Debates of June 10th, 1998

Hepatitis C

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to table these documents in the House because it was illegal in the U.S. in September 1991 and it was not illegal in Canada until January 1993.

My question stands. Why did Canadian regulators, who were warned outside Canada and inside Canada, continue to use dirty blood?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I refer the member to Volume 2 of the Krever report, page 698 and following, in which Mr. Justice Krever goes through this whole history, examines all of the facts and puts them into the context of the scientific knowledge of the day.

What I want to stress is that this government has accepted the recommendations of Krever in relation to regulation. We have established the Blood Safety Council. We are going to have the highest standards of regulation in the world because for this government safety is the bottom line.

Health Care

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health refuses to recognize his very considerable responsibility for the deterioration of Canada's health care system. His cuts are hurting everyone, whatever he says.

Why is the minister refusing to admit that all Canadians are worried about the future of health care, that they view this sector as the top priority and that they want Ottawa to invest its surpluses so as to give back to the provinces part of what the federal government has cut from their health care budget?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, health is one of this government's top priorities. That is why we have already increased health transfers to all the provinces to $12.5 billion annually.

We have already expressed this government's commitment to renewing and strengthening Canada's health care system. That is a priority for this government.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know what the situation is in Quebec. But hospitals have also been closed in Ontario. On Prince Edward Island, there is talk of using private funds to build hospitals, and I could go on.

If the federal government was as generous with the provinces as it claims to be, how does it explain that health care is a problem for all provinces at the same time and that governments are no longer able to meet the public's expectations?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have given a clear answer. We have said that health is our top priority.

We have already taken action in this regard with the budget brought down in February. We invested money in research and restructuring. The problem is that Quebec is investing less money than the federal government in the health sector.

National Defence

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, approximately one month ago the defence committee, which consists of both Liberals and opposition members, met in Halifax.

On that occasion Ann Margaret Dickey approached the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and told him about her concerns. He promised that he would get back to her.

My question to the parliamentary secretary is, why did he not follow up on that request?

[John Richardson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, clearly I would be been in violation. This investigation is ongoing. It is in the hands of the national investigative service and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene at this time.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Ann Margaret Dickey was seeking an investigation into her complaint. The parliamentary secretary's excuse is not acceptable.

What guarantee is he going to give to Ann Margaret Dickey now that this investigation is going to proceed under the direction of the NIS and the ombudsman? What guarantee is he going to give?

[John Richardson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the allegations of sexual assault by the person named have been looked at.

The ombudsman has no position in criminal cases. It is appropriately set with the NIS. It is the channel to be used when such allegations are made. It is an ongoing situation and it is before the investigators.

Air Transport

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is penalizing Air Canada with its strategy of maintaining two national carriers in Canada.

My question is for the Minister of Transport. How would allowing Air Canada to provide direct service between Montreal and Milan compromise his grand two-carrier development scheme, especially since this service is not provided by Canadian Airlines?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have already explained that it is in the interest of all Canadians to have profitable airlines, whether it is Air Canada or Canadian Airlines.

For the hon. member, day after day, to take the position of one commercial carrier, I would say he is not really doing justice to those people who work for Canadian Airlines. He is not of course taking the pan Canadian view and looking at the health of the Canadian airline industry. But that is no surprise because the Bloc Quebecois traditionally only looks at narrow points of view that reflect parochial interests. In this case, when it talks about harm to Montreal, it is dead wrong.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how would allowing Air Canada to provide direct service between Montreal and Amsterdam compromise his grand two-carrier development scheme, especially since Canadian does not even fly to the Netherlands?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we have looked at each of these routes. We have analysed it meticulously.

Let me draw the hon. member's attention to the fact that two years ago we had a crisis in terms of the viability of the future of two airline carriers in this country. This government stood steadfast behind competition and assisted the competitive nature of the Canadian airline industry. We are not going to penalize one of those companies in a way which would hurt its restructuring plan, in this case Canadian Airlines.

Air Canada got a lot out of these deals. He should got back to the officials at Air Canada who will tell him that they are going to make more money out of this arrangement.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Since the Delgamuukw decision was handed down aboriginals in British Columbia have laid claim to over 100% of the province. We have asked the Indian affairs minister for her position for several days and we still do not have an answer.

Can the Prime Minister tell us what the government's position is? Does he believe these claims are legitimate? Who owns British Columbia?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, British Columbia belongs to all of its citizens.

There are rights, there are interests that have to be reconciled, and in our view the best place to reconcile those interests is at the treaty table where they can be negotiated fairly, openly and in a manner of trust.

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we finally have the Indian affairs minister acknowledging that British Columbia belongs to all of its citizens.

Does she understand how important this decision is for all of Canada and what the repercussions are going to be for Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta? Does she understand how important this decision is and the repercussions it will have on the rest of this country?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, clearly we understand the repercussions.

We have been at the table with all the parties in British Columbia. We are settling comprehensive claims right across this country. We are doing it in a way that is consistent with Canadian values which recognize that aboriginal rights exist, that they must be reconciled in a modern Canada and that it must be done in a fair and equitable way.

That is what the people of British Columbia want. That is what all Canadians want.

Canadian Armed Forces

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

We learned today of another member of the military who was the victim of sexual and physical assault in the armed forces while she was stationed at Saint-Jean. She experienced a real nightmare in the face of a wall of indifference from the entire military hierarchy and from the current Minister of National Defence and his predecessors.

Does the Prime Minister intend to ask the new ombudsman to give priority to this case so that the minister may take vigorous sanctions against these sexual predators in order to put an end—

[The Speaker]

I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member. The Right Hon. Prime Minister.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in my response earlier, I indicated that this matter was being investigated by a committee that was set up in 1997.

As everyone knows and as the member pointed out, an ombudsman, who is not a member of the military, was appointed yesterday. We believe that together he and the committee will ensure that such acts are not repeated and that those who committed criminal acts will be punished.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the office of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has no problem releasing personal and confidential information. Yet, when it is a question of public policy, this minister refuses to release the information as to how much land claim settlements will cost Canadians.

How much will it cost British Columbians to settle the land claims issues?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, aboriginal rights have to be reconciled in British Columbia. The best place to do that is at the negotiating table where all parties who are aware of their fiscal limitations come in a very practical way to resolve those issues step by step.

It is a fiscally responsible approach. It is a Liberal approach. It is a Canadian approach. It is where we will find progress being made on this very important aspect of modern history.

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, part of Canadian history is that in the terms of union of 1871 when B.C. joined Confederation there was a constitutional commitment that all native land claims issues would be assumed by the federal government.

My question is for the Prime Minister and the minister of Indian affairs. Is this government going to assume the financial responsibilities for all the land claim settlement costs in British Columbia?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we are sitting at the table with the federal crown, the provincial crown and the First Nations. Together we will reconcile aboriginal rights in British Columbia.

Is the hon. member suggesting we should legislate compensation? How much is she prepared to pay for that? They are saying we should legislate without true certainty. How much are they prepared for the lack of certainty in their approach? They say we should talk about cash, not land. How much is she prepared to put on the table?