Debates of March 19th, 1999

Public Works And Government Services

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, there used to be 26 regional offices. We have cut them to 11, a 21% saving. At the same time we have had a 34% increase in service. I think we have done the right thing by reducing them from 11 to 26 . When ministers travel they use common services which are a savings. We also give service to Canadians.

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, although I could stand here and make fun of the minister's math skills all day, the reality is that those MROs should be closed and the money should be put to better use.

For example, in Plaster Rock and Florenceville, New Brunswick kids have no recreation complex in which to play sports because the government claimed there was no money for infrastructure grants.

What is the minister's priority, giving ministers and expensive office they almost never use or providing kids with a place to learn and grow?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, this member is a member of the Conservative Party. It had more than 26 regional offices. We have reduced them to 11. We are looking to cut costs as soon as possible. Wherever possible, we will use space where a crown property exists. We are looking at every expenditure. We will make sure that when a minister travels across Canada there are no obstacles to them serving and receiving Canadians.

Disaster Relief

[Sheila Finestone, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian citizens who suffered from the ice storm of 1998 and were in receipt of disaster relief are very concerned about how their tax measures are to be handled by the Minister of National Revenue.

What type of tax relief is being considered by the federal government? Can the minister clarify the situation?

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the revenue department is sensitive to the losses to ice storm victims in eastern Ontario, parts of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

To assist Canadians in areas affected by the ice storm, in the interest of fairness and flexibility, the department is offering relief to the taxpayers who received financial assistance to help them through their period of hardship. Ice storm victims will not have to include the amount of assistance in their income when they file their 1998 income tax returns. The employers who gave financial assistance to their employees will be able to deduct those payments as business expenses.

Agriculture

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, as if farmers did not have enough problems fighting for their survival, the minister of agriculture has now created a bureaucratic nightmare.

The disaster application forms are 40 pages long and accountants are charging farmers $500 and $1,000 to fill them out.

Why is the minister giving western grain producers more bills to pay instead of the disaster assistance they desperately need?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the comments the member just made are absolutely false. I reviewed the package in the lobby this morning an hour ago. There are a number of pages at the beginning that are explanatory and obviously necessary so people and accountants know. There are pages at the back of it that list beginning inventory, ending inventory, income and expenses.

All an accountant has to do is transfer from the income tax and from the business statement of the farm for the year over to there. They do not have to create any new numbers whatsoever.

Agriculture Canada

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week we asked the Minister of Agriculture to look into the case of Lucien Beaupré, an elk breeder who lost his entire herd due to the negligence of Agriculture Canada veterinarians.

Has the minister looked into this, and can he tell us whether he plans to award Mr. Beaupré fair and adequate compensation, as was done for the Prince Edward Island potato growers some years ago, when they were the victims of an error by Agriculture Canada?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the producer in question and those that have animals destroyed because of reportable diseases are treated according to the act and the regulations. The individual was treated in that way and it would be the same way whether it is an elk producer, a sheep producer, a cattle producer or whatever. They were treated equitably, as we always do.

Employment Insurance

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development's progress report on employment insurance confirms my findings during my tour across the country: the minister's cuts are having painful results.

Naida was refused sick benefits because she was two hours short. Kelly, Sarah and numerous others did not get maternity benefits because the minister requires 400 more hours than before.

The minister said he was waiting for the report before making changes. Now that he has it in front of him, is he going to make changes to employment insurance right away, to finally meet the needs of the workers of this country?

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, of course the report is giving us the information with which to analyse the results of our EI reform. We will do that. We have to find out exactly why in certain areas the number of claims did go down. We want to do that.

I think the member is wrong on his maternity description. The birth rate went down 4.6% but the number of claims, and therefore benefits, went up slightly. As a percentage rate the number of women receiving maternity benefits from the EI system has increased, not dropped.

World Trade Organization

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.

On November 25, a special panel was set up at the WTO to decide on France's rejection of asbestos. However, the members of this famous panel have yet to appointed, because the two countries cannot agree. Under WTO provisions, if, after 20 days, there is no agreement, one of the countries can ask the director general of the WTO to appoint people to this special panel.

The panel has not sat. Is the Government of Canada today in the process of asking the WTO director general to appoint the members of this special panel in order to reach a decision?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is negotiating the composition of the WTO special panel. We think that agreement on the composition is imminent, but should no agreement be reached soon, Canada is prepared to ask the director general of the WTO to designate the members of the special panel.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, accessibility to many communities in Northern Quebec is difficult and often expensive due to reliance on air and sea transportation. The Cree of northern Quebec have particularly been affected by the situation.

Can the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development tell this House what the department is doing to respond to the challenges faced by Cree communities in the James Bay area?

[David Iftody, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his interest in this issue and his good work on the standing committee on Indian affairs.

I am pleased to report to him and to the House that while we are here today, my minister is in the community of Waskaganish in the northern Quebec region signing an agreement with her Quebec counterpart on a new $40 million road. It will connect for the first time all the Cree communities to southern Quebec. I am pleased to make that announcement. I thank the hon. member for his good work on this file.

Government Response To Petitions

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to 10 petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 63rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the associate membership of the Standing Committee on Finance. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in this report later this day.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wish to seek unanimous consent for the following:

That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of this House, a bill in the name of the President of the Treasury Board, entitled an act to provide for the resumption and continuation of government services, shall be disposed as follows:

1. Commencing when the said bill is read a first time and concluding when the said bill is read a third time, the House shall not adjourn except pursuant to a motion proposed by a minister of the crown and no Private Members' Business shall be taken up;

2. The said bill may be read twice or thrice in one sitting;

3. After being read a second time, the said bill shall be referred to a committee of the whole;

4. During consideration of the said bill, no division shall be deferred.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Business Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56.1, I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of this House, a bill in the name of the President of the Treasury Board, entitled an act to provide for the resumption and continuation of government services, shall be disposed as follows:

1. Commencing when the said bill is read a first time and concluding when the said bill is read a third time, the House shall not adjourn except pursuant to a motion proposed by a minister of the crown and no Private Members' Business shall be taken up;

2. The said bill may be read twice or thrice in one sitting;

3. After being read a second time, the said bill shall be referred to a committee of the whole;

4. During consideration of the said bill, no division shall be deferred.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Will those members who object to the motion please rise in their places.

And more than 25 members having risen:

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

More than 25 members having risen, the motion is withdrawn.

(Motion withdrawn)

Committees Of The House

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives it consent, I move that the 63rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.