Debates of May 15th, 1998

Met Life

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions.

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Ottawa West—Nepean who is also the chair of the national capital Liberal caucus.

From the very start, when this merger was announced, the member has taken a leadership role in bringing these concerns to the attention of the government and our caucus.

I assure the member we have been listening. We will continue to consult. We will continue to work with her. The merger has not yet been approved.

I thank her for the very diligent work and the leadership role she has shown.

Hepatitis C

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while hepatitis C takes up permanent residence in the liver and blood of thousands of Canadians, it is becoming obvious that compassion has been evicted from the government they trusted.

Does anyone on that side of the House have the courage to look Canadians straight in the eyes and tell them they belong to a government that cares?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we can say to Canadians that we are the government that put this issue on the agenda, that encouraged provincial governments to join with us in taking responsibility for a period when people were infected because something could have been done that was not.

We are the government that is now co-ordinating efforts toward a national approach in the interests of all hep C victims. This government is very proud of the commitment it has shown for that cause.

Indonesia

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

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

At a time when there is growing public pressure to demand that the dictator in Indonesia leave, we learn that a rebellion is brewing within his government.

Jakarta is now the scene of bloody riots. What concrete action, other than simply trying to book seats on commercial flights, does the government intend to take to bring home safely and as quickly as possible any Canadians and Quebeckers who may still be in Indonesia?

[David Kilgour, Liberal, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Laval East, with whom I just spent 12 days touring Latin America.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[David Kilgour, Liberal, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

It's true. Arrangements are being made as we speak to evacuate all Canadians from that country. We are trying to avert any danger in this situation. There is full agreement still on the points raised by the hon. member. I think I can assure my colleague that Canada is doing everything to evacuate everyone who has to be evacuated.

David Levine

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, there is a witch hunt going on in the national capital. Some are calling for the resignation of David Levine, the new director of the Ottawa Hospital, because of his political beliefs.

All the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs had to say about it was that it is deplorable, but understandable. Indeed, it violates the charter of rights and freedoms.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister realize the damage caused to Canadian unity by the narrow-minded attitude of his colleague?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hiring of hospital directors does not concern the Canadian government in any way.

It is up to the individual to invoke the charter of rights and freedoms if he feels that the policy of Ottawa hospitals infringes on his rights.

I think the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has done and continues to do a great job.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in the past week the government has asked the RCMP to investigate leaks in relation to TAGS and the justice minister's youth crime policy. Both these leaks are important but probably do not have criminal consequences.

On the other hand, when a very serious leak of confidential information from HRDC to the office of the Treasury Board to a criminal Liberal Party fundraiser happens, the government does not see any reason to investigate.

We know the RCMP has investigated illegal influence peddling. When will the government investigate the HRDC Treasury Board leak?

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

Mr. Speaker, there has been an inquiry in all the facts that have been mentioned. That inquiry has taken place at the request of the government. The government has fully co-operated with that inquiry, and I say it slowly because it takes time to penetrate.

That inquiry is concluded. There has been one person charged. That person has pleaded guilty and has been convicted.

The Family

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the quality of early childhood care has a significant impact on the physical, mental and social health outcomes of children. We also know that healthy children mean stronger families and ultimately a stronger country.

As today, May 15, is the international day of the family, can the Secretary of State for Children and Youth tell the House what the Government of Canada is doing to promote and strengthen the Canadian family?

[Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The government's commitment to families is solid and abundantly evidenced by way of the national children's—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal, Western Arctic, NT]

I know they do not care about families over there. They do not care about anything, actually.

We will have made an investment of $1.7 billion by the year 2000. We have made provisions in EI for low income family supplement. We are also working with our provincial partners to develop the national children's agenda. There is much more that can be said.

Hepatitis C

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, for months now we have listened to this Liberal government on the hepatitis C issue and this minister, excuses, blaming others, hiding behind the working groups' coat tails. He even takes those who look after the victims and calls them ambulance chasers.

Might I remind him that to a lawyer an ambulance chaser is the lowest of the low, but to a doctor an ambulance chaser is trying to do what is right. He is a lawyer. I am a doctor. I say no more. There is only one thing left to do. Will the health minister resign?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I think we struck a nerve. We have identified exactly what the member has been doing these last few weeks. He showed it again yesterday when he tried to get into the camera shots with representatives of the hepatitis C groups.

On this side of the House we are focusing on solutions. On this side of the House we are working with governments. On this side of the House we are committed to a co-ordinated approach by all governments that will be in the interests of the victims, not for narrow political purposes but because we are concerned about the health and the care of those who are ill.

Snow Geese

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Saint-Eustache—Sainte-Thérèse, QC]

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

The snow geese management plan included an experimental project to look at the effectiveness of various hunting techniques. Environment Canada has just released its integrated management plan for snow geese, but there are no provisions on reducing the number of geese.

Will the federal government pledge to compensate farmers for the damage done to their fields by the geese?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity this past fall to visit with those people in Quebec who are most affected by the issue of the large population of snow geese in their area. A multisectoral group is working with the federal government to find a solution to the problem. I am very pleased to report significant progress is being made by this group.

Seniors Benefits

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. It is now well known that the government is making changes to the proposed seniors benefits package. Despite those changes, the seniors benefit would still end universality of old age pensions in this country. Universality is a principle strongly supported the Canadian people.

In light of that, will the Deputy Prime Minister today make a commitment to withdraw the seniors benefits package and maintain universal old age pensions for all Canadians?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we have taken very responsible actions to ensure seniors pensions will be there, that seniors will be given a secure and dignified retirement. We have brought down a package that would increase the pensions for 75% of seniors.

At the same time, we continue to work with seniors groups and we continue to listen. We have this case under advisement and we want to make sure we do the right thing for our seniors. That is why we will continue to consult and to work on this package. I thank the member for his question.

A message from His Excellency the Governor General transmitting supplementary estimates (A) for the financial year ending March 31, 1999 was presented by the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Deputy Speaker to the House.

Order In Council Appointments

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the great honour to table in the House today, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments which were made recently by the government.

Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs in relation to its consideration of Bill C-25, an act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, as amended.

I would also like to mention the excellent co-operation of committee members from all parties, and thank the staff of the Library of Parliament's research branch, as well as Table staff, for their constant and vital support.