Debates of April 12th, 2000

Waterways

[Susan Whelan, Liberal, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair water levels are at historical lows. A caution warning has been issued to mariners throughout the entire system. As well, internationally designated safe harbours are not accessible. Immediate dredging assistance is needed to assist the commercial and recreational industries that operate on these waterways. How will the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans assist all boaters on our lakes this spring?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Essex. She has articulated to me, as have many members, the difficulties private marinas are facing because of the low water levels. I will certainly consider her representation and see what options exist.

I think she knows that the DFO mandate requires us not to provide dredging in the private marinas. I will consider the representation and look at what options are available for this difficult problem.

Revenue Canada

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Steve Hindle, the president of the union that represents Revenue Canada auditors said, “When head office officials overrule assessments by Revenue Canada auditors and doubles a tax credit by tens of millions of dollars, it reeks of political interference”.

My question is for the Minister of National Revenue. Why is it that every time auditors look into the government's management of programs, they turn up political interference?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, if Canadian Alliance members were well informed about the research and development tax credit program, they would know that this is an administrative program managed by the public service and based on the expenses incurred by all the companies asking to participate in it.

Obviously, there cannot be any political interference in such a process. That is very clear.

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I think political interference is everywhere. HRDC employees are advertising and taking out radio ads complaining about political interference. The RCMP is investigating in the Prime Minister's riding. Now the president of the union for Revenue Canada auditors is saying that there is political interference.

Let me ask the minister again, why is it that every time there is an audit, it turns up the smell of political interference?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, obviously that member of the Reform Party must be dreaming. There is no political interference into the question of the management of the SR&ED tax credit. As I said in French, it is quite obvious that it is an administrative process based on claims by corporations. We look at expenses and then they are given the credits. It is as simple as that. It is impossible to be politically involved in such a process.

Endangered Species

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

Mr. Speaker, the government tabled species at risk legislation yesterday and already it is being described as an environmental embarrassment.

When it comes to protecting animals or plants at risk, the government is putting politics ahead of protection. The minister could have and should have left it to scientists to decide which species would be protected. Instead, he left this life and death decision in the hands of the Liberal cabinet.

Will the minister commit to amending the bill so that scientists and not Liberal politicians will have the final word on species to be protected?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the member is correct at least to the extent that the bill was tabled yesterday. The bill will be sent to committee and he will find there is ample opportunity for examination and any suggestions he may wish to make for change.

I would suggest to him that the proposals he has made here would deny a right that people have had since the Magna Carta. In other words, when one's livelihood or land is affected by government action, one has a right to be heard. The socialists over there do not seem to think that right is valuable; they do not seem to think it is useful. We on this side of the House think it is important.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to see endangered species protected from extinction and they do not want to entrust that task to Liberal cabinet ministers.

For example, if the beluga whale is in danger of extinction because an aluminum company is polluting its habitat, the beluga whale should be protected, period. This bill leaves the door wide open for that company to lobby Liberal politicians not to protect the beluga whale and its habitat. This is wrong and the Liberal chair of the environment committee, that famous socialist, says it is wrong.

Will the minister, despite his comments, admit the error of his ways and allow scientists, and not politicians, to decide which species are to be protected?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we now have these apologists for socialism explaining their position. They are saying that no matter what the social or economic impact on any scientific listing, nobody will listen to the people, the industries or the communities affected. It will all be done by scientists and the scientists will not even take that into account either. They are only considering the one question of whether the animal is endangered.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

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

Mr. Speaker, here we go again with the Liberal government's slash and burn policies.

The CBC is looking at closing down English language TV studios in Montreal. Therefore local Quebec programming will be live and direct from downtown Toronto. Does that not have a nice Quebec flavour. Is this the new policy to better serve the anglophone community of Quebec?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I guess the member must be clairvoyant because I have not heard any news of any closures.

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

Mr. Speaker, if it is not proposed policy, why are they even talking about it? We know they have already considered shutting down CBC Radio in Quebec City but have backed off on that now.

My question is simple. What is the future of local CBC English media in the province of Quebec? I emphasize the word local.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, if the member has information on this issue I would be happy to have him bring it forward. At the moment, my understanding is that the CBC is looking at a number of options. Not only have no options been made, but we have certainly discussed nothing about it.

Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians feel a sense of loss today with the news that one of Canada's most dedicated and respected military leaders is retiring. Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire has served Canada and the cause of peacekeeping with integrity and great personal courage, especially as the UN commander in Rwanda in 1993-94.

Can the Minister of National Defence share with the House his comments on the retirement of General Dallaire and what we have learned from his horrible experiences in Rwanda?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire is taking early retirement for health reasons. He has left an enduring mark of dedication and duty to this country and to the Canadian forces.

Rwanda has left a mark on him and on his life. He witnessed the horrors of Rwanda. He witnessed the butchery of Rwanda.

Let us learn the lesson and honour him by saying that we should never allow that kind of thing to happen again.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. Minister of National Defence may continue.

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think the House has demonstrated its support for what I have just said. I know all members of the House would join me in paying tribute to Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, to extend our best wishes and our thanks to him. He has been a great soldier, a great patriot and a great humanitarian.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Revenue Canada

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, according to the union president for Revenue Canada's auditors, yesterday's auditor general's report confirmed that there is, and I want the minister to listen to this, “political interference at Revenue Canada in the settling of tax credits”. Head office regularly interferes and approves tens of millions of dollars in credits that its auditors cannot justify.

Why is the head office of Revenue Canada, the revenue agency, approving these tax credits that its own auditors cannot justify?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question. This is an administrative process involving the whole department, and it is based on expenses.

I think that the report tabled yesterday by the auditor general is an important and interesting document, which was prepared in co-operation with the agency. It includes suggestions on how to improve the program's operation.

I have a question for the opposition. Today, they are using that report to score cheap political points. Where were they when it was time to do something to improve the credit? Where were they when it was time to work together with—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

I remind members that they must always address the Chair.

Cinar

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in a newspaper interview, an RCMP spokesperson is quoted as saying that Revenue Canada had not co-operated in the RCMP investigation into CINAR, contrary to what the Minister of National Revenue said on Monday.

Can the Minister of National Revenue tell us whether he is prepared to enter into an agreement with the RCMP, as he has in other cases, in order to allow the RCMP access to the data required for evidence?