Mr. Speaker, the NDP pretends to have come up with an idea. It wants more money. Its idea in the 1997 election was a cash floor of $15 billion. We made it $15.5. The NDP said “How about adding $7 billion to health care”. We added twice that since 1999. Before we presented our health budget, the NDP said that we should put $2.5 billion more into transfers for health. We have added $14 billion. The NDP are a little behind the times.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence just said that the helicopter file was moving ahead, which is good news because that is more than the helicopters are doing. He also said that there was a $50 million upgrade.

The fact of the matter is that most of the $50 million will go to replace engines and gearboxes in those helicopters that all other countries have already replaced. There are no new radios, no new equipment and no upgrades.

Where are the $50 million upgrades? Exactly what new capacity is there? Exactly what new capability is there? Where are the $50 million upgrades?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, into various components of the helicopter, all of which are designed to work well together to ensure the safety and good operation of our Sea King helicopters. They continue to provide terrific service and our pilots are guiding them toward doing that. They recently rescued a number of people from a sinking ship in the Caribbean area off the Atlantic. They continue to provide search and rescue, plus operations off the back of our frigates in terms of patrol and surveillance. They are doing their job and we are putting in additional money to make sure that they continue to do so until we get the new helicopters.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, he could have shortened that answer and said that there was no upgrade, that they will just try to keep them in the air.

The minister said earlier that the helicopters only fly when they are safe to fly. Now we know how often they are safe to fly. A Sea King pilot has said that there is an urgent situation in one out of every twelve flights. Imagine if Air Canada had an urgent threatening situation in one out of every twelve flights. It would be grounded. It would be unacceptable.

Why the double standard between military safety and civilian safety?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I would put the military safety record and the rigorous regime of maintenance up against any private sector company any day. We ensure that our aircraft are safe to fly and that they are properly maintained. I think the record speaks for itself in terms of the safety over a great many years of the Sea King helicopter.

Public Works And Government ServicesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

Some weeks ago the opposition raised allegations regarding the sale of federal government land in my riding of Brampton Centre. New allegations regarding sweetheart deals between the Ontario Realty Corporation and Reform Tory alliance supporters have been raised in the Ontario legislature.

Can the minister inform the House where this issue stands at this time?

Public Works And Government ServicesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, after a media report on the transaction of the property in Brampton, the management of Canada Lands asked KPMG to conduct an independent audit. The report indicates very clearly that there were no irregularities. It also said that a series of special circumstances allowed the original purchaser to sell the property at a considerable profit. This property was put on the market through two prominent real estate firms for 18 months. This is a long time for the real estate profession.

Athabasca RiverOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Dave Chatters Reform Athabasca, AB

Mr. Speaker, in June of last year in the House, I asked the government why it had abandoned dredging on the Athabasca River, the only traditional supply route to Fort Chipewyan. The government's response was that it would get back to me.

Two days ago the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced, with all smiles and fanfare in the House, a $15 million program for dredging on the Great Lakes for the very same reasons that exist for the Athabasca River.

Why did the government abandon the people of Fort Chipewyan while at the same time announce new dredging programs on the Great Lakes?

Athabasca RiverOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the members have put an excellent case together. The low water levels in the Great Lakes are unprecedented.

The hon. member should know that there are $2 billion of economic development on the rivers and the Great Lakes. The recreational and sports fishery depends on the marinas. The marinas have come forward and said that this is something that we should do. We want to do it in conjunction with the provincial government and the marina association. This is welcome news for business people and for Ontario.

ParoleOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the parole program, about one hundred Rock Machine members will soon be released from prison.

How can we possibly allow crime gang members to benefit from a reintegration measure such as parole, when we are well aware that as soon as they get out of prison they will go to war against another crime gang?

ParoleOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is well aware that anyone who receives parole, it is granted through the National Parole Board. This is an arm's length body that reviews all the information and public safety is always the number one issue.

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, rather than attacking the NDP for its defence of medicare, the Minister of Health needs to ask himself what he really did to stop Ralph Klein's privatization. Maybe when he is home alone tonight he should ask himself that question.

Does he really believe that his expression of grave concern and his wait and see strategy has done the job? Here we are today and bill 11 has passed. The NAFTA grab is on its way.

Canadians have no confidence in the minister who has let us down big time. It is time for him to resign. Will he go?

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, what does it boil down to? What are the NDP saying?

If the NDP are saying that bill 11 is contrary to the Canada Health Act—

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. We are going to listen to the minister's answer so please let him respond.

HealthOral Question Period

May 11th, 2000 / 2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Allan Rock Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

I want to make it very simple for members of the New Democratic Party.

The Canada Health Act, of which they speak so much, has powers in it which are intended to enable the Government of Canada to enforce the principles. Parties like the right wing Alliance and the Tories would do away with the cash component and the transfer, leaving only tax points. They campaigned on that so that there would be no way to enforce it.

Liberals understand that it has to be enforced. We told the House today that we will ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act are respected in any facility in Alberta. That is the obligation of the government.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

David Price Progressive Conservative Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has just said that he will put up the safety record of the Sea Kings to the transportation safety board any time. Could the minister please table that? We would love to see it so that all Canadians can compare the safety of our soldiers to the safety of the general public.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to provide whatever information may be of help for the hon. member to understand that we only fly the Sea Kings when they are safe to fly. There is a very rigorous maintenance program. We are putting $50 million into upgrades.

If the hon. member wants to fly in one to see for himself, he is quite welcome to do so. He will find it a lot safer experience than being a member of the Conservative Party.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada takes great pride in being the first country to have signed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Rio conference in 1992. As of May this year, the protocol on biosafety under this convention will be open for signature.

Can the Minister of the Environment indicate whether Canada will be one of the first signatories?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Burlington Ontario

Liberal

Paddy Torsney LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the Cartagena protocol set the new global framework for the protection of biodiversity from any potential adverse effects of transboundary movement of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

The protocol is very complex and is a demanding instrument. We need to consult with the provinces, with the territories, with Canadians and with industry. We will not waste time but we will do the necessary work to make sure we understand the full implications of the protocol before we sign it.

Camille MontpetitOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

It is a rather important occasion for us in the House today.

I wish to draw your attention to this event. It is with a twinge of regret that I am telling you that today is the last day of work at the table for one of our most esteemed clerks, Camille Montpetit.

Indeed, Camille is taking a well deserved retirement after over 30 years of faithful service to the House of Commons.

Camille, as was stated by the House leader of the opposition, began his career with the House in 1868—in 1968.

Camille MontpetitOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Camille MontpetitOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

If we look that good when we are his age, we will be happy. He has served with distinction in various positions. Among other roles he has served as the principal clerk of the journals branch and of the table research branch, as clerk assistant, House proceedings, and as deputy clerk, which he is to this day.

As members are aware, Camille has most recently been the co-editor of the now much quoted manual, House of Commons Procedure and Practice , which I had the honour to table on his behalf in February this year.

I know that all members will join me in paying tribute to Camille Montpetit for his distinguished career.

Camille, on my own behalf and on behalf of all my colleagues in the House, I want to convey to you, to your wife Monique and to the members of your family who are here today, our wishes for good health and happiness in the years to come. You have been a great help to the House of Commons, and we are very grateful to you for that.

My dear Camille, a thousand thanks for the very good work that you have done for us here in the House. We will miss you.

Camille MontpetitOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Business Of The HouseOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the question I think Canadians have on their mind as we enter into this Thursday question is: What exactly is the House leader's plan for business in the days ahead? Are we are going to deal with the meaty issues of the land or are we going to just deal with the fluff?

I ask the House if he will tell Canadians today what legislative program he plans for the rest of this week and for the week following.