Debates of May 6th, 1998

Atlantic Groundfish Strategy

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

Mr. Speaker, we are so keenly aware of the importance of these 30,000 people in Atlantic Canada the hon. member referred to that we, as a government, established this strategy back in 1993-94. So we cannot be accused of not doing our job, quite the contrary.

I can assure you that we are being vigilant and that we have consulted closely with the communities and the provinces concerned. We have a good idea of the situation. We know this is a period of intense stress for many people right now. But the strategy will nonetheless end in August, and by then, we will be ready to act.

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, over the last three years the average family of four in Ontario making $60,000 has received about $3,500 in tax relief from the provincial government, but from the federal government they receive not even a thin dime, nothing. In fact taxes have gone up on the federal level.

Why is it that the Government of Ontario understands that that money belongs to the taxpayers? Why can it figure out but the federal finance minister does not seem to have a clue?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in the last federal budget 83% of Ontarians received an income tax reduction. At the same time Ontarians of all classes, students and single mothers also received special tax credits. In fact it is one of the most substantial tax reductions in Canadian budgets for a long time.

I would put to the finance critic that the Reform Party's position is that no tax reduction should come until the deficit has been eliminated. Is it now swallowing itself whole in supporting the Ontario government?

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a Reform government would have balanced the budget three years ago.

The fact of the matter is that since this government came to power it has hiked taxes 36 times. Taxes are $6 billion higher than they were when the government came to power. Suffice it to say, this government is the world champion when it comes to taxes, higher taxes than any country in the G-7 thanks to this finance minister.

When is the finance minister going to figure it out? That money belongs to taxpayers, not to his greedy caucus and greedy cabinet.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, first of all be very clear that the Ontario government has reduced taxes and it still has a deficit. That is in exact contradiction to the Reform Party policy.

We are entitled in the House to a certain degree of coherence and consistency. Does the hon. member support what they did or not?

Let us understand that most economists have said the reason that Ontario was able to lower taxes was interest rates have come down, economic activity has gone up and they have given credit to this government.

Hepatitis C

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is in such a state over the hepatitis C case that he will say anything in his efforts to justify his position.

He said a few minutes ago in this House that, had it not been for his Minister of Health, no one was going to compensate the victims of hepatitis C.

What does he say to the resolution passed unanimously December 2 in the National Assembly that the federal and provincial governments compensate these victims? What has he to say?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, last summer, the Quebec minister of health clearly did not want to compensate hepatitis C victims. That was his position.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Answer the question.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Then they changed their mind. Last Friday, they changed their position and now they have changed it again.

We have proposed a meeting of all ministers next week. And I suggest once again that the member await the meeting.

Fresh Water Export

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, considering that the value of water cannot be measured in dollars because it is priceless, will the federal government assert its jurisdiction over the export of water and take without delay the steps necessary to ensure that water will never be exported from Canada?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member that the security of our water resources is a major priority for the government.

In response to the specific event that took place last week, I consulted with the minister of the environment in Ontario. Because it is a shared body of water with the United States I have written today to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to ask that we have a direct reference to the international joint commission that will rule on this matter.

In addition, the Minister of the Environment has undertaken a major study of all fresh water resources in Canada, including the question of exports, and that will be conducted this summer in full consultation with the provinces. I think we can ensure protection of our water resources.

Calgary Declaration

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last September I asked the Prime Minister when he would be consulting the people of Quebec on the Calgary declaration. He did not answer.

I asked him again in October, November and December. He always said “soon”, but he did nothing. This week, Lucien Bouchard's separatists started their so called consultation.

Why is the Prime Minister leaving himself open to embarrassment this way? Is it laziness or fear of offending Lucien Bouchard?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the House leader of the Bloc Quebecois said that the Quebec premier's thinking was constantly changing. Indeed, on May 26, 1996 the premier said “I will not respond to any question on the Constitution, because I am going to create jobs”.

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the House passed a Reform resolution last fall promoting the Calgary declaration. The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs even voted for it but he has done absolutely nothing to bring the details of the declaration to Quebec. He has left that job to Lucien Bouchard. Great, leave the job of unity to a separatist.

Is it not true that the only reason the Prime Minister did not consult Quebeckers is that he is afraid to upset Bouchard and the separatists?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am really not afraid when I face Mr. Bouchard.

Hepatitis C

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, all the Minister of Health is prepared to say today is wait for the meeting. In the meantime the spirit of co-operation and compassion so evident in the House yesterday is rapidly degenerating into squabbling and growing disunity between the federal government and all the provinces. Once again it is the victims of hepatitis C who suffer.

It is clear this mud slinging would end if the government would simply indicate that it is prepared to put some new dollars on the table. Will the government assure all Canadians that it is going to these discussions with new cash to ensure all victims of hepatitis C are compensated?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that when I speak with ministers of health from across the country, as I am doing, many of them take very different positions. Some are urging that we remain where things are. Others are changing their positions within the hour.

If we are to be constructive and in the interests of all people with hepatitis C, we should work toward a consensus. The federal government should work with provincial governments to do what will help in the care of hepatitis C sufferers. I ask the hon. member to allow us to work with provincial colleagues toward a consensus in the best interests of those who are ill.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister could help achieve that consensus by making a simple public statement that he is prepared to accept federal responsibility and put new cash on the table. Will the minister show that he has learned from the tainted blood scandal by giving a commitment to the House that he is prepared to put in the garbage the documents from his own department considering watering down the Food and Drug Act and detaching Health Canada from the enforcement business?

This flies in the face of everything we have learned from the tainted blood scandal and all Justice Krever's recommendations. Will he give assurances today that report—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Health.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that as recently as this morning I spoke to ministers of health who are urging me not to take the very course advanced by the member. Let us work toward consensus. Let us talk to ministers and have governments work together constructively.

On the role of the health protection branch, I urge the member not to draw conclusions from what she reads in the newspapers. There is a public discussion going on about the role of the department which must be carefully considered by this government before a decision is made.

[Jean Dubé, Progressive Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and his parliamentary secretary both indicated to the House that our social safety net is able to meet the urgent needs of hepatitis C victims.

This sort of promise worries me, since we know that there is already a backlog of 4,000 CPP disability files.

Given the current delays, how can the minister assure us that victims' immediate needs will be met?

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

Mr. Speaker, with respect to hepatitis C victims, my disability pension officials have already been in touch with doctors and those who evaluate files so that we can be sure that, when hepatitis C victims meet with our experts, doctors in particular, they will be well treated, their symptoms properly identified and appropriate referrals made.

As for the file backlog, we are aware that there are sometimes delays. As you know, the auditor general has requested that we look—

[Jean Dubé, Progressive Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about those experts.

The fact remains that it takes no less than six months, and sometimes up to two years, before a disability pension is approved. Time is a luxury that many victims simply do not have.

If victims cannot rely on the disability program, what can they rely on in order to survive?

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

Mr. Speaker, in a great many cases, files are scrutinized much more closely.

A few years ago, when there was a considerable increase in the number of applications, the auditor general requested that we ensure that those approved for disability pensions did indeed meet the criteria proposed in the legislation.

We are in the process of appointing more people to the legal boards and tribunals in order to ensure that rulings can be made as quickly as possible.

Human Rights

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the recent expulsion of two young Quebec women from Chiapas, Mexico, illustrates once again the need for ongoing dialogue with the Mexican government on human rights.

What specific measures does the Minister of Foreign Affairs intend to take to express Canadians' deep concern that the government of Mexico respect fundamental human rights?