House of Commons Hansard #128 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was transportation.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period
Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's information is incorrect. They have announced that they will do away with ACOA, wipe it out.
It was only a short while ago when the premier of Alberta and his cabinet stood and proclaimed “We do not propose scrapping the regional development programs of the federal government”. That day in Alberta is not the same as this day in Ottawa, and this policy today is just too day for Canadians.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, it really is old style politics on that side of the House. It is time for a change.
The minister says we are incorrect. Let me quote from his letter: “I have informed ACOA that the federal government will be prepared to negotiate a further five year agreement for operation online if the entire operation were moved from St. John's to Grand Falls-Windsor”. He says “My position is final”.
Moving $10 million dollars from a Tory riding to his riding is a straightforward abuse of power. When will the minister resign?
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period
Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, in case the hon. member is not aware, in the new program announced by the government under the community development program the funding is restricted to non-urban areas as defined by Statistics Canada.
The reason for that is that urban areas like the city of St. John's have an unemployment rate that approximates the national average, which now is at a 25 year low in Canada. We will fund the areas that need dollars.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, the minister has been in power for 25 years in the House. He is telling us now that his riding needs $10 million. Where has he been for the last 25 years? Where has he been for the last seven years?
I quote his letter: “If you move to my riding you get $10 million”. This is blatant outside politics. The minister should resign. He knows it. When will he resign and do the honourable thing?
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period
Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is referring to a federal-provincial agreement which is up for renegotiation.
The fact of the matter is that while the unemployment rate inside the overpass in the city of St. John's is approximately equal to the national average, outside the overpass the unemployment rate ranges from 25% to 45%. That is where economic diversity is needed and that is where the government will invest taxpayer money.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, this is absolutely outrageous behaviour. It speaks volumes about the arrogance of the minister that he would put on paper the type of scandalous behaviour we already know goes on every day in the Liberal government.
We are seeing a situation where he as the minister is directing taxpayer funds into his riding. He is telling ACOA that it must send that money into his riding. When will the minister resign?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as usual the premise to the hon. member's question is wrong. The minister is doing a terrific job for all Canadians.
Why does the hon. member not explain that when his leader was a minister in the Alberta government he funnelled $8 million in assistance to businesses in his hometown of Red Deer over the last 10 years, including $55,000 for a muffin shop, $29,000 for a hair salon and nail service, and get this, $100,000 for an ice cream parlour.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, time has passed the Deputy Prime Minister a long time ago. It has left him behind.
The Prime Minister has an obligation to get rid of the minister. We have a situation here where a minister has taken money from the taxpayers and is funnelling it into his riding right before an election for his own benefit. It is that straightforward. We have a letter that says as much.
When will the minister do the honourable thing and resign? This is nothing but political blackmail.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. I want the hon. member to withdraw the word blackmail.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the hon. member's question that his day and the day of his party are long gone.
Yesterday in Kitchener the leader of the Alliance announced his party's old fashioned, outdated, meanspirited platform. Yesterday in Kitchener the Leader of the Opposition and the Alliance Party met their Waterloo.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC
Mr. Speaker, the semi-conductor plant planned by Mosel Vitelic for the west of Montreal is the type of positive job creation project that deserves the utmost attention.
While the key players have made known the concrete measures they intend to put into place for the coming Mosel Vitelic plant, the federal government has yet to be heard from.
Can the Minister of Industry tell us whether the government has reached a decision on its participation in this project?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the federal government is the one who proposed that Mosel Vitelic set up a semi-conductor plant in Canada. We are the ones who invited them to come here and consider various sites.
As for financial participation by the government, however, we need to be satisfied with their business plan and their technological plan, and negotiations are ongoing. We are not going to conduct them publicly.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC
Mr. Speaker, I can understand the minister's position of not wanting to negotiate publicly. But at a time when there is greater and greater consensus in Quebec—the Banque Nationale, the Mouvement Desjardins, the key western leaders—the minister is hiding behind pointless procrastination and pussy-footing.
Is he, or is he not, waiting for an election call before announcing his participation in this project?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I listened with interest to what these bankers had to say, but they did not indicate how much they were prepared to invest in the project.
We are all in favour of a project such as this. It is a great opportunity for the Greater Montreal area and also for Canada, but not at any price. The taxpayers' money must be administered with care. I am sure the hon. member agrees.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the peace process in the Middle East is in serious jeopardy: at least 70 people have died in the past week, and the region has become a powder keg.
This week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said he was concerned about the situation. Yet he could not find anything better to do than to ask Palestinian and Israeli leaders to negotiate.
What initiative does the government, which is a member of the security council, intend to take so that Canada can make a concrete contribution to the efforts that will bring a long awaited peace to the population of that region?
Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalSecretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie)
Mr. Speaker, we condemn the violence that led to these casualties.
We regularly, almost on a daily basis, urge both sides to find a solution, to negotiate and come up with a peace plan that will bring stability to the region. We do so regularly and energetically.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Paris meeting failed when the Palestinian request for an international inquiry was rejected by Israel. Israel accepts Washington's involvement, but the Palestinians find that involvement too biased.
Canada is a friend of Israel and also a friend of the Palestinian people. In light of this status, could it not take the initiative and offer its contribution to help end the conflict in that region?
Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalSecretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie)
Mr. Speaker, we are prepared to do just about anything to ensure stability.
We even brought the matter up at the security council two days ago, in an attempt to bring together the two sides to find a solution. We will continue to urge them to find a way to get along and to work and live together.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Yesterday Alberta's health minister stated:
Maybe we should be rebating that health care premium to those people who, after an annual check-up, demonstrate that: their blood pressure is within a certain range, their cholesterol count is in check, their weight is within a certain range and their blood sugars are in check.
The health minister is obviously aware of this. Is he prepared to take his responsibility to prevent such an initiative?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it appears the Alberta health minister was musing aloud. There may be more details he wishes to make public.
All I can say from what little I have seen of these statements yesterday is that we have always believed that the responsibility for funding the health care system, as well as access to services under the health care system, should be universal. That is the principle from which we start and that principle should be respected throughout the system.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Bill 11 revisited. What prevents the government from mustering up the courage to say, plain and simple, that this is a tax on the sick? This is a tax on people with chronic illnesses, with mental infirmities, with physical disabilities.
Why does the government not take the opportunity today to say that it is wrong, that it is unfair, that it is not acceptable, and that it will not be permitted?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the member may know more than we do or the public does about what Minister Mar intended or said. Let us wait and find out what the man is saying.
The member can rest assured that if there is any proposal that will undermine the Canada Health Act we will be there to respond. The member should be joining with us in responding to and opposing the pernicious platform unveiled by the reform alliance yesterday with respect to health care. There is the real threat to medicare, sitting right over there.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture. It relates to the market revenue insurance program, which is cost shared by the federal and the Ontario governments. The minister knows that is an amber program under WTO rules like NISA and like crop insurance.
Will the minister give the House a firm commitment today that the federal government is prepared to extend the MRI program beyond 2001?
Market Revenue Insurance ProgramOral Question Period
Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario
Liberal
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, a year ago we extended that program for two years. We have said to the Ontario government, my counterpart in the province of Ontario, that we are prepared to discuss the future of that program. It is a companion program, and the right hon. member will know what I mean by that. We have been discussing the safety net program in the province of Ontario with the industry and with the minister in Ontario, and we will continue to do that.