Debates of March 10th, 1999

Taxation

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, what we intend to do is very clear. We intend to make sure that a progressive tax system continues, that higher income Canadians pay tax at a higher rate than lower income Canadians. That is the basis—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. We have a question asked and I think courtesy demands that we at least listen to the response. I would ask hon. members, please, to lower their voices.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is only one question before the House and that is that members of the Reform Party have an agenda of abolishing individual taxation and going to family taxation. They do not believe that lower income Canadians should pay tax at a lower rate.

If that is the case, why do they not simply stand up in the House and be prepared to defend what they in fact believe?

Immigration

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when questioned Monday in the House concerning the case of Mrs. Castillo, who is to be deported from Canada tomorrow although she has been in Canada for 18 years and has two minor children who were born here, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration said that the case was under review.

Tomorrow the deportation order is due to be executed. This family has been left hanging long enough. The minister must make her decision known now.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question this week. The case is under review. I am awaiting additional information, and hope to be able to reach a decision a little later on today.

Parks

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in Newfoundland near Bonavista and Notre Dame Bay there are concerns about a national marine conservation area.

Would the Secretary of State for Parks please inform the people of Newfoundland in the House of his response to their concerns?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Miramichi.

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in Newfoundland near Bonavista Bay and Notre Dame Bay they are considering the establishment of a marine conversation area.

As it is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State for Parks, I would ask him to respond to their concerns about the establishment of this area.

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parks)]

Mr. Speaker, in line with the legislation before the House now where we have made a commitment to consult with local communities, the advisory committee that was appointed has come forward and indicated that there is not widespread support in that area at this time.

In view of that advice we will not be proceeding in that area at this time.

Taxation

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister keeps talking about committee hearings on family tax credits.

I have been at hearings of the finance committee where this issue was raised by stay at home parents. Does anyone know how they were received by Liberal members? The member for Vancouver Kingsway told them that they were taking the easy way out. The member for St. Paul's characterized them as elite white women.

We now hear the Secretary of State for the Status of Women saying that they are barefoot and pregnant. Does the Minister of Finance agree with these demeaning characterizations of stay at home parents?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is about how families take care of their children.

I just want to look at the record of members of the Reform Party when it comes to caring about families. They voted against the child tax benefit. They voted against increasing funding for the prenatal nutrition program. They voted against making child support payments tax exempt. They called for the dismantling of the CPP which assists people to stay at home and look after their kids. They promised a $3 billion cut to equalization payments between six provinces to have—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Southeast.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member of the Liberal cabinet whether or not she is going to apologize to stay at home parents for characterizing them demeaningly as being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen? Will she apologize for her colleague from Vancouver—Kingsway who said that they were taking the easy way out? Will she apologize for the member for St. Paul who said that they were characterized as elite white women, or will she continue to perpetuate these slurs and these stereotypes?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know, I am merely repeating what the Reform member himself said. What are we to make of the statement “We should try to keep mothers in the home”, and that is where the whole Reform Party hangs together. I am simply repeating what Reform members themselves said.

Agriculture

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, two days ago the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board told the House that organizers of the farm rally in Regina last Saturday had insisted that only the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food or himself would be acceptable to represent the government.

On February 24 rally organizer Sharon Nicholson had written to the deputy minister of agriculture saying to please accept the letter as an invitation to attend in the minister's absence.

Will the minister now concede that his response on Monday was incorrect and apologize to farmers and rally organizers for the federal government's no show last Saturday?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the organizers of the rally had indicated that ministers were their preference to attend the meeting. Unfortunately, neither the minister of agriculture nor myself was available on the particular day that they had chosen. In fact both of us were working on other fronts to defend the interests of farmers, the minister of agriculture on his way to Japan and myself in Washington.

I understand that on other occasions the organizers had indicated that deputies were acceptable replacements, but in fact I was referring to the elected part of the government.

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday we were told that only elected officials would have been acceptable, then today we are told that in fact deputy ministers would have been acceptable. One of those two statements is incorrect, so I would simply ask the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board whether his statement on Monday is the correct one or if the statement of today is the correct one?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday I was referring to the elected people that the organizers had indicated to us were acceptable. I gather on other occasions they had also indicated that deputy ministers might be suitable substitutes.

The point is not really to argue about the substance of any particular meeting. The point is to develop a program that will provide meaningful assistance to Canadian farmers struggling with a difficult situation. That is why the government has put $900 million on the table.

Veterans Affairs

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs has been quoted as saying “The dignity of veterans will be our utmost and top priority for the government”. However, on page 24 of the main estimates tabled in the House, the Department of Veterans Affairs has cut $1 million from the veterans independence program.

Canadian veterans fought to make this country one of the greatest in the world and have the right to be treated with exceptional care and dignity. Can the minister tell us why this program was cut when there is a need for more money, not less, in the program?

[Bob Wood, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, estimates are estimates. I can tell the hon. member there have been no reductions or cuts under the veterans independence program. Any change that may occur will be as a result of a reduction in the client base.

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. parliamentary secretary for informing us that there are not going to be any cuts. I have to tell him there is a need for more money because as veterans get older and we are closing down veterans hospitals, we need more money, not less money.

I ask the parliamentary secretary to make sure and tell the House today that those veterans and the veterans independence program will be taken care of.

[Bob Wood, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the member does have that assurance.

It also gives me an opportunity to inform the House that Bill C-61 will be here tomorrow morning for third reading. The bill has the support of all members of the House. When the bill does pass, it will bring extra benefits to veterans and spouses of deceased veterans.

Agriculture

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi, QC]

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

According to recent studies, an average of nearly 200 people end up in hospital every week because of—