Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1999

Tobacco Companies

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have not excluded any options.

Mining Industry

[Réginald Bélair, Liberal, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

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

In the last century, mining has been the backbone of many rural communities throughout the country. Some of the largest and most productive mines are in these communities and specifically in northern Ontario. However mining exploration has seen a setback in the last 10 years.

Is the Minister of Finance continuing to work in partnership with the mining industry to ensure that Canada remains one of the world's leading mineral explorers?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Timmins—James Bay and in fact all of the members of the northern caucus are to be congratulated for their ceaseless efforts on behalf of the mining industry.

The hon. member is quite right to raise the problem of exploration in northern Canada.

I can assure the hon. member and his colleagues that the Minister of Natural Resources, myself and the government will work not only with the industry, but we will continue to work with the members of the northern caucus to ensure that the mining industry enjoys a strong 100 years ahead as it has in the past.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Alex Macdonald, former attorney general of B.C.; Gordon Campbell, leader of the B.C. Liberal Party; Gordon Gibson, former leader of the B.C. Liberal Party; Mel Smith, constitutional advisor to four B.C. premiers and the author of the amending formula in the Canadian constitution, have all said that the Nisga'a agreement is unconstitutional.

It is not just the Reform Party that is opposed to this agreement. Every day more British Columbians are voicing their opposition to this treaty. Is that not the real reason why the Prime Minister will not give British Columbians a vote?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, you might have noticed that this is the witness list that the members keep saying are in favour of the treaty. However, those are the ones who are opposed. Someone is contradicting themselves over there.

We are having hearings. We are letting people come and say what they believe. From there, the legislation will come to the House.

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard this minister talk about the hundreds of meetings over the last few years. But let the truth be known that not one word from either side has ever changed this agreement.

These meetings are nothing more than a scam by this government. It is not interested in listening to one word from one British Columbian. It holds these meetings and refuses to change one word.

Let the truth be known that the government does not believe in democracy. That is the only reason it is not allowing a vote for the people in the province of British Columbia.

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the obvious situation is just the opposite.

When we had the agreement in principle, we then went ahead and made some significant changes after the agreement in principle because of the consultation with third party interests. The reason we had over 286 meetings alone with third party interests was to make sure that the agreement would reflect the needs of the people in the Nass Valley.

Freshwater Exports

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is now clear that the government will not bring in a national ban on the bulk export of Canadian freshwater. Yet, on February 9 of this year that is precisely what the Liberals stood in the House and voted for when they supported an NDP motion to that effect.

Could the Prime Minister tell me why his government has abandoned its commitment to a national ban on bulk water exports and why it now labels as simplistic that which it supported only short months ago?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the hon. member was not in the House yesterday because we tabled legislation—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, we should not refer to anyone's attendance or non-attendance. The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the hon. member that yesterday we tabled in the House legislation that provides a prohibition for the bulk removal of natural water under the Boundary Waters Treaty Act. It is a full pledge of commitment to the issue that we put forward last February.

I hope the hon. member will take the advantage of reading the legislation.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have read the legislation that is why I raised the question. It does not contain a national ban on the bulk export of water. It may contain some measures but it does not contain what was called for by the House.

Why are the Liberals in full denial about the fact that they cannot act the way they said they would act because of NAFTA? Will they have the decency to tell us if they were fooling themselves all along or were they fooling the Canadian people? Either way, they should be embarrassed.

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, again, for the purpose of informing the hon. member, the legislation does provide for a prohibition of bulk removal. What it does not do is follow the recommendation of the hon. member and some of his party on the west coast, which is to turn this into a trade issue which would result in a series of trade actions that would totally impede the capacity of Canada to protect its waters.

The hon. member is standing on his head.

National Defence

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for over a year now, the Minister of National Defence has repeatedly told the House that the maritime helicopters project, and I quote: “is ready to go soon”. The statement of requirements has been ready for some time now.

Has the Prime Minister again scrapped this project so vital to the safety of our soldiers?

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the member that the health and safety of Canadian armed forces personnel is of paramount importance to us.

As I said earlier, and I repeat, a decision is in the works. It is on the minister's desk, and it is up to him to make a decision. I expect it will be made shortly.

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in a briefing note to the minister obtained through the Access to Information Act, it states that the procurement time for the replacement of the Sea King from direction to delivery will be eight years. The document then states, “The current estimated life expectancy of the Sea King has been extended to 2005”.

Can the Prime Minister outline for the House what the Department of National Defence will do between the year 2005 and 2008? That is three years with no maritime helicopters in the air.

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question several times, as has the minister.

The minister has said repeatedly that the health and safety of our members is paramount and that no Sea King will be permitted to fly if it puts our soldiers' lives at risk.

The Environment

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the Minister of the Environment has recently returned from Bonn and the council of parties negotiations on council change.

Could the minister please update the House on what progress is being made internationally on this very important issue?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, there was progress in Bonn.

There was substantial progress on the mechanisms whereby developed and developing countries can collaborate to achieve some of the Kyoto agreements.

There was substantial progress with respect to the enhancement of the capacity of developing countries to achieve Kyoto.

There was a clear indication from the developed countries that they are taking serious measures to achieve Kyoto which only illustrates the importance of the Prime Minister's decision that Canada also takes this matter very seriously.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Reed Elley, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister also has a peculiar sense of democracy. There are obviously serious side effects from spending too much time at the cabinet table.

Last Friday, he said “Having referendums on matters is not consistent with our democratic approach to parliamentary government”.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister, aside from shutting down the debate, rigging the committee process and ramming the Nisga'a bill through the House, what other weapons are in this government's democratic arsenal?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, four parties in the House agree on the process. Three other parties in the opposition agree that this debate has to be concluded in the proper fashion so we can do justice to the obligations we have vis-à-vis the Nisga'a nation.

National Parole Board

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, rather disturbing revelations were made yesterday to the effect that a parole board commissioner, Ms. Thériault, had regular telephone contacts with the riding and Ottawa offices of the Minister for International Trade.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Given that the National Parole Board is an administrative tribunal, does the Prime Minister consider that the fact the Minister for International Trade has frequent communications with one of the commissioners is in compliance with the ethics code?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, National Parole Board commissioners have absolutely no right to discuss any file concerning the board with anyone outside this organization.

These are extremely serious allegations. Either the hon. member has evidence to support his claims and, if so, he should provide it, or else he does not have such evidence and should therefore exercise caution.

Tobacco Industry

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister has been out doing photo ops today and cozying up to the insider. He is hoping a little of the insider's reputation as a fighter against tobacco will rub off on the minister. Meanwhile, 21,000 kids started smoking this month.

No one is going to make a movie about the health minister taking on big tobacco.

When will the health minister follow British Columbia's lead and take on big tobacco in the courts?