House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was gas.
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, increasingly, nations are becoming aware of the threat to their culture, traditions and cultural expression. Canada is certainly one of these, given the presence of the American culture.
My question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. What is this government doing to combat this world-wide threat?
Sarmite Bulte LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, Canada succeeded in having cultural diversity included in the international program. Membership of the International Network on Cultural Policy, created in Ottawa in 1998, has risen from the original 17 to 44 at the present time.
The third meeting of the network will be held in Greece in late September. There will be three themes: cultural heritage, cultural identity and cultural diversity in a context of globalization, and opportunities for national action.
Inky Mark Reform Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is now time to turn our attention to protecting the health of Canadians. Health Canada is finally recommending that migrants be tested for the AIDS virus before granting them entry into the country.
In 1994 my colleague for Calgary Northeast tabled a motion which called for precisely that, mandatory testing for AIDS, and the Liberal government voted it down.
Why has it taken the government so long to protect the health of Canadians?
Yvon Charbonneau LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this matter was looked into more than five years ago, in what was known as the Montebello process.
As the Immigration Act requires of the Minister of Health, a technical opinion was issued to indicate that the safest approach was to have people tested when a risk appeared likely. That is the safest way when health is concerned.
Now, if there other points to consider, the Minister of Immigration is notified and the last word is hers.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada has just made its decision: Canada will fly in MOX plutonium from the Russian Federation.
How can the Prime Minister justify importing MOX over the opposition of hundreds of Quebec municipalities, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the general public, and despite American studies which indicate that shipping by air is the most risky means?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the rationale for the testing of MOX fuel, and it is the testing of the fuel not a commercial program, is to try to make this world safer and more secure from the nuclear threat of the plutonium stockpiles in existence in the United States and Russia.
Anything that happens in this country is fully consistent with the laws of Canada, the Environmental Protection Act, the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dennis Gruending NDP Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is on the MOX imports as well.
Earlier today Transport Canada approved plans to fly weapons grade plutonium from Russia to Chalk River. This decision throws public safety and public opinion to the wind. There were months of public consultations and thousands of letters from concerned Canadians. The last of those letters and submissions arrived yesterday and the decision was made this morning. This is an unholy haste.
Will the transport minister overrule this decision and withdraw approval for this reckless plan?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada approved the emergency response assistance plan submitted by AECL on Thursday, September 21 in accordance with the statutory provisions. I am quite satisfied that my officials did their work and took into account the wider public interest.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, a young and talented Canadian diver named Arturo Miranda sits and waits anxiously in Sydney, Australia. He is waiting and watching his Olympic dreams slip away. The reason this is happening is that the government of Cuba is blocking his right to compete in the games based on a technicality. The heritage minister has been incapable of resolving this affair.
Given the Prime Minister's vaunted relationship with Fidel Castro and that of the foreign minister, not to mention his government's special relationship to Cuba, will he now use that influence to solve this problem so that a young Canadian citizen from Alberta can compete for his country in the Olympic Games?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of this problem but I will certainly look into it to see if something can be done. I am happy that the hon. member is praising us because we have good relations with Cuba.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw to the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Mr. Sven-Roald Nysto, President of the Sami Parliament of Norway.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I also draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the hon. Wayne Jim, Minister of Government Services of Yukon.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, during question period the hon. member for Delta—South Richmond made the point that the government, through its mediator, had offered fishermen $12,000 to turn a blind eye to the illegal fishing in Miramichi Bay. Then he used words which you called unparliamentary.
I would like to bring attention to the Chair ruling of May 1, 1980 by Madam Sauvé when she was asked the question “If words are directed toward the government and not toward an individual, can he use words such as dishonest and shabbily?” She ruled in that context that, yes, such words were parliamentary because it was directed toward the government.
The hon. member for Delta—South Richmond accused the government of this $12,000 payment or offer to fishermen in Miramichi Bay was a bribe from the government. It is the government we accuse of using a very poor and very—
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
I thank the hon. member for his intervention. The use of the word bribe in the context that it was used, in my interpretation at the time, was directed to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I will review the blues. If I was wrong, I was wrong. I have about two seconds to make a decision up here.
I invite members to stay away from words like that. Surely, with our very vast vocabulary we can use other words to bring about our ideas.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The crisis at Burnt Church is requiring immediate focus from the House, I would suggest. It is imminent that we act quickly.
I am asking for unanimous consent to put a motion to the House that at 6.30 p.m. the House will proceed to a debate of which the following motion would be presented by the hon. member for South Shore. It would read: That this House urge the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to personally engage in immediate negotiations at Burnt Church, New Brunswick with both native and non-native fishermen; and that at 11.57 p.m., or earlier if there was no debate, that the question then be put without further debate or amendment.
I would suggest that this not be put forward as a way to circumvent an earlier ruling, but there is further evidence to suggest that tensions are escalating in that part of the country and that the House, of all places, should be engaged in the active discussion and debate to look for a resolution and a way to de-escalate and take away the chance of violence or bloodshed in Burnt Church, New Brunswick.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
While I am waiting for the text of the motion the hon. member read, I see that the government House leader is seeking the floor. I will permit him to intervene.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, no consultation with the House leader has taken place regarding doing that this evening. That is not the normal way in which negotiations are held between House leaders. Therefore, I am unable to give my consent at this time.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Does the hon. member have permission to put the motion?
Werner Schmidt Reform Kelowna, BC
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe you would find unanimous consent to withdraw Motion No. 251, standing in the name of the member for Kelowna, as well as Motion No. 414, standing in the name of the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton.
Business Of The HouseOral Question Period
Some hon. members
Agreed.
(Motions Nos. 251 and 414 withdrawn)