House of Commons Hansard #74 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was year.
The Speaker
As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing O Canada, and we will be led by the hon. member for Lethbridge.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, all across Canada there are colleges and universities, government and non-government research centres and individuals with great expertise in northern and polar studies. There are organizations like ACUNS and the Canadian Polar Commission that help co-ordinate northern studies and research, but we lack a major centre of excellence.
The time has come to put in place a single major centre as a clearing house for such work, a centre which will co-ordinate and focus the extraordinary knowledge and experience which Canadians have of the north.
I urge federal departments that have special strengths in these matters, such as Indian and northern affairs, natural resources, industry, health, and foreign affairs to take a lead in this, beginning by better co-ordinating federal activities in northern research.
Maurice Vellacott Reform Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the information commissioner, John Reid, appeared before the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and revealed some pretty stunning information about the lengths to which the government has gone to cover up its own mishandling of taxpayers' money.
Since it became clear just how bad the problem at HRDC is, even completed audits have been withheld from us. All it takes for the government to comply with such requests is to place those audits on the photocopy machine, but the government has been stalling and has not been answering requests for information within the legally required 30 day time period.
What is the reason for the delay? According to the information commissioner, Treasury Board and the Privy Council Office have taken on a greater role in the release of documents over the past month, mainly to prevent further public relations damage. Mr. Reid said, “Treasury Board and the Privy Council Office want to know what audits have been requested, whether they contain bad news, and what the official media line will be”.
Who are we to believe? The minister who says that the government is transparent, or the information commissioner who says we are witnessing a “government wide—”
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, this evening the Hon. Shimon Peres, Nobel laureate, current minister of regional affairs for the state of Israel and former Israeli prime minister will be the guest of honour at the 16th parliamentary dinner of the Canada-Israel Committee.
The keynote speaker for this evening will be the Prime Minister of Canada. I believe this is a testament to the commitment and esteemed role that the Canada-Israel Committee continues to play as a valued aid to parliamentarians.
This is an event which brings together politicians, senior bureaucrats, media personalities and others active in the political sector with more than 1,500 members of the Jewish community from across the country for an evening celebrating the special friendship between Canada and Israel.
As chair of the Canada-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, I am honoured to be able to attend this event. It is functions such as this one which help build an even better bilateral relationship between our two countries.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my words of homage to those expressed by many business people in my riding earlier this week to Mr. Raymond Brunet.
Raymond Brunet is the head of Ed Brunet et associés, a Hull family business dating back nearly a century. He deserves recognition for far more than his qualities as a businessman, however, as he is totally devoted to the Outaouais community.
Raymond Brunet's construction company has made a name for itself over close to four generations, and the community has benefited greatly from the family's store of knowledge.
The Outaouais chamber of commerce and industry has named him Personality of the Year for 1999. This recognition by his peers is mirrored by that of the community as a whole.
My most sincere congratulations to Mr. Brunet.
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians of the Muslim faith are celebrating Eid-Ul Adha, one of the major festivals of Islam. The festival is held each year to coincide with the pilgrimage to Mecca which itself is a major tenet of the Islamic faith.
Eid-Ul Adha is also a time for cultural and social gathering with family and friends. In that vein I am pleased once again to invite members of the House and the other place to attend the fifth annual Eid-Ul Adha ceremony on Parliament Hill. The event will be taking place this evening in Room 200 West Block starting at 6 p.m.
I hope members will be able to join the celebration and recognize the important contribution the Muslim community makes to Canadian society. To them we say insh'allah they will continue to prosper, as-salaam alaikum .
Jim Gouk Reform West Kootenay—Okanagan, BC
Mr. Speaker, Highway 97 in the B.C. interior should be recognized as part of the national highway system.
This highway is critical to the economy of the most densely populated region in the B.C. interior. It is the principal non-toll link between the west coast and the rest of Canada.
However, designation as part of the national highway system alone is not enough. Parts of Highway 97 are badly in need of major repairs. This costs money.
Last year the federal government extracted from B.C. motorists over $1 billion in fuel taxes designed to build and maintain the national highway system. It put back less than $300 million nationally. Pro-rated out, we got back a mere 3% of our own money. That is not good enough.
The federal government acts like it is doing us a big favour when it gives us back a tiny portion of our own money. B.C. has the most challenging highway system in Canada and it is in need of repair.
I call on the federal government to return a more appropriate portion of our highway taxes so that B.C. motorists and visitors can drive safely on our highways.
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, the feeling of pride, anticipation and excitement so evident in Nunavut last April 1 is still going strong.
As we approach the first anniversary of the momentous day, I am proud to say that there has been evident change in the way our territorial government serves the people of Nunavut.
From the law review customizing legislation to reflect Inuit values to unilingual Inuit participating fully in the workforce, to the first Nunavut Arctic Winter Games team, the people of Nunavut see daily that the public government is inclusive and everyone can reach their potential.
We have accepted the challenge and look forward together as youth and elders celebrate both the past and the future in all endeavours. Mutna . Thank you.
Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, at the time of the 1993 election, the Liberals promised to deal with shipbuilding, referring among other things to a summit that would be held the following year.
Nothing has been done since. The Liberal government has even been so bold as to purchase used ships and submarines from other countries. A coalition of unions was therefore struck in 1998 and decided to support four of the demands the shipbuilders' association has been making since 1996.
Moreover, 150,000 mail-in cards have been sent to the Prime Minister in support of these demands. All provincial premiers support the adoption of new measures to assist shipbuilding.
At their 1998 convention, the Liberal faithful passed a unanimous motion along the same lines. Now it is up to the Liberal MPs to do the same this evening, by voting in favour of Bill C-213, along with all the members of the Canadian Alliance who have signed on to support my bill.
Denis Paradis Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Speaker, for the second time in less than a month, we have learned that the Government of Quebec has apparently hidden the sum of $541 million since 1998.
In a special report released yesterday and covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, the Auditor General of Quebec reported that the PQ government neglected to tell us that it had received the sum of $37 million from the federal government for farm income stabilization purposes.
These situations are beginning to cause some concern. Two weeks ago the talk was of $841 million allocated by the Government of Canada for health care, which Quebec had failed to use.
On behalf of my fellow citizens of Brome—Missisquoi, I say to the squirrelly PQ government “Give Quebecers the money they are entitled to”.
Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to express my support for the initiative the Mike Harris government is showing in outlining the funding cuts to health care in Ontario.
The Prime Minister seems to be a little confused on how to approach the issue of health care. Two weeks ago he sent the health minister to Alberta to chastise the province. Seven days later the Prime Minister himself arrived to smooth things over. The next thing we know, the Prime Minister is blasting Ontario for bringing to light the federal government's serious lack of commitment in funding for health care.
Is this Liberal leadership? The health ministers will gather tomorrow to co-operate in an effort to bring viable solutions to the table.
I am a little uncertain how challenging Ontario will encourage the other provinces to approach the table with anything other than trepidation. The provinces have been placed in an impossible situation. Their pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears. This government has accused Ontario of playing politics instead of solving the problems. The Liberals should talk.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Quebec minister of international relations, Louise Beaudoin, chose criticism over diplomacy in taking Air France to task over its imposition of English as the language of communication between its pilots and its air traffic controllers citing safety as the reason.
Minister Beaudoin should have instead pointed out that Canada is one of the countries that best protects its two official languages and uses them in all public services. She would have better defended French in the world by showing what we do here in protecting and promoting the French language and culture in Canada.
In short, we say yes to defending French, we say yes to promoting it worldwide, but we say no to raising a ruckus overseas in an effort to revive federal-provincial quarrels yet again.
John Solomon NDP Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, the OPEC ministers have finally reached a deal to hike oil production but no one should get too excited. After all, we will not see any relief at the pumps until next autumn.
A 10 cents per litre increase for 12 months costs consumers $4.5 billion. But suppose you live in St. John's, Newfoundland. A litre of gas will cost almost 85 cents at the pump today and Newfoundland is now a producer of oil. My own province of Saskatchewan is also an oil producer. At 75 cents per litre we pay more than anyone else on the prairies.
The point is, pump prices follow crude prices up very quickly but they sure take their time on the way down. That threatens the inflation rate, our whole economy and it gouges consumers. Just because we have not yet seen the inflationary impact does not mean it is not a problem. It took almost a year after the 1973 and 1979 oil price shocks for the full impact to be felt.
The government needs an action plan now to protect our economy but it has none. Consumers continue to lose billions of dollars to foreign oil companies.
Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians benefit from a banking system that is one of the most stable, strong and efficient in the world. In fact just last month the International Monetary Fund released a report praising the soundness and stability of Canada's financial system, underpinned by the banking industry's strong financial position.
Canada's banks are also strong contributors to the Canadian economy. As major exporters of financial products and services, almost 50% of bank earnings are made outside the country. However, banks pay 80% of their taxes and base 90% of their jobs here in Canada. The math clearly works to our benefit.
These facts are evidence of the importance of Canada's banking industry to our economic well-being. The Canadian banking industry is making a strong contribution and deserves our recognition and respect.
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, the only thing that is increasingly clear with Bill C-20 is that it is generating strong opposition everywhere. So far, those who have opposed the Prime Minister's clarity bill have all been crushed under the steamroller.
Last fall, it was the Liberal members who were silenced by the Prime Minister. A few weeks ago, opposition members were gagged time after time by the Prime Minister.
Now, it is the senators who are being targeted by the Prime Minister. In spite of that, the senators too are now finding that this bill is undemocratic, that it does not solve anything and that it is flawed.
Senator Gérald Beaudoin finds that Bill C-20 hurts federalism, that the two legislatures are sovereign, and that a legislature cannot give itself the power to judge the work of another legislature.
What is the Prime Minister waiting to withdraw his bill?
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a true Canadian hero. Robert Burns Cameron of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia died recently at the age of 80 after a storied life in service to his community and country.
A graduate of New Glasgow High School, R.B. as he was known in his beloved Pictou county went on to attend the Royal Military College and with the outbreak of war was commissioned and went overseas as commanding officer for the 1st Canadian Armoured Division.
He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order for heroic action at the gothic line in the second world war and also a member of the Order of Canada. After an extraordinary military career, as an astute businessman he went on to establish a number of companies such as Maritime Steel and Cameron Publications Ltd. For a time he was president of Sydney Steel and the largest shareholder of the Royal Bank of Canada.
Senator Alasdair Graham in a stirring eulogy at the First Presbyterian Kirk Church stated “The lights may have been dimmed on Robert Burns Cameron, but they will never truly go out”.
To his beloved wife Florence, their children and grandchildren, I would like to extend on behalf of the Right Hon. Joe Clark and the PC Party of Canada our sincere condolences. R.B. lived his life greatly with class and compassion. Philanthropist, industrialist, hero and friend, in the words of his famous namesake, a man's a man for all that.
Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the words former and Reform are spelled with exactly the same letters but in a different order. Let us look at them. F stands for fool which is what the Reform Party is trying to do to Canadians. O stands for zero which is the sum total of its policies. R is for rich who is exactly who its flat tax will benefit. M is for the leader's name which is still the same, even if it changes. E is for extreme, which is what Reform members are when their true colours come out. R is for regressive, which represents their policies on gun control, education, health care, agriculture and any other program that benefits Canadians.
Yes, F-O-R-M-E-R spells reform and reform spells hypocrisy, no matter what name they go by.
Deborah Grey ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, today we got one of those audits that the government has been withholding past the legal release date under the access to information guidelines. I can understand why the HRDC minister tried to hide this one. The information in it is damning.
Let me quote one phrase: “In many interactions with HRD managers we found that control appears to be a four-letter word”.
Is it not that lack of control which led to this billion dollar bungle in the first place?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member has been, but indeed we received the internal audit that we are dealing with. We identified that yes, indeed, there is an issue of control and that is why we are implementing the six point plan. That is why we have the auditor general working with us to improve the system.
Deborah Grey ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I do not know which internal audit the minister is referring to, but I am referring to the 1997-98 briefing book for senior management.
These audits continue to come forward. Let me quote again about the concerns of ethics: “Weaknesses found in our special audit suggest that the old virtues of prudence, probity, economy, efficiency and effectiveness are not as deeply embedded in the HRDC as they could be”.
Why?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, one of the things that is pre-eminently important to me as Minister of Human Resources Development Canada is to deal with the information in this audit and in all the audits that we receive.
The fact that we are doing internal audits suggests that there is an increase in control. The whole point of the undertaking before us now is to improve the controls; not to suck the information and the control back to Ottawa, but to find modern methods of comptrollership so that we can continue to provide the service which Canadians want and report to the taxpayer.
Deborah Grey ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, it would appear that there is a deliberate effort to make sure these audits do not become public.
Let me quote again: “Only three in ten employees agree that people can voice concerns about ethical breaches without repercussion”.
This is 18 months old and these people are not satisfied with what the minister contends to be her solution to the problem.
I would ask her this and I would like an answer. Why are HRD employees being punished for being ethical?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes reference to 18 months ago. Let us talk about the here and now. Let us talk about the work that the men and women in the Department of Human Resources Development Canada are undertaking as a result of committing themselves to responding to the report of the internal audit.
There are men and women working around the clock to review the files, to implement the six point plan, to get the training that they need. They are bound and determined to make a difference and I am there to support them.
Diane Ablonczy Reform Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about yesterday. Yesterday Canada's information commissioner charged that the Liberals are holding up the release of internal audits in an attempt to control politically damaging information. This latest audit was done in 1998, but the government did not make it public and even refused to release it under access within the 30 days required by law.
How can Canadians possibly trust a government that will even ignore legal requirements to hide its wrongdoing?