House of Commons Hansard #122 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was animal.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, while Karla Homolka is having a jolly good time in Joliette, Christopher Higginbottom who is serving 11 years in Warkworth for pornography and other sexual offences is currently being investigated for participating in a child pornography ring.
Can the solicitor general please explain to Canadians how it can possibly be that a child pornography ring is operating in our penitentiaries?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that this is under investigation. Any activity like this that can happen when we are dealing with individuals in the penitentiary system is investigated and will be investigated.
Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.
The whole country knows that the Liberals cannot manage. They cannot control drugs in prisons so they just give up. There is a trade in child porn inside the prison and they just wonder how it happens. The minister and his department have known of their management problems for years. In fact, the prisons seem to be con run.
In view of the deteriorating situation, what action has the minister taken? What will he do rather than just study it? What action will he take? Will he actually manage rather than limply monitor his responsibility?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for giving me the opportunity to indicate that we now have ion scanners in every medium and maximum institution in the country, which is very important. Random searches are done on a regular basis and drug dogs are used frequently.
The most important thing to note is that from 1993 to date there has been a reduction from 39% to 12% in random tests. We are making progress and will continue to make progress.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Human Resources Development confirmed that her questionable decision on the rules of eligibility and the number of weeks of benefits available to the unemployed in the Lower St. Lawrence, North Shore and Charlevoix regions created two classes of unemployed persons, those entitled to 21 weeks of benefits, if they have worked at least 525 weeks, and those entitled to 32 weeks of benefits, if they have worked 420 hours, depending on whether they were accepted before or after September 17, 2000.
Will the minister put an end to this unconscionable discrimination, which will force workers and their families to apply for social assistance?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member yet again that in response to representations made by seasonal workers we are phasing in the changes to the employment insurance boundaries that reflect overall employment levels in those communities.
I also remind him that we have transitional funds available precisely for these workers to help them deal with the opportunities that may exist and to reflect their need for employment insurance.
The Minister of National Revenue and I are working in those communities and developing community groups to help us build new opportunities. I hope the hon. member will join—
Employment InsuranceOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Brampton West—Mississauga.
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton West—Mississauga, ON
Mr. Speaker, in recent days we have watched the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia courageously participate widely in the presidential elections, despite facing an electoral process that may not be fair and free.
What is Canada's reaction to recent unofficial reports that the voters have elected opposition candidate Kostunica?
Denis Paradis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we applaud the courage of all citizens of Yugoslavia, who turned out in massive numbers to vote, in a context clearly devoid of freedom and justice.
We encourage the Yugoslavian authorities to recognize the will of the people, and hope to see the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia rejoin the society of democratic nations.
As soon as a government committed to reform and reconciliation is in place we will initiate the removing of sanctions, ending the isolation of Yugoslavia and increasing assistance to support political and economic reform.
Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, universality in health care does not exist. Tim Jeffries, a Canadian, was lying on an operating room table at the Peace Arch hospital in White Rock waiting for surgery to repair a broken ankle. However, when the medical staff learned that his health care premiums had lapsed, they refused to operate on Jeffries unless he came up with $1,300 cash or a credit card.
Where was the Minister of Health to protect the principle of universality when Tim Jeffries was taken off that operating table?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, indeed we are there to protect the principles of universality.
The Leader of the Opposition expressed the fond hope last week that in view of the agreement for medicare renewal health care would not be an issue in the coming election. We are here to tell him that health care will be an issue in the coming election but perhaps not the way he would like to see it.
The issue will be whether Canadians support the Alliance approach of gutting the Canada Health Act, turning over all revenue to the provinces and taking Ottawa out of the position to enforce the principles. That will not happen.
Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, under the minister's watch Tim Jeffries was left to be taken out of the operating room.
Tim Jeffries is not alone. It is estimated that 200,000 British Columbians are not covered. That is almost 5% of the population of that province who are not covered under that provincial health plan, which is a contravention of the Canada Health Act. What has the self-proclaimed defender of the Canada Health Act done? Absolutely nothing.
How could Canadians possibly believe that the minister will defend universality and the Canadian Health Act?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we will be there to do just that, but we would not be if we followed the policies of the Alliance. The Alliance would turn all the revenues over to the provinces. As the Leader of the Opposition said in his letter to the premiers, the Alliance would leave it to the provinces to interpret the Canada Health Act.
The Leader of the Opposition would give provinces the right to withdraw from all social programs with compensation. That would result in 10 different health care systems across the country. We would lose something that is part of the foundation of the nation. That will be an issue in the next federal election. Canadians will choose the Liberal vision—
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government takes the cake when it comes to broken promises to kids. Seven years of broken promises has produced exactly zero spaces for child care in Canada. The latest reports today show that these broken promises are now taking a high toll in terms of inadequate funding and undervalued work in child care.
I have a question for the Prime Minister. Why has the government abandoned its commitment to create quality and accessible child care spaces for seven years? Why have they not been created for parents and children?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the investments that the government has made on behalf of our youngest citizens are quite extraordinary. We are celebrating an agreement made on September 11 among all leaders of the country where they put children first.
This government has identified $2.2 billion that will be transferred to the provinces and the territories precisely to build new opportunities, services and accessibility for our youngest citizens. I do not know where the hon. member has been.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I do not know why the minister is celebrating. She avoids the question. She knows that the child tax benefit did not create child care spaces. Even in this recent agreement there is no binding commitment that will guarantee child care spaces.
The real issue is that at the end of the day the government is prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on political propaganda for ads, never mind the cost of running those ads, but not one child care space has been created. How does the minister justify that? Where is the celebration?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not have to listen to me. Perhaps she would rather listen to the NDP premier in British Columbia who said thank you to the federal government for coming through with more money, not just for broader health care but for children.
What we are trying to do across the country, and particularly in British Columbia, is essentially build a better future for our children. It is important that we recognize that what happened in Ottawa this week is a very good beginning for doing the further work that needs to be done in this area. In British Columbia the money will be used for child care.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister and relates to the high cost of home heating fuels. The Prime Minister indicated today that there might be another way, an alternative to cutting the GST on home heating fuels.
Will the Prime Minister tell the House whether his government is now seriously considering the direct rebate to consumers such as was proposed by the member for Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge? In any event, will he take action this week on either a rebate or the elimination of the GST on home heating fuels so that Canadians, particularly senior citizens, will not face the terrible burdens—
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at all the options. There are many ways. The Minister of Finance mentioned many options last week. We have always said that the best way to help consumers is to reduce income taxes, for example. It is a nice way to put money back into the pockets of all the people in Canada. We are looking at all the options.
The budget will come down in February. Some are suggesting a mini budget or a statement by the Minister of Finance. We are looking at all the options. The Minister of Finance will be back in the House this week and we are following the situation—
Fuel TaxesOral Question Period
The Speaker
The Right Hon. leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, I know it interferes with the Prime Minister's golf game, but there are a lot of cold months between now and February and Canadians who are harmed by high home heating fuels cannot wait until February.
When will the Prime Minister take some action to help Canadians who need help right now?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I do not know why it took two years for the hon. member to decide to come to the House of Commons. He was probably playing golf when I was working in the House.
It is not the level of the question. We are a very responsible government. When his government was in power there was a $42 billion deficit that we had to eliminate. It is very easy for him to attack us today, but they left the country in a mess and we have restored the financial health of the nation.
Réginald Bélair Liberal Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.
Canada is one of the world's most forested countries. A total of 45% of its surface is covered by forest and we possess over 10% of all the forests in the world.
Canada is one of the world's biggest exporters of forest products. Will the government be proactive in defending Canada's markets as well as its reputation for quality forest products around the world?