House of Commons Hansard #226 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was fund.

Topics

Public Sector Pension Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I will retract that. But the government is taking their money. Those men and women are on the other side of the world fighting for Canada. At the very same time their own government is confiscating their pension plan funds to the tune of $30 billion, from the public service union, from the RCMP and from the armed forces. That is wrong. That is so dead wrong. Thirty billion dollars.

I hope when we stand up to vote on this that some of the government members will actually look at what they are doing. They have to be held accountable. They should be focusing their priorities on these very groups where the morale is so low.

It is so real in British Columbia. RCMP officers have come up to me individually to tell me how tight cash is. It is absolutely unacceptable that the government has cut back the budget of the RCMP so much that they cannot fill the vacant positions. They have grounded all boats. They have grounded the drug squads in Vancouver. They have cancelled overtime. It is not acceptable.

At the very same time, what is the government doing? We have seen examples. The one I just heard about today is a $55,000 grant for Bubbles Galore a sex fantasy porn film. Another one which comes to mind is the outright grant of $100,000 that went to some person to write a dumb blond joke book. The list goes on and on. It is outrageous that the government can even consider this.

Public Sector Pension Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

An hon. member

Had they written about munchkins in the Reform Party it would have been about you.

Public Sector Pension Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, the insults can keep coming from the other side, but this is a very serious discussion.

Members of the RCMP are not laughing. The PSAC members are not laughing. They are watching this. Members of the Canadian forces are not laughing. They are watching every minute of this. Someone is going to be held accountable. It is their money. We have to do the right thing and put it in the hands of a private investment board where there will be accountability and the government cannot get its sticky fingers all over it.

Public Sector Pension Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have a turn at speaking to Bill C-78, an act to establish the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act and other related acts.

I am all the more pleased because I will be speaking as well as the labour critic, a role which has led me in recent weeks to examine the sometimes sorry lot of public servants.

In fact, a few weeks ago we saw once again that the state as employer gave precedence to its power as a legislator over its power as a negotiator. And it is holding the line on that. Now we have another bill that is completely in the government's favour.

Federal public servants will have to remember the President of Treasury Board, now arriving, as the member for Hull-Aylmer, when it comes time for the next elections and the next referendum. Those on the other side of the floor will have to learn to pass legislation, not just in the supposedly collective interest, but also perhaps in a greater spirit of generosity than what is motivating the government at present.

Thousands of people and billions of dollars are involved here. Overall, there are some 275,000 contributors to the pension fund. We are talking about 160,000 retirees and 52,000 surviving spouses, people who have lived with public servants.

We are talking about a surplus of $30 billion that has accumulated since the fund was first established in 1924. Between 1924 and 1998, a period of 74 years, some $75 billion have been accumulated in surpluses, with the particular surplus we are looking at being $30 billion. Believe it or not, $14.9 billion of this come from the public service superannuation fund per se, $2.4 billion from the RCMP superannuation fund, and almost $13 billion from the Canadian forces superannuation fund.

This $30 billion surplus directly affects government employees. Just as the federal government decided to use the money in the EI fund to bring down the deficit, to the detriment of this country's unemployed workers, now it has decided to lower the national debt, this time dipping into the accumulated money in its employees' pension funds.

It is a bit disconcerting from a public morale point of view to see a body as important to the Canadian economy as the federal government acting in this manner, given the moral authority it carries. It is disconcerting to say the least.

In addition, this belies all the government's supposed attempts at proceeding with caution. On the face of it, the government has made an effort. In 1996, it established the Public Service Superannuation Act Advisory Committee.

Surprisingly, the President of the Treasury Board was quite positive at the time in his remarks, praising the efforts of the workers, the union representatives and the government. He said they had made a generous effort, that they were perceptive and that he planned to implement many of the recommendations. He said the work had been productive.

I think he did not anticipate the authority of the Minister of Finance, who saw things quite differently than he did. The Minister of Finance decided that it would go instead into the consolidated fund to pay off the debt.

In this body known as the federal government, there is no real collaboration, unlike Quebec, in brackets, between unionized workers, government employees and the government as such. The government decides arbitrarily, unilaterally, in the hopes the unions will go along.

We can also say it is in contradiction with the advisory committee I spoke of earlier. It followed none of the recommendations the committee made.

And yet, it would be so simple if the government complied with the law that applies generally to the funds in the federal government pension plan. If it applied the regulations of the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, the problems and disputes we are facing today would not exist.

This is where the government is acting once again unilaterally and arbitrarily. This legislation currently applies to all jobs covered by federal regulations, except a job for Her Majesty in Right of Canada.

So it is all very well for others, but it is not a good thing when one works directly for the public service of Canada, because the government as employer prefers to issue its own rules to its own advantage.

Under the regulations, an actuarial gain must first be used to reduce an outstanding debt or a solvency deficit. This is what the regulations provide.

Also, the regulations state that the balance must be used to increase benefits or to reduce the employer's contributions related to the normal costs of the plan, or must be left in the plan. If I understand correctly, this applies to any corporation under federal jurisdiction, like Canadian Pacific or Sun Life for example. Any corporation under federal jurisdiction must abide by the rules set out by the federal government, even though it does not abide by these rules itself.

The regulations also provide that all or part of the surplus can be reimbursed if the surplus is in excess of twice the employer's contributions or 25% of the plan's liabilities, if the administrator has notified plan participants, in writing, of his or her intention to withdraw part of the surplus and of their right to submit to the superintendent, in writing, their comments on the withdrawal and if the superintendent has approved the reimbursement.

Therefore, if we applied these rules, we would not have the problems we have today.

What we propose, among other things, is that employees be present at the table, that they be an integral part of the committee instead of being represented by a person who is appointed by the President of the Treasury Board. Right now, out of 12 committee members, employees and unions will be represented by one person appointed by the President of the Treasury Board. This situation is not normal; it will breed challenges and condemnation.

In compliance with the wishes of employees and pensioners, we want a management board to be set up with a mandate to design the pension plan, to provide for its financing, to manage any surplus or deficit, to manage the plan and to ensure adequate financing for the payment of benefits.

This is simple, but fair. This is all the opposition is asking for and all the public servants are asking for.

Mining IndustryStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, this week it seems appropriate to consider the effects of mining on the environment, its speculative nature and its impact on water, soil and the environment in general. One need only think of Bre-X, the use of cyanide to extract gold and mine tailings containing arsenic, as in the case of the Giant mine, with substances that are harmful to human health.

Last year in Spain and before that in Guyana, two major spills took place involving Canadian mining companies. Such accidents should not happen anywhere. If mining is to have a place in Canada, its promoters should take strong measures to prevent spills, to adopt non-toxic processes and to decommission mines properly.

The mining industry must be made to prevent the creation of toxic time bombs rather than leaving a mess to future generations.

TaxationStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Reform

Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC

Mr. Speaker, today is tax freedom day in the United States. That is the day you stop working to pay the government and start working to pay yourself. In Canada our tax freedom is delayed until late in June.

Why are our taxes so high? Even after the Liberals slashed health care, pillaged pension funds and gutted the EI system so that hardly anyone qualifies, we are still paying through the nose. This is their balanced approach. Pay more, get less.

Reformers believe that when Canadians spend more money on taxes than they do on shelter and food, tax dollars should at least be spent wisely. But when we question the finance minister's priorities, instead of answering he asks where Reform would find the money to cut taxes.

We would start by cutting most of the heritage department. For what would Canada do without funding for blond joke books and porno movies? What a tragic milestone for the 60th anniversary of the National Film Board: Bubbles Galore , award winner of the Freakzone International Festival of Trash Cinema. Need I say more?

Elizabeth Fry SocietyStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, last week was National Elizabeth Fry Week.

In Peterborough and across Canada, Elizabeth Fry societies organized public events. The goal was to enhance public awareness and education regarding the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system. They hope to challenge and break down the negative stereotypes that exist about women who come into conflict with the law.

Elizabeth Fry Week is always the week before Mother's Day. This is not a coincidence as the majority of women who come into conflict with the law are mothers. Most of them were sole supporters of families when they were incarcerated. When mothers are sentenced to prison, children are sentenced to separation. That is why the focus this year was alternatives to incarceration.

I congratulate the Elizabeth Fry Society for its good work in our communities and wish it continued success as a driving force behind effective change in society.

Donat GrenierStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac—Mégantic, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the chamber of commerce serving the asbestos region on giving its Personality of the Year award to Donat Grenier, a generous businessperson who is involved in many social and humanitarian causes.

The tribute that he will receive on Saturday at Thetford's Aramis club is well deserved, and I want to congratulate Mr. Grenier, whom everyone affectionately calls Donat.

The numerous organizations with which Mr. Grenier has been associated include Étang Madore, which allows disabled people to enjoy fishing, and the Aube de la paix detoxication centre. Mr. Grenier also played an active role in numerous community projects, including the restoration of the organ in the Disraeli church.

On behalf of all the residents of the asbestos region, I congratulate and thank Donat Grenier for being a pillar of our region's community association.

Bravo Donat and keep up the good work.

Sport CentresStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

George Proud Liberal Hillsborough, PE

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to take this opportunity to congratulate those involved in the creation of the National Sport Centre—Atlantic Canada, located in Halifax.

The opening of the National Sport Centre—Atlantic Canada is the final link in a series of sport centres across Canada. With this centre we have linked athletes and coaches from coast to coast. The Atlantic centre is the seventh in a network which includes Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.

This centre meets the needs of fine young athletes from Atlantic Canada, needs like coaching support and access to training facilities.

I know all hon. members join me in congratulating the Department of Canadian Heritage, the four Atlantic governments, the Canadian Olympic Association and the Coaching Association of Canada in partnering together to make the National Sport Centre—Atlantic Canada a reality.

Organ Donor RegistryStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, last Friday the government member for Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam introduced a private member's bill to establish a national organ donor registry.

This is completely consistent with a Reform private member's motion passed in October 1997 and a Reform opposition minority report released last month articulating constructive solutions to address the crisis taking place right now in our organ donor system, which is causing the death of over 150 Canadians every year.

The national registry of intended donors will only work if it is implemented with other changes, including an opportunity to be a donor every year and if intended donors discuss their wishes with family members.

These and other solutions are in Reform's opposition report. The government has the report. It is a plan of action. The work has been done. We do not need more studies. We do not need to spend more time on this issue. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. We need to act.

Since government members obviously support the idea of a national organ donor registry, I urge the Minister of Health to act today to save lives.

Regional DevelopmentStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Claude Drouin Liberal Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is proud of its achievements in Quebec City and the surrounding areas.

Since 1995, that region has received a total of $42 million to promote regional growth. The government also created two programs to help and support the regions.

The first one, IDÉE PME, provides assistance to small and medium size businesses interested in exporting their products.

The second program, Initiative régionale stratégique, is also designed to help the regions. This program has two components. The first one is geared to technological development. The second component, which is the regional initiative, is geared to promoting the region at the international level, through major tourist attractions.

These are concrete tools put in place by the Government of Canada to promote the regions of Quebec.

Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals favourite yesman is up to his old tricks again. Instead of realizing the funding shortage of the RCMP in British Columbia and supporting its call for much needed funds, the member from Coquitlam has called for an audit of the RCMP.

He said yesterday he thinks that the B.C. attorney general is doing a disservice to British Columbians by telling them about the staffing shortages and that he is fear mongering by doing so. The hon. member did not stop there. He said that he would like to give the attorney general of B.C. a night course in budgeting.

In an attempt to move up a few seats from the translators booth and out of the smoking section, the member has done a great disservice to members of the RCMP in British Columbia. He has told them there is no funding crisis and that they should stop talking about it so that the public remains in the dark.

Once again he has toed the government line instead of speaking up for his constituents and members of the British Columbia RCMP. The member can be assured that come next election the residents of Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam will say no to this yesman

Reform Party Of CanadaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Lou Sekora Liberal Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, I get an awful lot of calls from people in communities, municipalities and cities all over British Columbia represented by MPs from the Reform Party inquiring about grants and many things that are happening in Ottawa.

The ridings of Fort Nelson, Smithers, Prince George, Midway, Cranbrook, Kelowna, New Westminster and Maple Ridge are represented by Reform Party MPs. That can only mean one thing, that Reformers are not doing anything in their ridings. They are here full of hot air. On the streets they are full of hot air and nothing else.

Developing NationsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, human poverty is more than income poverty. It is the denial of choices and opportunities for living a tolerable life. The year 2000 is a call for jubilee, a chance for a new beginning for people in countries enslaved by debts they can never repay.

We do not expect people who go bankrupt to sacrifice the health and education of their children to continue paying their debts. Yet we jeopardize the survival of people in less developed countries by forcing them to pay back debts that have already been paid many times over. Since 1981 these countries have paid over $3 trillion U.S. in interest and principal payments. For every dollar they get in western aid they pay back $3 in debt servicing.

I have received hundreds of requests from my constituents in The Pas, Thompson, Pine Falls and Flin Flon who believe Canada should cancel the debts of the most impoverished developing countries. Let us mark the millennium by being a leader among the G-8 nations.

Air TransportationStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Joe Fontana Liberal London North Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce the introduction of an exciting new educational initiative at the University of Western Ontario.

Beginning in September, Western, along with its partners Air Ontario, Empire Aviation, Diamond Aircraft and the local airport authority, will be offering a four year undergraduate degree program in commercial aviation management.

This forward looking program is the first of its kind to be offered by a major Canadian university. It will enable some of the country's best and brightest university students to combine a solid academic training in business and the social sciences with professional flight training. Graduates will be prepared for rewarding careers, not only as airline pilots but in related areas of the industry such as airline and airport management.

The commercial aviation management program is another excellent example of how students at the University of Western Ontario are being equipped with the skills necessary to ensure that Canada's high tech industries such as air transportation remain competitive in a global marketplace.

Nursing WeekStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC

Mr. Speaker, May 10 to 16 is Nursing Week. This is a time to stop and pay tribute to the work done by the women and men working on the front line in the health care sector.

In 1999, the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec has chosen a topical theme focussing on the ways that nurses improve care and the beacon of hope that they provide.

Whether it be hospital care, home care, instruction, or self care, nurses are constantly innovating and coming up with ways to improve the quality of services.

Their skills, their expertise, and their talent for sharing their knowledge have always made them top-notch professionals.

This week, and especially tomorrow, International Nurses Day, I urge parliamentarians and all members of the public to pay tribute to the work that nurses do and to thank them in some tangible way.

NursingStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Charlie Power Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL

Mr. Speaker, nursing week is an important opportunity for us to recognize the contributions made by nurses on the frontlines of our health care system.

In Newfoundland and Labrador our nurses are doing their best to cope in a very difficult professional environment. Tomorrow afternoon they will be holding a silent vigil at the house of assembly in St. John's to increase public awareness of their struggle for fairness.

As we all know, the nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador were legislated back to work without any recognition of their tremendous efforts on behalf of all patients in our health care system. Nurses and those who depend on their care deserve to be treated fairly by both federal and provincial governments.

I applaud the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union for its ongoing efforts. My colleagues in the Progressive Conservative Party join me today in expressing our support for all nurses across this great country.

Canada PostStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Sophia Leung Liberal Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, it was my pleasure to represent Canada Post recently at the World Orchid Conference in Vancouver. The conference, which was attended by over 1,000 delegates, was held in Canada for the very first time.

It was an honour to unveil the new series of orchid stamps which were specially designed in two Chinese painting styles.

Québec Ateliers OuvertsStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, as part of Québec Ateliers Ouverts, artists from the Quebec City area submitted their most recent artistic offerings for the scrutiny of the public.

A young and talented artist, Agnès Riverin, combined words and images to present an unusually sensitive rendering of the wounds inflicted by war. Here is a short extract:

I have come from the shadows to breathe in the light. I know that we must bind up the wounds of so many wrongs. That we must pay the price of so much madness, those who steal freedom and stifle the cries.

We will no longer die Tortured into silence. We will find expression for our collective solitude breaking down the distances that keep us apart.

And in the night through which we pass, we will kindle the memory of a world not yet born.

Palliative CareStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ovid Jackson Liberal Bruce—Grey, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that May 9 to May 15 is National Palliative Care Week.

Hospice palliative care relieves suffering and improves the quality of life of persons living with or dying from advanced illness. Social, emotional and spiritual supports are provided to that person and his or her family by physicians, nurses, social workers, home care planners and volunteers.

The Canadian Palliative Care Association provides leadership through advanced standards of practice, support for research, advocacy for improved policy research allocation, and support for caregivers.

I ask members to join me in congratulating the Canadian Palliative Care Association and its affiliates which ensure comfort and dignity for those who are dying.

Nisga'A TreatyStatements By Members

May 11th, 1999 / 2:10 p.m.

Reform

John Cummins Reform Delta—South Richmond, BC

Mr. Speaker, it with sadness that I rise to remind the House of the government's abandonment of a sacred public trust, the origins of which reach back to the justinian code in Roman times when it was proclaimed that the water and sea were owned by no one and were available to all for the purposes of fishing, navigation and commerce.

The public right was also encapsulated in the Magna Carta. The right to fish belongs to the people, not to the sovereign or her government. That right was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Van der Peet decision of 1996.

The Nisga'a treaty marks the first time since Confederation that parliament has been asked to create in British Columbia a fishery that excludes the public, a fishery that will not be open to all Canadians regardless of race. The Nisga'a final agreement will create an exclusive fishery for the Nisga'a based on race in what has been public waters.

The federal government has not sought to put a dollar value on the right being transferred and for good reason. The Nisga'a treaty will legislate an end to a right the Supreme Court of Canada has traced back to the Magna Carta.

Canadian Coast GuardStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Mark Muise Progressive Conservative West Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, on March 13 a Canadian Coast Guard employee was seriously injured while attempting to rescue an ill stricken fisherman from the Bay of Fundy.

A constituent of mine, Mr. Ian McBride, is an engineer aboard the Digby based coast guard cutter. Attempting to transfer the ill stricken fisherman from his vessel to the coast guard vessel, Mr. McBride fell overboard and was pinned between the two vessels that were being smashed together by high winds.

It is precisely these types of rescue missions that members of our fishing communities have come to depend upon. Instead of drastically cutting their existing budget, resources should be reinvested in the protection of our fishers.

Despite the recent downturn in the fishery, our West Nova economy continues to depend on the support of industry for its social and economic well-being. Our fishers deserve to be protected by a well equipped coast guard. I call upon the government to reinvest resources in this program.

Supreme Court Of CanadaOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, in June Mr. Justice Cory will be retiring from the Supreme Court of Canada after 10 years of distinguished service. The Prime Minister will be filling this position on the advice of the Minister of Justice.

Since the supreme court is becoming increasingly active in rewriting the law as well as interpreting it, many Canadians feel that elected legislators should have a role in questioning and approving supreme court nominees before they are appointed.

Is the government prepared to consult parliament on this appointment and to give a parliamentary committee an opportunity to discuss and question the nominees?

Supreme Court Of CanadaOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the system we have been using over the years has produced an outstanding supreme court. I do not see any reason to make any changes.

Supreme Court Of CanadaOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the public does not share the view of the Deputy Prime Minister. In a recent national survey, nine out of ten Canadians said they were opposed to the Prime Minister appointing the next supreme court justice. Eighty-four per cent preferred a greater role in appointments by the legislative arm of government, that is, parliament and the legislatures.

Why does this government not respect the will of the vast majority of Canadians and stop defending an appointment process that they neither support nor respect?