Debates of Feb. 25th, 2000

Health Care

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, let me mention to the Deputy Prime Minister the government's own words in the federal budget of 1997 which stated “only the cash transfer affects program spending”. The government knows that it is the cash that makes the difference and gives the government the power to enforce the principles of medicare.

If the cash has been restored, why do we have a crisis today? Why is the Ottawa Hospital today making choices about urgent surgery, not elective surgery, and choosing who shall have that surgery?

The problem is that the cash has been cut and all we know is that the government is preparing to put in a one time only payment. On Monday will the cash be put back and will it stop—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Health.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the budget will be tabled on Monday.

The numbers speak for themselves as the Deputy Prime Minister has said. The total value of the transfers to the provinces, all of which can be used for health care, is higher now than it was when we took office.

The opposition can quibble about numbers in the past but the real question in front of Canadians is, how do we hang on to our health care system for the future? How do we make sure it is sustainable for our families and children in the years to come? That is what we are focusing on. I am now working with people in the provincial departments to make sure we reshape medicare for the future.

Trucking Industry

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transport has become a profit centre at the expense of the trucking industry and the people employed in it. The government eliminated the Atlantic regional freight transportation assistance program and the maritime freight rate both of which allowed Atlantic truckers to equalize costs and compete with other parts of the country.

Will the government meet with representatives of the trucking industry and put together a plan with them to reduce costs for the industry?

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to members of the House that there have been ongoing consultations with all members of the industry. In the very near future we will have before the House and before the members of the transportation committee our recommendations to solve many of the problems which the industry is facing right now.

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has done everything it can to drive up operating costs for the trucking industry. The Liberals increased the excise tax on diesel fuel. They eliminated federal competitive assistance programs and have now allowed the condition of our national highways to deteriorate.

The deputy premier of New Brunswick took the initiative to meet with truckers and offer them help. Will the transport minister give them the same courtesy and meet with them to work out a plan to reduce their costs?

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

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary has already indicated that work is under way and ongoing.

Let me just correct the record with respect to the excise tax. The government has not increased the excise tax on diesel fuel. In fact, that tax was imposed in the first place and then increased by the previous Conservative government. It was four cents when we came into office and it is four cents today.

Foreign Affairs

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Foreign Affairs assure the House that Canada will decline the invitation to join the North American missile defence system, one of the most insane ideas emanating from Washington since Ronald Reagan's star wars proposal?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify for the hon. member that at this point in time the United States government has not made a final decision on this particular weapons system nor have we been invited to participate. Any decision would be clearly premature.

I would like to underline that we do have a concern about the proposal and the impact upon the ABM treaty which is a very essential link in the broad arms control regime that we have. We would therefore have to take that particular factor into very serious account.

Human Resources Development

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a $600,000 transitional jobs fund grant was awarded to MacNeils Cove in Nova Scotia to build a boardwalk. However, the boardwalk was built without any of the required permits and as a result remains unfinished. A local resident calls it a monument to human stupidity. I call it a monument to Liberal stupidity.

Why did the HRD minister spend $600,000 of taxpayers' money on a boardwalk boondoggle that did not have the required permits?

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, in the community to which the member refers, there were 405 displaced workers from the fishery. HRDC sat down with the community to identify appropriate intervention that might get these people back to work. The project identified was twofold: building the boardwalk and clearing up the waterfront area, which has now turned it into a tourist attraction. There is evidence in the file on this project that the landowners gave permission and a building permit was issued. As a result, 164 fishers moved on to long term employment.

Gasoline Prices

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the skyrocketing prices of gasoline, fuel and diesel are a concern to consumers and businesses, as they are increasingly affected by this situation.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Now that several provinces have announced their plans, what is the government waiting for to announce its own action plan, within its jurisdiction, to meet the public's concerns?

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

Mr. Speaker, the federal government's jurisdiction in this matter relates to two areas. First, the competition policy, as the Minister of Industry has already explained, has been investigated and in appropriate circumstances the proper action has been taken. Second, there are cases of national emergency, threatened national security, but we are obviously not at that point. Matters relating to the regulation of consumer prices are entirely within provincial jurisdiction.

Scotia Rainbow

[Michelle Dockrill, NDP, Bras D'Or, NS]

Mr. Speaker, there was a revelation in the House yesterday. We found out that the minister for ACOA can read a Liberal press release turned into an editorial.

I have an article from the Nova Scotia provincial election stating that a worker at Scotia Rainbow said he could not believe he had to put together Liberal election signs. Workers were asked to nail signs together on company time and put them on their front lawns. A lot of workers are feeling threatened.

Is it because of this connection to the Liberal government and Scotia Rainbow that the minister continues to dance around this issue?

[George Baker, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, ACOA did put in a million dollar loan into this enterprise. HRDC put in $2 million. The provincial government put in double that amount of money. The investors put in double that amount of money. And by far, the largest amount of money was put in by the chartered banks.

To slam the federal government for this huge expenditure by the chartered banks and private individuals would be like blaming the boy scouts for the gulf war.

Gasoline Prices

[Angela Vautour, NDP, Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, high fuel prices are causing a crisis not only for trucking companies but for all Canadians. When will the government show leadership and reduce fuel taxes or will it continue to keep looking for excuses to justify doing absolutely nothing about this crisis?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have explained in response to a previous question from a member of the same party, the excise tax on diesel was a tax invented by the Conservative Party. It was increased by the Conservative Party.

It was four cents a litre when we came into office. It remains at four cents a litre today. If the hon. member would like to know the source of this problem, she might look in the mirror.

Kosovo

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday tens of thousands of Albanians faced a crowd of Serbs across the bridge that spans the Ibar River in the divided city of Mitrovica. We know that Canadians bore the brunt of the violent demonstrations.

My question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence. What role did the Canadian forces play in preventing the violence from escalating even further?

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question.

In Mitrovica, inter-ethnic violence between Albanian Kosovars and Serbs is an explosive situation. This is why 200 Canadian troops were redeployed from Pristina to Mitrovica.

On Monday tens of thousands of Albanians faced a crowd of Serbs across the bridge which spans the Ibar River in the divided city of Mitrovica. The Canadian presence helped prevent the clash between the Albanian and Serb residents from completely deteriorating. The Canadians bore the brunt of this violent demonstration—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Surrey Central.

Human Resources Development

[Gurmant Grewal, Reform, Surrey Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian Aerospace Group International received a $1.3 million TJF grant to allegedly create 500 jobs in North Bay, Ontario. The project failed. The company was then given a $1.7 million interest free loan to set up in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

Since the project in North Bay never got off the ground, will the boondoggle government be recovering the $1.3 million tax dollars lost on that grant?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the biggest oxymoron around here is Reform Party research. No money was given for the project in Saint-Hubert.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is there anyone in the government who can explain to us today how it is that they are unable to confirm the facts that we have brought to light?

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke of suppositions, when it was a deputy minister of Human Resources Development Canada who herself called the member for Rosemont yesterday to pass on these facts.

Why is no one in this government able to answer questions, when we have the information from a deputy minister? Why is it that a deputy minister is calling us, that the minister does not know, that the Deputy Prime Minister does not know, and that the parliamentary secretary does not know?

Something is wrong with this picture.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are very open to the hon. member when we are in a position to confirm the facts.

He alluded to a conversation. I think it wise that we contact the deputy minister and ask whether she is able to verify the hon. member's allegations. We will check this out and get back to the hon. member in due course.

Post-Secondary Education

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, despite the platitudes from the Prime Minister for a good future for young people, the only vision of the future for tens of thousands of students is a massive debt wall.

It is undeniable that high student debt and skyrocketing tuition fees are directly caused by the massive retreat in federal funds for post-secondary education.

If the government is truly committed to education and accessibility, will the government commit to the single most important action needed, to restore funds to post-secondary education?