Debates of April 5th, 2000

Transportation Of Plutonium

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when American plutonium was transported to Chalk River in Ontario, it made part of the journey by air.

This method of transportation is strictly prohibited in the United States for reasons of safety. In addition, the Minister of Natural Resources has broken Canadian law because he did not submit this transportation plan to the public.

How can the public trust the Minister of Natural Resources when he breaks his own law and, worse yet, gives the go-ahead for a form of transportation prohibited in the United States for safety reasons?

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

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the border we operate under Canadian law, not American law.

During the public consultation process regarding MOX, we received several public representations to consider air transportation. We took those representations seriously.

During all of our consideration of this matter, our questions were directed to whether this can this be done safely and legally in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Canadian Transportation of Goods Act and the Canadian Atomic Energy Control Act as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The answers to those questions—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre.

Genetically Engineered Foods

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health.

The government recently announced a blue ribbon scientific panel to ostensibly address growing consumer concerns about the safety of food biotechnology. Now we learn the government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to send every household in Canada a 24 page full colour leaflet asserting the safety of genetically engineered foods.

Why has the government prejudged the outcome of its own review by spending money on this kind of propaganda? Is the panel a farce or is the government truly listening to the concerns of Canadians?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the government is very proud of the quality and safety of Canadian food. Together with my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, we have sent factual information to Canadian households as to why they should be satisfied with the safety and quality standards of our food.

At the same time, because biotechnology continues to push back the frontiers of science, we have appointed a blue ribbon panel, including the Nobel Laureate, Dr. Michael Smith of British Columbia, to work with us in ensuring that in the future we will have the science capacity necessary to keep on the cutting edge of science and safety.

National Defence

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence is just a few hours away from making another announcement with the diesel division of General Motors, despite the fact that the minister has not addressed the very serious equipment concerns raised by Colonel Jones, the Canadian commander in Bosnia, who said that the existing Coyote reconnaissance vehicles were clearly never brought up to Canadian standards.

What has the minister done personally to ensure that the new equipment that he will purchase today will meet Canadian standards in the field?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has it wrong. What we have here is state of the art equipment. What she is talking about is the fact that when the state of the art equipment was sent over, it was not properly prepared in terms of its mission in Kosovo in the initial instance.

The memo that the hon. member notes was sent last fall. In fact, a course of action was taken very quickly.

We do have the best possible equipment. In fact, the American army wants to borrow some of it because it thinks it is the best in the world.

Ethiopia

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of International Co-operation.

Many people are starving to death in Ethiopia because of drought and extreme weather conditions. Crop failures, loss of livestock and grazing land are contributing to the misery facing these innocent victims.

Can the minister tell the House what efforts have been made by the Canadian government to provide assistance to the victims of this famine in Ethiopia?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is very concerned about the escalating famine in Ethiopia. In response to this crisis, I am announcing that Canada will provide an additional $6.25 million for emergency food in Ethiopia. The funds will be used to purchase, transport and distribute emergency supplies. Monitors will be hired to ensure the aid reaches the most needy. We will be working with the World Food Programme.

This is an ongoing commitment we have in Ethiopia. Over the last three years we have spent $45 million in the region. We will continue to monitor the situation and support it.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Janis Straume, Chairman of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, and his delegation.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Member Named

[The Speaker]

I have to deal with an issue in the House. I am directly addressing my colleague, the hon. member for Rimouski—Mitis.

On Friday, the hon. member used in this House the words “Stop lying”, as reported in the Hansard .

At that point, I asked her to withdraw these words, but she refused. The hon. member has had a few days to, I hope, reconsider her position. I am asking her again today in this House to please withdraw these words.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am really sorry but I cannot comply with your request. This is the 21st century and we are entitled to the truth in this place—

[The Speaker]

Mrs. Tremblay, I must name you for disregarding the authority of the Chair.

Pursuant to the powers vested in me under Standing Order 11, I order you to withdraw from the House for the remainder of today's sitting.

Government Response To Petitions

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to five petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the associate membership on the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 24th report later this day.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, I am pleased to present, in both official languages, the report of the January 2000 parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.

As the Chair of the delegation, I am pleased to report on this very successful all party delegation that concentrated on bilateral agricultural issues.

Specifically, I had an audience with President Lee and other officials and had discussions on Taiwan's anticipated ascent into the WTO. The delegation drew attention to the importance of the agriculture sector to an overall bilateral relationship.

The delegation requested that there be a renewal of the quotas for meat products which came to an end in December 1999. It visited research and production facilities.

A copy of the report has been circulated to all parliamentarians. I thank members of the delegation for their constructive participation.

Canada Well-Being Measurement Act

[Joe Jordan, Liberal, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-469, an act to develop and provide for the publication of measures to inform Canadians about the health and well-being of people, communities and ecosystems in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to table my private member's bill entitled the Canada well-being measurement act. This bill provides the legislative framework for the development and annual publication of a set of sustainable indicators in relation to our economy, our society and our environment.

The Canada well-being measurement act would provide for a far more accurate and comprehensive measure of progress than we currently possess, and aid us greatly as we reconcile public policy with the impacts our actions are having on the well-being of all Canadians.

I thank and recognize the participation of Mike Nickerson in this project and my seconder, the hon. member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Broadcasting Act

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-470, an act to amend the Broadcasting Act (reduction of violence in television broadcasts).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce a private member's bill to amend the Broadcasting Act, and more specifically, to reduce violence in television broadcasts.

I would remind members that, on December 18, 1992, Virginie Larivière presented a petition here in Ottawa signed by over 1.3 million people in support of legislation to reduce violence in television broadcasts. One year later, the industry adopted a voluntary code.

The purpose of this bill is to turn the situation around and reduce violence on television.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Committees Of The House

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Toronto Centre—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

In this report, the committee looked at the issue of human rights in Burma.

The committee recommends to the Parliament of Canada to recognize the committee representing the peoples' parliament as the representatives of the people of Burma and further urges the Government of Canada to consider the imposition of investment sanctions on the regime of Burma.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives it consent, I move that the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to present the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)