Would it not be better if the Minister of Finance learned from the millennium scholarships fiasco and gave the money directly to the Government of Quebec for students, rather than upsetting the most efficient system in Canada?

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has it all wrong. The whole point of the millennium scholarships, which are tremendously important to all Canadian students, is to reduce their debt.

The government has implemented this very important approach to supporting Canadian students to reduce their debt. We have been able, through the foundation, to write agreements with all provinces and territories except for Quebec, but I am optimistic that we can do it there for the betterment and the support of students in Quebec.

HealthOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, the government is again failing to keep a promise that it made a year ago to Canadians. It promised to spend $12.5 billion on the Canada health and social transfer. We are finding now that in health it is short $108 million. Why is the minister not spending that $108 million on the lives of Canadians?

HealthOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the amount the hon. member referred to occurred prior to the increase in the social transfer. It was under the old formula where there was an increase in tax points.

HealthOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, that does not help Canadians out there who are on long waiting lists, waiting to get health care when they need it.

Waiting lists are getting longer. The government removed billions of dollars from the transfer. People are waiting for months for the health care they need. Sometimes they are dying on waiting lists.

Why did the government remove $108 million from health care? Why has it not kept its promise?

HealthOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has provided the technical response to the finance question, but let me respond to the health question.

The member knows that last February we made the largest single investment the government has made by increasing transfers to the provinces. It was for health only and it was $11.5 billion of additional money over only five years.

We have problems in our health care system, but Canadians should know the Government of Canada stands four-square behind it and is providing additional funding for quality care.

Budget SurplusOral Question Period

November 4th, 1999 / 2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, while Moisson Montréal released its report, which revealed a 74% increase in one year in the amount of food provided to poor families and individuals, the Prime Minister was saying, and I quote “It is my great pleasure at this point—it is a big problem having billions to spend—Frankly, let me take advantage of it a bit”.

How could the Prime Minister of Canada smile so broadly, when part of his huge surplus was created by cuts to the provinces, including the money used for health, social services, education and income support?

Budget SurplusOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, it is very important to understand that these projections are only projections.

They are not definite figures. Definite figures are surely those projected for next year, that is $5.5 billion, and perhaps the year after. After that, they are only projections, and it is not our intention to repeat errors of earlier years, that is, to spend money we do not have.

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Claude Drouin Liberal Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, the millennium scholarship foundation has successfully concluded agreements with all the provincial and territorial governments, except the PQ government of Quebec, so that some 100,000 students in Canada may take advantage of the millennium scholarships.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Why is the PQ government so stubborn? What will the minister have to do so that the students of Quebec may benefit from these scholarships like other students in Canada?

Millennium ScholarshipsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, as we saw earlier even the Bloc Quebecois understands the importance of getting an agreement with Quebec so these very important millennium scholarships can be available to students in Quebec.

For us what is critically important is that the debt of students be reduced and reduced significantly. As soon as Mr. Legault will say that indeed will be the case, I am sure there will be an agreement between the foundation and the province of Quebec.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC

Mr. Speaker, Karla Homolka continues to inflame the sensibilities of Canadians. Months ago she was given escorted visits from prison without any notification to the families of her victims. Now she has applied to serve the rest of her sentence in a Montreal community. Once again her victims' families were never notified.

This problem is not isolated to this particular case. The solicitor general has been on the job for some time now. Why does he continue to perpetuate a system that places the rights of criminals ahead of the rights of victims?

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm to my hon. colleague that Correctional Service Canada is opposing this before the federal court. I can also assure my hon. colleague that before any offender is transferred, released or out on day leave, the victims are informed if they so desire.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC

Mr. Speaker, over a year ago the justice committee submitted recommendations to improve the rights of victims in the criminal justice process, including corrections. The Minister of Justice has addressed those falling within her jurisdiction and we now have laws in place. The solicitor general, however, has a subcommittee studying recommendations made by the full committee over a year ago.

Are victims of crime going to have to wait forever for this minister to get his act together?

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated many times in the House, public safety is always the number one issue with Correctional Service Canada.

In these situations Correctional Service Canada always informs the victims if an offender is going to be transferred or released, if the victim so desires.

CultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Wendy Lill NDP Dartmouth, NS

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Toronto the Prime Minister committed himself to making an independent trade agreement for culture a reality. But Canadians remember that last spring this government retreated on magazines because of our present trade agreements. Under the NAFTA we are allowed to protect culture as long as we remain obliged to be punished for doing so. Under the WTO culture is seen as a good like any other.

Is the Prime Minister now saying that Canada will push for an international cultural trade agreement that is not subject to the WTO and the NAFTA?

CultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the government has accepted the recommendation from SAGIT that we seek a different instrument through the WTO for culture.

The minister is in Paris this week meeting with the UNESCO ministers, as well as co-chairing a roundtable with her counterparts from France to advance this cause.

The latest announcement, of course, was when we, with the province of Quebec, were delighted to announce our support for the cultural diversity coalition that is being built across the country to ensure that cultural diversity remains.

CultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Wendy Lill NDP Dartmouth, NS

Mr. Speaker, it was the Prime Minister who made this speech and it was the Prime Minister I was addressing.

In light of the fact that we have the premier performers of the country in the House today, can the Prime Minister guarantee them that the Canada Council and the CBC, the pillars of our cultural foundations, are not in danger of being swept away and squeezed out by the straitjacket trade agreements that we are presently party to?

CultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, it has always been the intention of this government to protect, promote and develop our Canadian culture and the instruments by which that culture manifests itself. That remains our commitment.

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Yesterday in the Senate transport hearings, Kevin Benson, the president of Canadian Airlines, acknowledged that he was a de facto lobbyist for the Onex proposal and that when he wanted to suspend the Competition Act he went directly to the Prime Minister's office and talked to the Prime Minister's chief of staff. That was before he even talked to the Minister of Transport or the Minister of Industry.

Did the Prime Minister's chief of staff discuss any aspect of this with the Prime Minister?

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I did not talk to the president of Canadian Airlines about that and I do not know at all. I will check, but I do not recall any conversation about any specific problem. We have always been in touch with Canadian because this company has had some problems over the years and we have helped it to maintain services from its bases in Vancouver and Calgary. That was always the type of conversation we had with Canadian. Over the years we have helped this company. At this moment, what is going on will be decided in the marketplace.

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister, but that was not the question. The question was, did he discuss it with the chief of staff?

In general, does the Prime Minister think it is appropriate for a business person to go to his office to seek advice and direction on how to deal with two ministers, in this case the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Industry, before he even talks to them? Is this an appropriate action and is it the way the Prime Minister's office works?

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

I find that question to be out of order because it is hypothetical. However, if the Prime Minister wishes to answer he may.

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if it was discussed. My information is that it was not discussed, but I will check.

It is not abnormal for somebody from an important company like Canadian, which over the years has had some problems and come to the government for help, to have access to the government to explain problems.

My information is that they never discussed the offer of Onex, but I will check again.