House of Commons Hansard #114 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was impaired.

Topics

Francophone AthletesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Francophone AthletesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

If they could just listen, they will see. First off, I salute and thank the commissioner for the thoroughness of his study.

I would remind members that one reason the study was done was because I asked for it. Just yesterday, I met with representatives of the national federations and I can tell you that not only are we aware of this issue, but when they ask us to do something specific, I will talk about it.

First, there is a new funding framework in which accountability is all and official languages are part of the criteria. Second, we increased by 30%—

Francophone AthletesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Longueuil.

Francophone AthletesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC

Mr. Speaker, it would be interesting if the secretary of state could tell the whole truth when he announces things.

The Bloc Quebecois was the first to make a complaint. Eleven years ago, another report noted the same situation that exists today. So this is very serious. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Does the secretary of state understand that francophone athletes are fed up with fine speeches? They want change.

Francophone AthletesOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bourassa Québec

Liberal

Denis Coderre LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport)

Mr. Speaker, in the ten months I have been the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport, I have taken part in over 100 events. The sports community knows that any increase in budget percentages comes from our sensitivity to their requests.

I totally reject what the hon. member has just said, and I would go further. I am the former deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, the former vice-chair of the Sub-Committee on the Study of Sport in Canada and now the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport. The member need only ask around, ask anyone, and she will discover just who is serious about official languages.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Rob Anders Reform Calgary West, AB

Mr. Speaker, by allowing the illegal Chinese migrant problem to fester on Canadian soil, the minister is opening Pandora's box. The minister should establish processing centres that deal with these problems in days, not years. She is increasing bounties per head and smuggler profits by her failure to act.

How much more rioting will the minister spawn before she deports these Chinese illegals?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, if the member opposite wants to be helpful, his critic and his party could help us pass Bill C-31 as quickly as possible. That is the way we are going to solve these problems, not by the delays that party has caused in dealing with legislative change.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Rob Anders Reform Calgary West, AB

Mr. Speaker, by sticking her head in the sand the minister is only helping the snake heads.

Ten months ago the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration said that the Chinese illegal migrant cases would be finalized in six months. Does the Liberal definition of finalized include smashing windows, setting fires, breaking doors or toilets? The B.C. riot required a lockdown for 82 of these aliens. Does the minister expect Canadian taxpayers to accept this, or will she deport the Chinese illegals before this season's boats start arriving?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I cannot condone the actions of individuals who are frustrated because they will soon have to leave Canada and return to their own country. But I can tell the member opposite that those individuals have had due process of Canadian law. They have had a chance to have their say.

Unlike the member opposite and his party, this party wants to ensure that the charter of rights and freedoms applies to everyone in Canada all the time, not some people selectively as that party would do. We will not scrap the charter. We will not deny due process of law. We will not humiliate Canada on the international scene.

Transportation In MontrealOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC

Mr. Speaker, with a view to correcting highway congestion problems in Montreal, three projects must be undertaken.

The first is the introduction of light rail to run on the Champlain Bridge structure, and the others are the completion of autoroute 30 on Montreal's South Shore and 35 in the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu sector.

Does the Minister of Transport acknowledge that the funds allocated in the last budget to transport infrastructures are not enough for these projects, which are deemed to be priorities for the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec, to be accomplished?

Transportation In MontrealOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I have discussed this matter with my Quebec counterpart and I agree with the priorities of the Province of Quebec as far as transportation in the Montreal region is concerned.

I believe that the infrastructure program provides sufficient funds for this project to be begun.

Western Economic DiversificationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Lou Sekora Liberal Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification. Could the minister tell the House what western economic diversification is doing to help western entrepreneurs participate in the new e-business economy?

Western Economic DiversificationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint Boniface Manitoba

Liberal

Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalSecretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)(Francophonie)

Mr. Speaker, because of the expected phenomenal growth in e-business from $28 billion to $155 billion in three years, and the creation of 180,000 new good jobs along the way, Industry Canada and western economic diversification have been conducting round tables and have undertaken studies to describe the state of e-business and the potential it has. We and our partners will be holding a conference in each of the four western provinces to see where the industry is at and to see what can be done in the future in order to take advantage of this tremendous potential.

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister refused to say who was responsible for the $320 million deficit in the government's gun registration scheme. That deficit is 150 times larger than originally forecast.

Will the Prime Minister tell us today, was it his previous Minister of Justice who told parliament there would only be a $2 million deficit over five years, or was it his current minister who wrote the Toronto Star saying, “User fees will cover the entire cost of the program”?

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, I think it is most unfortunate that the official opposition does not get behind the firearms registry program. Why do they not come on side with 75% of Canadians—

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

Order. We will hear the response, colleagues. The hon. Minister of Justice.

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Anne McLellan Liberal Edmonton West, AB

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, I would encourage the official opposition to get behind Canadians and get behind this government and support the Canadian firearms program.

Unlike the Canadian Alliance, we do not see Charlton Heston of the NRA as anyone worth emulating.

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, in May 1999, PricewaterhouseCoopers presented the Minister of Justice with a report exposing huge problems at the firearms centre and in the gun registration scheme. Now another internal report warns, “We noted no major changes since the May '99 report. The future of the Firearms Act is presently hanging in the balance”.

Last fall we were told everything had been fixed. Now we find out the mess is bigger than ever and nothing was fixed. The system is collapsing. How much more will it cost taxpayers to clean up the mess at Miramichi and how much bigger will the deficit become?

Gun RegistryOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I point out to the hon. member that in fact I asked for the independent report of the firearms registry system. Let me reassure the hon. member that we have implemented almost all the recommendations in that report.

Scotia RainbowOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Michelle Dockrill NDP Bras D'Or, NS

Mr. Speaker, ACOA's mandate states clearly that applicants must provide full disclosure of all sources of public funds but an internal memo states that the rules regarding funding from ACOA relating to Scotia Rainbow do not apply.

Why four days after his own officials recognized the company's lack of disclosure did the minister give millions of dollars to Scotia Rainbow?

Scotia RainbowOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

Mr. Speaker, I have received a petition from the hon. member's riding from the Committee for Economic Survival which says, “We the undersigned do hereby call upon the federal government to continue to support projects and businesses located on our island and do hereby”, and this is signed by a thousand people, “roundly condemn our member of parliament for her unwarranted and unfounded attacks on job creation in our community”.

Scotia RainbowOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Michelle Dockrill NDP Bras D'Or, NS

Obviously, Mr. Speaker, there is something fishy going on on the other side of the House.

Internal financial statements by KPMG show Scotia Rainbow lost $2.4 million in the first five months of 1999. Again the government ignored the facts and its own rules and gave the company even more money.

With all these flags waved in his own department, why did the minister continue to funnel money to Liberal friends?

Scotia RainbowOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

Mr. Speaker, an editorial in the Cape Breton Post which covers the hon. member's riding said, “Scotia Rainbow is regarded as an important employer paying out $4.5 million last year in wages”.

When is the NDP going to start supporting job creation in Cape Breton?

FisheriesOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Is the minister's department poised to issue an offshore shrimp licence to a P.E.I. consortium to catch northern shrimp off the Labrador coast and bring it to P.E.I., bypassing the adjacent communities on the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador?