Debates of June 6th, 2000

Taxation

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that we are talking about a case pending in court.

The decision was rendered not long ago. The department will have a look at it and then we will take the normal course of action.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's current 13% capital gains tax disadvantage with the U.S. is hurting our high tech sector and is feeding the brain drain.

The Liberal dominated House of Commons industry committee as well as the Senate banking committee have both recommended reducing our capital gains tax burden to the U.S. levels or even lower.

Will the finance minister heed the advice of his own colleagues and reduce Canada's capital gains tax burden to U.S. levels or, even better, why not scrap Canada's personal capital gains tax altogether?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will certainly note that in the last budget the government for the first time in a long time reduced the capital gains taxes.

I congratulate the industry committee, the finance committee before it and the Senate committee for the great work that they have done and are doing. The hon. member can rest assured that we will take the recommendations and give them every due consideration.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, even after the recent budget and the movement by the minister toward reducing Canada's capital gains tax burden, we still have a 13% disadvantage with the U.S., a 13% disadvantage in the hypercompetitive global economy.

We cannot afford to be a nanosecond behind. Why does the minister not help all Canadians, in particular the high tech sector, do the right thing and eliminate the unsound and unjust capital gains tax burden that is holding our high tech sector and all Canadians back?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will note that whatever disadvantages may exist within the tax system they were introduced by the previous Tory government, but we have in every budget eliminated and reduced those taxes.

The member can rest assured that we will continue to eradicate the terrible, terrible mistakes that were inflicted upon the country by the Tory government.

Foreign Affairs

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians are concerned with irregularities in recent elections in Peru. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell the House what action is being taken by Canada to bring greater levels of democracy to Peru?

[Denis Paradis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the OAS countries meeting in Windsor this week have unanimously agreed to send a high level mission to Peru. This mission will be headed by our Minister of Foreign Affairs and the secretary general of the OAS.

The aim of this mission will be to find ways to improve democracy in Peru, for example, through a reform of the election process, a reform of the law and constitutional courts and reinforcement of the freedom of the press.

Human Resources Development

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on the question of the member for Elk Island because HRDC has just helped itself to the bank account of a private citizen. I want a straight answer and not the apology. We know about that.

By what act or authority can HRDC reach into someone's bank account and help itself? That is the question. I do not want the apology. I want the answer to that question.

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will know that when overpayments are established the government has the authority to collect them. In this case, as I have said, an error was made in going directly to the bank and not to the family. I reiterate my apology to the family for that.

I want the hon. member to know that apologies, both verbal and written, have been offered to the family and have been accepted. I have directed the department to ensure that this does not happen again.

Parental Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, today, the Quebec government introduced a bill that will allow Quebec parents, including self-employed workers, to benefit from a generous parental leave program accessible to all.

Will the minister pledge in this House to undertake negotiations as quickly as possible with her Quebec counterpart, to allow the quick implementation of that long awaited parental leave program in Quebec?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, we tried to negotiate with the Quebec government regarding this issue, but it was not interested.

Since then, the Minister of Finance has decided to include in the budget parental leave benefits for all Canadians. These benefits will apply across Canada, including in Quebec.

I believe this is how things should work in Canada. Canadians who contribute to the employment insurance system must receive the same benefits everywhere in the country.

Human Resources Development

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the Canadian Alliance for paying attention to New Democratic Party press conferences. I also wish to thank the Minister of Human Resources Development for personally apologizing to Mrs. Parry of Ottawa when an HRDC official inadvertently dipped into her account.

I have a question for the minister. Those types of headlines scare seniors across the country. Can she assure members of the House of Commons and Canadians from coast to coast to coast that this was an isolated incident, that it is not a systematic problem throughout her department, and that it will never happen again?

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

Mr. Speaker, ensuring that we provide the best service to Canadians, particularly those who are on fixed incomes, has to be a priority, and it is for this government.

I want to recognize and thank the hon. member for his commentary and say that for me the approach that was taken here is unacceptable. To the best of my ability I will ensure it does not happen again.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. When the minister was in Newfoundland during the recent campaign, and I thank him for his help, he promised to look into the present equalization and clawback arrangements with the province. He said he would discuss the present formulas with the other provinces.

What progress has the minister made in ensuring that provinces such as Newfoundland can get on their feet by allowing them to benefit economically from the development of their own resources?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has asked me this question and I told him that the matter was under discussion by officials.

It is under discussion by officials. Since he has asked me the question I have not had an opportunity to meet with my colleagues, the other ministers of finance, but as soon as I do so I will be able to provide him with their reaction.

Human Resources Development

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister still has not explained to Canadians how HRDC has access to private bank accounts.

Is it because each citizen has to give his or her SIN number to the department and it uses that to access bank accounts? How does the department know and how is it able simply to reach into a private citizen's bank account? I ask the minister to explain that.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member will know that the government has a responsibility to collect on overpayments. Indeed over the course of the issue of grants and contributions they have been demanding that.

In this particular case, however, an administrative error was made. Certainly we should have gone to the family first. I have said on a number of occasions already that we have talked to the family and it has accepted the apology. I am working hard to ensure that this does not happen again.

Fort-Saint-Jean Campus

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the lease of the Fort-Saint-Jean campus, the old Collège militaire royal, expires on August 31, 2000, just two months from now. There are persistent rumours to the effect that officers will come back to the site of the former military college.

In light of this extremely tight timetable, when will the Minister of National Defence announce the signing of a new lease and does he intend to also announce, before the end of the current session, the return of officers to the former Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are developing an officer development program that could involve facilities in Saint-Jean. We have the base in Saint-Jean, called the Megaplex, as well as the campus of the former military college, which is still used for various programs and could be used in an expanded way.

We have started discussions and negotiations with the operators of a campus for Saint-Jean. We hope to come to an agreement very shortly that will be satisfactory to both them and the Canadian Forces.

The Environment

[Dennis Gruending, NDP, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment recently said that our drinking water is in danger but he cannot do anything about it because it is a provincial responsibility. We now learn, in fact, that the Canada Water Act has been around for 30 years and gives the government all the authority it needs when water quality becomes a matter of urgent national concern.

If the quality of our drinking water is really a priority for the government, then I ask the Prime Minister why the government has not bothered to issue an annual report since 1996, as required by the Canada Water Act.

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the issue of safe drinking water is important to all Canadians. The ministers who met in Quebec City yesterday, who are meeting again today, have discussed the issue of water.

All of us express our sympathy to the people of Walkerton and hope that the provincial governments will fulfil their responsibility to Canadians to ensure that environmental standards are enforced.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of another of my brother Speakers in Canada, the hon. Kevin O'Brien, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Business Of The House

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a procedural matter.

I want to advise the House that discussions have taken place between all the parties and the hon. member for Calgary Southeast concerning the taking of the division on Motion No. M-160, scheduled for the conclusion of Private Members' Business later today, and I believe you would find consent for the following motion:

That at the conclusion of today's debate on M-160, all questions necessary to dispose of the said motion be deemed put, a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Wednesday, June 7, 2000, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

(Motion agreed to)

The House resumed consideration of the motion and of the amendment.