Debates of March 17th, 1999

Productivity

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is a bit hard to grasp.

Looking at the latest budget, one sees that there has been a substantial increase in research and development, as there was in the previous budget. From the productivity figures, it can be seen that Canada is on the right track.

The preamble leading up to the member's question does not hold up, therefore.

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the Minister of Finance that this comes from an OECD report.

With so little federal effort in R&D, and with a devaluated dollar, which makes imported machinery virtually unaffordable, is there not a risk in the medium term that this government's negligence will cost us dearly and will confirm the OECD prediction that the standard of living in Canada will be 15% lower than the average of the other countries?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, this is obviously an old report. It dates back to the 1980s and very early 1990s.

This is exactly why the government has invested in research and development, for example $1.8 billion this year. This is why we have created the Canadian foundation for innovation. This is why we have put so much money into medical research. This was precisely in response to that OECD report, which is now out of date with the Canadian reality.

Grain

[Howard Hilstrom, Reform, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is day three in the grain weighers strike and there are 21 ships waiting for grain in Vancouver. Does the minister not realize that grain farmers are charged up to $15,000 per day, per ship while they sit in port. Farmers cannot afford to wait another day and neither can the strikers.

Will the President of the Treasury Board declare these 70 grain weighers essential and allow them final offer arbitration?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we are trying to get out of the difficulties the member mentions, but I would like to remind the Reform member that the last time we tried to help the western farmers with their grain and we tried to pass back to work legislation there was only one member of the Reform Party in the House.

[Howard Hilstrom, Reform, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this government moves like a glacier on farm issues. First, the agriculture minister took months and months before he did anything on the farm income crisis. The transport minister and the Canadian Wheat Board minister have had the Estey report for three months and they have done nothing. I hear nothing and I see nothing.

Now the Treasury Board minister is fiddling while the grain weighers are off on strike. He is weighing this option, he is weighing that option. When will he quit weighing the options and take action?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we have taken the action that is necessary. This union has the right to strike. They have been on strike. We are aware of the problems they are causing. We have improved our offer to them. Unfortunately, at this point the union has been asking for things that are excessive and for which Canadian taxpayers do not want to pay. We are looking at all the options. We are doing it in order to defend in particular western grain farmers whom the Reform Party did not defend the last time we had to adopt back-to-work legislation.

Pascal Hudon

[Ghislain Lebel, Bloc, Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, young Pascal Hudon has stopped his hunger strike, but he remains in prison in Mexico where, over the past five years, 38 Canadians have had similar misadventures.

Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs provide an update on the progress of steps taken by Canadian diplomatic personnel to have our young compatriot released quickly? Does he intend to warn Canadians of the dangers of the Mexican justice system?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we have made a number of representations to the government of Mexico in the case of Mr. Hudon.

The matter of the sentence, specifically, is very important, but at this point there is an appeal before Mexican courts. Following the appeal, we will have the possibility, the option to exercise our rights to transfer prisoners under an agreement between Canada and Mexico.

National Revenue

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue.

Rotating strikes by the Public Service Alliance are disrupting operations at Revenue Canada. In the midst of the tax season, millions of Canadians want to know if this strike action is going to delay their tax return cheques and other benefits they are owed by the government.

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely concerned with the disruptions as a result of the PSAC strike. Right now we are actually behind in terms of receipt of tax returns of 900,000. As all of us know, we process 22 million tax forms every year.

Certainly as we approach the tax season, I am extremely concerned because we want to ensure that the refunds to Canadians are provided on time. We are watching the situation very closely so we can meet our responsibilities and obligations to taxpayers across the country.

Trade

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, you know that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. When we see this kind of—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. Colleagues, I think we are going down a road where there are no winners. We are just going back and forth. I ask the hon. member to please stick with the facts and the question. Would he do that please.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not have to apologize, nor do any members of this party, for having registered Canadian ships in the Barbados, Bermuda, Singapore and the Bahamas.

Let me say that the documents—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. Go directly to the question.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, why did the government furnish the same Brazilian government with 46 Industry Canada documents? Why did the government create an illegal policy of corporate welfare which the World Trade Organization says is against international law? That is the question.

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the member shows a lot of chutzpah in getting up in this place. It is one thing to be critical of the government. It is another thing to have a debate in this House. But it is quite a different story to turn around and give the documents to Brazil and jeopardize our industry, our interests and Canadian jobs. The member should apologize.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this kind of shameful demagoguery from this minister really is beneath contempt. Let me tell the minister that every document—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. We will hear the question.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, they do not want to hear the question, just like they do not want to hear about the WTO ruling, just like they do not want to hear about the fact that Canada's standard of living has been falling under this government, just like they do not want to hear about the fact that our productivity is less than that of Mississippi.

How can the government continue to justify policy that sends young Canadians out of this country, that puts small businesses into bankruptcy, that takes hope away from Canadians who are working hard? How can it justify this job killing and hope killing tax and debt level? How can the government apologize for that?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. We have heard the question. We are going to hear the answer.