Debates of Feb. 18th, 1999

The Budget

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, if one takes a look at the budget, what one finds first of all is that the increase in the exemption to $675 overwhelmingly benefits low and medium income Canadians.

Perhaps more important than anything, given the tremendous burden that is carried by young families with small children, the increase in the child tax benefit, initially directed to low income families and now directed as well to middle income families, directly benefits those who need it most. Overwhelmingly the largest percentage increase—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance likely knows that people on social assistance do not get the benefits of that child tax benefit. The provinces claw it back. He knows that benefit is not a great deal.

My supplementary question regards a comment written in the red book which I suspect he had something to with. It reads, “The introduction of the hated GST has compounded unfairness and complexity. The GST has undermined public confidence in the fairness of the tax system”.

Rather than come in with this array of tax changes that really benefited some very wealthy people and did nothing for those who need it the most, why did the Minister of Finance not reduce the GST even by one point—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Finance.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly the best thing one can do for low income families is to make sure that they either pay very low taxes or no taxes at all.

As a result of our budget, to give an example, a family with two children earning $30,000 now pays no net federal taxes. As a result of our budget there are 200,000 Canadians added to the 400,000 from last year for a total of 600,000 Canadians who are not paying any income tax in this country at all.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the government's budget was nothing more than an insult to the Sea King crews who fly 35-year old helicopters.

On Tuesday we heard of seven Sea King engine failures in a month. Yesterday one was forced to land on a golf course. Luckily the Prime Minister was not playing. Now I am told the Sea Kings are restricted to Shearwater.

Since the minister received nothing extra in the budget for procurement how long will the families of Sea King pilots have to wait for new maritime helicopters?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

First of all, Mr. Speaker, we are grateful that the aircraft was able to land without any injuries.

The problem in a number of our Sea Kings as of late is related to the start-up sequence of the aircraft. All of that is being rectified.

As I have said on numerous occasions, we have a very high maintenance level. We do not fly aircraft unless they are safe to fly. I have also said on numerous occasions that we are in the final stages of developing a procurement strategy with respect to the replacement of the Sea Kings.

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

Mr. Speaker, our military needed $700 million to help solve its quality of life problem, but they only got $175 million. The soup is still frozen in the cupboard.

My question is for the minister. How long will military families have to wait before the government does something to improve substandard housing on military bases?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the government will be responding fully to the recommendations made by the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs. There are some 89 recommendations that deal with the issues of housing, pay and benefits, care for the injured and support for families.

What has happened in the budget this week is additional money, the first additional money that has come to the Department of National Defence in over 10 years. It ensures that we can implement a full and comprehensive quality of life program for our troops, something they well deserve.

Health

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.

While the $11.5 billion increase in health transfers is good news for my constituency of Kitchener Centre, I would like to know how the research dollars announced in the 1999 budget will benefit institutions like the University of Waterloo that are not connected to a teaching hospital? How will this announcement benefit all Canadian communities?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, this government believes that research is at the core of both good health and quality health services.

The new investments in the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the granting councils and the new Canadian institutes of health research will benefit all research centres, including those that are not connected to an academic health science centre such as Kitchener. In fact the exciting idea of the Canadian institutes of health research is its inclusiveness. It will link together all those doing research in all parts of this country so that they can be part of a very dynamic and powerful research centre.

National Defence

[Jim Hart, Reform, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general says that our army is vulnerable. Our infantry and our armour can be detected, engaged and defeated before our troops even know that the enemy is present. This budget did nothing to address that issue. Yet the government is committing our troops to a combat zone in Kosovo.

What will it take for the government to give our Canadian armed forces the resources they need, including the equipment, to do the job that you keep giving them?

[The Speaker]

We direct all questions through the Speaker, not directly to the minister.

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, if our troops go to Kosovo they will be properly equipped.

One of the reasons for that is that in the last couple of years the Liberal government has invested a great deal in terms of new equipment for the Canadian forces. There are new search and rescue helicopters and submarines. We have upgraded many of the armoured personnel carriers. We bought new armoured personnel carriers. We are going through an upgrade of the CF-18s.

As I indicated a few moments ago, we are preparing the procurement strategy with respect to the replacement of the Sea Kings. This indicates the kind of commitment the government has.

Foreign Affairs

[Daniel Turp, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was arrested by the Turks on Tuesday, many have expressed concern that he will not get a fair trial, but what they are mainly concerned about is the future of the Kurdish people.

Given that the minister has already shown he is sensitive to the plight of the Kurdish people, does he not feel that Canada should take advantage of its chairmanship of the security council to raise this issue in that forum?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I report to the House that today we brought in the Turkish ambassador to make it very clear that we would like to have a fair, open and transparent trial to demonstrate that justice can be done in these kinds of cases.

We do not condone terrorism in any way. A country has to be able to appropriately apply its judicial system. Because this is of such international significance, we think it is right for Canada to raise its voice to ensure that a fair trial is given.

We will do everything possible to try to deal with some of the grievances that have occurred in terms of the Kurdish people. That is something that has to be done through very careful negotiation over time.

Senate Of Canada

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Qu'Appelle, SK]

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

The Senate wants to go on yet another spending spree. Last year the Senate had a budget increase of 10% and overspent. Now it wants another 6%.

Given the pressing demands on the public purse, does the Minister of Finance really think it is proper to spend the hard-earned dollars of Canadian taxpayers on a two year 16% increase for the unelected, undemocratic Senate? Will the Minister of Finance—

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The question is out of order.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I wish to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of two visitors: His Excellency Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, Secretary of Communications and Transportation of Mexico, and His Excellency Dr. Juan Ramon de la Fuente, Secretary of Health of Mexico.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Business Of The House

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all those inmates watching television at home today, I ask the hon. government House leader what the nature of the business will be for the remainder of this week and the week following the break of next week.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon the House will complete debate on the budget subamendment with a vote being called at 6.15 p.m.

Tomorrow we hope to complete second reading debate on Bill C-63, the citizenship legislation.

Next week is a constituency week for members.

When we return on March 1, we will debate and likely conclude report stage of Bill C-49, the native land claims bill.

Tuesday, March 2, and Wednesday, March 3, will be the final two days of the budget debate, with votes at the end of both days.

Thursday, March 4, shall be an allotted day.

The Late Walter Harris

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, for 17 years, Walter Harris served his constituents and his country with great distinction in the House as the MP for Grey-Bruce, as parliamentary secretary and as a fine minister in the cabinet of Louis St. Laurent.

He also served Canada with courage during the second world war.

He was a modest and unassuming man, a man who quietly mastered his brief and got the job done.

He taught himself all the ins and outs of our parliamentary rules. He had a genius for accepting the facts as they were and making the best of them. He was my kind of minister.

However, his modesty never did justice to his record, one that included being named Canada's first minister of citizenship and immigration, carrying through the new Indian Act and working out the details of Newfoundland's entry into Confederation 50 years ago.

Perhaps most of all he will be remembered as the father of the registered retirement savings plan, a legacy of personal retirement security that has become more and more important to Canadians over the years. Every time you see one of those RRSP commercials, think of Walter.

As Minister of Finance he also helped preside over the post-World War II economic expansion in which Canada took its place among the ranks of the leading industrial nations in the world.

I had the privilege of being his friend and benefiting from his support over the years. His integrity, his honour and his commitment to his fellow citizens reflect the finest traditions of service to the community.

I can think of no higher praise for Walter than the words of his law partner: “This is a prince of a person who never harmed anyone”.

I am proud to be able to say that someone of his calibre was also a member of our party. He was a distinguished parliamentarian whom everyone will greatly miss.

To his family and many, many friends, I offer the deepest sympathies of our government and of our caucus.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House today to share with my colleague the sincere feelings all of us have toward the life of Walter Harris.

The legacy he has left behind will never be surpassed. He did it with a dedication to Canadians and without looking for the self-acclamation to which some politicians may fall prey.

Today we in this country take RRSPs for granted. We seldom think of the hard work, dedication, powers of persuasion and genuine empathy to the future of Canadian people it took for Walter Harris, as Canada's finance minister, to introduce registered retirement savings plans to us. Just think of the contribution he gave to our society in that one issue alone.

That is not all. Walter Harris was Canada's first minister of citizenship and immigration in 1950. Just imagine the leadership, the ingenuity and the long hours of dedication it took to build that department and establish the philosophy that would develop our nation. He was well known for his knowledge of parliamentary procedure, which enhanced his ability to get things done.

The list of accomplishments of Walter Harris would take many hours to expand upon in the House. Let me identify just a few.

He practised law in Markdale, Ontario, and he was successful at it. He served in France during World War II. He served in the House of Commons in 1940. He was re-elected in 1945, again re-elected in 1949 and again in 1953. That is no small feat for anyone, but the dedication to one's country is evident in his desire to serve. He returned to law practice in 1957 and was again exceptional in that business. Walter has been described by some as a genius in politics, and I doubt whether anyone would disagree.

Walter Harris was predeceased by his wife Grace. He is survived by three children. To his children, his friends and fellow members of parliament, we wish to express our sincerest condolences.

Canada is a greater place, its citizens enjoy a greater financial security because of a politician who put the affairs of his country ahead of his own. Thank you, Walter Harris.

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Walter Harris, who passed away not long ago, was born January 14, 1904 in Kimberley, Ontario. In other words, he lived through almost the entire 20th century. In his 95 years, he served his fellow citizens in his community and his country well as a lawyer, soldier, member of parliament and minister.

Walter Harris was elected for the first time in 1940 in the riding of Grey—Bruce. In his first term of office, he served in the Canadian army during the second world war. Re-elected in 1945, he soon became Louis St. Laurent's right hand man.

In fact, Prime Minister Mackenzie King appointed him parliamentary secretary to Mr. St. Laurent, when the latter was appointed secretary of state for foreign affairs in 1947. When he became prime minister, Mr. St. Laurent kept Walter Harris on as parliamentary secretary.

Mr. Harris' patience and loyalty were rewarded. After his return to office in 1949, he was appointed to cabinet as minister of citizenship and immigration. The position was especially important because Canadian citizenship had just been made distinct from British citizenship, and, in this post-war period, Canada was getting thousands of immigrants.

Re-elected again in 1953, Walter Harris took on his heaviest responsibilities in the final three years of his career. From 1954 to 1957, as Canada was going through a period of expansion, he served as minister of finance.

Of the three budgets that he brought down, it is the second one that gave him the greatest shock. In this regard, I would like to recount an anecdote.

Before the 1956 budget speech, a journalist from the Montreal Gazette wanted to play a trick on a colleague from La Presse and pretended that he had received, by mistake, a full copy of the new budget. The other journalist quickly informed the Prime Minister's office, which called the minister of finance. Having heard the rumour about a budget leak, the minister set to the task of writing his letter of resignation.

Fortunately, the prime minister already knew what had happened and he sent a secretary to inform the minister of finance that the whole thing was a joke. History has a way of repeating itself.

After 1957, Walter Harris had a long career as a lawyer in Markham, Ontario. He and his wife Grace Elma Morrison had three children, Fern, Margaret Helen and Robert Walter.

The Bloc Quebecois offers its most sincere condolences to all the surviving members of his family, and to the members of the Liberal party who knew him.