House of Commons Hansard #104 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government may well deny accusations that it is the one responsible for creating poverty, but can it deny that the number of poor people has been constantly on the rise since it came into power, despite the fact that the country is in a period of economic prosperity?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the welfare figures are constantly dropping. Fewer families are on the welfare rolls, in Quebec, among others.
There is a lot of good news, which the opposition is determined not to note, even though their good buddies are the ones in government in Quebec at present. I find it amusing that they are suddenly attacking our government, when their own friends in the Government of Quebec also bear responsibility. There is a contradiction here.
What I can tell the House is that we are going to continue to work with our partners to ensure that the well-being of our fellow citizens is being properly looked after.
Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals were in opposition they went up one side and down the other of Brian Mulroney for spending $9.5 million on international travel in those five years. But since 1993 this Prime Minister has racked up over $12 million in international travel.
I just have one question for the government. Why was it so bad when it was in opposition but it is so good when it is in government?
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this government will not apologize for Team Canada which is creating thousands and thousands of jobs for Canadians. We do not apologize for going to Italy to sell Canadian goods abroad. We will not apologize for going to South America to sell Canadian expertise, the best in the world. That is what this country is all about. We want to continue creating jobs notwithstanding the adverse wishes of the Reform Party.
TradeOral Question Period
The Speaker
My colleagues, even with my microphone I am having a tough time up here. The hon. member for Edmonton North.
Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB
Mr. Speaker, that sounds exactly like Brian Mulroney when he sat in that chair just ahead of the member.
Twelve million dollars and counting this Prime Minister spent. Nine and a half million dollars it was for Mr. Mulroney and he said “We don't apologize at all”.
This Deputy Prime Minister in 1993 said it is egomania. If the shoe fits, they have to wear it.
Let me ask again. If it was so wrong for Mulroney, why is it so right for this Prime Minister?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member is right in what she is saying, is she saying that hundreds of Canadian business men and women are wrong when they accompany the Prime Minister on these trips? Is she saying they are wrong, the Canadian business men and women, when they come back from these trips and say that they have signed hundreds of millions of dollars of trade deals?
These people say that the Prime Minister is right. These people by their actions say that the Reform Party on this, as in everything else, is wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong.
Maurice Dumas Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, two days before the health ministers conference, we still do not know where the government is headed on the hepatitis C issue. So far, the minister has merely acted as an adjudicator between the provinces; he has not even had the courage of admitting responsibility.
Instead of playing adjudicator, should the minister not concentrate all his energy on actively seeking a solution, so that all hepatitis C victims can be compensated?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we must first find out what the provinces' positions are. I hope that Dr. Rochon from Quebec will attend Thursday's meeting, as I am anxious to find out Quebec's position. It is not quite clear right now, and I have a few questions for Dr. Rochon.
So, let us first ascertain the provinces' positions and then see if a consensus can be achieved among the provinces and the federal government.
Maurice Dumas Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister is trying to tell us that he is showing leadership. He should instead admit that Quebec and Ontario are the leaders on this issue.
Will he admit that a true leader would first and foremost tell us where he is headed and how he intends to address the problem?
Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, experts and foreign governments are saying that without Canadian technology the Indian nuclear program would not be where it is today.
It is time that the Liberals took some responsibility for the proliferation of this nuclear technology. What is this government going to do besides what many other countries have done in terms of our ambassador? What is this government going to do in the G-8, in the Commonwealth to stop this proliferation of nuclear material?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said that he intends to raise this with the other G-7 countries to see what appropriate action would be.
I want to repeat that Canada is not providing material to India or Pakistan to support their nuclear programs. Canada has not been involved in this way since the early 1970s. Canada deplores the actions of India in these tests. It has withdrawn its high commissioner. It intends to discuss the matter with its G-8 partners. This shows that we are very concerned about this and we are prepared and are taking concrete action.
Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that is good enough. That just sounds like more Liberal rhetoric, protecting ministers of the past, Liberal governments that decided to export this technology. It is just not good enough for the minister to answer this way.
What kind of responsibility is this government going to take and what kind of leadership is it going to show to the world?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the Candu technology sold to India in the 1960s and 1970s was in fact not used by India for the production of its first nuclear weapon back in 1974. After that Indian weapon test in 1974, Canada suspended all nuclear trade with India.
Thereafter the non-proliferation standards were also strengthened and total trade was terminated. This demonstrates that more than 20 years ago Canada was acting decisively to express our dissatisfaction with the kind of conduct that the hon. gentleman mentioned.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, 5.2 million Canadians live below the poverty line. There is a direct link between poverty and access to credit, along with bank investment in underprivileged communities. In the United States, the Community Reinvestment Act regulates bank operations in these underprivileged communities.
Tomorrow, a private member's bill will be tabled in the House, asking that the banks reinvest in the community. Does the government intend to support this legislation, which is meant as a concrete measure against poverty?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have said repeatedly that we do support the principle of community banks. In fact, this is one of the reasons why we referred the issue to the MacKay task force. We are anxiously awaiting its recommendations, in September.
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Ontario released the results of its public consultation exercise on the Calgary declaration.
A poll conducted as part of this consultation shows that 87% of Ontarians support the declaration. This is consistent with the results of similar polls conducted elsewhere in the country, including Quebec, even though the Bloc would have us believe just the opposite.
Can the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs tell us more about the level of support for the Calgary declaration in Ontario?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc obviously does not like the Calgary declaration.
But Canadians, including Quebeckers, find it a rather good initial gesture of openness that reflects the values which unite us, as was clearly shown by the recent consultation in Ontario.
Let me say to those who may have doubts about this consultation that a rigorous, scientific poll shows that 73% of Ontarians recognize the unique character of Quebec society.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the RCMP has been called in by the government to investigate leaks to the Globe and Mail about the new TAGS program.
Why are the Liberal spin doctors so upset by this? Is it because the new TAGS program was leaked before they had a chance to do it?
Why is the RCMP investigating leaks to the media, something the government does every other day?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has been given information with regard to this situation and will take appropriate action as is befitting a law enforcement agency of its stature.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister's suggested changes to the YOA were all over the newspapers this morning hours before the official release.
Will the solicitor general ask the RCMP to investigate that leak as well?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times before, the government does not ask the RCMP to conduct an official investigation. It gives it information and the RCMP makes the appropriate decision based on 125 years of law enforcement in Canada.
Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS
Mr. Speaker, successive supreme court decisions reinforce the obligation of the federal government to uphold a fiduciary or trust responsibility toward aboriginal peoples.
The honour of the crown is the standard to which the courts hold all governments. Does the Liberal government still believe it has a fiduciary responsibility toward aboriginal peoples and does it still honour the crown when it intercedes in court cases?