Debates of March 28th, 2000

Industry

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

What is the Minister of Industry doing to ensure that Canadian corporations have leading edge statutes in order to promote better job growth?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne the government made the commitment to modernize our legislation to improve Canada's chances of winning head offices from global corporations around the world.

On March 21 we tabled in the Senate a bill to update and renew the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Canada Cooperative Associations Act. The legislation will bring many of these changes to bear, including, in particular, expanding shareholders' rights and helping Canadian corporations by clarifying the role of directors, officers and shareholders. In short, it is responding to the needs of a consultative—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary East.

Export Development Corporation

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday the Minister for International Trade told the House that the Export Development Corporation acted at arm's length from the government in deciding to fund the Three Gorges dam project, and yet we know that Canada account loans of over $50 million must be approved by cabinet.

Why did cabinet time its decision to fund the Three Gorges dam project to coincide with the Prime Minister's team Canada trade mission to China?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member continues to talk about the Export Development Corporation like it is a corporation that does not do a good job in the country.

Let me quote from Malcolm Stephens, former head of the British equivalent of the EDC, who said “In my experience the facilities available to Canadian exporters are flexible and are administered with a professional expertise which few rivals in other countries have”.

This is a corporation that is needed by Canadian small business and medium sized enterprises to help them compete internationally with other—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary East.

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the parliamentary secretary is not answering the question because he does not know the answer. Perhaps the Prime Minister can answer.

On March 21 the Minister for International Trade told the House that the EDC works at arm's length from the Government of Canada, and yet on June 8, 1998, Ian Gillespie, the president of the EDC, wrote a letter to the former Minister for International Trade recommending who should conduct an independent review of the EDC. If the EDC is truly independent and at arm's length from the government, why is the EDC's chairman telling the government who to appoint in its review process?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, clearly the Government of Canada, through the Minister for International Trade and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for the crown corporation. They report to this parliament.

It is the Government of Canada which sends the message to the EDC and helps in terms of the export support it gives to medium and small enterprises.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said: “Export credit agencies like the EDC play a vital bridging role which lend the support companies need to break into foreign and high risk markets”.

The Government of Canada is sending that message.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health likes to speak in very general terms about the Canada Health Act, but we would like to get down to specifics.

Alberta's eye clinics are now charging fees for enhanced services, which amounts to queue jumping. Clinics in Montreal are charging patient fees of $400 per hour for the use of operating theatres.

We want to know why the minister is not taking action in these cases. Does he deny they are happening, or is it because he believes they are consistent with the Canada Health Act?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, some of the matters referred to by the member, if she is referring to the same cases I have in my mind, are already being investigated by provincial and federal officials.

I can assure the member that if practices are in place which contravene the act, then steps will be taken to make sure they do not continue. If the member has information about events that we do not have in mind or that we have not investigated, I urge her to provide me with those details and I will see to it that the appropriate inquiries are made.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the minister does not support the five principles of the Canada Health Act.

Not only is the minister not taking clear action against the bill to privatize health care in Alberta but today, in Montreal, patients must pay $400 an hour to get on the operating table.

What we are looking at in Canada today is private health care.

Does the minister not realize that his failure to take action is having a terrible impact on citizens who are entitled to a universal health care system?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, last week, we heard about inappropriate practices in a private clinic in Montreal. Minister Marois and I both announced that we were taking steps to investigate the matter and to determine whether unacceptable or illegal practices exist, and I intend to do just that.

Canada Lands Company

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here is a cute little story.

The Canada Lands Company owned a large industrial lot in Brampton. This was a 30-acre lot. It decided to sell it for $1.7 million. What happened? With every day that went by, the property's value increased by more than $100,000. One month later, it was worth $3 million more.

A week ago, the vice-president of the Canada Lands Company had not even heard of this. Could the Minister of Public Works reassure the House and explain how Canadian taxpayers benefited from that transaction?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, that property was up for sale for 18 months and the Canada Lands Company never got a reasonable offer. After 18 months, we received an offer that represented about 80% of the property's market value and we decided to sell.

I would like to remind the hon. member that he should do his homework before asking a question. A property adjacent to the one in question sold a month earlier for $20,000 an acre, or 60% more. I believe Canadians got—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is someone somewhere who did not do his homework, as the Reform Party wants to do.

What we are saying is that, within 30 days, someone pocketed $3 million. A week ago, the vice-president of the Canada Lands Company did not even know about the case.

Will the minister, who was surely not aware of it either, order a full inquiry to find out what happened?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, for the Canada Lands Company and for myself this was a regular transaction. When we learned from the media about this alleged huge profit over a four month period, I asked Canada lands to provide me with a report, and it did so.

Based on the information that I received, this was a normal transaction at the time and it still is. Four months later, people with specific needs made a better offer.

Canada Post

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, postal services are very important for Canadians. I would ask the Minister of Public Works and Government Services if he could tell the House when we can expect Canada Post to sign a collective agreement with its employees.

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to inform the member and the House that yesterday Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers signed a three year contract. This is a new beginning for labour and management relations in Canada Post. I encourage Canada Post management and the labour union management to work together to make sure that Canadians have the best postal delivery system and that employees have job protection.

Toronto Waterfront

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Yesterday Robert Fung unveiled an ambitious multibillion dollar plan for the redevelopment of Toronto's waterfront. In order for this magnificent vision to become a reality the federal government must be a major financial partner.

I would ask the Prime Minister today whether he is prepared to rise in his place and indicate to the people of Toronto that the federal government will contribute its fair share to the redevelopment of Toronto's waterfront. In other words, when does the Prime Minister intend to show the people of Toronto the money?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank His Worship for the question.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I would ask members once again to call each other by their proper titles.

[David Collenette, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when I use that title with Mel Lastman he is quite happy.

As I said yesterday, if we can realize this dream it will be fantastic not just for the greater Toronto area but for all of Canada. The federal government has a role to play, but a role only in concert with the other levels of government, the province and the city. We will work with the other levels of government to make sure this magnificent dream becomes a reality.

Export Development Corporation

[Gurmant Grewal, Reform, Surrey Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the EDC loaned $50 million to Suharto's daughter in Indonesia for a pulp mill which is said to burn clear cut rain forest wood. The EDC loaned $50 million to a gold mine in Kyrgystan, the site of a poisonous cyanide spill. The EDC loaned China $130 million for a hydro project just a few weeks after the massacre at Tiananmen Square.

Why are Canadian taxpayers bankrolling environmental disasters and ruining the world's environment against Canada's own policies and rules?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and he should know that the committee looked at all of these issues. They had over 40 Canadians representing groups from across this country look at the EDC. There was a consensus that the EDC was doing a good job across this country in terms of making sure that small and medium sized industries can compete internationally.

The Government of Canada believes that the EDC plays a very important role in this country.