House of Commons Hansard #220 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was industry.
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we have agreed to be part of a process.
There are a lot of stakeholders involved in this issue, a lot of Canadians. Virtually every Canadian has a view on it one way or another. I think it is appropriate that we hear from the stakeholders as to what solutions they might want to propose.
Scott Brison Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, it is not just hockey teams that need help. It is not just hockey teams that we are potentially losing from Canada.
Nortel is losing 500 engineers per year to U.S. competitors. The fact is that last week Nortel's CEO, John Roth, said that Canada has a problem, that we are driving our talent away.
The industry minister has said what I have been saying for a long time, that we have to lower taxes. Specifically, what taxes should we lower? What taxes does the minister want to lower to keep Nortel here in Canada along with the other high tech industries that we have?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, to answer that question, the taxes we need to lower are the ones that we have to pay to pay down the debt that the hon. member's party ran up during its years in office. It left us with a $42 billion a year deficit. That is the problem we face.
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the business community just celebrated the fifth anniversary of the NAFTA.
Can the Minister for International Trade tell Canadians about the status of negotiations concerning a free trade agreement in the Americas?
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, let me thank my hon. friend for his interest in the free trade initiative of the Americas.
Under Canada's able chairmanship, I am happy to say that progress with those 34 countries is going well.
The ultimate aim is to create the largest free trade area in the world, which will be comprised of 34 nations, 800 million people and over $10 trillion.
As a result, we believe that Canada is strategically well placed, not only to participate, but to offer leadership to the free trade initiative.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, those questions should be saved for a senator.
A month ago we learned that the United Nations condemned this Liberal government for its treatment of aboriginal grassroots natives. Then we learned that the RCMP became proactive by producing a manual to deal with fiscal mismanagement on Indian reserves. Now we have the auditor general saying that the department is woefully inadequate when it comes to accountability and that essentially it is failing grassroots natives.
If the minister will not listen to the grassroots people, will she listen to these experts?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The United Nations congratulated the government for introducing “Gathering Strength” and recognizing the partnership role that we have to play in improving the lives of aboriginal people in Canada.
I might point out that the auditor general last week attended a symposium sponsored by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians which focused specifically on accountability.
That is the view we take: we have to do this in partnership. I would ask the hon. member to join us in that regard.
Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, the motion being debated today calling upon the federal government to develop a proper shipbuilding policy is a repetition, word for word, of a motion passed by the Liberal Party faithful in 1998.
How can the Minister of Industry explain to his own party faithful that he is thumbing his nose at their motion and valid concerns relating to the future of shipbuilding in Canada?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, like his colleagues from the Progressive Conservative Party, this hon. member lacks information.
With the Canadian export development program, the assistance available to shipyards has been enhanced. There is also the tax shelter program for purchasers of Canadian ships, as well as tariffs to protect shipbuilding in Canada.
Canada does, therefore, have a policy on shipbuilding.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, despite what the solicitor general says about funding for the RCMP, the fact remains that there are more than 400 vacancies in the RCMP in B.C. The solicitor general knows full well that lack of federal funding is to blame. Now there are new studies which show how poorly paid RCMP officers are.
What will the solicitor general do to rectify the situation, or do we tell the people of B.C. that this is just one more example of a fine Liberal performance to let people down?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated previously, the RCMP budget is $1.2 billion. They had an increase of $37 million. We also found $10 million a few months ago to assist the RCMP in British Columbia. In 1998 the RCMP received a 9.5% increase over three years. Also we asked the RCMP counsel to review their compensation package and compare it to other police forces across the country. I expect to receive that report shortly.
John Herron Progressive Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. There are a number of individuals other than those in the opposition parties who are not happy with the government's treatment of the shipbuilding industry. All 10 premiers are not on side, labour is not on side, the shipbuilders association is not on side and the shipowners association is not on side.
When asked which minister is responsible for the file, the Minister of National Revenue said “Not mine”, the Minister for International Trade said “Not mine”, the Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions said “Not mine” and the Minister of Industry said “I do not want it”. When will the Prime Minister act to get these ministers together so they can sort it out and get it right?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we have already indicated that his party does not seem to really understand what the aspects of the shipbuilding policy are and is not even aware of the recent changes that, as I noted earlier, have been praised by Peter Cairns, the President of the Shipbuilders Association of Canada.
R and D tax credits are available to the shipbuilding industry. Technology Partnerships Canada is available to the shipbuilding industry. Support from the Export Development Corporation is available to the shipbuilding industry. These are the aspects of programming that are available to any industry in Canada and they apply to that industry as well.
Claude Drouin Liberal Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, during last year's ice storm, we had an opportunity to see Emergency Preparedness Canada in action and to appreciate how hardworking and effective it is.
Could the Minister of Defence describe some of the events that are planned to mark National Emergency Preparedness Week?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member has pointed out, there are many disasters that affect Canadians, whether they be ice storms, forest fires or floods. We are very fortunate to have good professional people who work with strong local emergency measures organizations to assist our communities right across the country.
Canadians can play an important role by becoming more aware of what they need to do to be prepared in the case of an emergency. For that reason, this week has been declared National Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. I invite all hon. members of the House to be more aware of emergency preparedness.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, while the minister is talking to the elite leaders and the well to do people on reserves, I am talking to the poor grassroots people who are living in poverty and squalor.
Last week the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations talked about the need for an Indian auditor general who would help improve their accountability. The First Nations Accountability Coalition has asked for a first nations ombudsman. The calls for accountability are coming from all over.
When will the minister take her head out of the sand, bring some real accountability to the department and stop hiding from the problem?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. gentleman would take the time to read Gathering Strength and take the time to understand the position this government has taken in working in partnership with first nations in the area of accountability, he would know that we are supporting the creation of aboriginal institutions such as an auditor general and an ombudsman. We will do it in partnership, not by going into communities to divide and conquer.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry seems to think that the problem of productivity in Canada is not obvious proof of the failure of his policies. On the weekend, in the National Post , he blamed it primarily on excessive taxes.
Is the minister, who failed to resolve the problem of productivity with a 12% cut to funding for science and technology, trying to say that he would make a much better Minister of Finance?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member will applaud and accept the fact that we have, since the latest budget, increased our investment in innovation, especially with funding to the National Research Council and with the funds available to our students to complete their education.
The fact that she understands that tax levels are not the only factor, but that the investment we must make in innovation contributes to good productivity, shows she is well informed.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the last two and a half weeks tens of thousands of young Canadians have left colleges, universities, technical schools and other institutions across the country looking for summer work. A lot of them depend on the federally sponsored summer study work projects. However, one problem is that the moneys have not been allocated. Many of the programs are supposed to start today and many started last week, but no funds have been allocated, at least in the western part of Canada.
Could the parliamentary secretary explain why these funds are so late in coming? When will the funds be allocated?
Bonnie Brown LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the member opposite is as anxious and as happy as we are to have the summer career placement program. We are aware of the situation that the member raises. Our regional offices are being given tentative budget allocations to proceed with the programs. Final allocations will be given shortly.
John Herron Progressive Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, I will ask the Prime Minister once again: If the shipbuilding policies that the government currently has in place are so good, why has the employment level in coastal communities where there are shipyards plummeted to barely one-third of what it was previously?
The Prime Minister was once a member of parliament for an Atlantic province. When will he convene the Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions, the Minister for International Trade, the Minister of National Revenue and the Minister of Industry so that a statement can be made that something has to be done regarding the shipbuilding industry in Canada?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many times we can go through this.
If the hon. member were willing to have even a sensible discussion about this issue, he would acknowledge the fact that the shipbuilding industry is in difficulty largely because of the incredible capacity built up world wide. The OECD has forecast that overcapacity could be as much as 40% by the year 2005.
The failure of that party to recognize that there are some fundamental challenges faced by this industry is the reason that it just simply keeps coming back with old time subsidy based ideas to bail out an industry.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, today the people of Taber, Alberta, are mourning and the people of Canada are mourning with them.
In the House, in homes and workplaces and in schools across Canada the terrible events of last week have been in the minds and hearts of millions of people: the loss of young Jason Lang, the injury of another young student, the violation of the sanctity of a school in a proud community, a place where young lives should be developed, given hope and promise, not snuffed out, not scared; a place to build dreams, not live nightmares.
We are not a violent people and yet our lives are too often punctuated by such tragedies: the massacre at the École Polytechnique a decade ago and now the tragedy in Taber.
The loss of a young life is never easy to understand or accept. Such a senseless act can never truly be explained. And the loss and emptiness it leaves behind can never be filled.
All we can do is show our support and our solidarity and share the pain and the grieving.
To the family of Jason Lang, whose father over the past several days has shown us the meaning of true bravery and generosity, to all the families who have been touched by this tragedy, to the people of Taber, the whole of Canada is with you. You are in our thoughts and our prayers. Your loss is the loss of all of us.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Taber tragedy cuts very close to my constituency and to me personally. I know a family whose daughter was just a few feet away from the shooting. Her life has been changed permanently. She is a girl who knew the disturbed boy who lashed out. She felt the fear and she heard the shots. She went to school that day expecting safety. She left the school in tears.
Her statement to other kids her age is revealing: “Maybe we need to be nicer. Then this might not have to happen”. It is wonderful to see how this tight knit community has banded together without blame, recriminations or fault finding, and the family of Jason Lang forgiving, even as it grieves.
From another friend who knew Jason well comes the following quote: “Jason was such a nice boy. He believed in God and he showed it. This was a young man who lived like a Christian”.
As Taber mourns, my friends who live there mourn. As Taber mourns, I personally mourn. As Taber mourns, every Canadian family mourns.