Debates of May 11th, 1998

Calgary Declaration

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the budget speech indicated clearly that we were deeply concerned with respecting the country's diversity and existing education programs, and we are negotiating very hard to respect Quebec's existing programs.

This too flows from the Calgary declaration, from our commitment to a just federation that would take into account the true nature of the country, including the unique character of Quebec society.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

When we asked the Prime Minister about the sometimes odd approaches the provinces took in consulting on the Calgary declaration, he said it was not his concern and they could choose how they went about it.

What explanation does the minister have for the Prime Minister's statement on the weekend that the parliamentary commission established by the Government of Quebec was nothing more than a trap for Jean Charest? Are we to understand that the federal government has suddenly decided that what the Government of Quebec does is of concern?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is a polite man. He simply repeated what the Quebec premier said, which was to the effect that the premier wanted to trip up the leader of the official opposition—not yet, but anyway—the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party on the Calgary declaration.

This objective is not about informing Quebeckers on the content of the declaration. This is why Bloc Quebecois surveys never ask people whether they agree with the content of the Calgary declaration.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before they are consulted, they have to know what it is about, because 90% of the people have no idea what the Calgary declaration is about.

It was to be a sort of lifebuoy for the Quebec Liberal Party and federalist Quebeckers.

How can he now claim that a parliamentary commission to look into it suddenly amounts to a trap for the current head of the Liberal Party, Jean Charest?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we will keep looking at what the declaration has to say.

Canada's gift of diversity includes Aboriginal peoples and cultures, the vitality of the English and French languages and a multicultural citizenry drawn from all parts of the world.

In Canada's federal system, where respect for diversity and equality underlies unity, the unique character of Quebec society, including its French speaking majority, its culture and its tradition of civil law, is fundamental to the well being of Canada. Consequently, the legislature and Government of Quebec have a role to protect and develop the unique character of Quebec society within Canada.

The Economy

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Prime Minister heads off to the G-8 bragging, no doubt, about the rosy economy even though more Canadians are living in poverty than ever, 1.5 million children. What a tragedy.

Will the Prime Minister be explaining to his G-8 colleagues his Liberal government's formula for increased prosperity for the few and growing poverty for far too many?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there is certainly a lot more to be done but I am sure the Prime Minister will explain that the unemployment rate has gone down almost 3% since he took office. It is now at the lowest rate in eight years.

He will explain that inflation has disappeared. He will explain that interest rates are at record lows. He will explain why the Globe and Mail , which is no friend of the government, had a headline on the weekend “Jobs aplenty as economy booms”.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government's grasp of the poverty reality is about as real as the Prime Minister's homeless imaginary friend. Maybe the next team Canada mission should be right here at home so the Prime Minister and his colleagues can discover the Canadian reality of growing poverty.

Child poverty in Canada is the highest in 17 years. Will the government recommit to Canada's millennium project, unanimously adopted by the House, namely eliminating child poverty by the year 2000?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is true that even though the economy has been performing very well and we are very pleased at the general approach we have been having there remains too much poverty in the country. Many Canadians find it difficult to cope with that reality. We hope that more and more individuals will be picked up by the booming economy which remains a top priority of the government.

We have for the people who still find it tough the national child benefit which we will increase in the next three years to $1.7 billion. We have also improved the family income supplement in the last budget and in many other measures regarding poverty.

Treasury Board

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Pierre Corbeil, a Liberal Party fundraiser, has been convicted of influence peddling for hitting up companies that had applied for grants under the transitional jobs fund.

Mr. Corbeil knew which companies to go after because someone who worked for the minister responsible for the Treasury Board gave him the confidential list of companies. That someone was Jacques Roy.

Can the minister confirm whether Jacques Roy is still his employee?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that it is the government that asked the RCMP to make an investigation into the allegation.

The RCMP made a thorough investigation. It reviewed all allegations including the fact mentioned and made a charge against one individual who has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced.

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to know who works for him or, if he does, he does not want to admit it. Jacques Roy is still employed by the minister.

Can the minister explain why one of his staff, who was party to activity which resulted in a Liberal fundraiser being criminally charged and convicted, is still working for him?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has investigated these facts thoroughly. It has in the end come to a conclusion. It has charged one individual.

The government has co-operated fully with the RCMP. One individual has been charged and sentenced.

Justice

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Reena Virk was a Victoria school girl who was beaten mercilessly by a pack of 15 young offenders. They swarmed her, beat her and burned her with cigarettes. She staggered away barely alive but they came back. They got her and they killed her.

The first two attackers were sentenced last week. One of them got away with just a year in open custody, no jail; she just got grounded.

Does the justice minister think that is fair?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, everybody is very aware of the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Reena Virk.

Let me inform the House today that I will be tabling tomorrow afternoon before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights the government's response to its proposals for the renewal of the youth justice system.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is time for more than a response. It is time for legislation.

I hold this minister accountable for the broken Young Offenders Act which she has refused to fix for 335 days. This was the bloodiest beating in the history of Victoria. The Young Offenders Act means these murderers will just walk free.

Is the Minister of Justice prepared today to look Reena Virk's mother in the eye and say that everything will be corrected tomorrow at this little press conference?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said in this House on many occasions, the renewal of the youth justice system is a complex and serious matter. It should not be trivialized or sensationalized for cheap political points.

Therefore let me reiterate. Tomorrow this government will table its response on the renewal of Canada's youth justice system.

Hepatitis C

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

The federal government is announcing that it will be seeking a consensus at this week's meeting with the ministers of health on settling the hepatitis C question.

Does the Minister of Health admit that, in order to reach a consensus between the provinces, given their far from equal financial means, he will have to agree to use some of the government surplus to inject more money in order to compensate victims?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first we must find out the positions of the provinces, our partners in the health care system.

I trust that Minister Rochon of Quebec will be in attendance, for I am particularly interested in the Quebec position .

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can the Minister of Health claim he wants to find a real solution for the hepatitis C victims, if he does not announce his intention to inject more money, when he is the one who can afford to and this is a prerequisite to a solution?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has already committed $800 million for 1986 through 1990. Now we are waiting for the position of all our partners to be determined.

As the hon. member is already aware, the provinces have expressed a variety of positions, so we shall see next Thursday whether a new consensus will be possible.

Justice

[Paul Forseth, Reform, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the public is tired of having this wait and see game for the Young Offenders Act. National consultations were completed five years ago, yet this government only plans now to respond with a strategy to a committee and then talk some more.

When is the minister going to introduce legislation? Will it deliver the people's agenda of real change or will the minister just rename the act?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, the opposition and other interested Canadians will have the opportunity to review and comment on the government's response when it is tabled before the standing committee tomorrow.

[Paul Forseth, Reform, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the countdown to see young offenders legislation by this justice minister totals a disgusting 335 days.

Can the minister state today that her young offenders strategy response will become substantive legislative change? Will she deal with age, secrecy, consequences and victims for true young offenders rather than just youthful adult criminals under the Young Offenders Act?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of pre-empting the role of parliamentarians by commenting directly on what is in the government's response.

I look forward to the positive contributions of the official opposition when the response is tabled tomorrow.