Debates of June 2nd, 1999

Government Grants

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC]

The projects approved by my department had been discussed between my staff and the contractors in the riding of Saint-Maurice. There was no undue pressure. We checked things very carefully indeed.

I can assure hon. members that we are going to continue with the Canadian job creation fund, which has so far created 30,000 jobs across Canada in regions of excessive unemployment.

Millennium Scholarships

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development thought he could get away with appointing a facilitator in the matter of millennium scholarships.

However, it appears that the facilitator did not facilitate much, and time is of the essence in this matter for the students.

Will the Minister of Human Resources Development assume his responsibilities, become personally involved in the matter, and, finally, meet once and for all with Minister Legault in Quebec City?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Rosemont for the planted question, planted perhaps by the other side.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC]

I do want to say one thing. I realize that this time unfortunately, the member for Rosemont does not appear to be particularly up to date on the latest events. I talked to Mr. Legault at noon.

I can assure the member that he and I are on absolutely the same wavelength. We noted that progress had been made in meetings between our officials and our spokespersons. We are both aware that the few remaining minor stumbling blocks may be resolved in the coming days.

Taxation

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week the finance minister indicated that he would make a decision soon regarding extending the Y2K tax exemption.

Now that the industry committee has reported, could he tell us if he will extend the Y2K exemption for small business?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the question posed by the member for Sarnia—Lambton is a classic example of how he and all other members on this side of the House have consistently sought to further the interests and the needs of small and medium size business in the country.

I am very grateful to the member as indeed I am very grateful to the members of the industry committee who have deliberated long and hard on the particular measure. They have recommended that this tax measure be extended for small and medium size business until October 31 of this year.

I am delighted to announce today that the government accepts that recommendation.

Government Grants

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, here is what has happened. First, a friend buys a money losing hotel from the Prime Minister's company and then receives nearly $1 million in grants and loans.

Second, just before the election the Prime Minister makes a splashy announcement of a big grant in his riding without any approval.

Third, another friend donates $10,000 to the Prime Minister's campaign, injects $500,000 into his cash starved golf course, and receives a multimillion CIDA contract.

Is this what the Prime Minister calls good, honest government?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I want to use this occasion to correct an inaccurate insinuation by another Reform member earlier.

The Prime Minister sold the shares in question before he became Prime Minister. He has not yet been paid. His trustee holds the debt. The shares are in the hands of the buyer. The Prime Minister's lawyer only controls the debt and the Prime Minister has no intention of ever getting the shares back.

The basis for the earlier question is wrong. The basis for this question is wrong. Once again it is an act of desperation by the disintegrating Reform Party.

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is a good try, but the fact is that the Prime Minister's fingerprints are all over these suspect transactions of public money.

When will the government set things clear by tabling all the documents, having an independent inquiry into this matter, and making sure that there has been no conflict of interest, for Canadians?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, instead of making these wild unsubstantiated accusations, the Reform Party should congratulate the companies in question for the work they are doing in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Publishing Industry

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, background documents on the new made in America magazine deal state that Canadian content is “original to the Canadian market or has been authored by a Canadian”.

By this definition a quick rewrite of an article on American Olympians in a new spit-run edition of Newsweek becomes voila, Canadian content.

The new definition now includes work written by American writers as long as they are only published in an American split run. Does the minister agree that by this new definition American content is now Canadian content?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the regulations specifically preclude rewrites.

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister should read her own documents. By agreeing upon this definition of Canadian content, the minister has kicked open the door for challenges on Canadian content in films, books, music, and all other endeavours. They are now all threatened.

The minister has a choice to make. Either she endorses an American definition of Canadian content and keeps her cabinet seat, or she stands up as a Canadian cultural nationalist and resigns in principle.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy the member has understood that Canadian content in the law is a big step forward.

The fact is that the regulations accompanying this legislation insist any new magazine that sets up in Canada must have a majority of content for the Canadian market which is only Canadian content.

National Defence

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the Minister of National Defence of some interesting facts.

A month ago the NATO secretary general asked General Wesley Clark, NATO chief of staff, to prepare a plan for the deployment of ground troops. Last week in Bonn a plan was provided and a call was issued for a meeting of NATO members, to which Canada was not invited.

How are we to be credible in the military action if Canada is not even included in the military planning?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, it was a meeting of the European Union. We are not a member of that.

There were a few on the side who decided to have a meeting with Secretary Cohen. I am told that General Clark was not there. In fact there was no NATO official there.

It was not anything more than an exchange of information, an exchange of views, which is the same thing that goes on, on a bilateral basis every day, including a meeting my colleague had with Secretary Albright last week. The decisions are in fact made at the NATO council in Brussels and we are a full participant.

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has just told us that he himself spoke today with the U.S. defence secretary, Mr. Cohen.

Can the minister tell us if they discussed the Bonn meeting? Is he now aware of what went on last week? Could he inform the House a bit?

Did the U.S. defence secretary also inform the minister of the agreement that now reflects Russian participation in a military force in Kosovo?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I have regular meetings either by phone or in person with Secretary Cohen to discuss general matters relevant to the effort in Kosovo. Secretary Cohen informed me that the position of the ministers he met with is as we all understand and as we all agree, that the air campaign must continue.

We must put continuing pressure on the Yugoslav government while the diplomatic effort is also ongoing and involves the Russians. Hopefully it will all come together and we will be able to get peace and security and a return of the Kosovars to their homeland.

Foreign Affairs

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It concerns NATO actions against Yugoslavia.

Could the minister please advise the House as to the rulings announced today by the International Court of Justice on the legal suits brought by Yugoslavia against Canada and other NATO states?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform the House that the International Court of Justice, by an overwhelming majority, has totally dismissed the petition by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for an injunction against NATO action. The judges themselves have clearly seen through the attempts by the Milosevic regime to use this as a propaganda means.

I remind the House that Yugoslavia has never recognized its responsibilities under international law. Last week Mr. Milosevic and his cohorts were indicted as war criminals. It showed clearly where the responsibility lies.

Nav Canada

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, summer air travel in the country could come to a halt if the dispute between the air traffic controllers and Nav Canada does not come to a quick conclusion.

With both parties willing to negotiate, will the Minister of Labour allow them time to hammer out a deal and get it ratified?

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the conciliator's report was released on Monday and the parties have returned to the table. The government is prepared to assist the two parties in any way we can.

Monetary Union

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian ambassador to the United States and the second in command at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank have just rekindled the debate on a single currency for the Americas. Even the very skeptical chief economist of the Royal Bank of Canada now admits that the idea intrigues him.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Does he really want to be the last on the bandwagon, or has he had a change of heart since March and would he now agree that a special house committee should be struck to take a hard look at this issue, which is capturing the interest of more and more people?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, Mr. McCallum said exactly the opposite of what the member just claimed.

Second, the United States has made it very clear that it would never consider monetary union or a common currency. It would only consider the use of the U.S. dollar, which would be a very expensive proposition for the monetary policy of any other country wishing to use it.