Debates of May 10th, 1999

Poverty

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have no problem with the federal government talking with the provinces about the problem of poverty. But in Quebec the government has begun implementing various components of a comprehensive family policy. Federal interference that might be detrimental to this policy and this approach would not be welcome.

Will the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs tell us whether there will be discussions with Quebec, like those with the other provinces, regarding the right to opt out with full compensation?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, one excellent example of federalism has to be the national child tax benefit. It was designed to allow each province to set up its own programs, while the federal government focuses on helping the children of poor families within its own constitutional area of jurisdiction. This has provided most of the funding for Quebec's five-dollar day care program.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec did not sign the social union framework agreement because it does not want the federal government interfering in our areas of jurisdiction and undercutting what we do by making direct transfers to individuals. Either the federal government will impose its new programs on Quebec or it will give Quebec the right to opt out with full compensation.

Which is it going to be?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it has been the same story for 30 years.

In 1967, Jacques Parizeau, the Bloc Quebecois' senior adviser, or maybe its crypto-leader, warned people that, although Canada was amazingly decentralized, centralization was in the offing. Barely two months ago, Mr. Parizeau repeated this warning.

In Canada, the provinces and the federal government work in partnership, and that will continue to be the case.

Kosovo

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has told the House that the protection of Kosovo civilians and the search for peace in Kosovo are the government's highest priorities. Meanwhile the serious, tragic, erroneous bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, an infringement of international law, does nothing to move the diplomatic process forward.

Under these circumstances how does the government propose to win China's co-operation at the UN security council?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday I wrote a letter to the President of China on behalf of Canadians to apologize for the mistake which caused the damage and the death of one person at the Chinese embassy. It was an error by NATO that we deplore.

The leaders of China said they still believe that a peaceful solution is needed and that they will not use this incident to withhold their collaboration in trying to find a peaceful solution through a resolution at the security council. As the minister of foreign affairs said over the weekend, we are working very hard to achieve this.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, regrettably the bombing of the Chinese embassy is a spectacular screw up, a serious setback for the UN sponsored peace process that must involve the Chinese.

Now we are hearing press reports of a partial Serbian troop withdrawal from Kosovo. Is this not the ideal time to suspend bombing in order to get us to the final peace settlement that is so desperately needed in Kosovo?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think so. We have to tell Milosevic it is not a partial solution that we need. We need a situation where he will stop the murdering, cleansing, raping and destruction of a people in Kosovo. We shall never lose sight of that. It is very important.

The best way for Milosevic to have peace and stop the bombing is to make sure the Kosovars can go back home in full security.

Agriculture

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it just seems to be getting worse for Canadian farmers.

Fusarium is a disease affecting cereal crops across Canada. Last year alone it cost $70 million to Manitoba farmers. Manitoba scientists and farmers have been asking the PMRA to authorize an emergency registration of Folicur. Nothing has been done to date even though this fungicide is registered in the United States.

Will the Minister of Health, under his authority, allow the emergency registration of Folicur so farmers will not be devastated by another disaster this year?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which is responsible for examining and processing applications for approval of pesticides, has to take into account the science, not only the needs of the producers and growers but also the needs of the environment and the safety of consumers.

Farmers themselves want to be certain that the food supply is safe. The PMRA will continue its work responsibly assessing all the factors and will act at the earliest possible time in the public interest.

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture. During a meeting of the national safety advisory committee a few months ago, Paul Martin from the department of agriculture stated that it was possible to cover negative margins in the design of a current AIDA program according to article 7 of annex 2 of the WTO agreement. Arbitrarily the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food decided not to cover negative margins at a cost to Canadian farmers.

Why were negative margins not covered in the AIDA program if they were WTO compliant?

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

Mr. Speaker, there were a lot of things taken into consideration when the criteria for the AIDA package were put in place.

Those discussions took place with the safety net advisory committee and other representatives of the industry and the provinces. The strongest package that we could put forward at that time was put forward.

I encourage the farmers again today to please send in their applications so that we can send them their cash.

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the latest Statistics Canada report confirms that job creation in Canada has been stalled for the last three months, but tax creation, that just goes on and on and on.

CPP premiums went up January 1, part of the largest tax hike in Canadian history, and we have bracket creep taking $1 billion a year out of Canadians' pockets. The net result is that Canadians are paying higher and higher taxes, we have fewer and fewer jobs and low income Canadians are being hurt.

When will the Prime Minister make the connection between high taxes and fewer jobs?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, in every one of our budgets we have had tax cuts, starting with targeted ones. In the last two budgets we have cut taxes by $16.5 billion, which means 600,000 Canadians are off the tax rolls.

We will continue to cut taxes in the future, but we will not do it in a way that rips the fabric out of Canada's social programs. We will do it in a responsible and balanced way, respecting the priorities of Canadians.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am overwhelmed with emotion when I hear that.

The fact is the government takes $6 billion a year from Canadians who make less than $20,000 a year. That is the compassionate approach of the minister and the government.

When will the Liberals figure out that when taxes keep going up forever and ever, low income Canadians are hurt the most and in this case it is Canadians making less than $20,000. When will they make that connection?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party recently called for $25 billion in new budgetary measures but could not tell us where it would pay for more than $9 billion of those new expenditures.

Every day the Reform Party is calling for new cuts here and there or new expenditure programs. Every day the black hole of fiscal reform gets deeper and deeper.

Kosovo

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to our information, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Canada this past weekend in connection with the Chinese reaction to the accidental bombing of their embassy in Belgrade.

In light of the events of this past weekend, can the minister bring us up to date on the changes in the Chinese position with respect to the peace process?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has said, the Chinese are currently engaged in the peace process.

Certainly the circumstances are regrettable, but at the same time this is, in my opinion, one more reason to continue to seek a resolution to this conflict through diplomacy. And I believe the Chinese share that view.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Canadian embassy in China is located in the vicinity of the U.S. embassy. In fact, it is in the same security sector.

Chinese protestors encouraged by the communist regime have targeted a number of symbols of the west, and have done considerable damage to the American embassy.

Can the minister tell us whether the Canadian embassy has been affected by the recent demonstrations, and what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of our embassy staff and of Canadian nationals in China?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, at the present moment there are sporadic demonstrations in and around the Canadian embassy. As a result, a substantially increased security presence has been developed. At this moment, reports from our ambassador indicate that no direct damage has been done. It is simply a matter of demonstrating their point of view. There are of course much wider demonstrations that seem to be organized or orchestrated. We regret the fact that this is the way of presentation.

However, as I said in my earlier answer, I think the most important objective right now is to work with the Chinese as well as the other members of the security council to find a peaceful resolution and bring this all to a—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

Banking

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's delay in his response to the MacKay task force report is causing a lot of uncertainty and speculation in the country. One speculation is that the finance minister will soon allow banks to sell life annuities through their retail branches.

I want to ask the secretary of state if Canadians are in fact about to see their local banks selling life insurance annuities?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the government will be responding to the MacKay task force before the summer. I know the member will be happy to see the results of what we decide at that time.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as the country and particularly those in the financial services industry wait, and wait and wait for the finance minister's response to the MacKay task force report, the uncertainty within the industry continues to grow.

I want to ask the secretary of state if he can tell us exactly when the finance minister is going to respond so that we can end this uncertainty and speculation within the financial services industry? Exactly when is he going to report?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the government will be responding fairly soon to the MacKay task force.

I find it quite interesting that the hon. member would have time to even look at this issue. After all, he has spent much of his time trying to plot against his leader in the establishment of the UA.