Debates of Feb. 28th, 2000

Human Resources Development

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member made a statement that there was no money going to the province of British Columbia. I would like to inform the House of Commons that in the case of the riding of Vancouver Island North the riding of the member has received $52 million in HRDC grants. Among them is the North Island Fisheries Initiative, Tourism Comox Valley, Beaufort Association for the Mentally Handicapped, Community Adult Literacy and Learning Society, Crossroads Crisis Centre. These are good programs that we have put in his riding despite perhaps his opposition because those people do not want us to help the poor and the needy.

[An hon. member]

Wrong riding.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst.

Training

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Ottawa Citizen announced today that, according to the government, learning is an “individual responsibility”.

On the heels of student debt and the enrichment of the banks with Liberal cuts to education, we have the Liberal government wanting to divest itself of its responsibilities for training.

Will the Minister of Human Resources Development reaffirm the federal government's commitment to training?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, in the hon. member's own province we clearly have a new relationship with the provincial authorities focused on training. They are partners with the federal government in terms of taking employment insurance part II dollars, and providing training opportunities for those men and women who need additional support to find renewed employment.

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the same minister. How can the government ask Canadians to save and pay for job training when the primary responsibility for limited income families is food and shelter?

Will the minister pop the policy balloon today and invest strategically in high unemployment regions by direct capital investment to public institutions such as community colleges and university access colleges, an investment that Canadians can rely on for sustainable human and regional development?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I draw the hon. member's attention to our past budgets where indeed we have focused on these important undertakings. I would also ask the member to wait until 4 o'clock and see other undertakings of the government.

Canadian International Development Agency

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Ontario Hydro International and Hydro-Québec International both received money from CIDA. Indeed, these two companies received a total of $2.4 million.

My question is for the Minister for International Cooperation. Why did CIDA deem necessary to use taxpayers' money to make contributions to these large corporations?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, these are not grants. These are contracts that are given with specific requirements for projects in developing countries. Companies only get paid when they prove that the requirements have been met. Also, the same companies and organizations that we use are world renowned for the work they do in developing countries and they were used by the same party that is asking the question today.

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how does the minister explain that 37% of businesses did not file any report to get contributions?

With a consolidated net income of $50 million for 1998-99, the Canada Post Corporation is one of Canada's largest crown corporations.

Could the Minister for International Cooperation explain why it was necessary to make a $785,000 contribution to that corporation?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, this is work that we do in developing countries. By far the majority of companies that do work in developing countries are small and medium size. There are also very large ones.

In this case these companies are world renowned for the quality of their work. We are doing projects in developing countries to assist them. As I said before, the party to which the member belongs used these very same companies when it was in power.

Citizenship And Immigration

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

It has come to my attention that many school age children in Ontario are being denied entry to public schools because of their immigration status, notwithstanding the fact that Ontario's education act mandates compulsory education for all children.

What is the minister doing to ensure that all children have access to Ontario schools regardless of their immigration status in Canada?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is very dear to my heart. I firmly believe that no child should be denied an education.

I have reviewed the regulations which require school authorization for post-secondary and vocational schools. I am convinced that there is no barrier there to any child in Canada whether they have been here for 10 minutes, 10 months or 10 years.

If that is not clear enough, I want to say again that I do not think any kid should be denied an education. I intend to continue to clarify that at every opportunity.

Human Resources Development

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in the ridings of Kenora—Rainy River and Saint-Maurice there is a strange correlation between campaign donations and the allocation of grants and contributions.

The HRD minister has stood up in the House time and again and stated that there is no interference in the approval process. Yet 33% of the people who contributed to the Prime Minister's political campaign got money from the government in the form of grants and contributions.

How can the HRD minister explain this sleight of hand, or should I say coincidence, to the Canadian taxpayer who finances her spending schemes?

[The Speaker]

As I understand the question, it has to do with donations to a political party. That is what I am hearing. As such, that question is out of order.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development will not mind us helping her to shed light on management in her department.

Let us now turn to the case of Canadian Aerospace Group International in North Bay, which, after spending most of its $1.3 million grant, shut down operations and laid off its employees. The RCMP has been investigating since June 1999.

Can the minister tell us why she told the House that everything was fine, when this particular case had been under investigation by police for months?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, the investigation is ongoing and I will not make any further comments on that.

Plutonium Shipments

[Dennis Gruending, NDP, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government has repeatedly promised Canadians that there would be no plutonium flown into Canada but in January this promise was broken when American plutonium was flown into Chalk River. Our head offices go south and American plutonium comes north.

This was an act of stealth which occurred without warning or consultation with the people whose health was put in jeopardy. Canadian and American environmental groups say it was illegal and they may go to court.

Will the Minister of Transport commit to an immediate moratorium prohibiting any future shipments of plutonium by air?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate once again that this movement of MOX fuel was fully consistent with all the requirements of the Atomic Energy Control Board. It was fully consistent with all the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization and fully consistent with all the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It was completely in line with the transport and packaging of radioactive materials regulations of the Department of Transport.

Immigration

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that today's budget will abolish the head tax on immigrants.

During the last parliament, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans introduced a bill that would have completely abolished this tax.

Is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in agreement with her colleague?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to the question. I would invite the member to be here at 4 o'clock when the budget is read. He and I both know that is the time when his question will be answered.

Amateur Sports

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I was asked a very pointed question that I would like to ask the Minister of Canadian Heritage. What is the state of amateur sports in Canada?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the state of amateur sports today is so good with the gold medals that we won on the weekend in downhill skiing, speed skating and Canadian football, commonly known as soccer. We are hoping that the state is even going to be better after 4 o'clock.

Drugs

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa.

Recently at a summit meeting in Washington, D.C. on the topic of war against illegal drugs, it was noted that in Canada we lose two people every three days to drug overdoses. What is the government doing with its international counterparts to address this serious situation which threatens the health of many young Canadians?