House of Commons Hansard #183 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.

Topics

Prayers

2 p.m.

The Speaker

As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing O Canada, and we will led by the hon. member for Souris—Moose Mountain.

Editor's Note: Members sang the national anthem

NunavutStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON

Mr. Speaker, on Monday decades of dreams became a reality for the people of Nunavut when they held elections for the first government of Canada's newest territory. In this historic vote, they elected 19 MLAs who will govern this territory being created from the eastern part of Canada's Northwest Territories. This starts on April 1. Throughout Nunavut people gathered to watch the election results as the polls closed in each of the three distinct time zones.

The new legislative assembly is the achievement of Inuit and non-Inuit people working together. It will help Inuit become full partners within Confederation and to take charge of their own destiny. This government, which is representative of the northern population as a whole, will be accountable to the people of Nunavut.

On behalf of Canadians, especially those in London West, my constituency in southern Canada, I extend congratulations to the newly elected MLAs, to those who stood as worthy candidates in the election and to the people of Nunavut. Well done. Welcome.

Dauphin—Swan RiverStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Inky Mark Reform Dauphin—Swan River, MB

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Dauphin—Swan River, Manitoba work hard, abide by the laws, and do their best to create communities safe both for the young and the old.

But wheat, cattle, and pork producers, the backbone of Dauphin—Swan River, have fewer and fewer markets to go to. When they sell their produce, they get less and less.

In fact, the one thing they can count on getting more of is more taxes. They pay higher and higher taxes to the federal government and get less and less. They get longer and longer speeches from the finance minister. They get more and more empty rhetoric from the Prime Minister.

It is time for less rhetoric, shorter speeches and tax relief for Dauphin—Swan River.

Clsc Norman-BethuneStatements By Members

February 17th, 1999 / 2 p.m.

Liberal

Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, recently we learned that the Quebec minister of health and social services, Mrs. Pauline Marois, had received a request to change the name of the CLSC serving the Chomedey-Laval district from CLSC Norman-Bethune to CLSC/CHSLD Ruisseau Papineau.

I believe it is imperative that the name Norman-Bethune continue to be associated with the health sector. In January 1929, Norman Bethune came to Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital to study surgery; he was rapidly recognized as an expert and a prominent person in the medical field.

The author of many papers, Norman Bethune realized that the state undoubtedly has jurisdiction over public health and therefore has a crucial role to play in that respect.

In a word, because of Norman Bethune's contribution, reputation and skills, I consider that his name—

Clsc Norman-BethuneStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Hec Clouthier Liberal Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I stand in support of the Liberal government's 1999 budget which will increase prosperity and lead Canadians into a new world economy for a new century.

At the beginning of this century the prosperity of the Canadian economy was of course dependent upon a world economic environment that provided funds for investment and markets for exports.

One hundred years after Sir Wilfrid Laurier was responsible for that profound provident policy, Jean Chrétien's government is continuing to keep—

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Rey D. Pagtakhan Liberal Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is a sad commentary that the opposition due to partisanship cannot find the courage to applaud, nor the magnanimity to acknowledge, the good news budget '99 brings to all of us.

It builds on the previous five budgets of this government which has shown its sound financial management of the country: eliminating the deficit, balancing the budget and creating the surplus, thanks to the will and hard work of all Canadians.

Now, cash transfers for health to the provinces will increase by $11.5 billion over the next five years, $425 million for Manitoba, in addition to $1.4 billion of direct investment in health research and preventive programs.

Indeed budget '99 is a healthy transfusion to safeguard and strengthen medicare, the crown jewel of Canada's social programs. Its focus on health, in addition to reducing taxes by $7.7 billion and to investing in the creation, sharing, and application of knowledge speak of our faith as a people that in the finance minister's own words “there is no ambition too great for this country”.

Let us salute the government and the Canadian people.

Liberal Task ForceStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday afternoon the member for Charleswood St. James—Assiniboia, who is the chair of the government's western alienation task force, was the guest on a two-hour radio show across Canada.

In the entire two hours there was not one single call of support. And one listener even told the member to get himself a hearing aid because it was clear from his inattention to the callers that he was not listening.

The government does not even listen to the messages it gets from the Liberal Party of B.C. on issues like Nisga'a, criminal refugees and crime control. Why would anyone think for a moment that the western alienation task force is going to take the slightest bit of notice of input from the west?

After all, if the Liberals were serious, they would only have to listen to and act on the input that Reform MPs are giving them every day in the House.

The name of the western alienation task force should be changed to the Liberal alienation task force because it is the Liberals who are the ones who are alienated out west. The voters just do not like them.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Bonwick Liberal Simcoe—Grey, ON

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate our finance minister and in fact all Canadians for this good news budget and their extraordinary achievement of turning our country's economic fortunes around.

However at this time I want to expand upon the comments made by the leader of the Reform Party and further introduce his cast of characters for the Robin Hood story.

They are the member for Wild Rose as Friar Tuck; the member for Langley—Abbotsford as Little John; the member for Edmonton North as Maid Marian; the member for Medicine Hat as Robin Hood; and lastly, the member for Calgary Southwest as the true Sheriff of Nottingham.

This band of miserable marauders have nothing more to offer than silly anecdotes. Once again Canadians see the Reform members for what they truly are, a bunch of medieval morons so entrenched in the past—

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Verdun—Saint Henri.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Lavigne Liberal Verdun—Saint-Henri, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance brought down an economic and social confidence-building budget.

This is a budget for health. It translates into a $3.5 billion increase in funding for the provinces.

The Canadian government has listened to the people of Canada. That is why the Minister of Finance announced such significant measures to be implemented in the coming years.

This is one of the key points in yesterday's budget. I encourage the people of Canada to peruse it; I am sure they will appreciate the major impacts it will have in the next few years in an area as important as health in Canada.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Maud Debien Bloc Laval East, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the very day the budget was presented, the situation in the emergency rooms of certain hospitals was critical.

The Minister of Finance does not appear to listen to the news before he retires. If he did, he would not spend millions of dollars, when he prepares his budgets, on fattening up the mandarins of Health Canada and ordering empty studies on matters of no concern to him.

This House must realize that, with the hundreds of millions of dollars the federal government will be wasting in duplication and useless programs, such as telecare, the provinces could create hundreds of jobs and make available thousands of beds in emergency rooms so as to help the sick directly.

Let us remind the Minister of Finance that Internet does not attend to fractures, people do. No, the Minister of Finance did not listen to Canadians and Quebeckers in this budget. He tried instead to respond to the federal government's obsession with its own visibility.

It is sad to see that this budget marks the start of the ravages to the social union agreement that—

The BudgetStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Calgary Northeast.

National DefenceStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Reform

Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can take great pride in our armed forces. They have demonstrated time and again their dedication, bravery and professionalism. It is unsurpassed. What a great disappointment then to read yesterday's budget.

Since the Liberals took power in 1993, the defence department's budget has been slashed by more than $7 billion. This has had a devastating effect on both operational readiness and morale.

Fixing low morale is not a simple matter of increasing pay levels. Morale is also affected by equipment that personnel must use. Our air force is flying aircraft that is 20 to 45 years old. Our army is driving 30-year old APCs and outdated trucks.

Yesterday's puny budget increase of $325 million addresses only one side of the morale question, a tiny fraction of what has been cut. This meagre increase is to be devoted to pay and benefits.

The BudgetStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Nick Discepola Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC

Mr. Speaker, behind the highlights of the budget presented yesterday by the Minister of Finance lies the need to build today for the future.

As in past years, the Liberal government has made a point of saying that Canada must not return to the hell of deficits.

And so the Minister of Finance set out clear principles: maintaining sound financial and economic management; investing in major economic and social priorities that have a profound effect throughout Canada; taking definite steps to reduce the tax burden and improve fairness in the tax system; eliminating the budget deficit and reducing the debt burden to keep Canada's economy on a solid footing.

Quebec will receive $1.4 billion and $11 billion, that is 29% of all provincial transfers, despite the fact that it has only 24% of the population.

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Wendy Lill NDP Dartmouth, NS

Mr. Speaker, this morning millions of Canadians woke up to find their beloved CBC missing.

Over 2,000 technical staff who work at the CBC went on strike for fair pay and decent working conditions. They have rejected the most recent offer of zero, zero and zero.

This Liberal government has cut public funding to the CBC by 25% and we are now seeing the results.

Management at the CBC seems hell-bent on the elimination of regional programming and forcing more and more concessions from dedicated programmers.

It is criminal that those who support better broadcasting have to walk a picket line, while those who seem dedicated to destroy it sit in management, on the CBC board or in the cabinet.

Canadians expect quality programs from the CBC, not reruns. Canadians want fair labour practices from our public broadcaster.

New Democrats and concerned Canadians demand that this government intervene now to get management back to the bargaining table with a meaningful offer so Canadians can once again wake up to the CBC.

Newfoundland And LabradorStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Lawrence O'Brien Liberal Labrador, NL

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today the Parliament of Canada approved the Terms of Union with Newfoundland and Labrador.

Confederation was a hotly debated issue in Newfoundland in 1949. Many felt it would mean a loss of our independence and identity. Today we celebrate the full benefits for both sides of this historic partnership.

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are proud to be members of the Canadian family. As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we invite our Canadian brothers and sisters to join us in celebrating Canada from our unique Canadian perspective.

Soiree `99 is a year-long festival of history, folklore, arts and culture. We will also reflect on the strength and diversity of Confederation at the Canada Conference.

As we celebrate this historic milestone of Confederation, I encourage all members and indeed all Canadians to join us this year in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's youngest province.

Public Service Alliance Of CanadaStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Public Service Alliance of Canada employees are having demonstrations on Parliament Hill today.

Last week PSAC employees in my riding held peaceful demonstrations. They are frustrated that the table two negotiations have broken down and they are now on strike. They have not been awarded pay equity with their counterparts in the same trade across the country. They have yet to receive an increase in wages for the past seven years.

The members of table two have been left with no other choice but to strike after over two years of negotiations with the federal government. I must question what this government has been doing in the past two years. Obviously very little.

The table two PSAC members only want fair and just treatment. It is this government's responsibility to negotiate with labour in a fair and equitable manner. Treasury Board must take that responsibility seriously and act now.

I urge Treasury Board to go back to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith with those members.

Employment InsuranceStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Bernier Bloc Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, in New Richmond, people from all walks of life from the Gaspé, Magdalen Islands, Lower St. Lawrence and Acadie regions sent an appeal to the Government of Canada.

People from these regions want to live, not just survive. They are saying to the federal government “Stop impoverishing those of us who live in coastal and forest regions and depend on seasonal work. The spring gap is waiting for us”.

These people are demanding that an independent employment insurance fund be established and administered by representatives of the contributors, that the employment insurance program be improved, and that the EI surplus be given back to them.

To this, the Minister of Finance replies contemptuously but shamelessly “You little people from the regions, wait some more. Ottawa still needs to take your employment insurance money to appear to be resolving the crisis in the health care system, to alleviate the plight of high income taxpayers, and to put Quebec in its place”.

The EnvironmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Karen Kraft Sloan Liberal York North, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party's mean-spirited attack against environmental law and conservation groups is appalling. These public interest organizations perform valuable services for all Canadians. With limited financial resources, they are at the forefront of research and public education.

Unlike the Reform Party, Canadians recognize that a strong economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand.

Once again the Reform Party has put its support of single special interests ahead of the public interest. Why should these environmental and public interest groups lose their charitable status while the charitable status of right-wing special interest groups such as the Fraser Institute is unchallenged?

The hypocrisy of the Reform Party is evident. They only care about taxpayers' dollars when the views of the organization contradict their own.

The EnvironmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. Before we begin Oral Question Period, I want to address myself directly to the hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.

It is reported on page 11887 of

Hansard

that the hon. member used the word “liar”. I am asking him to withdraw that word, which is unparliamentary.

The EnvironmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw that word.

The BudgetOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, at the end of this year, after all this talk of tax relief, Canadians are going to be paying $42 billion more in taxes than they were when this government took office.

While the economy grows at 2% to 3% per year, the government's revenues are growing at 8%. Never in Canadian history has any government taxed Canadians as much as this government.

My question for the Prime Minister is why, after so much talk of tax relief, are Canadians paying the highest taxes in their entire history?