A recent press article suggested that not one federal government department has taken advantage of the services offered by an elite team assembled to assist with the pending year 2000 millennium bug. What assurances can the minister give the House that federal departments are dealing with the urgency of the year 2000 crisis?
Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, in fact the information contained in the article was wrong. We already have six packages that have been put forward by six departments and of these two already have been asking for funds.
But what is reassuring is that we already have retainers for $100 million where we get the resources necessary in order to fill up the needs of the year 2000 bug if ever there is a problem. We feel we have put our systems in place and we are properly equipped to deal with the problem.
Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, last night millions of Canadians watched in anger as officials from CIDA admitted that hundreds of millions of dollars do not go to the needy countries where it is supposed to go.
This money is going to huge Canadian corporations instead of helping the poorest of the poor in developing countries. This is totally unacceptable.
Will the minister call in the auditor general immediately to investigate this?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, the program to which the MP is referring is CIDA Inc. It is a program designed to encourage private enterprise to invest in the developing world.
The reality is that one out of three of those companies implements a successful program. For every tax dollar invested in the developing world by CIDA Inc. five dollars comes back to Canada and twelve dollars goes to the developing world.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.
As everyone said it would, the federal government took advantage of the fact that the House of Commons was not sitting to announce the acquisition of four used submarines, just as it did in the case of the helicopters, so determined is it to avoid being questioned about this $750 million purchase.
How does the minister explain that not only are his government's priorities highly questionable, because it has chosen to buy used submarines rather than give money back to the provinces so that they can ensure basic services, but that, in addition, these new submarines are not even capable of travelling under the Arctic ice?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, these submarines are state of the art. They were commissioned by the royal navy of the U.K. at a time when that was part of its defence future. It has since decided to go to nuclear submarines.
These were very slightly used in the days when they were part of that defence department program. We have acquired them for a quarter of the cost needed to build new ones. That is a great bargain. At least we can replace our 30 year old submarines. We have the capability to patrol our shores and the Arctic.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK
My question is to the minister of finance, that Bay Street banker, Mr. Speaker.
BankingOral Question Period
The Speaker
Colleagues, I ask you to please be very judicious in your choice of words and I would ask the honourable member to put his question.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, if the two bank mergers go ahead, the two large megabanks will have 70% of the banking assets in this country.
It would take about 100 banks in the United States to have 70% of the banking assets in that country. I submit this is obscene concentration.
In the name of democracy, is the minister now prepared to establish an all party parliamentary committee to study these two mergers and give Canadians a chance to say their peace?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, just as it is difficult to understand from day to day what the Reform Party position is, it appears to be equally difficult to understand the position of the member for Qu'Appelle. He now wants to have an all party study.
The day before yesterday he said that we should simply say no to the mergers. There seems to be some inconsistency within the NDP as to what exactly its position is.
The fact is in order to protect small business, in order to protect rural communities, in order to make sure Canadian consumers are taken care of and that there is full competition is why we put in place the MacKay committee. That is why there is going to be full—
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, we have not had a lot of information from the health minister today. So this question is to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Based on information in a story that ran in The Globe and Mail on April 3, can the Deputy Prime Minister not see that the health minister compromised his position in relation to cabinet solidarity and secrecy in the sense of who supported his position and who did not? Does this not send a message to the government that something has to be done? Maybe the health minister should be replaced because of this breach of confidentiality?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is sending a message that Premier Harris should be replaced, that Premier Klein should be replaced, that Premier Binns should be replaced, all Conservatives like him. They shared in that agreement and they continue to stand by it.