House of Commons Hansard #192 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was provinces.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Recent press reports indicate that this government intends to introduce legislation for the Nisga'a treaty within the next two or three weeks. Yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister implied that this was not the case.
Will the government commit here and now to withhold Nisga'a legislation in this House until the people of British Columbia have given their democratic consent to the deal, yes or no?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the hon. member incorrectly alleged that the government was trying to rush this legislation through the House.
I simply reported factually to the hon. member and the country that this measure had not received first reading. It was not introduced in the House and debate had not begun.
The hon. member was wrong yesterday and he is wrong today.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
The management of the Wayagamak plant in Trois-Rivières has indicated that this plant is on life support and its 700 jobs are on the line.
Given that the plant is in the Mauricie, in the region represented by the Prime Minister, could he tell us whether he intends to make every possible effort to save these jobs?
Martin Cauchon LiberalSecretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Mr. Speaker, we are indeed aware of the situation with this plant, which is located in the hon. member's riding.
No one in the company has yet contacted a representative of government or me, specifically, with my responsibility for economic development.
If officials come to us, we will see what we can do within the regular programs, but for the time being, with respect to subsidization, I must say that government assistance is first and foremost provided in the form of refundable contributions. However, my office door is always open to all businesses.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, the secret cabinet document which everybody seems to have except the Minister of Natural Resources, which I would gladly table for him later, references the fact that the layoffs at Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba have jeopardized the ability of the government to deal properly with this issue.
Will the minister commit to postponing the remaining layoffs in Pinawa? Will he also assuage the fears of residents in that area, given the presence of the underground research laboratory at Lac-du-Bonnet, that the area will not become the site of any future nuclear waste dump?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the facility at Pinawa has provided very useful research activity over the year with respect to a variety of important initiatives. It is obviously going through a period of transition.
We have provided some adjustment tools through Natural Resources Canada and through the department of western diversification to ease the transition as AECL reduces its level of activity at Pinawa.
In terms of the future, there is I believe a provincial government law that would establish the prohibition to which the hon. gentleman refers.
Diane St-Jacques Progressive Conservative Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to increasingly persistent rumours, the restructuring of RCMP personnel may result in the dismantling of the Granby, Drummondville and Saint-Hyacinthe detachments.
This has mobilized all local and regional parties affected by the increase in crime that such dismantling could entail.
Could the Solicitor General tell us whether this scenario is currently contemplated and, if so, can he assure us that he will consult all interested parties before dismantling these detachments?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, on this specific issue I do not have the answer. However, I can assure my hon. colleague that we have and will be giving the RCMP the proper tools to do their job.
Joe Jordan Liberal Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.
There has been some criticism that the recent federal budget all but ignored environmental issues.
For the benefit of the House, could the minister respond to this rather misguided criticism?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the environment is a very important issue for the government.
We recognize that improved environmental health is not only good for the environment, but for human health.
This year's budget contributes $42 million to allow the government to respond and renew the Canadian Environmental Protection Act by assessing the 23,000 substances now in use in Canada and by regulating those that are found to be toxic. It contributes $12 million to the creation of a new biosphere reserve in Clayoquot Sound. It contributes additional money from the $150 million assessed last year to deal with climate change issues.
Not only is the environment recognized as important, this year—
Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister responsible for the status of women followed the lead of the junior finance minister and suggested that single income families are actually further ahead under the current system, ahead of dual income families.
I have a very simple question. Does the minister for the status of women not recognize the opportunity cost and the forgone income absorbed by single income families? When she said that we should consider raising the child care tax deduction, does that represent the policy of her department and the government? Will that be the policy reflected in the report of the finance committee hearings?
Hedy Fry LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, I actually said no such thing. It is so typical that very complex issues are always misunderstood by the people on the other side of the House.
Instead of pitting, what I did was point out that income tax was not the only thing that affected the overall income of families. That is what I said.
What is important is that instead of pitting families against each other, which is something the Reform Party loves to do, pit people and divide them, let us look at ways in which the government is trying to assist—
Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians have paid for much of the network of nuclear plants in Ontario.
The Globe and Mail today revealed that a secret government report estimates the cost of disposing of radioactive waste, 90% of which comes from Ontario, at $11 billion.
After paying for the Ontario network of nuclear plants, should Quebeckers and Canadians expect to have to pay for the disposal of Ontario's radioactive waste as well?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, it is obviously the intention of the government that the utilities that essentially create the waste material should be responsible for its disposal.
According to Seaborn, about 87% of that waste comes from Ontario Hydro, about 6% comes from New Brunswick Power, about 5% comes from Hydro Quebec and about 2% from the research operations at AECL.
We have invited the utilities to work on the development of the appropriate waste management authority and it would seem that it would reflect the proportionate shares of the problem.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, speaking about families in need, I would suggest that the government hightail itself up into some of our northern remote first nations communities to witness for itself just how anti-family some of the government's policies actually are.
Members of the government should go to communities like Pukatawagan in Manitoba where the government's transfer of health care programs is nothing more than a dump and run approach.
I ask the Minister of Health when will this government start to negotiate health care agreements with our aboriginal communities based on true needs—
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I have been to those communities. I have seen for myself the importance of working to keep families together and meeting the health care needs of first nations. That is the very reason that this government in the budget included well over $200 million for aboriginal health, including over the next three years about $190 million that will be devoted among other things to community and home care for aboriginal and first nations on reserves and in their communities so families can stay together while people recover from illness and while they are treated for disease.
That is the approach of this government, to support families and first nations and their communities.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, during question period the Minister of Finance quoted from a document. I wonder if he would table that document now.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Finance is here. Did he quote from a document?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I gave a quote that was taken from a document, yes.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Does the hon. minister have the document present? If he quoted directly from the document and if he has it here could he please table it.
Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
I will get the original document, Mr. Speaker, because I have notes on this. I would be more than happy to get the original document and table it.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, we will decline the minister's generous offer. We would like the one he quoted from during question period.