Debates of June 9th, 1999

Health

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, why does this somehow seem such a happier, such a saner place?

I am happy to tell the House this afternoon that a little later today I will table the government's research plan for the medical use of marijuana.

I am also happy to say that I will be exercising my power under section 56 of the relevant statute to permit exemptions to two very sick people to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Let us remember what this is about. This is about showing compassion to people, often dying, suffering from grave and debilitating illness. I want to thank the member and all the members here for pushing this issue so that we behave properly on behalf of those who are sick and dying.

Publishing Industry

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have a simple question for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Would she agree that under the new Senate amendments to Bill C-55 and her vague backgrounders which she calls regulations, the definitions of Canadian content have been changed? Under the new Bill C-55 no Canadian writer, editor, publisher, photographer or printer needs to be involved for a magazine to now qualify as Canadian under the deal as long as the material is original to our magazines.

Has the definition of Canadian content changed? All the minister need answer is yes or no.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, prior to the tabling of the legislation, there was no requirement for Canadian content, so obviously the Canadian content requirements are new.

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the made in America magazine deal states that allowable Canadian content means “created for the Canadian market and does not appear in any other edition in Canada”. How can the minister have allowed Americans to be considered Canadians under the law? The definition of what is a Canadian is pretty simple to me: a Canadian is a Canadian.

Why does the minister allow Americans to be considered Canadians in the magazine deal?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the regulations require that the content be original to the magazine anywhere in the world.

Air Safety

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport on behalf of the new fourth party.

A repeated request to the Minister of Transport has been denied by Nav Canada and the Minister of Transport to produce previously available safety documents. In particular two I am looking for are dated May 27, 1998 and they refer to the Kelowna air traffic control tower. Repeated requests have fallen on deaf ears. Everyone suddenly seems to have something to hide.

I want to know if the minister has these safety reports dated May 27, 1998 and will he produce them, or is he part of the safety cover-up?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is usual courtesy in the House if one wants documents that one approaches the department or minister. This is the first I have heard about so-called missing documents.

If there are documents that are germane to the particular issue of the Kelowna control tower that are available and in the public domain, obviously they will be made available to the hon. member.

[The Speaker]

Before the hon. member continues, I might caution him about imputing motive.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I wrote the minister for these documents and he wrote back to me on May 27 and refused to give them to me. He referred me to Nav Canada. It has also refused to give them to me. These are safety documents. They refer to an unsafe situation that has gone on for 10 years. It has never been addressed. They are trying now to hide it because they have never done anything about it.

Will the minister produce the documents? Yes or no?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, if the documents in question are in the domain of Nav Canada, it is for Nav Canada to release them. I certainly will look into the matter because we want all hon. members to have as much information as possible to make their jobs easier.

Kosovo

[Sheila Finestone, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are all pleased with the discussions that are going ahead to stop the conflict in Yugoslavia. However we also know that with the withdrawal of Serb forces, they leave behind silent killers, live ordinances and land mines.

Is Canada going to participate in the removal of these anti-personnel land mines so that refugees can return to their villages and to their homes?

[Julian Reed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her continuing interest in this serious matter.

Land mines have been deployed in large numbers in Kosovo by the Yugoslav military. Land mine removal is crucial for the safety of those who still live in Kosovo and those who are returning.

Canada will support a mission to be led by the United Nations mine action services to assess the impact of land mines on Kosovo and implement a victim assistance program. This initiative will be funded by CIDA and supported by Canada—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Longueuil.

Quebec's Fête Nationale

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I recently wrote to the Minister of Canadian Heritage to point out to her that her 1999 theme calendar neglected to mention two important dates: the Acadian fête nationale and the Quebec fête nationale. Her office agreed to add on the Acadian national festival, but not the Quebec one.

Since June 24 is the fête nationale of all Quebecers, why does the minister refuse to recognize this reality in her calendar, since she is doing so for the Acadians?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I find that, as usual, the Bloc Quebecois is out to stir up a fuss.

The separatists ought to set a better example. This morning I visited the Quebec Department of Culture web page. The cultural events calendar of thematic days, weeks and months gives no mention of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, there is nothing for June 24.

Harpsichord Day is there, but not Saint-Jean-Baptiste, while our calendar at least had Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Next year we will also add la fête nationale du Québec.

Agriculture

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, at last Saturday's farm rally in Regina, elected Liberals were once again conspicuous by their absence. There was a lot of concern not only about AIDA, but about the severe flooding in southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan. Since Saturday there has been more heavy rain in that area making it most unlikely that thousands of farmers will be able to plant any kind of a crop this year. It is truly a heartbreaking story.

When the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is in the region on Friday, will he be announcing that farmers will be receiving federal support similar to that received by Red River Valley producers in 1997 including an acreage payment or allowance?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I will be touring and flying over the area and stopping in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Friday. I have had discussions with my counterparts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the industry.

As I said and I will continue to say, we will look into this matter and do everything we possibly can in order to see what flexibility we can build into the NISA program and the AIDA program to assist the producers in this unfortunate situation.

Devco

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Devco coal miners have been offered such a dismal pension package that one miner with 31 years in the mines will not even receive a pension. If these miners were employees of any other crown corporation they would have received a 20 or 25 year service pension long ago. How is it that the Minister of Natural Resources can sell off some Devco assets, spend $11 million on the Prince mine, which he plans to sell, but he cannot find money enough to give the Devco coal miners a proper pension package?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, let me repeat again that what we have put together in respect of Devco is a package that totals more than $500 million. It specifically includes $111 million for human resources including pensions and severance arrangements, $68 million for economic development, plus $80 million from the programming of ACOA, plus another $140 million from the programming of HRDC.

The Government of Canada has put together a very responsible package to deal with a very difficult situation.

[The Speaker]

That would bring to a close our question period for today. I want to do three things before members leave the House.

I have already introduced my brother Speaker and former Speaker of the House, Mr. Fraser. I will be hosting a reception in his honour in room 220 following question period.

I said this was a very special time of year. We have with us today several former parliamentarians whom I want and say “welcome home”. I invite these former parliamentarians and Mr. Fraser to please stand.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Parliamentary Pages

[The Speaker]

Every year since 1976 we have gathered to ourselves here in the House of Commons what I consider in many ways to be the very cream of the youth in Canada. This year has been no different.

We have chosen 40 young Canadians from all parts of our country to be with us.

They have been with us now since September. They have taken care of our needs and extended, they have taken care of the needs of the Canadians who we in this House serve.

To say that they are an exceptional group is really sans dire. To say that they have done excellent work on our behalf though that must be said.

We hope that you, our dear pages, have enjoyed your year in our midst as part of our parliamentary family. You have indeed served us well and you have served your country well.

We do not know where your careers will take you in the years to come, but we invite you, as we have former parliamentarians, to come home to us once in a while. Perhaps one day this House will be fortunate enough to have one, two or many of you sitting in these seats where the people, the servants of Canada, have come.

On behalf of all my colleagues from all parties here today, I thank you for your good work. We wish you every success in life.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Points Of Order

[Claudette Bradshaw, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, I want to announce to the House that as of nine minutes ago, the dispute between Nav Canada and the air traffic controllers is over.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, relative to the announcement of the government just a moment ago, I would like some clarification for the House.

As most people know, when we do have a tentative agreement there is a ratification process. In the event that the ratification process does not take place, how will the House deal with that during the summer break?