Debates of Dec. 15th, 1999

Agriculture

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last month in his AIDA confessional the agriculture minister said that it was costly, complicated and cumbersome. He also said that he had taken a tough approach to ensure that all 1998 AIDA cheques would be delivered before Christmas. With nine shopping days left, information from his own department proves that there is more than $1 billion in the system and tens of thousands of farm families desperate to receive a portion of this money.

What is the minister's plan B to ensure the money will be in the farmers' hands before Christmas?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the AIDA money announced by the government a year ago was for over two years. A portion of that money was allocated and it was assumed it would be sent out to the farmers after their applications were reviewed as a result of their 1998 business. By far of the majority, there will be very few of those. When the information is all in from the producers, there will be very few applications that trigger a payment as a result of 1998 that will not be in the hands of the producers.

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has been widely quoted recently as saying he was practising tough love for farmers. I think he should keep a dose of the same medicine for his own department.

The fact of the matter is that there was a $420 million output on AIDA as of December 9. That means there is more than $500 million in the system for 1998.

When will that money get out to the farmers? The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food promised it before Christmas at the Sask Wheat Pool convention on November 18.

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should get his numbers right. The calculation that was used by the industry, by all the provincial input and with the safety nets advisory committee was $600 million for the 1998 farm business year, the remainder for the 1999 business year.

I can assure the hon. member that all of that money will be in the hands of the producers at the end of those two years.

Halifax International Airport

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

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

Under the access to information program, we received a letter written by the minister to the Halifax International Airport Authority dated July 22, 1998. It outlined the terms of the agreement to take over the airport. One of the sentences the minister used in his own letter is: “This offer confirms Transport Canada's intent to assume liabilities for the current pyritic slate mitigation program”.

That is a very clear commitment by the minister. It is very simple. The department has now reneged on that commitment. Will the minister please confirm to us he will instruct his department to honour the commitment and assume the responsibility for existing pollution at Halifax airport?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, since that letter was written, there has been an agreement concluded with the Halifax International Airport Authority and it was to its satisfaction. If there is some problem with that agreement, then obviously I will look into it.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is not only the minister's letter. There is a signed letter, a signed agreement, signed by the director of airports divestiture that says: “Transport Canada agrees to continue to be responsible for pyritic slate runoff existing prior to transfer date”. It is very clear and very simple.

Surely if the Government of Canada signs an agreement and a person signs an agreement with the government, the government should honour that commitment. Will the minister instruct his department to honour the commitment?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, this government honours all of its commitments. In the meantime there has been a signed agreement between the authority and the government. I assume that covers the question the hon. member has outlined.

Arts And Culture

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recently the federal government announced additional funds to prepare young Canadians for careers in the arts, film and video. Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage explain to the House why it is necessary to support professional training institutions in arts and culture across Canada?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Canadian Heritage is pleased to join the Department of Human Resources Development in announcing a $65 million initiative over the next five years. This initiative reflects the commitment made to young Canadians by the federal government.

With 19 national institutions and schools of theatre, dance and cinema across the country, we are training people to continue Canada's excellent work in the cultural sector.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, today the first steps toward a class action suit by 300 Canadians against Health Canada will be initiated over the failing of a jaw implant that is causing facial bones to actually rot.

Years ago U.S. authorities prohibited the sale of this product and in Canada the Dental Surgeons of Ontario echoed the same concern. That should have been enough for Health Canada to spring into action, but it did nothing.

Why will the health minister allow this to happen? Will he not admit his failure and take some responsibility for these victims?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that very subject is before the courts in litigation. Everybody will have ample opportunity to find out what the true facts are and then a court will judge.

The hon. member might do well to wait until the facts come out before jumping to the conclusions that he expressed so emphatically this afternoon.

Francophones Outside Quebec

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in his Bill C-20, the Prime Minister says he is concerned about respect for the rights of the anglophone minority in Quebec.

Quebec has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment in this regard. But the Prime Minister has never made similar commitments with respect to the francophone minority in Canada.

Will he tell us today what he intends to do to ensure respect for the rights of francophones outside Quebec?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have worked on this problem throughout my political career. I did so with the charter of rights and freedoms in 1982. Throughout my career I have done so and I will continue to do so.

I have said this publicly and I will I repeat it. I welcome this opportunity to say that this government feels it is very important for the nation's capital to be bilingual.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Following the tabling by—

[The Speaker]

Is this something to do with what went on during Oral Question Period?

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member has the floor.

Points Of Order

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all the Bloc Quebecois questions have had to do with this very important issue, which involves the future of the people of Quebec.

I therefore seek the unanimous consent of the House to table a document which will certainly enlighten it as the holiday season approaches.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I again ask the hon. whip whether this is something directly related to what went on during Oral Question Period.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

The answer is yes, Mr. Speaker.

[The Speaker]

The hon. whip for the Bloc Quebecois.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following the government's tabling of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebecers, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to table a document that will certainly enlighten it.

It is a brief tabled by—

[The Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent for the hon. member to table this document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.