Debates of May 27th, 1998

Employment Insurance

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

The Minister of Human Resources Development.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC]

Anyone will agree that an employment insurance system that is too readily accessible is an incentive for young people to enter the labour market too soon, sometimes before they are ready. This is something I have seen personally in many regions of Quebec. That is why we have greater ambitions for young Quebeckers.

National Defence

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister of defence if he could confirm that Canadian forces surgeon general Wendy Clay has been charged with at least one criminal offence.

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I can only say that the matter is under investigation.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not asking about an investigation. My understanding is that the investigation is passed. The surgeon general has been charged with obstruction of justice and possibly the destruction of evidence.

I ask that the minister confirm whether that is the case.

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of that being the case. The information I have is that the matter is under investigation.

As the hon. member knows from his policing days, until the investigation is completed there is nothing further that can be said about it.

Millennium Scholarships

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today is the day the government is going to impose its millennium scholarship bill on us.

It never tried to bargain in good faith with the Government of Quebec despite its very reasonable proposal. It never listened to the collected representatives of the education community in Quebec. It did not even deign to answer a letter from the premier or react to a unanimous motion by the Quebec National Assembly.

Why is the Prime Minister stubbornly ignoring the Quebec consensus headed by the rector of McGill University, the national Assembly's unanimous resolution and even Mr. Bouchard's appeal to honour Quebec's jurisdiction in this area?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I answered Mr. Bouchard today. Over the next ten years, our plan is to help 100,000 Canadians reap the benefits of education, an essential requirement for the 21st century.

Year 2000 Computer Bug

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Carleton—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are grounds for concern about the disastrous consequences that may occur worldwide when we reach the year 2000.

Canada is not yet ready for the year 2000 and could face power grid disruptions and breakdowns in the business, health and communications sectors.

Would the Prime Minister tell all Canadians in the public and private sector of the importance of becoming year 2000 ready?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the members of the House of Commons Industry Committee who are addressing this problem and are attempting, with the help of the Minister of Industry, to alert Canadians so that everyone will be prepared and there will be no problem when the year 2000 arrives.

It is a serious problem and we are doing our best to alleviate it. Canada is in a better position than most countries. It was a subject that was debated in Birmingham at the G-8 meeting. Everyone around the world has realized that if countries are not ready for the year 2000 problems will develop.

I am happy to report that we are ahead of other countries but it does not mean we will be ready. We must make sure that everyone remains—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Vancouver—Sunshine Coast.

Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Yesterday the minister refused to answer my question concerning the granting of refugee status to a convicted hijacker and seven others currently held in an Israeli jail.

Rather than duck and weave, will the minister today assure this House that she has no intention of granting status to these individuals?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will always examine requests from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees to help refugees throughout the world.

That said, we are also going to respect the Immigration Act and to make the necessary medical, criminal record, and security checks. It is therefore very clear that we will never admit anyone to Canada who is going to represent a danger to Canadians.

I believe that the hon. member of the opposition is still trying to perpetuate the myth that refugees are—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast.

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

Mr. Speaker, of these eight people, one of them is a hijacker and some are spies. These are not normal refugees.

Will the minister assure the House and all Canadians that they will not be accepted in this country?

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

Mr. Speaker, the information given by the member is completely false. This is a way for him and his party to create rifts all the time. When we want to help genuine refugees, we will do so but not against the protection of Canadians.

The Environment

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this government's failing grade on the environment reflects on the leadership of the Prime Minister.

The environment commissioner warned that if the performance does not improve, the environment and our health will be threatened. Yet the environment minister seems to be unwilling to make substantial changes.

How does the Prime Minister expect that this problem will be solved if the environment minister does not even realize there is a problem?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I have never denied that there are problems in the environment in Canada. It is my role to work with the government to ensure Canadians have better quality air, water and natural ecosystems.

Our department has worked very hard, has worked with Canadians from coast to coast at grassroots level to improve our environment. We will continue to do so and bring in policies and measures to do so.

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to protect the health and safety of Canada.

The environment commissioner warns that inaction will be disastrous. The lack of resources and measurable targets will lead to an accumulative deterioration of our health and ecosystem.

Will the Prime Minister rise today and commit human and financial resources to revive the integrity of our environment? It takes guts to restore a gutted department.

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to the environment and we will continue to meet the existing challenges.

As human beings become more engaged in the environment in Canada, there are more challenges. We have specific targets to try to meet all the challenges and assure Canadians of a good environment.

The environment affects Canadians' health and it is important to all of us in the government.

Taxation

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, we asked the finance minister to cut EI premiums on October 7, October 31, November 7, November 28 and December 1. The minister has refused.

High payroll taxes kill jobs. Will May 27, 1998 go down as another day that this minister refuses to give Canadians the tax breaks and the jobs they need?

The minister is trying to build a war chest on the backs of unemployed Canadians. Does the minister honestly believe that significant payroll tax reductions would not lead to job growth in Canada?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, if that is the position of the member's party, why was that not the position it took when it was in government?

We have reduced payroll taxes $4.2 billion more per year than when that government was in power. We will continue in this vein because reducing personal income taxes, reducing payroll taxes and investing in health care and education are the priorities of the government.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, listen to this quotation: “Whatever may be the situation in the past, we are now confronted in this country by very serious problems and the government should address these problems. They should not seek refuge in history”. That was from Paul Martin Sr. in 1956 in the House.

I have a news flash for the minister. Ten cent cuts are not good enough.

In Halifax in March the minister said that significant payroll tax reductions would not lead to job growth. Yet in his budget he reduced payroll taxes for youth significantly. Why is it good enough for young people but not good enough for all Canadians?

If payroll taxes will not lead to job growth, why did he give—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Finance.