Debates of Nov. 15th, 1999

National Defence

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, why do you not tell the Deputy Prime Minister that? I think he needs a lesson or two from the Chair.

The government has an ad hoc approach to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please. Everyone knows that members can make use of notes.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will make use of some of my notes too, but I do not need notes to know what the accomplishments of our military are. Obviously, the Deputy Prime Minister does.

The mission to Zaire in 1996 is still known as the bungle in the jungle by the Canadian military. We struggled to find resources to send troops to Kosovo. We continue to look further to send troops to East Timor. Now the Prime Minister has finally admitted that there is a crisis in the military. Why does he not give the Canadian forces the resources they need to do the job?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend says we are not giving due respect to the armed forces. Now he insults them by calling their work bungles in the jungle. He ought to be ashamed of himself.

If the hon. member was not holding up that paper close to his glasses, he would not know if he was in the House or outside the House.

Devco

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources said today that he did not want to raise expectations, but he said that funding allotted for the economic adjustment in Cape Breton as a result of the government's abandonment of Devco is under reassessment, finally acknowledging that the original package is not adequate.

Will he commit today to a new funding package, a fair funding package for the people and the miners of Cape Breton?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, what I explicitly said was as a result of the roof falls which have created a very serious safety situation in the mines, naturally we would review all aspects of the previously existing human resources package in the context of fairness, in the context of the precedents that exist on both sides of the equation and in the context of fiscal responsibility. I put that on the record in the House earlier today.

[Michelle Dockrill, NDP, Bras D'Or, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear the minister for the second time today acknowledge that the premature closure of the Phalen mine has dramatically changed the dynamics of the situation facing Cape Breton miners and their families.

Instead of making policies on the fly with respect to the future of Cape Bretoners, will the government withdraw this grossly inadequate bill and get the natural resources committee into Cape Breton where a true consultation process can begin for Cape Bretoners by Cape Bretoners?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the process of privatization is an extremely important one. That is where the best hope lies in terms of long term commercial viability for the coal mining sector in Cape Breton, including the maintenance of the maximum number of good long term jobs.

In terms of consultation, that consultation is ongoing, partly in respect of economic development, partly in respect of the privatization process and partly in respect of other elements of this package. In response to the requests of Cape Bretoners, we have made very sure that we have consulted and we will continue to consult.

Csis

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general has skated very well on the issue so far when he said that he knew immediately of the disclosure.

When did he find out? Was it between the second and first period? If he did find out immediately, did he tell the director Ward Elcock? Why did he not tell the director of CSIS, Paule Gauthier? Why did he not disclose that immediately so an investigation could have begun three weeks ago?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I previously told my hon. colleague, I was informed immediately. Also we have the Security Intelligence Review Committee in place which is mandated by this place to review CSIS activities. It has access to CSIS documents. It will evaluate them. It will put a report together and I will receive the report.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, there is a serious communication breakdown taking place. We know the RCMP and CSIS do not communicate. Obviously the solicitor general does not communicate with members of his own department.

This has been described as the most serious security breach in the 15 year history of the service. What is the solicitor general doing to plug the leaks? When are we going to get some accountability from the minister?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated to my hon. colleague, there will be a report by the appropriate body. When I receive that report it will be evaluated. That is the process. I ask my hon. colleague to let the process work.

Endangered Species

[Lou Sekora, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. Constituents from my riding of Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam have declared a widespread support for endangered species legislation.

I would like to know how far the minister is prepared to support the species at risk legislation.

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the constituents of the hon. member reflect the views of Canadians from coast to coast to coast, all of whom want to have strong endangered species legislation.

I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts later this month, which follows up on a meeting of two months ago, so that we can have full provincial and territorial participation in an effective network across the country to protect species at risk.

Nuclear Waste

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the United States does not want Canada to burn its waste plutonium. Russian waste will only be imported if Canada pays for it. Ontario Hydro does not want to burn plutonium and the Mohawk leaders will blockade the shipment. Residents and town councils along the proposed route have condemned the plan. It is pretty clear that Canadians do not want a test burn.

Will the Prime Minister call off this unnecessary and unwanted test burn today?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the reports that appear today are not quite accurate. In fact, the United States does want to proceed with the tests because they agree, as we do, that there is a very important serious problem of nuclear proliferation of a large surplus of nuclear warheads. If we are going to eliminate the dangers and hazards of nuclear proliferation then we all must play a part.

We have just completed a series of consultations. The Minister of Transport will be releasing a report on that matter. We have given all assurances that in order to achieve our objective of helping in this nuclear disarmament, we will also make sure that the safety and security of Canadians are protected as well.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the American government has backed away from its intention to send plutonium to Canada for use as fuel in a Canadian reactor. We also know that the Canadian government wanted to process Russian plutonium.

My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Given the American decision, does the government intend to reverse its decision to import plutonium and transport it through Canada to Chalk River, Ontario?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said.

It is not true that the United States is no longer interested in the tests on plutonium. In fact, they share the great concern of all Canadians and Americans with respect to the problem of nuclear proliferation.

I hope all members of the House agree that we must give very careful thought to the Department of Transport's procedure and, at the same time, to the importance of priority in achieving nuclear disarmament.

East Timor

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Today the East Timor Alert Network, Amnesty International and the CLC all joined in calling on the government to impose a total embargo on all military ties with Indonesia, including the outstanding export permits and to support substantial Canadian contribution to the stalled international tribunal on crimes against humanity in East Timor.

Will the minister now agree to implement these important recommendations and thus send a strong signal to Indonesia's generals that they will be held responsible for their genocidal policies in Timor east and west, in Aceh, Iryan Jaya and elsewhere in Indonesia?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we have always taken the position that the question of accountability is one of the primary elements in the settlement for East Timor. We are continuing to pursue that both at the United Nations and in our discussions with other partners.

At the same time I would like to emphasize that what is really crucial, what is very essential now, is that East Timor has its independence. The time, energy and resources of this country, as with all countries, including the network, the CLC and the hon. member, should be going toward ensuring that independence, to help build a civic administration and to help protect the security of the East Timorese. That is the real issue, not going on the kind of wild goose chase the—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister of agriculture recently showed his true compassion and his true feelings for the farm crisis in western Canada. Recently he told reporters that he had been told by farmers and I quote, “Don't you dare bail those bastards out”. The minister also states that he has taken a tough love approach to the farm crisis.

Why is the minister of agriculture pitting one group of farmers against another group of farmers, as opposed to trying to resolve a very serious problem?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the government has shown very clearly how we care about Canadian farmers. In the last 12 months we have added to the safety net program over $1 billion, nearly $1.1 billion. That is four times what the hon. member's party said was required.

Ultramar

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

Last summer the Ultramar corporation announced its intention to acquire the Ottawa area terminal facilities of Coastal Canada Petroleum, a major local supplier to independent wholesalers and retailers.

While I understand that the matter is currently before the Competition Bureau, can the Minister of Industry provide any comments whatsoever on the implications of this acquisition for local consumers?