Debates of Oct. 22nd, 1999

Gasoline Pricing

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the consumer price index shows that the price of energy, the linchpin of our economy, is driving inflation hard. Overall energy costs are up 13% over the past year, but gas prices are at record highs.

These high energy prices are driving up rail and trucking costs and reducing the disposable incomes of Canadians while giving big oil companies record profits.

Why has the Minister of Industry ignored the competition problems in gasoline retailing when the clear result has been record high gas prices, higher inflation and the potential for higher interest and mortgage rates? When will he start protecting consumers instead of big business?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, it is ironic to listen to a member of the NDP from Saskatchewan make a statement like that one. Even in Ontario yesterday the provincial government recognized its responsibility for pricing in the retail sector.

If the Government of Saskatchewan wishes to follow the example of the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec and what is proposed in Newfoundland to have a provincial pricing regime for gasoline, let the member take it to his own government which is of his own political stripe.

Fisheries

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, tensions on the east coast remain high. It will come to no one's surprise to say that since the minister has become the minister of fisheries he has been sleepwalking through the Marshall file.

It is even more shocking that the current Minister of the Environment, the former minister of fisheries, did not even give a political heads up to the new minister on the issue.

Given that these two ministers and cabinet in general have, to be polite, lost all credibility on the issue, will the Deputy Prime Minister stand in the House today and make two principles very clear: that conservation and preservation of lobsters stocks are paramount and, second, that the livelihoods of traditional fishers will not be jeopardized by any potential decision that DFO may undertake?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member is interested in conservation he should be congratulating the Minister of the Environment because he has taken a lead role throughout his term by putting conservation as the priority, our government position, and we followed that through.

As far as commercial fishermen, I have said in the House before that the long term solution will not be at the expense of our traditional commercial fishermen and their families. This is a solution that we all have to sit down and negotiate, and that is exactly what we are doing through dialogue and co-operation.

Health And Safety

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour.

For 50 years health and safety provisions in the workplace have not been reviewed. What action will the Ministry of Labour take to modernize health and safety issues?

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the House should know that the issue of occupational health and safety in the workplace is very important to the government.

We are very pleased to note that employers and employees have become more comfortable of late in addressing concerns in the workplace.

We are also very pleased that there has been a genuine willingness on the part of employers and employees to work with government to bring forth a new regulatory regime which will address the current realities of workplace health and safety. To that end the Minister of Labour will be introducing amendments in the near future.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Gurmant Grewal, Reform, Surrey Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am a Sikh and I am living proof that the Reform Party believes in equality.

Why does the fisheries minister support policies that segregate Canadians and create inequality? I challenge the fisheries minister to debate equality and the Nisga'a treaty with me in Vancouver.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I did not hear a question there. Perhaps we can move on.

Apec Summit

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, six columns on the front page of this morning's National Post are devoted to comments by RCMP Superintendent Wayne May that the PMO and the Prime Minister himself intervened directly in RCMP decisions concerning APEC summit security.

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. How does he square these comments, which came out in RCMP testimony, with the repeated statements we have heard in this House from his government?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there was also testimony from representatives of the PMO. The hon. member must give sufficient weight not just to the allegations she is mentioning today, but also to what spokespersons from the PMO said.

This is before a commission operating at arm's length from the government. It is headed by a very distinguished gentleman. It is up to him to make a decision, so let the court do its work.

Airline Industry

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the transport minister is trying to decide the future of Canada's airline industry all by himself.

In August he suspended the Competition Act. In September he blocked Liberal MPs from attending a transport meeting. In October he stacked the House of Commons transport committee. Now his November plan is to get the cabinet to give him the sole power to decide the future of the airline industry.

Why does the minister think that only he knows what is best? What about involving Canadians? What about involving this parliament?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, not only did I not know that I was so nefarious, but I did not know I had so much power, especially over my own colleagues.

The fact is that this whole process has been a very open one and will become even more so now that the standing committees of both houses are looking at this matter.

As I have said repeatedly, airline policy will be made by the government after consultation with members of the House and the Senate. I thought that was our role as a parliament and as a government. Perhaps the hon. member can tell me otherwise.

Presence In Gallery

[The Deputy Speaker]

I would like to draw to the attention of all hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Tim Sale, Minister of Family Services and Housing for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I have notice of a point of order from the hon. member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there seems to have been some misunderstanding earlier today.

I wonder if I could seek the consent of the House to table, as part of the proceedings, the notice of claim and demand for arbitration filed by Sun Belt Water against the Government of Canada.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Human Rights

[The Deputy Speaker]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Government of Canada respecting measures it has taken to give effect to the human rights committee's views on Mr. Gauthier's communication.

Points Of Order

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during question period today a member on the other side of the House used what I consider to be unparliamentary language for this House.

The member for Lakeland, when the President of the Treasury Board was answering a question, said “You are lying through your teeth”. Then when the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans was responding to a question, he yelled twice “You are a number one scum ball”.

I am not aware of the type of language that the member for Lakeland uses outside of the House, but one thing is clear, that is unparliamentary language and I would ask that the member for Lakeland apologize and withdraw those comments.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Dewdney—Alouette.

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in response to the member's point of order, I think, as you are well aware, our emotions run high during question period and during debate in this place. In fact, the member for Peterborough last week called me a racist in this place. I did not get up and ask for a withdrawal of that remark. I think the hon. member knows that if we were to stop and look at all the comments that were said in this place we might be having points of order forever.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Perhaps the hon. member for Lakeland could clarify the matter. If the statements alleged by the hon. member were stated, they clearly were unparliamentary and would not have been allowed. I must say that as Speaker I thought I heard one of the alleged statements quite clearly. I did not step up because I did not know who said it.

I would ask the hon. member for Lakeland to clarify the situation. If he did say those things, perhaps he could withdraw the words. I think it would be best if that were done immediately and we could simply end the matter here. If he did not, we will hear that from him.