House of Commons Hansard #108 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was students.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that and I appreciate that coming from the minister.
The question today, and we have been pounding away on this for weeks and weeks, concerns compensation for those hepatitis C victims before and after the years 1986 to 1990.
I ask the minister, where are those negotiations leading? Has the minister accepted the fact that all victims should be compensated?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada continues to believe that it is in the interests of all of those who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system that there be a national approach to this issue. That is why we are taking part in and leading a working group which is already under way, looking at options available to governments to deal with the interests of all of those who got hepatitis C through the blood system.
As soon as that work is concluded and governments have a position I shall report it to the House.
Reg Alcock Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, research and development is vital to a healthy and prosperous economy.
Would the Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development please tell the House what the government is doing to foster world class scientific research in western Canada?
Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalSecretary of State (Science
Mr. Speaker, science, research and development continue to be priorities of the Western Economic Diversification.
There have been a number of important announcements, the most recent in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Friday, where it was announced that $2.1 million will be provided to fund a centre on expertise for the aging. It will be at the forefront of research in this area. It will address certain diseases such as Alzheimer and certain cardiovascular problems associated with aging.
The best news of all is, not only will it be at the forefront in the world, it will create 100 good jobs for western Canadians.
Rob Anders Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, how is this for a job buying fiasco? In October last year human resources development spent a cool $1 million of taxpayers' money from the transitional jobs fund for BPS Imaging, a call centre in Newfoundland. Now, a mere seven months later, BPS has closed its doors and 124 people are out of work.
Why did the minister not secure the funds with BPS assets or put the money into job training that actually works?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I will look into the particular case that the opposition member is raising.
However, what I can tell him is that on every project involving the transitional jobs fund there is a lot of consultation with the provincial governments. We look at every one of them in a very serious fashion.
With $300 million the government has created thousands of very good jobs in Newfoundland and in the rest of Canada.
Pierrette Venne Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, day after day, we hear stories of women in the Canadian armed forces who were raped, sexually mistreated or sexually harassed.
The response of the Minister of National Defence is as follows, and I quote “I have no statistical information that would indicate that the problem is more serious in the armed forces than in the rest of Canadian society”.
Are we to understand from this irresponsible statement that the minister views rape, sexual mistreatment and sexual harassment in the armed forces as acceptable, as long as they stay within the national average?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I indicated that I had no statistical information which would indicate that it is any worse than in Canadian society.
I would also say that it runs against the core values of Canadians and of the vast majority of the men and women in our Canadian forces.
What the hon. member does not seem to have heard is that I also said that what I read in those articles with respect to that kind of conduct, behaviour and attitude is disgusting. That kind of behaviour is not going to be allowed in the Canadian forces. We have taken action and will continue to take action.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
I want to say that we welcome the important steps taken by the minister to save B.C.'s endangered coho salmon last week.
Will the minister tell the House what new steps he is taking to get a treaty that stops Alaskans from fishing our coho while B.C. fishers stand by?
When will the minister respond to the important recommendations of the Copes commission on fisheries renewal and saving our threatened small boat fleet and coastal communities?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, on the question of the discussions with the Government of Alaska and the Government of the United States of America, last Thursday I requested that the Canadian negotiator, Dr. Donald McRae, get in touch with his American counterpart to pass on the information with respect to the coho conservation plans of Canada.
On Friday I had a discussion with the governor of Alaska. We agreed that we would resume the negotiations between the United States and Canada this week, and I believe that will be on Thursday in Juneau.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, for weeks, not to say months, the opposition has been urging the Minister of Health to compensate all hepatitis C victims.
The minister has even said that compensating all victims fairly would lead to the collapse of Canada's health system.
How can he say such a thing when the exact number of hepatitis C victims is not even known right now? What is he doing to find a solution for these victims, when their numbers and the associated compensation figures are not even known?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, these are the very questions now before the task force set up ten days ago by the federal and provincial governments.
The task force has already begun its work. We expect results to be available shortly. I advise the hon. member to wait for the results of the task force's work, at which time its conclusions can be examined.
Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
There has been a great deal of suffering felt by thousands in Asia as a result of the recent economic crisis. This weekend Canada hosted the Asia-Pacific finance ministers. Can the minister tell us what action will be taken to address the human and social impact of this crisis?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, in situations of economic crisis such as occurred in Indonesia and other Asian countries the IMF must move very quickly in order to recreate confidence in capital markets.
The hon. member is very justified in pointing out that the real cost is borne by individual populations, by women and by children who are forced to drop out of school. As a result of that Canada took a very strong position at the APEC meeting that the World Bank must move in parallel with the IMF in order to directly alleviate the suffering that is being felt.
I am glad to say that the president of the World Bank was there. He also spoke to the same position. The vast majority of finance ministers supported it. I take the hon. member's question as support from this House for that position.
Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, this government has failed the people of B.C. during the last five years by its inability to resolve the Pacific salmon dispute. Unless the minister is ready to put some teeth into this we will never get it resolved.
Is the minister prepared to take some actions against the U.S. fishermen and prevent U.S. fishing vessels from crossing into Canadian waters until this dispute is resolved?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member has been these last few months.
We will be resuming negotiations with the Americans. This follows the offer of the Alaskan government to communicate, co-operate and collaborate on the issue of coho preservation.
We have had discussions with the American federal government. We expect that there will be negotiations taking place in Juneau on Thursday of this week. In addition, the governor and I have agreed that we will meet together sometime in the next two weeks.
Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.
I would like to remind the minister that there are women who have had to abandon their career in the Canadian armed forces, and that others are afraid to enlist.
What action does the minister propose to take, aside from making ridiculous and irresponsible statements, to bring an end to the problem of harassment?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the chief of defence staff has made it quite clear that our policies are to be adhered to with respect to a harassment-free atmosphere. That is going right down the chain of command.
In addition, we have put in place harassment advisors. There is the national investigative service that I mentioned before. As well, good training programs have been put into effect over the last couple of years.
We will continue in this way to ensure that men and women can work together in an harassment free atmosphere.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw the attention of the House to the presence in the gallery of Mr. Ibrahim Ferradaz, Minister for Foreign Investments and Economic Collaboration, Cuba.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, in today's question period I said that Italy had the seventh biggest economy. Actually it has the fifth biggest economy. Canada has the seventh. I appreciate the opportunity to make this correction.
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Mr. Speaker, today I heard a member use what I believe to be unparliamentary language.
I heard the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot call the Minister of Human Resources Development a liar not once but twice. I ask that he withdraw his insulting and unparliamentary comments.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Dear colleagues, I too heard the word “liar” during question period, but I could not tell who had uttered it. The member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine is saying it was the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.
He is not in the House at the moment, therefore I shall wait for his return. We can then discuss the matter.
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in both official languages a number of Order in Council appointments which were made 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.
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary 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 10 petitions.