House of Commons Hansard #182 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was immigrants.

Topics

KosovoOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. The hon. Minister of National Defence.

KosovoOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I never said such nonsense at all.

I talked about parliamentary consultation when we are going to deploy troops. If we are going to deploy troops it is something we would continue to want to do.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, official navy plans reveal that the Minister of National Defence submerged the real costs of acquiring four British Upholder submarines.

Now additional costs have resurfaced totalling at least $1.27 billion. If we add that to the listed price, the submarines will cost Canadians over $2 billion. Canadians are forced to budget in their own lives but the minister evidently cannot find his own periscope.

When will the minister provide the House with an accurate accounting of the price of this purchase?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, the last questioner and this questioner has one thing in common. People believe things they read in the newspapers which are not necessarily the case. In this case it is not true. The $750 million figure we gave is the correct figure.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

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

The United Nations development program reported last year that the world's 225 wealthiest people have a combined wealth that is equal to the annual income of half the population of the world, the poorest half, and the gap is growing.

Instead of wasting money on submarines and a new star wars missile defence system, will the minister support the call of the Jubilee 2000 Campaign to cancel the outstanding bilateral debt owed to Canada by the 50 poorest nations of the world and will he increase our foreign aid significantly?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Brome—Missisquoi Québec

Liberal

Denis Paradis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie

Mr. Speaker, to date, the government has written off over $1 billion for the poorest countries, and the government will continue to do so for them.

We have also set aside $145 million for countries like those in Latin America so they may buy food or equipment in the area of the environment. This is another way to help the poorest countries.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development speaks of co-operation and consultation in Indian affairs but actually works in secrecy.

It is obvious in the media coverage of the case of the proposed Caldwell Indian reserve near Blenheim, Ontario, that she has not even consulted with the local Liberal MP. It has also been suggested that the minister is negotiating this contentious reserve with a chief who was not democratically elected.

Could the minister tell the House if Chief Johnson has stood for election within the last two years?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, we are making good on a claim that was presented to us beginning back in 1973. This refers to the 1790 treaty where many first nations in southwestern Ontario ceded a vast tract of land to the crown in return for reserve lands and money.

The government has committed itself to settling outstanding claims and we will do that.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised that the minister has chosen not to answer the question. Ministers who do not follow their own guidelines are usually wiser not to admit that in the House of Commons.

My next question will be simpler. There was no consultation with local agricultural groups and no consultation with the local municipal council. Why is the minister willing to further alienate these groups by forcing a reserve with a non-contiguous land base in an agricultural area that depends upon co-operation between its farmers?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, let me say that I have been down to Chatham—Kent. I have met with these agricultural groups. I have talked with them about their legitimate concerns.

In fact, over the course of the next three months we will continue to work with them to explain the importance of settling this claim and the method by which we hope we can all do so.

AquacultureOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food and for Fisheries and Oceans.

Could he tell us about the latest developments in aquaculture?

AquacultureOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bellechasse—Etchemins—Montmagny—L'Islet Québec

Liberal

Gilbert Normand LiberalSecretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food)(Fisheries and Oceans)

Mr. Speaker, as we promised in the 1997 elections, on December 18 we hired an aquaculture commissioner, in the person of Yves Bastien.

He was selected in a competition involving 172 applications. He will have an operating budget of $2 million annually to help the aquaculture industry develop in harmony with the environment and grow in this country of Canada.

National RevenueOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is now the middle of February, less than two weeks away from the deadline for employers to file T-4s with Revenue Canada.

Due to a strike at a warehouse in Vancouver, T-4s, the northern residents deduction and other tax forms are unavailable to British Columbia businesses.

My question is for the revenue minister. Last year a filing extension was given to the victims of the ice storm. Will he extend the same courtesy to western Canadians who have been adversely affected through no fault of their own by this work stoppage?

National RevenueOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

There has been a disruption in the T-4 slips. As a result, this morning we announced alternatives where employers could use the website to take the form that is on there and send that in. In addition, they can also send in 1998 on a normal piece of paper.

We have given two alternatives to our employers. Certainly, if we need to take further action, we will take that under serious consideration.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, here we are on the eve of a budget whose redistributed surpluses will come in large part from the employment insurance surplus.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Does the minister understand that employment insurance can no longer be a tax on employment disproportionate to the benefits provided and that he must return to contributors the plan they pay for?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, the member for Mercier will have to wait another hour and 22 minutes for her answer.

I too am impatient to discover what vital investments the Minister of Finance will announce in human resources across the country.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, dozens of community groups in Vancouver have come together to form the Vancouver Community Safety Coalition to work on community based crime prevention initiatives. They are seeking support from the community mobilization program. Many people are also very concerned about the rise in home invasions.

What is the justice minister's government doing to support this community initiative and what response has she given to recent letters from B.C.'s attorney general to keep people safe in their homes?

JusticeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. I am very close to the member and I had a hard time hearing her.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member may know, we are working very closely with a coalition of community groups to deal with a number of the problems facing the city of Vancouver, and in particular on Vancouver east side. In fact we are very hopeful that through partnership and collaboration we will be able to make a joint announcement in relation to some of the challenges there in the very near future.

The hon. member then asked a second question in relation to home invasions. Last week I had the opportunity to talk to my colleague, the Attorney General of B.C., Ujjal Dosanjh, who informed me he was writing to me with options that he would suggest for amendment to the code and I informed him—

JusticeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Compton—Stanstead.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

David Price Progressive Conservative Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Speaker, as we speak there is a news conference taking place in Shearwater regarding ignition problems with our 35 year old Sea Kings. There have been seven engine failures in a month, six on start-up and one on taxi. This is the same engine of the ill-fated Labrador.

How long will Sea King crews be stuck with this unreliable, aging aircraft before the government puts lives before budget dollars and orders new maritime helicopters?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I have made it very clear on a number of occasions that we will not allow any aircraft to fly unless it is safe to fly. To the Canadian forces and to the government the safety of our air crews is of the utmost importance.

In this case there have been start-up problems with the engines when they start them on the ground. That matter has been identified and it is in fact being rectified. Meanwhile, as I indicated earlier, we continue in the final stages of our procurement strategy for replacement helicopters.

Road SafetyOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Gurbax Malhi Liberal Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON

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

The recent storm in the Toronto area demonstrated that snow can make for difficult and unsafe driving conditions. What is our government doing to make winter driving safer?

Road SafetyOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a concern to people in the greater Toronto area but to all Canadians, given the fact that this is a winter country.

On February 1, I was pleased to approve a new and comprehensive standard for snow tires that has been developed by Transport Canada in consultation with the North American tire manufacturing industry.

This standard will ensure that Canadian consumers can identify and purchase tires designed to provide a higher level of traction in Canadian winters. This shows how the government in particular is concerned about road safety.

Health CareOral Question Period

February 16th, 1999 / 2:55 p.m.

Independent

John Nunziata Independent York South—Weston, ON

Mr. Speaker, recently the mayor of Toronto fell ill and had to go to the emergency department.