House of Commons Hansard #243 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was election.
Bill Gilmour Reform Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Nanaimo—Alberni the RCMP are being short funded by the federal government. The province, on the other hand, is paying its fair share.
The RCMP cannot operate the coastal boats on a regular basis, the drug squad has been shut down and officers have been moved on to general duty. All of this is occurring because the federal government is not holding up its side of the bargain.
When will the solicitor general reinstate core funding for the RCMP?
Jacques Saada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member is a bit out of touch. In the budget just brought down, an additional $37 million was set aside for the RCMP. The British Columbia division received an additional $10 million and $115 million was earmarked for the CPIC.
A study is under way to ensure that the RCMP's funding levels are adequate. An independent firm is helping us carry out this study. The member opposite is fearmongering and he does not have a leg to stand on.
John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC
Mr. Speaker, of the $10 million that was given to the RCMP, this government clawed back $8.5 million.
The federally run RCMP DNA testing lab in British Columbia has a six month backlog of investigations, for some of the most serious crimes committed in the province, due to lack of funding. DNA testing is the most effective, contemporary crime fighting tool that we have.
Why is the government spending millions on bogus grants and handouts rather than fully funding DNA testing?
Jacques Saada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, since I could not finish earlier, I will do so now.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by the solicitor general, the RCMP and the Treasury Board to ensure that all new contract positions with the RCMP are filled by the Treasury Board and not by the RCMP. The member neglects to mention this.
As for the DNA bank, I am happy to report that the backlog in British Columbia has been reduced by 30% in the last six months.
If the member opposite had bothered to consult his own colleagues, and find out what is happening here at RCMP headquarters with respect to the DNA bank—
Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Sherbrooke.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, on October 8, 1987 the current Minister of Foreign Affairs demanded that the Progressive Conservative government obtain the agreement of the provinces before signing the free trade agreement because, as he put it, this agreement affected areas under their jurisdiction.
The minister even said that when they formed the government they would be happy to conduct all negotiations with agreement of the provinces.
Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs keep his promise and obtain Quebec's agreement on anything it negotiates with the WTO?
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that on the federal-provincial scene, when it comes to international trade, this deal and partnership works harmoniously well.
The Government of Canada, in the case of asbestos, has had more telephone conferences, more meetings and more get togethers with the industry in Quebec and with province of Quebec officials than on any other issue. There has not been one complaint registered to me by the Quebec minister for trade concerning asbestos or any other interest.
There is a national interest within which the provinces certainly participate, consult and advise.
Gurbax Malhi Liberal Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour.
The Peel Regional Task Force recently completed its final report and recommended ways to deal with the problem of poverty and homelessness. Can the parliamentary secretary reassure me that this important report and others like it will be looked at by the federal facilitators co-ordinating programs for the homeless?
Brenda Chamberlain LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the Minister of Labour will review all of the recommendations of the Peel Regional Task Force.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, Wing Construction is out $2 million and is on the verge of bankruptcy because of the fraudulent actions of Sagkeeng Chief Jerry Fontaine.
I asked the minister about this in the House a few days ago and she said that what precipitated it was when a partnership between the Sagkeeng Indian Band and Wing Construction was dissolved. What she did not tell us was that the partnership was dissolved on the instructions of her department.
Why did the minister's department instruct the Sagkeeng Band to dissolve its partnership with Wing Construction?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I must say that I am confused by the line of questioning of the hon. member. In fact, I find it bizarre and absurd that the so-called defenders of accountability are asking me to bail out a private sector company for a contractual relationship it has with a first nation, in which I have no legal obligation or partnership, and for work that was undertaken outside the accountability measures of my department.
This just does not seem to be consistent with what they believe to be important and what we believe to be important, which is to ensure that there are fair and accountable activities and practices between the federal government and first nations. That is really what we are focusing on.
Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, that department is good at leaving people hanging out to dry.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has remained aloof from the dispute between the Musqueam Band and the non-Musqueam leaseholders who now face lease rate increases of over 7,000%.
Yesterday the standing committee finally received a recommendation. It came from one of the Liberal members and it called on the government to get involved in settling the dispute.
A previous Liberal government was present at the birth of this flawed deal. Is this Liberal government going to abandon the parties to the lease at the end of its life?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I find it very strange indeed that the opposition is asking for us to get involved in circumstances in which the federal government has no partnership.
Jane Stewart Liberal Brant, ON
These contracts are private arrangements, whether it be a lease arrangement or whether it be a construction arrangement.
Let me say that on this side of the House today we are celebrating the passage—
Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. We are getting close to the end. Please be very judicious.
Jane Stewart Liberal Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to recognize that today, on this side of the House, we are celebrating the passage of an extremely important piece of legislation, Bill C-49. We are joined by every other party in the House, save the Reform. Again we see them standing alone against the first nations people of this country, standing against progress for aboriginal people, for jobs, growth and development. The first nations have always known that the Reform Party is against them, but now all Canadians know.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, 800,000 unemployed workers do not qualify for employment insurance because of cuts by this government and the previous Conservative government.
After touring the country to assess how people were affected by the changes made to the EI program by the Minister of Human Resources Development, I made 13 recommendations to the minister.
I ask this minister whether the government will make changes to employment insurance, yes or no, and when will it do so?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, in reforming employment insurance, we wanted to adapt an extremely important social system.
We are aware that adaptation is sometimes difficult for certain communities and certain individuals. However, the NDP member is asking pretty much the same thing of us as the Bloc does—
Pierre Pettigrew Liberal Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC
They keep wanting us to turn back the clock. They want us to go back to the 1960s model. This is the essence of what Premier Bouchard wants.
As the government, we want to help people with active measures to enjoy a better future, rather than stay put with passive support.
Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS
Mr. Speaker, the way backward is the Liberal government's response thus far to the 200 page report entitled “The Way Forward” given to the Minister of National Defence by Canada's new Canadian forces ombudsman. Over 135 days later the minister sits silent.
With well over 350 complaints waiting and over 8,000 expected, when will the government respond to the report and let the ombudsman begin his work? Or is the minister being silenced by the top military brass?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, this is a pioneering effort in our department and within the context of a military organization for us in Canada. We want to make sure that we get this office set up so it is able to do an effective and good job and that we get the terms of reference right.
When the ombudsman came forward with a set of recommendations, many of them involved other departments and other areas of jurisdiction outside the control of the Minister of National Defence. It has taken some time to process that through. I think we are getting to the end of that discussion and I expect to have that office up and operating very shortly.
Jim Jones Progressive Conservative Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday the Liberal government hid behind legal technicalities to avoid releasing 363 pages of documents withheld by HRDC to my access to information requests on Yvon Duhaime and Pierre Thibault. I have appealed to the information commissioner.
If the government abides by the Access to Information Act, will it respect the information commissioner's decision on my appeal, yes or no?