Debates of Oct. 19th, 1999

Agriculture

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to criticize the government on the current crisis in western agriculture.

The farmers in my riding of Dauphin—Swan River and across the prairies face bankruptcy because of the government's lack of real solutions.

Today the government continues to neglect the farm disaster taking place in western Canada. Farming, an important sector of the Canadian economy, is under attack. Last week farmers from Saskatchewan and Manitoba came to Ottawa to say enough is enough. During the summer they tried peaceful demonstrations to bring attention to their plight.

In light of the recent controversy surrounding the fisheries of Atlantic Canada, the government has pleaded for peaceful negotiations. Prairie farmers have tried peaceful negotiations, yet the government does not listen. The farm community is pleading for help.

I ask the House to support my call in asking the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to do the right thing. Western farmers need help and they need it now.

Fight Against Poverty

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October 17 was International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Unfortunately, in Canada, a large number of people are still living in poverty.

I want to mention the extraordinary work done by community groups in the riding of Ahuntsic, including Solidarité Ahuntsic, for which I act as spokesperson in the fight against poverty, the Carrefour d'aide aux nouveaux arrivants, which organized a seminar on poverty on Thursday, the SNAC and the Corbeille Bordeaux-Cartierville, with which I organize a non-perishable food drive at Christmas.

Our government in the past and with the recent Speech from the Throne has taken positive steps toward assisting Canadian families living in poverty, and most important, children, with programs such as the national head start program, the new national child benefit and the Canada child tax benefit program. But together we must do more. We owe it to future generations to ensure that none of our children go hungry, or have no shelter, or grow up poor.

The Late Fernand Dubé

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, all New Brunswickers were saddened at the recent passing of the hon. Fern Dubé.

First elected to the New Brunswick legislature in 1974, he served his province for 13 years as Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Finance and Energy, then as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and finally as Minister of Commerce and Technology. He was especially instrumental in building understanding between French and English speaking New Brunswickers.

Those of us who knew Fern will always remember him as a true gentleman. Fern never lost touch with the grassroots people. At the time of his passing he was still serving them as mayor of his beloved city of Campbellton, New Brunswick.

Fern is survived by his wife Monique, his daughters France and Anik, and his sons Pierre and Jean, our colleague the hon. member for Madawaska—Restigouche.

I am sure I speak for all members of the House when I say that our sympathies go out to the Fern Dubé family.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Quebecois I congratulate Robert Rabinovitch on his appointment as the president of the CBC.

M. Rabinovitch certainly has the qualities and the abilities needed to carry out his new duties honourably. He will, however, face a major challenge, that of ensuring the independence of the CBC, on which the public places its trust, justifying the allocation of public funds.

The corporation's independence is threatened by the desire of Canadian Heritage to use the CBC to serve the political ends of its government.

Recognized for his determination to have a free hand in performing his duties, Mr. Rabinovitch, we hope, will feel freed of the old Trudeau demons, who wanted the CBC to be an instrument of Canadian unity.

National Parks

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago the government pledged to complete the national parks system by the year 2000. To date, only four of the promised 15 national parks have been created.

Two years ago Parks Canada reported that only one park is not under pressure. The other 38 are threatened by logging, mining, road construction, hydroelectric and tourism developments. In addition, eight national parks are not protected by the National Parks Act. Evidently, Canada's national parks are in deep trouble as the panel headed by Jacques Gérin, a respected international consultant, is about to report.

The Speech from the Throne makes a very positive reference to national parks. I congratulate and urge the government to provide legal protection to all national parks, complete the national parks system and implement the recommendations of the Gérin report.

Agriculture

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend the minister of agriculture hosted the Funfest on the Farm, a celebration of the Canadian farmer. Each of my colleagues in the House received an invitation in a glossy package of materials delivered by the minister.

If this is the minister's response to our farm crisis that almost every Canadian, except those in government, seems to be aware of, then all hope is lost for our farm communities.

I personally challenge the minister of agriculture to hand deliver his pretty little calendar to a farm family who will literally earn less than nothing this year. For the western farmer about to lose the land that has been in his family for generations, there is no funfest on his farm.

Since June the minister has repeatedly said the AIDA program is almost complete. I realize the farming community only represents 3% of Canadians, but let us hope that they receive some assistance before next October's Funfest on the Farm.

Week Without Violence

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth annual YWCA Week Without Violence. This week has become a major national tool in our efforts to make Canada a less violent society. Each year it gives us an opportunity to think about the impact of violence on us all.

One of the focuses this year in Peterborough and across Canada is youth. The idea is to involve young people and encourage them to think about the richness and joy of a non-violent lifestyle.

I urge young and old to visit www.7wv.com, an Internet website designed by youth for youth to exchange thoughts about non-violence.

I encourage all members and all Canadians to contribute to the YWCA's Week Without Violence.

Member For Dartmouth

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense pleasure that I inform our colleagues in the House that today the NDP member of parliament for Dartmouth becomes the first sitting member of parliament ever nominated for a Governor General's literary award.

Nominated in English drama for her play Corker , the member for Dartmouth blends her passion as a parliamentarian with her artistry as a playwright to create a powerful drama about the importance of supporting families and building communities which value and celebrate the contributions of all.

I ask everyone to join in extending our congratulations to our artist in the House, our playwright parliamentarian, our beloved member for Dartmouth.

[The Speaker]

It is not often that we have one of our own recognized in such a fashion. For this day, of course, you can have a prop in the House. On behalf of your colleagues, Wendy, I wish you well and thank you for what you do for our House by being such a great artist and a good parliamentarian.

Airline Industry

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, just hours ago Air Canada and its partners announced their proposal for reorganizing the airline industry. Onex and Canadian Airlines announced their proposal a number of weeks ago. We now know where both the airlines stand but we still have not heard from the government. The government did not even mention this subject in the Speech from the Throne.

Now that everyone else has abandoned the status quo, will the Prime Minister tell us what he envisions for the Canadian airline industry of the 21st century?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as was said, some offers were made today by Air Canada, as there was an offer made by Onex to the shareholders of the company. Its shareholders will look at what is best for them and they will decide.

The Minister of Transport enunciated very clearly the five conditions that the government is demanding under the circumstances, but we have to know the results of the bidding before we carry on with our policy of making sure that we have at least one national airline in Canada.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government is standing still while everything else in the airline industry is moving. Surely the government has an obligation to be more specific about a policy framework for the airline industry. For example, both the Onex-Canadian proposal and the Air Canada-Lufthansa-United proposal envision a major role for foreign air carriers and investors.

Where does the government stand on the current rules for foreign ownership and participation in the industry? Does it endorse the current rules or does it have plans to revise them?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have always said that the government would consider any regulatory or statutory change that would enhance the viability and competitiveness of the Canadian airline system, and we will do just that.

We feel very strongly that not only should the government outline the five principles as I did the other week, but that we should seek the input of parliamentarians on this very important matter. That is why the committee is meeting. We will be guided on all of these issues by members of the House and of the Senate.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it will be a novel day when the government talks to us and consults the advice of the House.

Hundreds of thousands of air travellers want assurances that they will continue to have a quality service at the lowest possible cost. We have tens of thousands of workers in this industry who want to be assured that there is a place for them in the future. All regions of the country want to be assured that particular routes and services of importance to them will be addressed.

Where is the government's policy framework to ensure that all of these interests will be properly addressed?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad that the Leader of the Opposition is adhering to the five principles that the government enunciated a few weeks ago. That is the outline of our framework and over the next few weeks we will be putting more detail on the policy, but we will not do it unilaterally. The Leader of the Opposition would be the first one to condemn us if we came in here with a policy, put it on the floor of the House of Commons and ignored the views of members of this House.

Pay Equity

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today the federal court ruled that the government is on the hook for $5 billion in its pay equity dispute. We know there is a very good chance that the government is going to lose its appeal.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Does the government have a contingency fund large enough to cover this $5 billion, or does this mean the end of any meaningful tax relief for Canadians?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we read the decision this morning and we are in the process of analyzing it.

It is an important decision for all federal employees. We will take the time we need before reaching a decision.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to address this question again to the finance minister.

The government has known for years that it was going to face this day of reckoning, but does it have a plan? No. Does it have a contingency fund? Evidently not. Does it mean that taxpayers are on the hook? I suspect so.

Why does the minister not just admit that the government has mishandled the file and it is the taxpayers who are going to have to pay for this fiasco?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. We have just received the judgment. We are looking at it.

There is a big difference between the government's position and the position of the Reform Party. The Reform Party does not believe in pay equity. We believe in pay equity.

Audiovisual Productions

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

Mr. Speaker, the copyright scandal is not limited just to the CINAR production house.

Apparently, many people are involved in this scandal and millions of dollars are said to have been obtained illegally from the federal government.

Does the Minister of National Revenue not think it is becoming important that his department take action and that he order it to conduct a special investigation into the illegal practices in this industry?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, information involving the relationship between the department and an individual or corporate taxpayer is confidential and I may therefore not comment.

If ever additional events were brought to the attention of my department and myself, obviously we would see that the necessary action was taken, but for now the information is confidential.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not asking that information be revealed. I am asking for a special investigation. I think that the newspapers have been sufficiently eloquent.

We know that names were used, that phony corporations were set up by law firms for the purpose of diverting federal public funds.

Does the Minister of National Revenue not understand that it is his duty to call for an investigation?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage has outlined the measures taken. I think that what is involved here is the fundamental relationship of trust that exists between taxpayers and National Revenue. I believe there is a strong relationship of trust.

What we are talking about here is information that is basically confidential, and it will remain so.

At the risk of repeating myself, if ever additional information is brought to our attention, we will see that the necessary action is taken.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the leader of the Bloc Quebecois revealed that the name of Thomas LaPierre, son of the chairman of the board of Telefilm, had been used by CINAR in order to illegally obtain federal funding for production assistance.

My question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Since the name Érika Alexandre, a pseudonym made up of the first names of the children of CINAR president, Mrs. Charest, has already been identified as a possible link to the same type of fraud, has the Minister of Canadian Heritage asked her departmental staff to make the necessary checks in order to confirm or deny this?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, following the allegations made by the Bloc Quebecois, I asked the RCMP to conduct an investigation.

Among other things, I do know that Montreal urban community police officers will be in Ottawa this Thursday to meet with officials from Canadian Heritage and National Revenue. They have been informed of all the allegations that have been made. That is precisely why we have asked the RCMP to investigate.