House of Commons Hansard #228 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was plan.

Topics

Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Lou Sekora Liberal Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, once again the Reformer on the opposite side has his facts all wrong.

This week the member for Dewdney—Alouette incorrectly stated that I asked for an audit of the RCMP. That is hogwash.

The fact is that it was the mayors of the greater Vancouver regional district who requested the audit.

I have a suggestion for the member for Dewdney—Alouette. He should form a new party that is neither Reform nor the united alternative. He should be the founding member of the huff and puff party.

Canadian NursesStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, nurses recognize their part in creating and maintaining quality health care.

Nurses traditionally and even today are predominately female. As a result, they have had to fight for wages that truly reflect the value of the service they provide.

Nurses are not personal care hostesses, as Premier Ralph Klein suggested a few years ago. They are professionals, dedicated and committed to the well-being of human kind.

Nurses everywhere have been made to suffer as a result of government cuts to health care. They suffer from workload fatigue and are stressed from worry over how to deliver quality care with limited resources. They are denied job and economic security by the casualization of nursing positions. Is it any wonder we are facing a nursing shortage?

Governments and employers have a responsibility to foster environments and work conditions that promote a quality of life for nurses. That is a sure way of increasing entrants into nursing programs, of enticing nurses back into the profession, of recruiting nurses and, finally, of retaining nurses.

Let us begin to repair the damages by offering nurses decent wages and working conditions.

The Late Marcel PépinStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, we were saddened yesterday to learn of the untimely death of Mr. Marcel Pépin, ombudsman for the CBC French network.

After an illustrious career at Le Droit , La Presse and Le Soleil , Marcel Pépin gained still more recognition as the first chairman of the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec.

After heading Radio-Canada's radio news services, he went on to become vice-president of French-language radio, and then ombudsman in 1997.

Just recently, Ombudsman Marcel Pépin gained attention for his painstaking report in response to a complaint against Radio-Canada by the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada concerning the events surrounding the Asia-Pacific summit in Vancouver.

Marcel Pépin was passionately interested in politics and an independent soul. He was a staunch and untiring defender of the freedom to inform and the right to be informed, as well as a great believer in the importance of maintaining a relationship of independence and non-interference between journalists and those in power.

Marcel Pépin, you will be greatly missed.

Kosovar RefugeesStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Canadian and Quebec governments met and put aside their old jurisdictional quarrels to properly welcome Kosovar refugees.

For over a month now, these refugees have been experiencing the pain of having been forced out of their homes, villages and homeland. Deprived of shelter and exhausted, thousands of people still managed to reach refugee camps. Canada then invited some of them to settle here, and quickly provided humanitarian and material assistance.

This week, the Quebec government announced the concrete measures that it will take to welcome Kosovar refugees. These efforts on the part of the Canadian and Quebec governments make all Quebeckers proud.

We wish a warm welcome to these women, men and children, and we hope they can resume a normal life here, in peace and serenity, while waiting to go back to Kosovo.

Quebec Family WeekStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Diane St-Jacques Progressive Conservative Shefford, QC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, I am pleased to recognize Quebec family week.

The purpose of this week, whose theme is “My family, my roots: a lifelong strength”, is to invite Quebeckers from all origins to celebrate the strength of their family network, to renew privileged relations with their close ones, and to cultivate family spirit.

In this international year of older persons, let us rediscover the value of intergenerational contacts and relations. Whether we are talking about adoptive or natural families, the family remains a powerful lever, an infallible denominator to which we go back at one time or another during our life, to find strength, love and support, and to give back some meaning to our life.

I encourage all families to celebrate the strength and richness of the family unit, and I hope that this week will be one of harmony, mutual support and solidarity between generations.

Milton WongStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ted McWhinney Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the election of Milton Wong as Chancellor of Simon Fraser University. He is the first Canadian of Asian origins to be elected to that post. He follows closely Bob Lee, who recently completed his mandate as Chancellor of the University of British Columbia.

Milton Wong's career as an investment counsellor, a founder of the Laurier Institute, Science World, the Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival and the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention has involved co-operative action with all of Vancouver's cultural communities.

His election as chancellor reflects the values of cultural diversity and the creative dynamism of the new pluralistic society that has emerged in British Columbia.

Milton WongStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I have been requested to save the last statement for one of our colleagues, the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar.

Resignation Of MemberStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Chris Axworthy NDP Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, with these, my last words in this House, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the constituents of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, and before that Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing, and the hundreds of workers in election campaigns who granted me the privilege of being a member of the House for almost 11 years. It truly has been a privilege to be one of the 301 members who come here to serve the people of Canada.

I also extend my thanks to the House of Commons support staff, people like Tom, J. P. and Ray, who really make this place work, to my own staff over the years, and to my present staff, Mike, Adrian, Doris and Erika, in particular.

I thank members on all sides of the House for their many courtesies over the years and for their many friendships.

Lastly, I want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, and each and every member of the House for the privilege of working with them, as we all, each in our own way, strive to make Canada an even better place in which to live.

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

Mr. Speaker, drunk driving kills thousands of Canadians every year, twice as many as homicides. Thousands more are injured. Yet the government is introducing only half measures to deal with this tragedy.

Reports indicate that the government is against the police using hand held sensors to detect drunk drivers. Apparently it would rather stick to the good old usual smell your breath, walk a straight line approach that is not exactly science.

Why is the justice minister against police using this reliable tool to fight drunk driving?

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member undoubtedly is aware, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has been studying the issue of impaired driving for some time.

In fact I anticipate a thoughtful and detailed report in which members of the official opposition have participated. When I receive that report I will review it and I will respond.

As I said earlier in this week in the House, all of us understand the scourge of impaired driving and we will do what we can to prevent it.

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

Mr. Speaker, studying and reports will not save lives. We are going into summer and we know that is a horrible time for carnage on our roads with drunk driving.

Unless the government acts now we will probably continue to see the death rate rising as a result of drunk drivers. There is no time for political delay. We need tougher laws now. We have studied and we have reported long enough.

Will the justice minister commit now to passing new tough anti-drunk driving legislation before the House rises for the summer?

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I have already indicated on this matter, I await the report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

I understand members of the official opposition have been working on this report. I actually think it would be somewhat contemptuous of me today to pre-empt the work of that committee. I look forward to receiving it.

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

Mr. Speaker, we were asking for a commitment before the House rises.

Another thing we talked about in that report, and one of my colleagues brought it forward in the first place, was that we needed to lower the blood alcohol level from .08 to .05. That is the standard in 10 European countries and Australia. It seems to be working. Transport Canada said that if we lowered the limit to .05 it would save more than 500 lives a year. I dare say that would be worth it.

Let me ask a question of the justice minister again. Why will she not take the advice of her own government officials and the standing committee and commit to getting this thing done before summer so we would save lives?

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I have already said twice today, I look forward to receiving the report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. I will take very seriously that which is recommended by the standing committee.

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear the minister. She said three times that she anticipates the report, that she awaits the report.

When we were asking some reporters this morning about where they got the leaked report, they said they received it from the minister's office. It was a senior Southam reporter who said it was leaked from the minister's office.

The minister's staff has seen the report. They know we have a unanimous report of the committee. All parties have agreed. We do not totally agree with everything that is in the report but we said we would compromise. A half a loaf is better than no loaf at all. We want the report to be in the House.

Will the minister commit to tabling a bill, when we come back after our recess next week, which we will pass quickly in the House?

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I do not know from where the hon. member gets his information but he should check it.

In fact I have not seen the report. I have to say I find it deplorable that there are those who choose to treat the House of Commons with contempt and leak the contents of a standing committee report. Because I respect the House of Commons I will wait to receive the report and I will respond at that time.

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, this is not about a leaked report. This is about drunk driving.

The minister knows her staff has told people. They have been involved in this. We did not leak the report. We do not leak reports like the other side.

This is about drunk driving. The government has delayed it since the hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley brought it into the House in 1995.

Will the minister commit to bringing a bill to the House which we will support and pass in one day when we come back after our recess next week?

Impaired DrivingOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, what I commit to do upon receipt of the standing committee report on impaired driving is to review it very seriously.

I have said before in the House that all of us on this side take the scourge of impaired driving very seriously. I look forward to the work of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. I know it has worked very hard on this report. Hon. members of the opposition have worked very hard. When the report is tabled in the House, I will respond.

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has often said that he has final responsibility for the integrity of his cabinet.

According to Canada's information commissioner, the Minister of Human Resources Development deliberately contravened the Access to Information Act, an act of parliament, for political ends.

Does the Prime Minister think a minister should be able to contravene an act of parliament with complete impunity?

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I am satisfied with the explanation the minister gave yesterday.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of access to information requests. Responding to all these requests takes time and staff. Unfortunately, there was a delay. It was not caused by the minister. Nothing can therefore be held against the minister.

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, this is an all too convenient excuse.

According to the National Post , the commissioner said he had to threaten to go to the federal court to have the minister's office release the information that it had received 74 days earlier for authorization.

How can the Prime Minister accept his minister's explanations that the error was an honest one, when the information commissioner had to throw his weight around and even threaten the minister with legal action before he would finally conform to the legislation?

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, first of all, this is completely inaccurate.

No investigator ever came to my office with any request whatsoever. I categorically deny it.

This is a tempest in a teapot. The whole thing is absolutely clear and transparent. The files were given to the journalists as requested. The opposition is saying my office held them up. The files were in my office for 12 working days.

Also, the opposition is saying that my office delayed them because I did not want this to come up during the debate in the House. The debate took place in early February, and the file arrived in my office on March 24.

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister often refers to his ethics counsellor as the ultimate tool to evaluate the behaviour of his ministers.

We now have a situation where, in the opinion of the information commissioner, the Minister of Human Resources Development violated an act of parliament to protect himself from political damage.

Since the defence strategy used by the Minister of Human Resources Development is to feign indifference and to plead carelessness, would the Prime Minister not be well advised to submit this case to his ethics counsellor?

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner never said that I violated the act. This is totally absurd.

The word “defy” was used in reference to my office. There is some confusion in the letter between my department and my office. My office received the document on March 24, while the debate took place in the House during the first week of February.

This is a tempest in a teapot created by people who are looking for winning conditions for a referendum, people who are systematically harassing Quebec ministers in this government. This is a case of Quebeckers going after Quebeckers, as has been the case all too often in our history.

Minister Of Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, the information commissioner is not a Quebecker. He is a person mandated by the federal government to do a job.

We know that the Prime Minister has a tendency to protect his ministers excessively, as was the case with the former solicitor general, who revealed confidential information while travelling on an airplane. However, what the Minister of Human Resources Development has done is much more serious. He violated the act for a political gain.

How can the Prime Minister protect a minister who violated an act of the federal parliament for over two and a half months, and who only complied with that act under extreme pressure, under the threat of legal proceedings?