House of Commons Hansard #109 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was taxes.

Topics

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Rahim Jaffer Reform Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, on December 10, 1999, I asked the environment minister to clarify the government's position on the issue of sewage and water treatment in Canada. He replied:

—that if the member's party wants to spend an extra $400 to $600 million in one Canadian city for something that has no environmental advantage, go ahead and propose it. We see nothing in this House but increased expenditure—

I wonder if, in the wake of Waterton, the minister will stand by those words and say that there is no sewage or water problem facing Canadian municipalities.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, may I correct the hon. member? It is Walkerton, not Waterton.

The second point is that if $600 million is to be wasted for doing something which has no environmental benefit, obviously resources are misplaced. We want to spend money where it will help protect the lives of Canadians and protect their health. That is why the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities have outlined a strategy for infrastructure for clean water, sewage treatment and solid waste disposal.

Canada Information OfficeOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Ghislain Lebel Bloc Chambly, QC

Mr. Speaker, ever since the Big Brother affair, we have been aware of this government's propensity to gather information on just about everybody. The worrisome facts that have been released today in connection with the Canada Information Office worry us a great deal.

Can the Minister of Public Works tell us whether there are many files on people at the CIO, like the one on journalists? Is there, for instance, one on intellectuals, artists, business people, politicians and sovereignists? If so, what is in them?

Canada Information OfficeOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, there is no file on anyone. What the Canada Information Office does is media analysis. They read the papers, they monitor television and radio programs, and they provide a media analysis to departments and ministers.

There is no file on any individual whatsoever.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Rick Limoges Liberal Windsor—St. Clair, ON

Mr. Speaker, today is the second annual Clean Air Day.

The Minister of the Environment met with his provincial colleagues earlier this week to discuss among other things the air in Canada. In Windsor—St. Clair we are very concerned about the air we breathe. Can the Minister of the Environment tell the House what action we can expect which will improve the air that Canadians breathe?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, after two days of discussions with my provincial and territorial colleagues in Quebec City, we made substantial improvements with respect to air quality.

I would like to congratulate the province of Ontario's change of position. It has altered the schedule for reduction of the ozone problem in Ontario. We now will have a 45% improvement over the next 10 years rather than 15. In addition the province has said that it will drop that date to 2005 if I, as Minister of the Environment, and my colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs are successful in negotiating an effective ozone annex to the clean air agreement with the United States, which we fully intend to do before November.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, we just heard the Minister of the Environment claim that the government is taking responsibility in the area of drinking water.

I would like to ask the hon. minister, what has the government done to clean up the water systems on the 171 aboriginal reserve communities, systems which were identified in 1995 by Health Canada as defective?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Briefly, Mr. Speaker, over the last five years some $400 million of federal money has been devoted to that problem.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, we just heard the minister say that there has been $400 million spent to address that problem. Let the minister stand in the House and identify one reserve where the problem has been corrected.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member mentioned, I think the number he used was 171 different reserves. Mr. Speaker, as you know, I only have 35 seconds but I would be glad to provide him—

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. Please put your hands down. The hon. Minister of the Environment.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

David Anderson Liberal Victoria, BC

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, we are adding an extra $50 million this year.

Child CareOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, study after study and poll after poll confirm that accessing quality child care is a major concern for parents.

This week the B.C. government announced a $7 a day child care plan. Last month the Manitoba government committed an additional $9 million to child care initiatives.

Is the HRDC minister going to take the lead from these NDP premiers and commit to extending these excellent initiatives so that all Canadians can benefit?

Child CareOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that it was the government not only in the Speech from the Throne but also in the budget that outlined a very fulsome and comprehensive strategy to support Canadian children. I am very much looking forward to working with the provinces as we together build a solid platform of support services for Canadian children.

Child CareOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that we have seen no action.

This week the provincial social services ministers are meeting in Toronto. It is a perfect opportunity for the government to back up its big talk finally with some action.

I would like to ask the minister again, will she come to the table this week with something tangible on child care and on the children's agenda, and if not, why not?

Child CareOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Brant Ontario

Liberal

Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, let me point again to the investments that we are making through the national children's benefit and through the expanded parental leave program.

I would ask the hon. member to make sure that all the provincial social services ministers come to Toronto ready to join with us to focus on early childhood development, because we have already said we want to help them.

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Scott Brison Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS

Mr. Speaker, yesterday across Canada we saw record highs in gas prices. Prices surged by up to nine cents per litre in some areas of the country.

The petroleum industry tells Canadian motorists to expect more this summer. Just in time for summer vacation, we could be seeing gas prices of a dollar per litre in Canada.

What is the government doing to protect the Canadian motorist against rising gas prices in Canada?

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Scarborough Centre Ontario

Liberal

John Cannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question, but I do not know where he has been all along.

Some time back, 47 members started this activity. Today the Conference Board of Canada has undertaken a very extensive study right across the country.

When it comes to pricing, the hon. member's provincial counterparts, Mike Harris—

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. The hon. parliamentary secretary.

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I think the member is spending too much time on his other job. If he has any influence over his Conservative counterparts in Ontario, they have the ability to regulate pricing.

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Scott Brison Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS

Mr. Speaker, the member on that side of the House continues to give Canadians gaseous emissions over a very important issue.

As Canadians are looking forward to their summer vacations, the government is giving them a pending airline strike and potentially dollar per litre gas prices.

Will the government continue to sit on its hands and tell Canadians to sit at home this summer?

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Scarborough Centre Ontario

Liberal

John Cannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, let me tell the hon. member what his counterparts in Ontario are telling Canadians. Bob Runciman is telling consumers to buy smaller cars. That is what he is telling them.

Gasoline PricesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.