Debates of April 30th, 1999

Dangerous Offenders

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Jean Gerard Dionne, a fugitive pedophile, is behind bars today, charged with sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, uttering death threats and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Dionne began his sexually deviant criminal behaviour in 1982 when he sexually assaulted a two year old boy and then drowned him. Dionne spent two years in jail for this crime. Upon his release, he followed up by sexually assaulting a young girl in a wheelchair for which he did four years. Dionne himself and the prison psychiatrist said that he would strike again, and so he did, last week in Ottawa.

In the case of the wheelchair victim and because of our system, the jury could not hear evidence concerning Dionne's earlier crimes and victims. Dionne will probably do another four years and be released.

Is it not time for parliament to review this disclosure of past offences? Is it not about time Dionne and others, who continue to repeat these very terrible offences, be declared habitual and dangerous offenders and be given life in jail?

Fisheries And Oceans

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has just recently released his report on the state of the federal government's management policies, or the lack thereof, of our east coast shellfish industry.

He rightly points out the lack of resources in his scientific assessment of the various species such as crab, shrimp, scallops and lobster. He also points out that the minister and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans do ignore advice from various sources.

I will quote from the report:

We noted significant weaknesses in the Department's management practices designed to achieve its objectives for the Atlantic shellfish fishery. Our audit found decisions that contradict the Department's Fishery of the Future strategy, which formed the basis of our criteria for this audit. In addition, the Department is pursuing social objectives that it has not articulated to Parliament, and economic objectives for which it has not identified expected results. There is an urgent need for the Department to clarify these objectives and to develop and implement the strategies to achieve overall sustainability of the Atlantic shellfish fisheries.

The NDP wishes to thank the auditor general for his report.

Taxation

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's high taxes are threatening the continued presence and expansion of our high tech sector and some of our largest corporations.

The CEO of Nortel has said, “Canada has a problem. We are driving our talent away”. He was referring directly to the high taxes in Canada.

Last week the CEO of Newbridge cited the presence of headhunters scouring our markets in Canada as further evidence that our high taxes are creating an opportunity for high tech companies south of the border.

Nortel needs to hire about 5,000 workers for its research operations in Ottawa over the next four years and it is unsure whether it will be able to find these workers in Canada because of the high tax regime of the government.

It is not just hockey franchisees who are feeling threatened in Canada. Our high tech industries are pleading that our taxes in Canada are killing job growth and opportunities for Canadians. What will it take for the finance minister to recognize and truly act on the high tax policies that need to be addressed to create continued economic growth and expansion for our high tech sector?

Kosovo

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have just received news that the Yugoslavian government is now saying it would consider allowing an international military force into Kosovo if the United Nations Security Council wishes to send one.

This could be the first serious olive branch put forth by Milosevic. What specific diplomatic actions is Canada taking to ensure that this latest offer is being taken seriously?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have to check very carefully to test the veracity of the press reports in question. If they are accurate it is very encouraging, but in the meantime I do not think we can let up the pressure. We want to make sure that these press reports accurately reflect the position of the Yugoslav government.

Canada, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, is actively pursuing diplomatic initiatives. Our foreign minister had two useful meetings this morning with Russian foreign affairs minister Ivanov, and he has now gone to Athens to have meetings with his Greek counterpart, who is an important player.

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have a responsibility to investigate all possibilities for peace. This appears to be an admission by Milosevic that the NATO bombardment is working.

Is the government prepared to negotiate with Milosevic to bring a UN force into Kosovo?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what we will do, obviously, will have to be done as an important and valued member of the NATO alliance, as well as of the UN security council. I do not think this is something we would do totally by ourselves. Obviously our foreign minister, who is in the area, will want to do everything possible to see what can be done to bring about a solution to the current matter, which involves very much the agreement of Mr. Milosevic, not just to have a UN force, which is something Canada has always been interested in, but also to adhere to fundamental principles. Mr. Milosevic's ignorance of them or failure to abide by them is the reason we have undertaken—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Dewdney—Alouette.

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this seems to be the first real admission that Milosevic is backing down. We must seize this opportunity to negotiate a UN settlement.

Is the Canadian government talking with our allies today to negotiate a UN force and its involvement in Kosovo?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are always in close touch with our allies, as well as our fellow members of the security council.

We have to assess the accuracy of this press report. If it is accurate it is very encouraging, but there is a lot more that has to be done to resolve the matter and make sure that the Kosovars can return to their homes in safety and security.

Taxation

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying the highest personal income taxes in the G-7 and it is getting worse.

The average Canadian taxpayer will pay $2,020 more in 1999 than in 1993. Those are Department of Finance figures. These taxpayers are feeling the pain. They know their bottom line is way down, thanks to this tax hungry Liberal government.

On today's royal pain day the taxpayers want relief. Is there some preparation R on the horizon? Why will the government not relieve the pain?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the government has reduced taxes by $16.5 million over the next three years.

Of course the real issue, the real agenda which the Reform Party has, is not simply tax reductions, it is to pay for those tax reductions by gutting the social fabric of the country. Therefore, I would ask the hon. member if he shares the view of the member from Okanagan who said yesterday that the $11.5 billion that we put into health care was irresponsible spending.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is irresponsible since the government took out $21 billion. It is totally irresponsible.

Since 1993 2.5 million Canadians have been dragged, kicking and screaming, into higher tax brackets. While the rates go down, they move people into another category and they end up paying more. Over 840,000 low income families in poverty have been added to the tax rolls so that they now can pay taxes too. That brings the government another $10 billion. Why will the government not show some compassion for these poor Canadians who, unlike hockey players and some certain shipping companies, cannot earn their income—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Finance.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, there is no better definition of an oxymoron than the Reform Party talking about compassion.

The fact is that the hon. member had an opportunity when he stood in the House to correct the member from Okanagan and he did not do that. Is he now saying that it is Reform Party policy that spending on health to the tune of $11.5 billion is questionable spending, that it is irresponsible? Is that the Reform Party position? It is very clear that is exactly what they stand for.

Kosovo

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, we learned that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia had announced that he was prepared to consider the possibility of intervention by an international force under the UN umbrella. Incidentally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada was in Moscow yesterday, and appears to have spoken with the UN secretary general.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister bring us up to date on the situation and the discussions that are currently under way for a negotiated solution to the conflict?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if the media reports are true, this is a very encouraging piece of news. We are, of course, going to discuss the situation with our NATO allies and our fellow members of the security council.

We are going to pursue our efforts toward a diplomatic solution. In the meantime the pressure on President Milosevic to allow the Kosovars to return safely to their homes must be kept up.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the NATO strategy, to which the government subscribes, does not call for a stop to air strikes before the Serbian troops start to withdraw from Kosovo, whereas the German and Russian plans call upon NATO to stop bombing before the Yugoslav army withdraws.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us exactly what the government position is with respect to this apparent contradiction?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have just received news of a possible change in the Yugoslav position. As I have just said, we are going to investigate these reports and we will also hold discussions on the situation with our NATO allies and our fellow members of the security council, but for the moment our position is that the NATO strikes need to continue—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Joliette.

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a growing consensus among NATO leaders, particularly the U.S. president, that Slobodan Milosevic is no longer a valid partner for negotiations and that a solution to the conflict will have to be imposed on him.

Can the Prime Minister tell us whether he shares this view or whether he still believes that a solution can be negotiated with Milosevic's regime?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's position is still to seek a diplomatic solution, with possible intervention by the UN and Russia as well. However, in the meantime, the NATO initiatives must continue.

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what hope can the Prime Minister still have for a positive outcome to these diplomatic efforts, if he and increasing numbers of NATO leaders believe that a solution should be imposed on Belgrade, because Milosevic is no longer a partner for negotiations they can trust?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am unable to comment on the U.S. president's statements.

I can repeat that Canada's position is to maintain military pressure on Milosevic's government, while continuing discussions to try to reach a diplomatic solution.

Customs Union

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the NDP I would urge the government to do everything it can on the security council and within NATO to make sure that this latest development turns out the way we all want it to turn out.

I have a question on a different subject. Yesterday, in Washington, the Canadian ambassador to the United States floated the idea of a customs union between Canada and the United States and also talked about a more intense codification of the relationship between Canada and the United States.

Was the ambassador speaking for the Canadian government when he floated this idea? If he was not, why was he floating the idea in the first place?