Debates of May 4th, 2000

Airline Industry

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly do not disagree with my hon. friend with respect to competition, and that is why we have taken the commissioner's advice. That was the basis of the report that he gave us last fall. It was incorporated into the deal with Air Canada which is being enshrined in the legislation.

We believe that there will be real competition as a result of this bill. We believe that the commissioner has the powers on predatory behaviour and predatory pricing. He will be able to hold Air Canada to account. We do not think it is necessary to surrender our sovereignty any further by raising the foreign ownership limit.

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

It is interesting, Mr. Speaker. The minister could increase competition in a real and meaningful way by getting a couple of his cabinet colleagues to sign an order in council.

Even Air Canada's CEO Robert Milton stated today that he supports and thinks that raising foreign ownership to 49% would be good and healthy for the Canadian airline industry. Why does the minister refuse to consider bringing greater competition into the airline industry by raising the foreign ownership component from 25% to 49%?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, because of the 10% rule and now the 15% rule Air Canada does not care whether or not it goes to 49%. In effect most of the shares will be owned by Canadians and control will not go to any one group larger than 15%.

What about those other airlines? I ask my hon. colleague to go to Air Transat, Royal Airlines and the charters and ask them if they want to have some U.S. investor come in and takeover those companies. I do not think they want that.

Official Languages

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1998, 252 complaints were made against Air Canada for failure to comply with the Official Languages Act.

In 1987, the former president of Air Canada, Pierre Jeanniot, was aiming to have 24% of Air Canada's pilots francophone. In 1997, only 17% of its pilots were francophone.

Will the Minister of Transport promise before this House that the bill on air transportation will make Air Canada and its affiliates subject to parts V and VI of the Official Languages Act, as proposed in the amendments of the Bloc Quebecois?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in the bill currently before the House, we have strengthened the provisions of the Official Languages Act.

I invite my colleague to read the bill. The provisions were strengthened, because this government believes in effectiveness and the right of all francophones to equal treatment across the country, even in the air industry.

Rural Development

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is committed to respect the unique perspectives and needs of rural Canadians. Can the Secretary of State for Rural Development tell the House what the federal government has been doing to respond to the unique challenges faced by rural Canadians?

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased today to table the first ever report to parliament on rural Canada called “Working Together in Rural Canada”.

It is part of our rural dialogue where we have engaged some 7,000 rural Canadians to tell us what their priorities are in rural Canada. This dialogue was continued this past weekend in Magog where we had an opportunity to bring in 500 rural Canadians from across Canada. In fact we had representatives from all political parties, except the Canadian Alliance which did not show up.

Quite frankly, rural Canadians themselves are telling us what their priorities are. The report indicates how we are responding. I look forward to the comments from rural Canadians and parliamentarians on that report.

Health

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the government's unilateral cuts to medicare, hospitals across the country have been forced to scale back core services which were supposed to be covered by the Canada Health Act.

Instead of paying his fair share, what is the health minister is doing? He is musing about adding more things which were never covered. If the minister wants to spend money, why does he not start paying his fair share for core services first?

[Yvon Charbonneau, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the latest budget has testified to the government's desire to assume its responsibilities in the field of health care.

We have invested more. We have made commitments for the medium term. We have also told our provincial and territorial partners that, if we have an agreement on the priorities for the future, there will be further investment in the area of health care.

I fail to see why the Canadian Alliance health critic is asking this question.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the parliamentary secretary should realize that the health minister is talking about an institute for comprehensive medicine down in McMaster. That would intrude upon the provincial responsibilities for both health and education.

I ask my question again. Why will the health minister not look after core medical services before he sticks his nose into provincial responsibility?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member might explain why his colleague the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, a leadership candidate for the alliance, has said that a two tier health system will strengthen the public system, not erode it. Why would the leadership candidate Tom Long say, “We are going to have to find a way to involve the private sector”? Why does the candidate Stockwell Day advocate user fees?

Instead of asking us questions about things we are already doing, adding to and strengthening a public accessible medicare system, why does the alliance not get together and explain why its different candidates are going around, each in their own way, proposing measures which will destroy medicare in this country?

National Defence

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has been reluctant to answer questions concerning the national missile defence system. The foreign affairs minister is against this particular system, while the national defence minister is in favour of Canada participating in this system.

What is the Prime Minister's position? Is the Prime Minister for or against Canada participating in a national missile defence system?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I have said on numerous occasions that the government has not taken a position on the matter.

The hon. member is not correctly characterizing the positions of the two ministers he has noted. We have both indicated concerns. We have both indicated the desire to have the matter debated and discussed publicly before the government makes a decision. I have also indicated quite clearly on previous occasions that the United States government has not even taken a position. It has not even asked us to be a part of this yet. Obviously this is the time for discussion and public debate on the matter and eventually the government will be taking a position on it.

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, serious problems can arise from Canada's participation in this system and I would say that Canada is participating. There is evidence that Canada has already spent money on this system and is participating in the system at the moment.

Because of the concerns Canadians have around this issue, I would ask the Deputy Prime Minister, will the government ensure a full debate in parliament before there is any more work or participation by Canadians on the U.S. NMD system?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, in the policy paper before parliament in 1994 which forms the government policy, there is mention of the national missile defence system and our involvement in terms of research and consultation. That is all that is going on. There has been no decision with respect to deployment by the United States or of course any participation by us. In fact the technology has not yet been perfected.

Certainly the government welcomes the widest possible consultation, discussion and debate on the issue.

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. I would like to know on whose desk is the statement of requirement and procurement strategy for the Sea King replacements sitting, his or the Prime Minister's?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the matter is before the government and the government will make the decision. It is a very major procurement and the government is going through the procurement strategy. In fact the file is moving.

As I have said on numerous occasions, it is a priority for acquisition. We have a timeframe for replacement of the Sea King helicopters in 2005. Meanwhile we are spending some $50 million to upgrade the current Sea Kings to make sure that between now and their replacement they are able to function in a safe manner.

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Sea King is now at a critical point and Talon 441 is proof. I am certain the minister can see that incident summary in his sleep. To quote from the Friends of Maritime Aviation's statement, “We now believe the elastic band has been stretched as far as it can go”.

Will the minister go to the Prime Minister this afternoon and ask him to initiate the maritime helicopter program before we have a tragedy? Yes or no?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I note that of the three people who made a concerned statement, and I understand their concern, later the retired general said, “We could not bring ourselves to say that they are dangerous or they are unsafe, but there is no doubt about it that we are fast approaching that critical point”. They are not saying that it is at that point now.

As I indicated we are putting some $50 million into upgrades for this equipment to make sure it is safe.

I have recently spoken directly to the chief of the air staff and have his assurance that in fact these are safe to fly and they will not fly unless they are.

Environment

[Rick Limoges, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, May 4, is World Asthma Day. Today also marks the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Lung Association.

We are reminded that each year an estimated 5,000 people die untimely deaths due to poor air quality. Thousands more are being treated for bronchitis, asthma and other breathing problems. This coming summer will be no exception.

Can the Minister of the Environment tell the House what progress is being made to make the air we breathe better for all Canadians?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct. The number of Canadians who die prematurely by reason of asthma and other respiratory diseases is indeed appalling.

We are approaching the subject on two fronts. One is domestically. We are attempting to work out with the provinces a new agreement to limit airborne contaminants to levels which will reduce that death toll.

In addition, I have undertaken discussions with the United States administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. These negotiations will continue until October. We hope to have a transboundary agreement on ozone, which is one of the major components of smog. I should add that is particularly important, because some 30% to 85% of the smog in Canada is from American sources.

Immigration

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, because of the cutbacks and strangulation of funds for the RCMP in B.C., they are flatly refusing to guard any new immigrants who come into B.C. on leaky ships this year. Yet the immigration minister said on Tuesday “We are anticipating every eventuality and we are prepared”.

If the government is so prepared, probably the solicitor general can now tell us just who will guard those migrants.

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member and the House that we are preparing for all eventualities. There are a number of partners involved and we are working together to ensure that we are prepared. Whether one or none or many arrive and whether they come by boat or plane or car, the government will be prepared to respond as required to any eventuality this summer.

Human Resources Development

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1997, the Anjou firm of International Minicut received $360,000 to create 36 jobs. It was able to create only 33 of the 36. As a result, Human Resources Development Canada requested, according to the rules, that $30,000 be reimbursed. Nothing like that happened in the case of Placeteco, however. No invoices, no jobs created, and $1 million gone.

Are we to understand that, in the case of Placeteco, they are trying to cover the Prime Minister's buddies?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, again we have talked about this file over and over in the House and 170 people continue to be working at this company and its sister company. From our point of view that is a good investment. I would remind the hon. member again that the Government of Quebec supported this undertaking.