Debates of May 10th, 1999

Kosovo

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the conflict in Yugoslavia rages on. Last weekend however saw a tragic change of events when the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was mistakenly bombed.

On behalf of the official opposition I would like to express to the Chinese people and the Chinese government our profound regrets for this tragic loss of life and the injuries and sufferings caused by this bombing.

This incident illustrates the unintentional consequences of combat. Despite that fact, NATO must stay the course in its resolve to bring an end to Milosevic's campaign of ethnic cleansing and to ensure a safe return of Kosovar Albanians to their homes whereby they can live in peace and security.

In the past, all efforts to resolve this conflict peacefully failed because Mr. Milosevic refused to agree to a negotiated settlement.

On Thursday, members of the G-8, including Russia, came up with a seven point plan aimed at ending this conflict. It is now up to Mr. Milosevic to demonstrate his commitment to peace and his desire to end this conflict by signing on to the plan.

The Late Gilles Richer

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it was with sadness that we learned yesterday of the death of Gilles Richer, a pioneer in the field of television writing.

Gilles Richer began his career in the summer of 1964 as a member of the travelling team producing Radio-Canada's Rouli-Roulant . A few months later, he became a writer for the top talk show of the era, Les Couche-tard , with Jacques Normand and Roger Baulu. From 1966 to 1970, Gilles Richer wrote 151 episodes of Moi et l'autre .

He also wrote several plays and revues, which were performed at the Saint-Sauveur theatre, and worked on a number of films, the best known of which is Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa .

I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this pioneer of television.

Child Poverty

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after a year and a half of talking about a national children's agenda, the federal government has released a brightly packaged piece that talks a lot about vision but demonstrates very little. In fact, this supposed blueprint for children is only a starting point for public consultation, which in turn will lead to a vision document in the fall, which may or may not lead to concrete action a year from now.

Let us put things in perspective. In the time it has taken for the federal government to come up with this discussion paper, thousands more children have slipped below the poverty line. Why? Because Canada now has the dubious distinction of having cut more on social programs than any other G-7 nation.

Poor Canadians are suffering because the federal budget has directed not one single federal dollar to families on social assistance since 1985 and because of broken promises on a national child care program.

Canadian children need action, not glossy discussion papers. I call on the government to fast track this process to ensure that it is children who benefit, not Liberal policy wonks and pollsters.

The Environment

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the national round table on the environment and the economy has issued an important challenge to the federal government: to adopt a strategy integrating a number of options in order to attain the Kyoto objectives on greenhouse gas reduction.

The advantages of a harmonized approach for all of North America are ample justification for the effort required to encourage the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico to work together on this.

The Government of Canada ought to be quick in adopting an integrated action plan bringing together all federal departments involved, while respecting provincial areas of jurisdiction.

The time is ripe for action. We all have an obligation to future generations. They expect sustained and effective leadership from us. The ball is in the federal government's court.

Bloc Quebecois

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Bloc Quebecois member for Trois-Rivières expressed outrage at the presence of Mayor Guy Leblanc at consultations currently being held in all regions of Quebec by our party.

I wonder how the Bloc Quebecois can explain that, at their May 15 forum on globalization, Carl Grenier, Deputy Minister in the Quebec Department of Industry Trade and Commerce, is going to be the guest speaker at a partisan assembly of the disciples of Parizeau.

One might well wonder whether, as in 1980 and 1995 with the last two referendums, the separatists are again putting the Quebec governmental machinery to work in the service of separation from the rest of Canada.

Will the taxpayers of Quebec find that acceptable, I wonder.

North American Free Trade Agreement

[Jim Jones, Progressive Conservative, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in April the Business Council on National Issues, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Canada organized a luncheon to celebrate five years of NAFTA.

There is so much to celebrate. Total trade among the three countries has increased by 75% and now surpasses $700 billion a year. Employment has increased significantly in all three of the NAFTA partners.

The Prime Minister's comments to Michigan State University on Friday neglected to mention an important fact. NAFTA's success story in Canada came about for one single reason: the visionary leadership of the former Conservative government.

The Prime Minister and his Liberals must stop taking credit for Canada's growing economy because of NAFTA. This Liberal rewriting of history rivals credibility.

Poverty

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on November 24, 1989, the House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution to eliminate child poverty in Canada by the year 2000.

Since then, the Liberals have done everything in their power to increase poverty. They have drastically reformed employment insurance, which hits women and young people the hardest, refused to index tax benefits for children, cut $33 billion in the Canada social transfers, and so on.

What are the effects of this policy on the eve of the year 2000? The response is overpowering. The number of poor children has increased by 60% since 1989, and, surprise, the minister has announced in excited tones new consultations on the subject.

We know what the solutions are. It is time to act and to put the elimination of child poverty at the top of his list of priorities.

Mental Health

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week was Mental Health Week in Canada. As part of that week I had the opportunity to visit the Kitchener-Waterloo regional office for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The federal government under the national strategy on community safety and crime prevention has provided $48,000 to the CMHA to run a project called the diversion protocol. This project will assist and support members of the Kitchener community who have mental health problems and who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The objective of the diversion protocol is to assist individuals and provide them with the necessary resources for managing their mental illness and ensure they do not become involved in a cycle of crime.

Mental health problems affect more Canadians than does any other illness. In Ontario approximately 1.5 million people have some form of mental illness. It is therefore important that this government continue to work in partnership with community organizations to ensure that Canadians with a mental illness have access to the programs and services they require.

I commend the CMHA of Waterloo region for its dedication and commitment to the community.

Drug Overdoses

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Justice hands out $2 million to the Canadian Bankers Association, the Insurance Council of Canada and the Retail Council of Canada to fight crime, over 2,000 people in British Columbia over the past decade have died of drug overdoses. In 1998, 371 died and from January to March of this year 48 died from overdoses in greater Vancouver.

Drug overdoses in British Columbia are reaching epidemic proportions and the Liberals choose to fund lobby groups to fight crime rather than deal with the drug tragedy. The effects of a government devoid of a drug strategy led this weekend to a riot at the Kent maximum institution in British Columbia where inmates high on heroin went on a $50,000 rampage. Add heroin to inmates already known for violence and escape and you have a recipe for this kind of carnage.

It is time the government got serious on the drug and drug overdose issue. The solution to this tragedy and the consequences we saw this weekend at Kent can be found at the street level, not in the boardrooms of lobby groups.

St. Francis Xavier University Graduates

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to extend congratulations to the graduates of St. Francis Xavier University in my riding of Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.

St. FX was founded in 1853 by Bishop Colin MacKinnon in Arichat, Cape Breton and in 1855 it was relocated to the beautiful community of Antigonish.

St. FX defined its true mission and purpose in the 1920s and 1930s with the creation of the Antigonish Movement and the Extension Department. It took direct action to help communities take control of their economic and social destiny gaining international recognition.

This is the same university that is world renowned for its famous “X”, the official symbol of the university. It is also the university of one of Canada's former prime ministers, the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney.

On May 2 degrees and diplomas were conferred on St. FX's graduates. This is a significant milestone that these talented young men and women have achieved. Graduation is a special time and an opportunity for students to celebrate their achievements with family and friends. Many of St. FX's new graduates will be entering the workforce to embark on their chosen careers and to begin a new and exciting phase in their lives. On behalf of the PC Party I congratulate the new St. FX's graduates and all 1999 graduates.

Bravery

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize five very brave members of my community of Dartmouth today: Rodney Kenneth Druggett, Marion MacClellan, Lindsay Woodin, Laurie Boucher and Jill Louise Quinn, all of whom received the Medal of Bravery this morning. I will focus on two people for the moment.

On July 5, 1997 Laurie Boucher and Jill Quinn saved their children from drowning at Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. Seeing the boys were being carried to the open sea by a strong undertow, Mr. Boucher and Ms. Quinn swam to their rescue 30 metres out. Ms. Quinn reached her panicked son and towed him to shore. Mr. Boucher managed to grab hold of his own son and repeatedly pushed him against the waves to keep him afloat. Despite his valiant efforts he was unable to fight exhaustion and was swept out to sea. The boys and Ms. Quinn were able to reach shore.

Laurie Boucher's son Jeffrey was here today to accept the Medal of Bravery for his father from the Governor General. A brave father who will not be forgotten.

Kosovo

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today there were reports of a partial withdrawal of some Yugoslav forces from Kosovo, but the United States and Britain have rejected a partial withdrawal as an unacceptable half measure.

Does the Prime Minister agree that a partial withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo cannot be considered a credible fulfilment of NATO's demands?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is probably not enough to ensure the security of the people who would like to go back to Kosovo. One of the main conditions of the five conditions we put forward was the end of the violence and the security of Kosovars returning to their homes.

The partial withdrawal will probably not satisfy the goal of making sure that the refugees can go back in total security. At this moment it is better than having no offer at all. My view is that it is very important the violence be terminated, that Milosevic withdraw his troops and we stop the bombing. That would be the best result we could hope for.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting response, but this weekend Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the continued presence of some Serb forces in Kosovo was negotiable. He implied therefore that the partial withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo might well be acceptable to Canada.

Does the Prime Minister agree with NATO that a full withdrawal of Yugoslav troops is necessary, or does he agree with his foreign affairs minister that a half measure may well be acceptable?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I did not say that a partial withdrawal would be acceptable. I said that one of the major planks in the proposal put forward at the G-8 meeting on Thursday was that there would be a clear commitment to the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia and the surrounding countries.

I said that there would have to be some way in which that could be implemented. That is as far as we went. What exactly and how we would be doing it are the kinds of details we are now discussing. Those will be the kinds of proposals that would be included in a security council resolution.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, everyone in the House wants the G-8 peace plan to succeed, but it is important that NATO speak with one voice and that the members of NATO speak with one voice.

NATO says a full withdrawal of Yugoslav forces is essential. Our foreign minister is being quoted in the press as saying something different.

Just to make Canada's position crystal clear, will the Prime Minister say that from Canada's perspective any presence of the Serb war machine in Kosovo is unacceptable?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the five conditions which have been set out are very clear.

We are talking about an immediate end to the violence in Kosovo, the withdrawal of the Yugoslav security forces from the region, the safe return of the refugees, the deployment of a strong international military presence capable of guaranteeing the safety of the refugees, and the commitment of the Yugoslav authorities to pursue a negotiated settlement based on the principles of the Rambouillet agreement.

These are the conditions that have been agreed to and are still the conditions of the 19 countries, but in terms of implementing them there will be some discussion.

There is an element too that we have to keep in mind. There will always be a minority of Serbs in Kosovo who will need protection. There is a group of Kosovars who would like to gain the independence of Kosovo through an armed struggle. We have to ensure that there will not be war there. That is why there are negotiations at the moment, but the five conditions set out by the 19 countries are still valid ones.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congress takes the support of its troops very seriously. Last Thursday it allocated another $13 billion for the NATO mission in Yugoslavia.

The Liberal government has yet to discuss any substantial increases for our forces even though we know that they are probably stretched to the limit as it is now.

Why has the government not announced an immediate increase in cash for our troops for this specific Kosovo mission?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have the authority to spend the money that is required to make sure our troops can do the job they have to do while they are abroad.

We have done it in the past. We are doing it now and we will do it in the future.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it would not hurt to tell parliament about that. I think the job to be done is now. That is the important point. That is exactly what we need to get to.

The implementation of the G-8 proposal will require a peacekeeping force of about 60,000 people. Our Prime Minister has pronounced that 800 of our troops will be going to the NATO mission, but we will likely be asked to commit more and very soon, and that will mean stretching our limited resources even further.

Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity right now to let parliament and Canada know that he will be injecting emergency cash into this specific mission because the job, the time is now?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have had more troops in previous years in the former Yugoslavia and we always managed to do it through the normal process.

We have estimates. We debate the estimates. There will be a debate on the estimates on June 9. When we need more money during the year we come up with supplementary estimates. This is the way we have always operated and never was there a lack of money when it was time to provide the protection soldiers need to do their job properly.

Poverty

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is about to get involved in the area of child benefits by setting up its own programs under the social union framework agreement. I should point out that there are now half a million more Canadian children living in poverty than there were in 1989.

Will the Prime Minister have the courage to admit that if there are 60% more poor children than in 1989, it is largely because of his government, which made very deep cuts to the Canada social transfer and to employment insurance?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we set up new programs such as the credits for poor children, which will total $2 billion as early as July 2000. This means there are new programs. Other new credits have also been put in place. I am convinced that our programs will prove helpful.

As for transfers to the provinces, the provincial governments are receiving more money now than they did in 1994, when we brought down our first budget.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a classic scenario. First, this government cut funding, thus putting pressure on the services, and then it got involved in jurisdictions in which it has no business.

My question to the Prime Minister is: Could it be that his government is about to get publicity at the expense of Canada's poor children?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have provided child benefits since 1946, if I am not mistaken, when the Constitution was amended to allow family allowances in Canada. Therefore, such benefits do come under federal jurisdiction.

We changed the tax credit formula, so that those who do not need such credits do not get them, thus leaving more money for those who need it. This is the system that is in place and that was negotiated a few years ago with all the provinces agreeing.