Debates of Oct. 4th, 2001

National Security

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, allow me, once again, to congratulate the customs officers who have done a remarkable job and who have been working round the clock since September 11. We have reason to be proud of them.

Second, both prior to September 11 and since then, I have had the opportunity to meet with the business community to discuss the approach we need to take towards customs. Business people are fully aware that there are two requirements: to ensure the smooth flow of trade and also to ensure the safety of Canadians.

It is my view that Bill S-23 strikes the right balance.

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, provinces are having to set up their own security forces because the federal government is not doing anything. Now we have 22 U.S. senators who are calling for tripling of the border guards, who are calling for more extensive searching at the border and who are calling for sharing of the files with the FBI.

This will severely slow down cross-border trade. It will impair Canadian business. All this could be avoided if the government would simply set aside partisan politics, avoid wasteful interprovincial-federal duplication and put together a federal-provincial summit on this issue.

What is the government--

[The Speaker]

The hon. the Minister of National Revenue.

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

Mr. Speaker, first, if the hon. member were to look at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency website, he would see that the traffic at Canada's borders is pretty much back to normal.

Second, if he were to look at Bill S-23, he would see that we have a balanced approach to make sure that with technology we will be able to keep the borders open for trade and at the same time protect Canadians. Above all that, we have to keep working--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Edmonton--Strathcona.

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

Mr. Speaker, premiers are calling for action on our border. Employers and investors are calling for action on our border. U.S. senators are calling for action. In fact yesterday one held up an orange traffic cone to show the level of security at some border points at night. Americans will not be satisfied if the government continues to ignore the problem.

Will the Prime Minister take action today by convening a federal-provincial summit on the border?

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

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the border issue one must be quite proud of what we did with Canada customs.

First, we started to reform the system a year and a half ago. Second, with regard to what is called the perimeter, that is to say the airports and the seaports, we made a major announcement last June. Third, the way to manage the volume we face with trade and to protect Canadians is to use more technology.

However the problem is that while the government was taking care of Canadian interests the opposition members were doing nothing. They were not interested in customs.

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

Mr. Speaker, the official opposition is concerned for the safety of our customs officials at the border, something the government has refused to address.

The people in the community are asking for action. The official with BMO Nesbitt Burns says that Canada needs to make sure the border issue does not escalate into something that will devastate Canadian factories.

Will the Prime Minister immediately call for a federal-provincial summit to ensure secure borders and prosperity for Canadian workers?

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

Simply put, Mr. Speaker, Canada customs handled the situation in the proper manner. We put in place the reform. As soon as we have the full enactment of Bill S-23, we will speed up the implementation of that reform.

We must keep working in co-operation with our neighbours. We did it in the past when we signed the Canada customs shared border agreement in 1995. We will keep working with the United States to provide Canadians with one of the best customs systems in the world.

The Economy

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois is proposing a $5 billion plan to stimulate the economy without incurring any deficit, and I insist on that aspect.

While others, including the United States, are taking concrete action, this government is satisfied with what it has already done, not realizing that the economic situation has changed drastically. President Bush is proposing a plan of at least $60 billion. And the Canadian government will enjoy huge surpluses in spite of the slowdown.

What is the Minister of Finance waiting for to act and to propose a plan in order to meet the economic challenge that is facing us?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois leader talks about the plan proposed by President Bush, a plan which is not yet in effect and which is being discussed by the United States Congress.

The hon. member must know that this plan deals primarily with rebuilding the Pentagon and the city of New York. Fortunately, we do not have that problem.

The hon. member also talked about speeding up the tax reduction program. We already did that. Finally, he referred to the program to help the unemployed, but the Minister of Human Resources Development—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Laurier--Sainte-Marie.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in other words, last year, all the measures adopted in the mini budget were in anticipation of the current situation. This simply does not make sense.

There is more that needs to be done. Indeed, measures are being taken in the area of security, defence and air transportation.

Should we not have a global plan? Could the minister tell specifically what is not good in the plan that we are proposing? What does he object to in our proposals?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, first, the Bloc Quebecois' forecasts are wrong.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, Oh!

[Paul Martin, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Absolutely! There is not one economist in Canada who accepts the Bloc Quebecois' forecasts.

Second, we are already far ahead of the Americans. Our employment insurance program is already in place and our plan to speed up the tax reduction process is already in effect.

Like the Bloc Quebecois, the Americans are playing catch up compared to what our government has already done.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the past five years, the Bloc Quebecois has made forecasts accurate to within 2% or 3%. His forecasts were out by 150%. He knows nothing.

Will the Minister of Finance recognize that, by restricting himself to case by case interventions rather than tabling a coherent plan to support the economy and jobs, he risks raising costs for everyone and being more ineffective? Is he aware of that?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the member is referring to an error I made. The error was to reduce our national debt by $17 billion last year. The error was to reduce our national debt by $35 billion over four years.

That is the error we made. Because of that, we have $2.5 billion year after year to lower taxes and invest in the future of Canadians.

If these are errors, we will keep making them, because improving public finances will help Canada.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, his colleague responsible for security, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a commitment to table a security plan and a bill when the House resumed.

Could the Minister of Finance also not assume his responsibilities, get to work and promise to table a statement, a plan for the economy? There is no time to waste.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I have said repeatedly that the government intends to present an economic update or a budget. The options are open.

I accept the reference to my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will present his plan, as will the Minister of Justice, the Solicitor General of Canada, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Human Resources Development, and the whole government.

We have a comprehensive plan, and the member will see it. But he will have to listen and stop getting in a state.

Airline Industry

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. In recent days when the minister was asked about what the government was prepared to do to help with the airline situation, the minister only referred to what could be done within the context of existing programs.

Is the minister prepared to consider new arrangements that would make it possible for senior and higher paid employees to have severance packages so that younger employees could stay with the company, keep working and be able to support their younger families? That is what people are looking for in this situation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians are happy that we have an employment insurance program in place that can work now for Canadians who through no fault of their own find themselves without employment.

I am happy to report to the hon. member that this morning union representatives and Air Canada and Air Transat met with government officials at the same table. They talked about the programs that exist under employment insurance and then broke off into separate tables to talk specifically about applications.

I am quite convinced that, with flexibility and goodwill, we will find ways and means to help Canadians at this time.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister did not answer my question about whether she is willing to consider new arrangements that would make it possible for the senior employees to take a severance package.

Perhaps she could also address the following question. I notice that President Bush has talked about extending unemployment insurance benefits in the United States at this time due to the crisis.

Is the minister prepared at this time to do what was recommended unanimously by a committee of the House and at the very least extend eligibility for employment insurance benefits by reducing the number of hours as was recommended by the committee?

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

Mr. Speaker, all indications are that the employment insurance program is there and will work effectively for Canadians, no matter what sector they are working in and no matter where they are in Canada.

As a result of the changes that we have already made, the program is more ready than ever to assist Canadians in these difficult times.

International Security

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has refused to give this parliament intelligence information about Osama bin Laden, yet Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom tells his parliament and publishes that information on the prime minister's website. I have it here. He also has provided full confidential briefings to opposition leaders of all parties in his parliament.

Why does the Prime Minister of Canada not extend to this parliament the same trust and courtesy on such important matters as the prime minister of Great Britain extends to the U.K. parliament? Why does the government hold secret information which Canadians should know?