House of Commons Hansard #186 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cbc.
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance funds have been in the same place since 1986, that is within the Canadian government's consolidated revenue fund.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, it may not be immoral to take money from the employment insurance fund, but does he not consider it immoral to cut off the resources of entire families, which are going hungry because he has reduced their benefits in order to accumulate such a surplus?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the argument is rather bizarre.
What I can say is that we reformed employment insurance so that, on the contrary, people would no longer as dependent and so they could return to the labour market. All the Bloc wants is to have as many people as possible unemployed for as long as possible.
That is not helping people. We want to help people by helping them return to the labour market, because this is what people expect from good government.
John Nunziata Independent York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The government is consistently attacking the independence of the CBC. Reports indicate that the government intends to appoint a news czar in Ottawa to oversee the journalistic operations of the CBC. This is a direct challenge to the independence of the CBC.
Why is the government trying to create a mouthpiece for the government through the CBC? Does the minister know the difference between a state broadcaster and a public broadcaster?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, the government has no intention of making any such appointment.
John Nunziata Independent York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government has ordered the CBC to display the government logo on all newscasts at the bottom corner of the television screen. The CBC is not a Pravda -like propaganda agency for the government. Is this payback time for the CBC's APEC coverage? When will the minister realize that the CBC is a public broadcaster, not a state broadcaster?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I know the member is planning to join a new political party in the very near future. I would like to underscore this for him before he makes that step to his soulmates beside him. Their policy is to abolish the CBC.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, by unexpectedly and unilaterally changing the criteria for divvying up the CHST among the provinces, the Minister of Finance—
The BudgetOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. The hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
By unexpectedly and unilaterally changing the criteria for divvying up the CHST among the provinces, the Minister of Finance has taken everyone by surprise.
What made the government think it could pull a stunt like this with the CHST and ignore the social union agreement just signed with the provinces?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, this question was fully answered last week. I think that people understood perfectly well.
If the Government of Quebec had played a more active role in the discussions instead of relying on the policy of the empty chair, there would have been far fewer problems.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, what sort of federal-provincial relations does Ottawa have in mind when it makes decisions that not only run counter to the social union agreement, but that also ignore its own fiscal arrangements legislation, which provided for a much more gradual transition than that described in the budget?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we respect the social union agreement and we note that the only government criticizing it is the one that did not sign.
Rob Anders Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday Senator Eric Berntson was convicted of defrauding taxpayers out of $41,000. On the steps of the courthouse Berntson was defiant, claiming he did nothing wrong. He even laughed out loud when reporters asked him if he was still going to sit in the Senate. In last month's budget the Prime Minister increased Senate spending by 6%. What is that for, a parole officer?
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know enough to have respect for the laws of this country. Furthermore, he should know that the budget of either this House or the other House is used for the proper maintenance and the representation of the people of Canada in the Parliament of Canada.
Rob Anders Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, the laws say that criminals do not sit in the Senate. Michel Cogger still sits in the Senate even though he has been convicted of influence peddling. Senator Berntson laughed at reporters after he was convicted of fraud, yet the Liberals have increased the Senate's budget to $47 million this year. Why does the Prime Minister think that democratically electing senators is a bad idea but appointing—
The SenateOral Question Period
The Speaker
The question is out of order. The hon. member for Témiscamingue.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs admitted that the millennium scholarships were probably a mistake. He also said “If we were wrong, we will not do it again”. Yet today we learn that the Minister of Human Resources Development is negotiating with the Liberal opposition in Quebec.
My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.
Not only has the federal government made a mistake by creating the millennium scholarships but, on top of that, the minister is in the process of committing a second mistake by negotiating with the opposition in Quebec instead of with the democratically elected government, which represents all Quebeckers.
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, although the majority of Quebeckers did in fact vote for the Liberal Party of Quebec in the last election, I am not negotiating with the Liberal opposition, because I respect the duly elected Government of Quebec.
There is, therefore, no negotiation between the government, my department, and the Liberal opposition in Quebec City.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Ottawa convention on landmines comes into force today and becomes international law.
Could the minister explain to the House the changes this law will mean for the people in countries where there has been conflict in recent years?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that the international convention is now a permanent part of international law around the world. More importantly, since the time the Ottawa process began, close to 14 million land mines have been destroyed and 98 de-mining projects and 25 countries have been sponsored. The number of casualties has also dropped. What is more important is that basically the export of land mines has stopped.
As the Prime Minister said today, it is a good day for the good guys.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.
According to a secret internal RCMP report, aboriginal militants are stockpiling gasoline bombs, explosives and grenades, possibly even light anti-tank weapons and heavy machine guns.
Will the solicitor general confirm if this report is accurate and, if so, why this highly dangerous situation is allowed to continue?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP is concerned about any group, aboriginal or non-aboriginal, if it is involved in illegal activities.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the solicitor general.
Can he confirm if these reports, made internally by the RCMP, are accurate? Can he confirm that aboriginal militants are stockpiling these kinds of weapons? What is he and the government going to do about it?