House of Commons Hansard #211 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rights.
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we have been in very active discussions with authorities in the United States government over the past several months.
Unfortunately on Friday it gazetted regulations that will change the special exemption for Canadian defence industries. In reaction I have written to the Secretary of State. I intend to take up the matter with Madeleine Albright when I meet with her on Friday.
Deepak Obhrai Reform Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the minister of trade was asleep at the switch when $5 billion worth of trade was at stake. Now we have the Minister of Foreign Affairs off to Washington to try to repair the damage.
How did the government allow $5 billion worth of business to slip away?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member has matters confused. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs I am responsible for questions of allowing export permits on defence related matters. Therefore it falls within my responsibility.
We work very closely with the Minister for International Trade and the officials on the trade side. In fact they have been part of the negotiations. What I am saying at this point in time is that we regret the decision taken by the United States government. We think it works against the interest of both Canadian and U.S. industries. We will take up the matter directly with the secretary of state on Friday.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, in an effort to cover up its disastrous management of the groundfish stocks, the government established the Atlantic groundfish strategy. According to the auditor general, the Department of Human Resources Development failed miserably and spent $150 million on ill-defined programs.
My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. In the face of this monstrous disaster, for which the federal government is totally responsible, how can we fail to conclude that the Liberals tried to buy the silence of the fishers by spending millions of dollars any which way?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the Bloc Quebecois is opposed to the help given fishers in eastern Canada, including eastern Quebec. I find it rather lamentable that the Bloc Quebecois is criticizing us today for setting up an emergency aid program for our fishers in the midst of crisis. I would—
Atlantic Groundfish StrategyOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Kitchener Centre.
Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my office in Kitchener gets many inquiries about the Canadian pension plan.
Several months ago a panel of actuaries was retained to examine Mr. Michael Hafeman's report which stated that CPP was safe and secure. Could the Minister of Finance advise the House what these actuaries have determined about the Canada pension plan?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the member for Kitchener Centre has had a long interest in the safety and security of the Canada pension plan and will be pleased to learn that the review panel fully supports Mr. Hafeman's conclusions.
While differing on some details, the panel shares the view that Mr. Hafeman's report was prepared according to the best professional standards and concluded, most importantly, that the Canada pension plan was indeed sustainable for the long term.
On behalf of all Canadians we would like to thank Mr. Hafeman and the review panel.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, those fluffy questions just warm my heart.
Scowlitz Band Chief John Pennier, three times convicted of sexual assault, is back as chief four months after being released from jail. Now he is scheduled to be back in court in May on three more assault charges. Women who have testified against him are threatened, intimidated and denied band funds.
The band members have petitioned Indian affairs to remove the convicted sex offender. They fear for themselves, their families and their children. So far as we know the minister has done nothing. What has she done? When will she act?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the accusations made against the chief of Scowlitz. In fact it is before the courts and at this point it is inappropriate to comment further on the issue.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, this person was convicted; please remember that he was convicted. When he was released from jail he then entered back in as chief. Because of loopholes in the Indian Act and because he has a big family, it is possible for that to happen, and the minister knows it.
Band members are frightened and they are worried sick. When will the minister stand up for decency and do what is right, or is it okay with her that a serial sex offender is able to be chief of a band and intimidate their people?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I will not comment particularly on this case but I do want to say that the chiefs and council of every first nation have to be accountable to those men and women who elect them.
It is part of the democratic process and I would ask the hon. member to understand this.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has just released his most damning report to date on the operations of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
This evening the House of Commons will vote on Bill C-27, an agreement to conserve and manage the fish stocks outside our 200 mile limit. Yet the auditor general said, although parliamentary procedure will not let me show the map, that we do not have the capability or enforcement possibilities to contain our shellfish industry within our 200 mile limit.
How does the government expect to enforce the agreement on the high seas when we do not have the capability to monitor the fishery within our own 200 mile limit?
Wayne Easter LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, we welcome the auditor general's report and its constructive criticism.
I think the member knows full well that the standing committee on fisheries made similar recommendations. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the minister have been moving ahead in that regard. In fact this year we have increased the number of enforcement officers to start to deal with that concern.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately in 1997 the former minister who was in the House ignored the advice of four different people and opened up the turbot fishery in Newfoundland.
Now the current minister is also ignoring advice from his department's observer reports. The auditor general is hinting to us that the environment is absolutely ripe for a total collapse of the shellfish industry in Atlantic Canada.
We have seen the movie cod one. Do not let us see the movie shellfish two. It will be disastrous for Atlantic Canadians. It will be disastrous for the taxpayers of the country.
Wayne Easter LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the minister has been moving ahead in this area.
As I already mentioned we increased the number of enforcement officers. He has put in place a plan to double egg production for lobster by 2001.
The hon. member opposite was one of the ones to complain about those measures. The minister is moving ahead. He is taking the advice of not only the standing committee. He is consulting with the fishing community and he is doing the right thing.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, through you, I would like to tell the Minister of National Defence that, because of his arrogance and his lack of information or consultation, because of what you did, you have lost the war, the war of diplomacy and democracy right here in Canada.
I hope, sir, that you will understand—
KosovoOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. The hon. member will address his remarks to the Chair.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, through you, will the minister answer the question put to him by the member for Compton—Stanstead with a yes or a no? Could he simply tell the House whether or not the Canadian army has special operation forces in the Balkans? Or is it a national security issue?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I think the people from the fifth party are hallucinating. I have the two articles that the defence critic cited from earlier in his question to me in terms of our involvement. Neither one of them mentions the Canadian forces at all.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, you see, he has still not answered the question.
It is now one month since we have been at war, and there has been no real debate, no real information session. It is a war of improvization. We have gone from 6 planes to 18, and perhaps more. One month of war, no information, no consultation, no vote.
Can the minister tell us whether the information we raised yesterday falls into the category of national security, yes or no? Can he answer? It is easy. Is it, or is it not, a national security issue?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, where was the hon. member during the last few weeks and months? There was consultation after consultation.
We consulted the House on these issues more than any other government under similar conditions. We were transparent, consulted and provided the necessary information.
We will fulfil our obligation to the Canadian public, unlike the party to which the hon. member belongs.
Mark Assad Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, could the Minister of Transport tell the House if his department has made good on his commitment to air safety in reference to his declaration of February 1988 to ensure appropriate levels of aircraft firefighting and emergency response services for the flying public?