Debates of Oct. 1st, 2001

Canadian Airline Industry

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government is asking us to debate a complex problem this evening, yet we do not know its position. Nor do we know Air Canada's specific requests or the government's financial situation. Indeed, the government is informing neither the House, nor Canadians, of anything.

Will someone from the government please explain what, exactly, we are going to debate, since everyone is being kept in the dark?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, where has my hon. friend been for the last three weeks? This has been the subject of discussion in the House of Commons. It has been in the newspapers. It has been on television and radio. I think everyone knows what the basic issues are.

However we want to know what the opposition and other members of the House feel on this particularly difficult problem. We want to know their views before the government acts.

National Security

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thousands of Canadian jobs have been lost due to economic slowdown. The government can prevent the loss of thousands of more jobs by fortifying our trade links with the United States through a security perimeter. Over 80% of Canadians are in favour of creating a security perimeter.

Will the Prime Minister state his position on the security perimeter today in the House rather than at a Liberal fundraiser or on CNN?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for everyone to know that security matters are the number one priority for the government. That is why we have been working with our international partners, including the Americans, to discuss how we can prevent people from coming to Canada and to North America. We do that through discussions of our perimeter. We are also working to speed legitimate access for both Canadians and Americans across the Canada-U.S. border. We are doing that because it is in the interest of Canadians and it is in the interest of Americans.

If the opposition members would like to have more information on how they can be helpful and supportive, we would be happy to give it to them.

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Americans have been informed and reassured of their government's plans and actions. Yet here in Canada our government sits silent fostering economic uncertainty. During this silence the American attitude toward our border is souring, jeopardizing thousands of Canadian jobs linked to U.S. trade.

Once again, is the government in favour of creating a security perimeter with the United States, yes or no?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question such as the one that just came from the member, it is the preamble in that question that is creating insecurity among Canadians.

We are working very closely with our American partners. Our security perimeter is important, but so is the Canada-U.S. border. We want to do everything we can to facilitate the legitimate travellers.

Ninety-nine per cent of the 200 million crossings to Canada and the United States are people with legitimate business concerns. We are all interested in stopping the less than 1% that pose problems for both our countries.

International Aid

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, UN estimates put the number of vulnerable Afghans at 7.5 million, 5 million who were already vulnerable before the most recent crisis. This is on top of the millions of refugees in neighbouring countries.

My question is for the Minister for International Cooperation. What is Canada doing to address these needs and how can Canadians do their part?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, the situation is quite serious. Over the weekend Canada announced an additional $5 million to the $1 million that we announced previously to assist with the humanitarian crisis. This brings the amount to $18 million of moneys we have spent this year on the issues of poverty within Afghanistan as well as on Afghanis outside of Afghanistan.

As far as Canadians participating, it is important if they wish to participate to contribute moneys rather than goods because it is easier, and to work through World Vision, Oxfam Canada and the Red Cross. There are many NGOs that are very reputable.

Human Rights

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there is an alarming number of racist attacks against the Canadian Arab, Muslim and visible minority communities as a result of September 11, yet we have heard hardly a peep from multiculturalism.

I ask the Prime Minister directly. Is the government prepared to show leadership by adopting a plan of action that would include broad education, an effective anti-racism ad campaign, the monitoring of the reported incidents, enforcing the criminal code and prosecuting and stopping these crimes of hate? Is the government prepared to do those things and to give a concrete action plan?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, that is an extraordinarily good question. I am pleased to tell the member that we not only are prepared to do those things, we have actually begun to do them.

I have a plan of action in which I have been in contact with Arab, Muslim and other communities around the country. All my regional executive directors have been keeping tabs on what is going on. I have been meeting with groups. We have been assisting them with a fund from our department to help them to build intercultural relationships and to move forward.

What we have heard from the communities is that we should do exactly what we are doing; monitoring the situation and helping them with the resources they need.

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo the concern of my colleague for Vancouver East about the significant increase in incidents of religious and cultural hatred since September 11. At the same time we have seen cuts to institutions which we could be using to promote tolerance, such as Radio-Canada International which has seen a reduction in programming in Arabic over the summer.

What is the minister responsible for Canadian culture and Canadian identity doing to increase Canada's commitment to religious and cultural tolerance both nationally and internationally?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, it is precisely because of the government's commitment to cultural diversity that we have announced increased investments in all areas of cultural expression. We have seen Canadians from across the country able to see their history and explore their roots.

At the same time, the Prime Minister showed very clearly last Friday, when he visited a mosque in Ottawa, that this country and our policies, starting with the Multiculturalism Act in 1970, is about building bridges and teaching intercultural connection and tolerance.

As one who has experienced in my own community a Hindu temple being burned to the ground, the community has responded en mass saying that Canada is not a place to breed hate--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for South Surrey--White Rock--Langley.

Airline Industry

[Val Meredith, Canadian Alliance, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, two years ago the government rejected my recommendation of eliminating all restrictions on domestic ownership of Air Canada. Instead, it only raised the limit from 10% to 15%. We now have Air Canada seeking billions of taxpayer dollars. Canadian investors are interested in acquiring Air Canada if the 15% limit of domestic ownership is eliminated.

Has the government considered eliminating the 15% limit on domestic ownership and saving the Canadian taxpayer billions of dollars?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that, in dealing with this difficult issue of airline financing and restructuring, we have to look at every particular measure that will bring stability to the industry, including the 15% limit as in the Air Canada Public Participation Act.

Multiculturalism

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today at the Women's Resistance Conference in Ottawa, the former head of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women told delegates that U.S. foreign policy was soaked in blood and followed that preposterous statement with “Today in the world the United States is the most dangerous and powerful global force, unleashing horrific levels of violence”.

The Secretary of State for Multiculturalism was in the audience for this speech but apparently said nothing. On behalf of all Canadians, will the Prime Minister immediately refute these outrageous statements and explain why his secretary of state did not walk off the stage?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we have made it repeatedly plain that we view any kind of attempt to create moral equivalency between anyone's policies and what happened on September 11 to be utterly unthinkable, outrageous and indefensible.

What we know is that what happened on September 11 was an attack not on the United States. It was not even an attack on North America. It was an attack on civilization that deserves to be condemned as it was this weekend by the United Nations itself.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the conference where the multiculturalism minister stood and listened to the applause beside Sunera Thobani is a terrible thing for all of Canada. Listen to what this individual said: “The west for 500 years has believed that it could slaughter people into submission”. The minister just sat there.

My question for the minister is straightforward. Why did she not immediately stand and disavow these comments?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, I was at the conference. I made a speech with regard to women and sexual assault. At the end of that there were other panel members.

A particular panel member got up and said specific things. I left immediately following that, but the point is that I did not make that speech. People in this country are allowed to say what they want. I did not support it. I did not applaud it. I got up and left immediately following it.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that we are supposed to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States. The minister was shoulder to shoulder with these comments. She sat there and said nothing.

My question is directed to the Prime Minister. Why does he continue to support this minister?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, shoulder to shoulder, I was actually sitting on a podium. I was not shoulder to shoulder. Shoulder to shoulder means that one supports something.

I want to say categorically that I thought the speech that was made by the ex-president of NAC to be incitement. I condemned it continually and I stand in the House right now and say that I condemn that speech.

Airline Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Minister of Human Resources Development will meet with the Air Canada union representatives in an effort to reduce the impact of the massive layoffs resulting from the acts of international terrorism perpetrated on September 11. The union and the employer have agreed to work sharing.

Is it the government's intention to respond favourably to the agreement reached by the parties at Air Canada?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, the government is concerned about the jobs in the Canadian airline industry, including those at Air Canada. For this reason, the minister is continuing to meet representatives of Air Canada, its employees and the union, as my colleague has already mentioned.

Tomorrow, the minister will meet union representatives to hear their concerns and their proposal on plans for those laid off in order to ensure that the employment insurance program meets their needs.

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

Mr. Speaker, is it the intention of the government to extend this approach to other businesses affected by the current crisis?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, requests concerning work sharing are very specific and must come from the industry itself.

There is no doubt that the minister and the department are prepared to hear requests. We are extremely concerned about the state of the economy at the moment and how the department might meet the needs of those employees who have been laid off.