House of Commons Hansard #48 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.
Maud Debien Bloc Laval East, QC
Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs unveiled the Harker report on links between the civil war in Sudan and oil development by a Calgary firm.
The report confirms that oil is fueling the conflict in Sudan and recommends that the minister use the Export and Import Permits Act to ensure that the firm acts ethically and respects human rights.
In the light of Mr. Harker's harsh words regarding Talisman, why is the minister refusing to use this legislation?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are using the legislation. We have very major exclusions under the Export and Import Permits Act for all military supplies and daily use supplies. The hon. member does not know her facts.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and is on Sudan.
The minister's envoy, John Harker, has said that there can be no peace in Sudan while oil revenues keep flowing to that brutal regime.
Why has the minister rejected the call by Harker to take all necessary steps to stop oiling the war machine and to cut off the oil revenues? Why is the Liberal government shamefully lining up with Talisman to put corporate oil profits ahead of the human rights and the human lives of the people Sudan?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, once again I suggest the hon. member take the occasion to actually read the report rather than hallucinate, as he always does, about its conclusions.
The reality is that Mr. Harker did not recommend economic sanctions. Mr. Harker recommended a number of steps, including: going to the United Nations, which we are doing; setting up a mechanism to monitor, which is what we are doing; establishing arrangements with the IMF, which is what we are doing; and establishing major codes of ethics for business, which is what we are doing.
We have engaged this issue very seriously, unlike the hon. member who simply wants to be offensively extreme at all times.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture.
During the ice storm the federal government reimbursed farmers for their agricultural losses. During the Red River Valley flood the government contributed $26 million to farm losses in the Red River Valley. The flooding last spring in southwestern Manitoba still has not been addressed by the government. Will the minister of agriculture please tell me why his government was Johnny on the spot with those other disasters yet nothing has come forward with this disaster?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should get his facts straight. He knows very well that this government was there last year to assist in unseeded acreage coverage in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We worked with the provincial governments there. We put in place hundreds of millions of dollars for targeted support not only for the producers who are suffering from serious financial difficulties in that area. We continue to adjust those criteria and we recently put another $500 million a year forward.
I would ask the member to encourage not only the producers in his province but the producers in his neighbouring province to encourage their provincial governments to come forward with our federal—
Susan Whelan Liberal Essex, ON
Mr. Speaker, air pollution contributes to the untimely death of more than 5,000 Canadians and sends thousands more to hospital each year. The city of Windsor and the county of Essex have some of the worst air pollution in Canada. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. This week Canada and the United States begin negotiations for an ozone annex to the Canada-U.S. air quality agreement. How will this help all Canadians including those from Windsor and Essex county?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, sadly the hon. member's number of 5,000 is likely on the low side. However, I point out that these are largely preventable deaths due to air pollution and we fully intend over the next decade to cut that number in half.
The negotiations with the United States are to establish a protocol with the United States to reduce smog thus improving the quality of air in Canada and in the United States with substantial improvements in the life expectancies particularly of young children and older people who are specifically affected to a greater degree by air pollution problems.
Diane Ablonczy Reform Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, one week ago in the House the minister said the following: “Mr. Speaker, let me review again what has transpired. I as the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada received the report of an internal audit. I was not happy with the reports of that audit. I insisted on a strong management response”.
Less than 24 hours later she cut a cheque for six more grants totalling almost a million dollars. I guess that was the origin of her six point plan, six more new grants. How can the minister call this a serious management response?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, a serious management response takes time to build. That is why we enlisted the support of the private sector expert Deloitte & Touche. That is why we presented our ideas to the private sector board that advises the Treasury Board Secretariat. That is why we took the plan to the auditor general. That is why we took their advice and built it into the plan. That is why we are now implementing it.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, following a consensus among premiers at the February 3 meeting, it was decided to ask Ottawa to restore health transfer payments to the 1994-95 level, and to make up the $4.2 billion shortfall predicted for next year.
My question is for the Minister of Finance. Does he intend to respond favourably to the unanimous request of the provinces, stakeholders in the health care sector and the public, and restore health transfer payments to the 1994-95 level?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the hon. member that provincial transfer payments have been restored to the 1993-94 level. When we formed the government, we were forced to cut them a few years later, but now we are back to the same level as in 1993-94.
In addition, the Province of Quebec and the poorest provinces have received larger equalization payments than they did before we formed the government.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, another scandal the government must come to grips with is its failure to flow any money to victims of hepatitis C as promised by the Minister of Health 23 months ago. To date, no money has flowed.
Today lawyers are in court demanding increases in fees to the tune of a 4.29 multiplier, representing about $55 million in fees for lawyers.
My question is for the Minister of Health who is responsible for the terms of the compensation settlement. Can he not bring closure to this issue, put an end to this legal wrangling and ensure that every penny of the $1.2 billion goes to victims and not lawyers?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, lawyers for the Government of Canada are in court asking that every step possible be taken to make sure that money goes to claimants at the earliest possible moment.
Lawyers for the government oppose the payment of any fees to lawyers until claimants are paid, and will continue to do that. Lawyers for the government are in court asking that an administrator be appointed as soon as possible so we can start flowing the money to claimants that this settlement provides for.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.
When Richard Klassen was commissioner of the Canadian Wheat Board, he was given a huge settlement package so that if he left the wheat board he would not go to a competitor with sensitive information for two years. One year later, he is now working for one of those competitors.
Is Mr. Klassen in breach of his severance agreement with the Canadian Wheat Board?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Canadian Wheat Board to review this situation to make sure that all the rules between the wheat board and this particular employee with respect to his new employment are completely satisfied.
I am confident that the wheat board will make absolutely certain that all legal rules are complied with.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Judy Junor, Saskatchewan Associate Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, I seek your guidance on this point of order.
In response to a question that was put to the Prime Minister by my colleague from Edmonton North, the Prime Minister gave an answer in which he insinuated that I had written a letter on behalf of an organization in my riding requesting support from one of these transitional jobs fund grants.
I can assure the House and assure you, Mr. Speaker, that no such letter exists nor was one ever written.
I would like your assistance, Mr. Speaker, in determining how the record—
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would take it with regard to all traditions that you have just cleared the record. It stands.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, in question period today, the Minister of Human Resources Development made statements which I believe appear to contradict her earlier statements made in the House.
I would like to give notice of my intention to raise this serious matter after an opportunity to review Hansard of today's question period. I want to reserve that right and pursue this matter at greater length when I have had an opportunity to review the record at length.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario
Liberal
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 20 petitions.
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg, QC
moved that the second report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade presented on Thursday, December 16, 1999, be concurred in.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today but, unfortunately, we will have to explain to those who are listening to us how business is conducted in this parliament.
We often hear that it is a parliament that works in a very democratic fashion, that everyone has an opportunity to rise and to express his or her views, but this is completely false.
We know full well, and most parliamentarians in this House agree, that since it first came here, in 1993, the Bloc Quebecois has been very serious and open during the proceedings of this House and of all of its committees. I feel we have made an effective and constructive contribution, as was pointed out many times in the House and elsewhere.
However, the situation deteriorated a great deal when the report on the Export Development Corporation was tabled. Let me briefly explain to what happened. The last meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the EDC was held on December 14, a few hours before the government decided to adjourn the House until February 7.
The House adjourned well before the scheduled date, probably because the government was so embarrassed by the fact that Bill C-20 was an insult to the democratic rights of Quebecers and by the uproar caused in Quebec by the introduction of this legislation.
This key element in the debate is of concern to us today because it eloquently shows the Liberal government's contempt not only for the population as a whole, but also for the legislative process and the work of this House.
On behalf of the Bloc Quebecois and Quebecers as a whole, I accuse the Liberal government, especially the Liberal members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, of having acted in bad faith with regard to the last segment of the review of the Export Development Act.
As I said earlier, the Bloc Quebecois has always been very open and has contributed to the smooth running of House proceedings. However, on December 14 things changed for the worse.
I must deplore and condemn in the strongest possible terms the cavalier, contemptuous and expeditious attitude of the Liberal majority, based on more than dubious procedural considerations, which, in collusion with the Reform Party, approved the report now before the House.
In view of the significance of this report and the time the committee spent listening to the many witnesses who enlightened its members, it is unacceptable that the report was adopted in less than 10 minutes. You heard right, Mr. Speaker, it took the chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs less than 10 minutes to have the report adopted.