Debates of May 26th, 1998

Environment

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

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

In today's report on environment the auditor general's commissioner concluded that the government's lack of leadership results in inadequate environmental assessments that will have significant consequences on the environment.

Given that the majority of the environmental screenings examined by the auditor general did not meet the criteria of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, what will the minister do today to ensure that all federal assessments meet the criteria of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, environmental assessment is a very important aspect of the work of Environment Canada.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act is in its third year of operation. The agency is working very diligently to make sure that all departments working with me do proper assessments. We are having to look to see how we can improve the processes. We are working hard on that and have provided different guidelines to departments and other groups that do environmental assessments.

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on March 19 I asked the minister whether she agreed with her own deputy minister that there were not enough resources to enforce all environmental regulations. Her response to the House was that “there is within my department resources available to deal with all enforcement issues necessary”.

Given today's auditor general's report and the environment committee's condemning report on environmental enforcement, can the minister square her comments with those of the auditor general and her own committee, or does she wish to retract her comments of March 19?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to retract my comments made in March.

I understand that there are some difficulties with enforcement measures being taken in my department. For that reason I requested my department to undergo a review some months ago. I also requested that the standing committee do a review of enforcement.

I believe that the resources within my department can be reviewed and that we can put resources to better effect to ensure proper enforcement.

Tourism

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Egmont has asked us to join with all islanders in celebrating the 125th anniversary of that province's joining Confederation.

Tourism is important to New Brunswick, to P.E.I., to Nova Scotia and to Newfoundland. Will the secretary of state responsible for ACOA explain to the House what ACOA is doing to assist tourism in Atlantic Canada?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Like you, my colleagues, I really want to hear this answer.

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and so does the rest of the House.

1997 was a banner year for tourism in Atlantic Canada. All four Atlantic provinces enjoyed double digit growth. Prince Edward Island led the way with 60% over the previous year in the number of visitors.

In addition, the House will be interested to know that tourism generated $2.5 billion worth of revenues in Atlantic Canada, of which $440 million was returned to the province and to the federal government in the way of taxes.

There are 96,000 people involved in tourism. This is why—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast.

Immigration

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

In view of a recent intelligence report tabled by the solicitor general that concluded Canada has become a haven for every known terrorist group in the world and the solicitor general's promise to clean it up, can the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration guarantee that the eight suspected terrorists in an Israeli jail will not be admitted to Canada?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a country that has always been proud of its humanitarian tradition of taking in refugees.

We will always respond to appeals from the UN High Commission on Refugees, but in keeping with the immigration rules, carrying out security checks.

I think that the member should stop creating myths against refugee people. Refugees are not criminals.

Société Des Acadiens Et Acadiennes Du Nouveau-Brunswick

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Richelieu, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

In a press conference this morning, the president of the Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick revealed that Heritage Canada has cut his organization's budget by 41% since 1990. That is why he is forced to shut the operation down for the summer.

What does the Minister of Canadian Heritage have to say this afternoon to the president of the Société des Acadiennes et Acadiens du Nouveau-Brunswick, who is asking that the federal government stop withdrawing from the area of official languages?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to his government's decision to cut funding to the Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes, I assume the hon. member opposite, who was part of the government that made the cuts in question in 1990, can answer.

As for our government, I can assure him that we have all experienced financial difficulties. Cutbacks of 33% were imposed on all organizations. I hope that the renewal, next March, of the Canada-communities agreements will mark another step in the right direction, as it did for the CBC and all crown corporations—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst.

Employment Insurance

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Human Resources Development said that he traveled across the country.

I do not think the United States is part of Canada, unless the minister went to Liberal golf clubs. If he had met people affected by the changes to the employment insurance program, he would not be indifferent to their plight.

Is the minister prepared to come with me to visit the regions affected by the employment insurance policy? Is he prepared to listen to the unemployed who are in difficulty?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is precisely because we listen to the unemployed that we know their strongest wish is to get back to work as quickly as possible.

This is why our government has put our fiscal house in order. This is why it has set up a transitional job fund and taken active measures to help the unemployed get back to work. This is what these people expect from us, and this is what we try to do for them.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of a brother Speaker of mine, Mr. Ludwig Bieringer, President of the Austrian Federal Council.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Points Of Order

[The Speaker]

Yesterday, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine rose on a point of order about a word supposedly uttered during yesterday's oral question period.

As I said yesterday, I heard the word, but I did not know who said it. The member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine mentioned that it was the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot who used the word “liar”.

As you know, members get a bit more excited than usual during oral question period. If the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is here now, and if he used this word yesterday, I would ask him to please withdraw it now.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

[The Speaker]

I will hear the member for Roberval, but only for a moment, because I am addressing the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I do not wish to be disrespectful, quite the contrary.

I will simply say that I have reviewed the House of Commons Debates , and nowhere are these words attributed to the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot. I do not see why he should have to give an explanation for words that are not attributed to him.

[The Speaker]

I heard the word myself. I do not know where it came from, but if the hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot did not use this word, he has only to say so. If he used the word, he has only to withdraw it.

I am now addressing my colleague, the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, directly.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for you and your office.

I do not recall having used those words yesterday. Many words are uttered in the House of Commons in any given day. I am also looking at Hansard and I am not identified as being—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.