Debates of Sept. 25th, 1998

Environment

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the government has committed itself to assisting the people of Cape Breton.

There is a memorandum of understanding that has just recently been signed—it is not several years, it has just recently been signed—involving the federal government. The leader of the government in the other place and the Minister of the Environment both signed the memorandum in co-operation with provincial and regional authorities in the area. They will continue to work to assist the people of Cape Breton and more particularly those of Sydney.

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a memorandum of agreement. We have been asking for action on this issue for five years. This government has used rhetoric. It has wasted millions of dollars and has no plan to clean it up. We want a plan and the people of Cape Breton want a plan. When will this action take place and in what form will it be?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong again.

First, I have no recollection of him raising this issue five years ago. This government has been involved in this issue for a long time. We have been negotiating with the province and the local authorities. There is now a joint action group that has been established with the federal government and the local authorities. We want to clean up the site. Those are the aims toward which we are arriving with the community and the people involved.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance tells us he wants to make it legal to divert money from the EI fund.

Let us hope the Minister of Human Resources Development does not go along with the Minister of Finance.

Does the Minister of Human Resources Development have the authority to make the desired changes to facilitate access, or is the Minister of Finance calling the shots?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that our very clear priority as a government is to ensure that our EI regime continues to serve Canadians and the unemployed in this country well.

It is important that we discuss the matter of the EI surplus, because we have managed the system well for a number of years now. We have this surplus situation. The discussion must take place in the broad context of the social programs that Canadians want, and because they deserve and want these social programs, we want them to be lasting and flexible.

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

Mr. Speaker, only 38% of people qualify for EI even though it belongs to the workers of this country.

Is the Minister of Human Resources Development going to allow the Minister of Finance to tell him what to do, or does he have the strength of character to create an independent EI fund and make decisions that benefit Canada's workers and the companies that employ them?

The short weeks pilot project ends on November 15. While we are waiting for the real changes to EI, will the government do the right thing and make this project permanent?

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

Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: our government has lowered unemployment in Canada by 3% over the last few years. That is the lowest rate of unemployment Canada has seen since the early 1990s.

Our priority is to help workers return to the job market. Thanks to the Transitional Job Creation Fund, we have created 31,000 jobs so that the unemployed can go back to work in regions where unemployment is highest.

Our entire government cares about the most vulnerable members of our society and that is why our first investments in putting Canada's fiscal house in order were to tackle child poverty and help the disabled.

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance fund is an insurance fund. It is funded by employers and employees. The surplus must go to them.

Is the secretary of state aware that there is an Employment Insurance Act and the act is very specific that when there are surpluses the premiums must be reduced? Political expedience aside, are those premiums going to be reduced? Are they going to be used as general revenues as the secretary of state has indicated today?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of things to say.

First, we will follow the law. Second, as politicians we are called upon to make difficult choices. Is the member saying that he would rather have us reduce EI which is the lowest in the G-7? Or would he rather have broad based tax breaks that go to 100% of the Canadian taxpayers rather than to the 43% who would benefit from a cut in EI?

These are choices all of us are called upon to make. All of us wish that we did not have to be in a straitjacket where we had to get out of a deficit of $42 billion.

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit I am shocked to hear the secretary of state admit today that the funds have been put to different uses other than for what they were intended which is employment insurance.

I have an e-mail sent by the chief actuary who says EI premiums must be reduced, it is the law. The law must be upheld. Is the secretary of state now saying they will not uphold that law but that they will break the law?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I think as members in this House we have to look forward. We have to look at what will be in the best interests of all Canadians.

For our part the government believes that in looking ahead as we try to build up surpluses, however small they may be and however precarious they may be, we should pursue a balanced approach. The Prime Minister has talked about this, reducing the debt, reducing personal income taxes which we started last year and will continue to do, and investing in the future capacity of Canadians through their economic and social programs to cope with the 21st century.

Agriculture

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during the summer the minister of agriculture conducted a rural dialogue. Workbooks were sent to thousands of Canadians and 33 workshops were held across the country.

Could the parliamentary secretary assure the House that the dedication of the rural residents who participated in the rural dialogue was not a waste of their time but will pay real dividends for their communities?

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member has stated, the minister held rural dialogue workshops across the country over the past number of months.

There will be a national workshop held in Belleville on October 2 to 4 where the results of these workshops will be presented. As far as having the input that was picked up over the summer from these workshops really show results, the minister and all ministers of the House should attend the national conference in Belleville to make sure something will happen from the work we are doing.

Trade

[Leon Benoit, Reform, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after that question I think it is important that we ask a question that really is important to farmers.

Yesterday in response to a question from the Leader of the Official Opposition, the trade minister said he had initiated action under NAFTA and the WTO as his response for dealing with unfair trade action on the part of Americans against Canadian farmers. We know that it will take weeks and months for any conclusion to be reached.

I ask the minister what are farmers supposed to do for the next weeks and months, farmers like those in the gallery, to put bread on their own tables as a result of this unfair action?

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, when posing questions we usually do not refer to who is either in their seat or in the gallery. I would ask in future that be kept in mind.

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, it is about time we got this question.

As the minister of trade indicated in the House yesterday, he along with the minister responsible for the wheat board, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of agriculture have been working with our Canadian embassy in Washington and our consulate in co-operation with the provinces, farm organizations and the industry to pressure the United States to bring them in line with their international trade obligations.

Yesterday we took unprecedented action at both the WTO and the NAFTA. We continue to work with these colleagues to make sure that the United States keeps to its trade obligations.

Francophones Outside Quebec

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

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

William Johnson's boycott of Montreal stores is being funded by money from Heritage Canada. But Heritage Canada is not funding the tenacious battle being fought by Gisèle Lalonde and the francophones of SOS Montfort to keep the only francophone hospital in Ontario open.

Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage not think it is time to re-examine her policies and make sure that the small amounts at her disposal for defending minorities go towards those who really need them, that is francophones outside Quebec?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

How odd it is, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Bloc Quebecois had an action plan that did not once mention francophones outside Quebec.

What is even more interesting is that on August 27, 1996 the member for Québec East, in agreement with Howard Galganov and William Johnson, appeared in the market here in Ottawa to call for bilingual signs in this city. That is what he did in 1996. Why does the Bloc Quebecois have a double standard?

Employment Insurance

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that everyone here agrees today that the EI system is broken because no one qualifies for benefits any more. The one-half million members of the building trades unions are among the hardest hit. For years now they have been promoting a simple seven point plan to fix the system so that their members can receive some benefits.

Will the minister of human resources commit to meeting with the building trades and implementing these changes to ensure eligibility and benefit issues are met before any surplus is dealt with?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising this very important question.

I have had the opportunity of meeting time and again with the construction workers and their trade unions. I can say that every meeting has been very helpful and very useful. We are trying to do our best for ensuring that the EI system serves all Canadians and all unemployed Canadians. This is something we continue to pursue. I am ready to meet with the construction workers as I have already done a number of times during the summer.

Canada Pension Plan

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, every first time applicant for CPP disability pension is rejected as a matter of policy according to HRDC staff in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Take the case of Brian Loman. He is on heavy medication for a cranial disorder and has a severe bowel problem causing chronic pain. His family doctor and two specialists say he will never be able to work again, yet CPP has rejected his claim twice.

Will the minister of human resources indicate why a legitimate disability pension applicant is being denied access to the disability program?

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

Mr. Speaker, as members know, I cannot discuss in the House a specific point such as that being raised by the opposition member. I will take it under advisement and I will report back on it.

I can tell the hon. member that the CPP is being improved to ensure that the waiting time is shorter. We have hired people. We are training them. We are trying to serve Canadians the best we can.

Points Of Order

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, during question period I said that the public complaints commission had been in operation for 12 years. I should have said 10 years, but that is still long enough for the commission to prove itself and build up a very good record.

Government Response To Petitions

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to three petitions.

Petitions

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to table several petitions. In the first the petitioners pray that parliament review the mandate of the CRTC and direct the CRTC to administer a new policy which will encourage the licensing of religious broadcasters. There were 94 individuals who signed this petition.