Debates of May 12th, 2000

Highways

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend well knows that in the budget the Minister of Finance announced that there would be $2.65 billion over six years for infrastructure, including $600 million specifically for national highways. The province of Nova Scotia will certainly have access to those kinds of funds.

He will also know that the $175 million of new money that I announced this week will help farmers in western Canada adjust to the new competitive world. I assume the Conservative Party has some cares about western Canada, at least as much as the Liberal Party does.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, he says he wants to help the western provinces adjust to the new economy. The eastern provinces have to as well.

Perhaps he could explain to me the thought processes when he is deciding how to spend the $175 million. There is a highway in Nova Scotia on which 50 people have died in the last six or seven years, mostly young people. We could put the money in that or we could put the money in rural highways in western Canada to help grain transportation. How does the minister make the decision to put grain transportation over saving lives?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is talking about two different programs. I have said to him that there is money available under the infrastructure program to deal with the very tragic circumstances of Highway 104 in Nova Scotia. I would ask him to talk to his provincial colleague in Nova Scotia to make that a priority at the provincial level.

Human Resources Development

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Modes Conili grant is a disaster royale. The MP for Ahuntsic lobbied the government for a $700,000 grant for Modes Conili and received a $7,000 donation from the company, the single biggest donation to a re-election campaign. Instead of creating new jobs, we see jobs transferred from Paris Star to Modes Conili.

How can the minister justify the government wasting $700,000 in public funds for the devious transfer of jobs?

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, this is the information that has been handed to the RCMP. I would ask the member how he can justify the allegations and the insinuations that he is making in the House about one of his colleagues who sits across the floor. If he believes what he is saying, I would suggest that, if he has the courage, he make those allegations outside the House.

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the two letters that have been obtained from the two companies concerned, Paris Star and Modes Conili, prove that jobs were in fact transfers, not new jobs created.

My question for the parliamentary secretary is: Why is it that all the dirt at HRDC only gets referred to the RCMP after questions are raised in the House?

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, the information was passed promptly to the RCMP as soon as we had our hands on it.

Shipbuilding

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Minister of Transport confirmed that Marine Atlantic had purchased a used ferry for Newfoundland, which will go into service in 2001 because it needs to be upgraded. In the meantime, the corporation has to lease another ferry. Does the minister realize that his penny-pinching election-minded decision will deprive the shipyards of Canada and Quebec of hundreds of jobs?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member is fully aware of the pressure on the Canadian government. Marine traffic to Newfoundland has increased in the past two years and we did not have the time to wait for a new boat to be built.

That is why we bought one offshore. However, I have instructed my officials regarding the future replacement of Marine Atlantic's existing fleet. A Canadian replacement program will be developed.

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what an illogical answer. The minister himself just confirmed that he should have taken this decision two years ago. Then there would have been time to build a boat. Since he has decided to lease another ferry and the boat he has bought will not be ready until 2001, he would have had the time to have another one built.

Why is he depriving shipyards in Canada and Quebec of hundreds of jobs?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member knows something more about shipbuilding than most other people in Canada but to say that we could have had a ship designed and constructed within the last 18 months to put in service in the next couple of weeks on the gulf between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland just defies any logic.

The fact is, we had no choice but to acquire a ferry offshore. What I have just said is that for the future replacement programs of the Caribou and the Joseph and Clara Smallwood we will look to a Canadian built solution.

Export Development Corporation

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the EDC's alliance with London Guarantee shows the contempt the government has for the work of the foreign affairs committee. The government has not yet tabled its response to a committee report examining the role of the EDC and already we know the outcome.

The government has ignored the submissions made by the banks and the insurance companies calling for the EDC to exit the domestic insurance market completely. The EDC is in control of the government's policy decisions. Why?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure what that question means. As the member knows, the London Guarantee arrangement was entered into by EDC on the basis of a contractual arrangement, which is not inconsistent with others that have occurred, that has balanced the export insurance requirements of companies with the domestic insurance requirements of companies. It makes sense.

I recommend to the member the letter that the president of the EDC, Mr. Gillespie, has had published today. It might help him understand a little better what the nature of the transaction is that has occurred.

Athabasca River

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the fisheries minister gave us the criteria for introducing a $15 million dredging program on the Great Lakes. I would like to apply that same criteria to the Athabasca River region.

The minister said that there were $2 billion worth of investment in the Great Lakes region. Well there are $35 billion worth of investment in the Athabasca River region. The Athabasca River has been a lifeline to the people of Fort Chipewyan for hundreds of years. His answer was an insult to those people.

What is the real reason for the difference between the two regions?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the level of the water in the Great Lakes, particularly in Ontario, is at an all time low and that something needs to be done there.

I remind the hon. member to go back into his files and read a letter that he received from the parliamentary secretary back in June 1999 wherein it was stated clearly that an alternative resupply route for the communities on Lake Athabasca has been found and that those communities can and will be served in that way.

Importation Of Plutonium

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

Mr. Speaker, according to information obtained from the Russia's Bochvar Institute, which is in charge of the Parallex project along with Atomic Energy of Canada, it seems that the air route is one of the means currently being considered for moving Russian MOX fuel to Canada.

Is the Minister of Natural Resources going to stop mocking the public, and show some transparency in this matter, by explaining to us why he is looking into shipment by air, when even Atomic Energy of Canada deemed this too dangerous last fall?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the methods of moving MOX fuel are being examined. Anyone who would be subjected to the presence of that are being consulted on this.

I and the government assure the hon. member and all Canadians that all international guidelines, all laws and all safety aspects in the movement of MOX fuel will be followed.

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

Mr. Speaker, by changing his import plans last January, the minister was thumbing his nose at democracy.

Can he stand up and make a commitment not to go back on his word about the shipping of MOX from Russia, and to consult the public on this?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, in every case the methods of transportation are looked at. What I and the government can assure the hon. member is that the safety of Canadians will be number one.

Youth Justice

[Chuck Cadman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a recent murder in British Columbia has highlighted the lack of resources in the justice system. It appears that the accused young man became heavily involved in the youth justice system at an early age and the lack of resources left his problems completely unaddressed and tragedy resulted.

The province is partially responsible but the federal government also carries much of the blame. Over the years it has cut its share of youth justice funding to a mere fraction of the originally agreed upon 50:50 split. The proposed funding is a drop in the bucket.

How many more tragedies will it take before the government fully restores its proper share of funding for youth justice?

[John Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, costs are a very serious factor in the execution of youth justice. We are always open and negotiations are going on now with the provinces to look at this split.

The hon. member's question was a very good one and we will take it under advisement.

Indian Affairs And Northern Development

[Derrek Konrad, Reform, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, during the 1998-99 fiscal year, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development made a $10,000 grant to the National Tulip Festival. I realize that just everyone loves tulips, but according to the Indian Act, expenditures must promote the general progress and welfare of the bands.

Given the deplorable conditions on Canada's reserves, can the minister explain how the progress and welfare of Indian bands was promoted by giving a $10,000 grant to the National Tulip Festival?

[David Iftody, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know the context of the grant to which the hon. member referred. I would like him to table that information.

I can tell him, like other Canadians, that first nations people across the country do participate in a number of different forums with non-government groups involved in community activities. It is not unusual that they would have been involved in this activity and that we would have participated in some way to highlight native culture as part of that process.

I do not find that unusual, but if the good gentleman would table that document, I will have a look at it.

Employment Insurance

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at its recent convention, the Liberal Party of Canada passed a resolution calling upon the federal government to immediately amend the Employment Insurance Act in order to remove the intensity provisions.

Now that even her own party is condemning her program, will the minister yield to the evidence and abolish the infamous intensity rule which penalizes seasonal workers?

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, just this week the government supported Motion No. 222 as amended by the member for Miramichi, because we are concerned about seasonal workers and their families and because we recognize the unique economic situation facing seasonal workers.