House of Commons Hansard #232 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendments.
Walt Lastewka LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that the shipbuilding policy for Canada has been effective in the past.
Members should know that the Export Development Corporation made changes a year ago with the shipbuilding industry. They should also know that the Export Development Corporation is presently looking at a review of projects worth more than $730 million. That is work being done by our trade, by our people, to help the shipbuilding industry.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House are a little tired of hearing about this whole ship.
American shipbuilding companies are offering work to Canadian shipbuilders because they are the best trained in the world. These men do not want to leave Canada. However, until the government changes the current policy, more and more of our shipbuilders will be forced out of Canada.
Why will the government not make changes to the current shipbuilding policy and stop forcing Canadian shipbuilders and their families out of their own country?
Walt Lastewka LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the procurement for Canada at all times is in favour of the shipbuilders across Canada. Whether it be national defence, Transport Canada or the coast guard, or any other departments or agencies, we continue to work with the shipbuilding industry. We make sure that any buy or refit of ships is done with the Canadian shipbuilding industry.
Yvon Charbonneau Liberal Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC
Mr. Speaker, recently, we have heard here and there that the government is not doing enough research on toxic substances and the management of these substances in Canada.
Could the Minister of the Environment tell us what she intends to do to ensure that the federal government is active in the management of toxic substances and related research?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that earlier this afternoon the Minister of Health and myself were able to announce the first tranche of projects approved under our toxic management research initiative, $10.9 million to 81 projects across the country that many hundreds of scientists will be implicated in.
This will help the government to better understand the effects of toxic substances on our environment and human health. It is a very important initiative looking at persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disrupting substances, metals in the environment and urban air quality.
Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights tabled its report and draft legislation entitled “Toward the Elimination of Impaired Driving”.
The justice minister has said that impaired driving is a huge concern to her and she places a very high priority on it. Will the government take steps to introduce immediately legislation that will reflect the standing committee's report on impaired driving? Will it do it today?
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will know that that very subject is one which is before the House leaders at the present time.
We on our side of the House are prepared to use every device available to us to give accelerated approval to this initiative. It is our hope that all parties across the way will do the same.
Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, after putting several questions in the House and getting no answers or only evasive answers from various ministers, I wrote to the Prime Minister on December 22, asking him for a shipbuilding policy. Now, six months later, the Prime Minister still has not replied.
Considering that, today, a coalition of unions representing the shipbuilding industry delivered 150,000 postcards demanding a true federal shipbuilding policy, what is this government waiting for to finally take action?
Walt Lastewka LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, may I repeat what I said before for the member. I again emphasize Canada's shipbuilding policies. An accelerated capital cost allowance which many organizations do not have; a 25% duty on most ships imported from non-NAFTA countries; a domestic procurement on a competitive basis for all government shipbuilding and ship repair needs. Through the Export Development Corporation changes have been made and we are still looking at changes for the future.
These are the shipbuilding policies of the government. They are there for the benefit of shipbuilders from coast to coast.
Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of the homeless.
Aboriginal people make up a large component of the homeless population in major cities. Many aboriginal people go to the cities to escape the terrible poverty conditions on reserves caused by Liberal government neglect. Now the government is abandoning aboriginal people off reserves by downloading the urban native housing program to the provinces. Social housing downloads lead to higher rents and homelessness.
Will the Liberal government reverse its disastrous download or will it betray urban aboriginal people like it has betrayed aboriginal people on reserves?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to honour all its commitments on native urban housing.
We will continue to honour the transfer of social housing to the provinces. That will eliminate duplication and will create the opportunity to have more housing.
The member should know that more than 50% of urban native housing for more than a decade has been managed by the provinces.
John Herron Progressive Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, let me give the Minister of the Environment a little history lesson. When acid rain was taking its toll on Canadian rivers and lakes, we got our own environmental house in order and then took on the American one and delivered this nation an acid rain protocol in 1987.
To advance the mercury file we need the same kind of true leadership and decisive action. Mercury is a known killer, yet Canada presented a divided opinion during recent negotiations for a United Nations heavy metals protocol. Internal squabbling has halted any real action to tackle the problem.
When can Canadians expect to see some leadership or some management from the department on mercury or on any environmental issue?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I would like to repeat the statement I made a little while ago announcing 81 projects under our toxic substance research initiative which will include research on mercury and other metals in the environment.
Canada was the first country in the world to ratify a UN ECE protocol on heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere.
The government is taking a leadership role worldwide on these very important issues. I think we should—
The EnvironmentOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton.
Roger Gallaway Liberal Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the last budget provided tax relief for small businesses that were spending money to become Y2K compliant. Unfortunately these businesses must do so by June 30, when in fact many cannot get trained individuals until after that date. I would like to know from the Minister of Finance if he will extend the June 30 deadline so those who want to can take advantage of this tax provision.
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the member from Sarnia has shown a great interest in this matter. I will certainly take his question as representation. As he knows, the industry committee is looking into this matter. I await its report with great eagerness.
Rahim Jaffer Reform Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, this government's own competition expert has criticized this government's abusive anti-dumping duties. He says that they restrict competition, jack up prices and hurt the welfare of all Canadians. Because of this criticism, Canada's trade tribunal has now been told to start paying attention to the impact these duties are having on average Canadians.
When will the revenue minister review the trade tribunal's past decisions and reverse those that the Competition Bureau says will hurt the welfare of all Canadians?
Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we work very closely with the industries on areas where there is dumping. Of course we have to depend on the industries to provide the information. There is an international tribunal that makes those decisions as to whether dumping does exist or not. We follow the law and we follow the ruling of the tribunal.
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg, QC
Mr. Speaker, on September 24, I introduced Bill C-435, which seeks to have the $1,000 note withdrawn so as to curb the laundering of money in Canada.
This measure is supported, among others, by the Canadian Police Association and the Fédération des policiers du Québec.
My question is for the solicitor general. If he does not want to make life easier for organized crime, why does he not immediately order the withdrawal of the $1,000 note in Canada?
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member opposite just referred to a private member's bill.
He is well aware that private member's bills are usually, if not always, subject to a free vote in the House of Commons. I am surprised that he would ask a minister to comment on a private member's bill.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. The Toronto Dominion Bank released a study yesterday that said that personal incomes in this country are now 26% lower than in the United States. It also said that much of the damage was done due to government layoffs and cutbacks between 1993 and 1997 which cost us 180,000 jobs. Guess who was Minister of Finance during those years?
Besides cutting taxes for his wealthy friends and his buddies like Conrad Black, what is the Minister of Finance going to do to help increase the disposable income of the ordinary Canadian in this country? I know he is very close to Conrad Black but what about—
TaxationOral Question Period
The Speaker
I ask the hon. member to be very judicious in his choice of words, please. The hon. Minister of Finance.
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, no doubt it was most unfortunate that there were cutbacks in the public sector. These were required in order to get government finances in order. It is important to note what was also referred to by the TD, that it was not only at the federal government level but at the provincial government level, including British Columbia and Saskatchewan, governments the hon. member knows well.
John Herron Progressive Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, the premiers of this country spoke in favour of a new national shipbuilding policy at the conference of first ministers in August 1997, yet this government has refused to address their demands. Today shipyard workers across Canada are calling upon this government to take action. It is only a matter of time before the premiers come knocking on the Prime Minister's door demanding the same.
Why does the Prime Minister not pre-empt the attack of the premiers and after his upcoming cabinet shuffle sit down with his new Minister of Industry and implement the needed tax incentives and loan guarantees to get Canadian shipyard workers back to work?
Walt Lastewka LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, let me repeat the fact that we do have a shipbuilding policy. As everybody knows, the global capacity is at a very high level. The member opposite knows that Canada is not going to get into a subsidy war and get this government and country in a deficit position as his government did which got us where we were in 1993. We are not going to do that. We are going to keep encouraging countries not to subsidize and to have fair competition around the world.