Debates of Nov. 5th, 2001

Yukon Act

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, with the opposition and the government all mentioning Robert Service I feel like I will lose my job here soon. The little street in Dawson where the log cabin of Robert Service is located is like Poet's Way on which Pierre Berton and Jack London also had cabins. I have been told Robert Service wrote the biggest selling poetry book in history just as Shakespeare wrote the biggest selling book of plays.

Robert Service wrote about the beauty of Canada. I am not sure Canadians and Yukoners take advantage of this information and market it enough.

About eight years ago Doug Bell and I started the Robert Service dinners. Every year on his birthday, January 16, people everywhere in the world who know and appreciate Robert Service mark the occasion with a dinner in their house. We have a whole banquet hall with hundreds of people. I hope every member of the House of Commons, wherever they are on January 16, will support these dinners and recite Robert Service poetry. I have been a guest speaker at these dinners in places as far away as Scotland and Sacramento.

I will answer one concern raised by my colleague from the NDP who is a former Yukoner. He wanted assurance about Anwar Drilling. The devolution agreement would give the Yukon government more authority over its resources just as Alaska has some authority over its resources so that Yukon and Alaska could deal with each other more as colleagues.

The Anwar 10-02, which is a small part of Anwar on the north coast of Alaska, is sometimes called the Serengeti of the north for its tremendous wildlife resources. The Vuntut Gwitch'in of Old Crow depend on this wildlife. There is no road to their village and they depend on the wildlife for their way of life. A herd of 130,000 caribou migrates past their village in the spring and fall. That is their livelihood. I have been in cabins in that village. We sometimes ate caribou for three meals a day. It sustains an important way of life.

There is no need to drill there now. There are other sources of oil. We do not need to drill in that little spot. Horizontal drilling is becoming better and maybe the oil will be extracted without ever touching the wildlife reserve. By then we may have other sources of energy and not even need that oil.

I want to make sure people do not mix up the oil that is there with the natural gas that is in different locations in Alaska. We hope to carry Alaskan natural gas down the Alaska Highway by way of the biggest project in northern Canada's history, a project worth $20 billion. At a time like this with the Canadian economy as it is now it would be a boon and a great boost. We hope we have the support of all members of the House to keep trying to get the project going in these tough times.

There is a village of first nation people who live a way of life that does not exist anywhere else in the world. It is unique. We are fighting to preserve it. Members will remember that the Minister of the Environment was chastized a few weeks ago by a senator. Successive governments of Yukon and Canada have always stood for protecting that way of life.

What society in the world has all the answers to the way we should run our society? Is there not crime, illness and poverty in every society in the world? We need to preserve every unique type of society. In those societies there will be strengths and weaknesses, but we could use their unique strengths as clues and solutions to the difficult problems of today's world to help preserve the survival of all of us.

[John Finlay, Liberal, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I was not aware that January 16 was Robert Service's birthday but it is relatively close to mine. I would not mind hosting a dinner.

I do not reserve The Cremation of Sam McGee simply for dinners. I recited it three years ago for the church talent show and have been asked back each year since. I have switched to monologues like Noah and the ark and Jonah and the whale but some people at the church asked me to go back to Robert Service and do The Shooting of Dan McGrew . That is what I have on my ticket for next year. Maybe I could do it on January 16.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does anybody have an in as to where we could get a supply of caribou? Then we could all host a dinner.

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is encouraging to see my colleagues on both sides of the House speaking in support of this progressive, dynamic and much needed legislation.

In 1996 the government decided to embark on a project that would give the people and government of Yukon control over their destiny to a large extent in regard to natural resources, the management of water and the mining sector. One cannot help but ask why it has taken so long. Why did we not think about this in the early 1900s and late 1800s?

It has taken the boldness and vision of the government and the leadership of the Prime Minister to finally bring this legislation to a head and put it into force so that native communities in Yukon can once and for all have the final say in deciding what are the best interests of Yukon and its people.

When it was initiated in 1996 the idea was to have broad consultation on both sides. The federal government would embark on consultations with all stakeholders including native communities, those who work or live in Yukon, and those who have any kinds of dealings with Yukon.

The Yukon government embarked on a similar consultation process. At the end the Government of Canada and the Yukon government came up with what we see before the House today: a legislation that is conclusive, inclusive and pays detailed attention to all the specific and general needs of the people of Yukon.

I congratulate all those who were involved in the development of this legislation, whether they are with the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development or the government of Yukon. The administration on both sides has shown that when we work together we can achieve beneficial results that are in the best interest of our people.

There have been difficult times but at the end of the day the final product will be an excellent one. The bill before the House will go to second reading and make its way to committee where the community as a whole will have an opportunity to come forward and give its views on either the total bill or specific parts of it.

The devolution of certain programs or most of the programs to the Yukon government is an exceptionally progressive approach. It would to a large extent allow the government of Yukon to have the final say in the affairs of its people, industries and resources. It would at the same time bear in mind that there will always be a federal role in every part of the country on issues of national magnitude and national interest.

Two such issues that come to mind are the whole notion of water management and the environmental assessment. On those two issues specifically we will see a collective approach between the Yukon government and the federal government.

The government has shown great vision in allowing the management of land and resources to be in the hands of the government of Yukon. Because it is closer to the people the Yukon government is able to define and decide the priorities of its communities.

A number of people have been asking what would happen to the transfer payment from the federal government to the Yukon government if devolution took place, for example in mining. The bill deals specifically with this question.

The federal government has made a provision whereby the Yukon government would retain up to $3 million on an annual basis from royalties or other types of revenues without affecting the transfer payment. That is a progressive and positive element of the bill for which the government should be commended.

The bill contains certain components dealing with the overall management of the resource sector. Let us look at the devolution of powers. A lot of people in the business sector already have arrangements with Yukon which existed prior to this bill being introduced in parliament. If one is a business person with an investment in Yukon one would want to ensure the investment is protected. The Government of Canada and the Yukon government have recognized the right of such arrangements to continue under the new agreement.

To that extent both governments have recognized and made clear in the legislation that existing agreements would not be affected. The Yukon government would respect such agreements and ensure that whatever arrangements the federal government had with such individuals or entities would be respected.

There are also components that deal with the whole issue of water management. Notwithstanding that the Yukon Waters Act would be repealed after the proposed Yukon act came into force, the minister would continue to be responsible for certain elements to protect federal interests, national interests and those of Yukon. These would include the issuing of water licences within specific periods of time and/or the appropriation of land particularly for the construction of pipelines.

Another important issue that came up during the whole debate about the transfer was the notion of environmental assessment. Also of importance was the element dealing with interprovincial and international proposals, for example if a pipeline were to cross from Yukon into other Canadian provinces.

The arrangement would respect the fact that the minister and the Government of Canada would work with Yukon as well as with first nations people to ensure the environment is protected. While we want economic development to take place we also want to ensure we have a system that represents and respects the interests of the people.

My main interests concerned the issues of water and the environment. After looking through the bill I am fully satisfied that the governments of Canada and Yukon have taken good care of those two components. To that extent I am fully supportive of the bill. I hope it will go through the House quickly.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is the House ready for the question?

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Accordingly the bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Infrastructure program

[Serge Marcil, Liberal, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Metropolitan Montreal region lacks any bypass routes, and thus thousands of vehicles, heavy trucks in particular, have to use the congested traffic arteries of Montreal Island.

According to studies, in 1998-99 metropolitan Montreal businesses lost over $500 million due to delivery delays. Judging by the way the truck traffic is building up on the Champlain and Jacques-Cartier bridges, and on Metropolitan Boulevard, by the year 2010, metropolitan Montreal will be totally choked up, and the resulting economic losses to our businesses will be enormous.

The Government of Canada has always been involved in the construction of various sections of Highway 30, and has contributed $25 million to build the Brossard-Candiac section in partnership with the Government of Quebec.

In November 2000, the Liberal Party of Canada, Quebec section, made a firm commitment to take part in the completion of this by building 14 kilometres of highway and two bridges over the St. Lawrence.

The process for making this great project a reality is in motion, and the Government of Canada intends to make this commitment a reality.

Mike Weir

[Cheryl Gallant, Canadian Alliance, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian golfers were thrilled this weekend when Bright's Grove, Ontario native, Mike Weir, became the first non-U.S. winner of the PGA Tour Championship in its 15 year history.

In an exciting conclusion to sudden death overtime play, Mike won the tour championship by making a five foot birdie putt on the first hole of a four man playoff.

The field featured the top 29 players of the PGA tour, making this win for Mike a career highlight. It gives Canadians great pride to know that left to our own resources, in a field of competition with the best, we can be the best.

On September 11 our world changed. It is particularly important at this time that we share the happy moments of our fellow citizens with the confidence that we will overcome any obstacles that life puts in our path.

I join with all Canadians, golfers and non-golfers alike, in extending our congratulations to Mike on his exciting win at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

The Environment

[Andy Savoy, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, following a 1999 report by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, Industry Canada established the sustainable cities initiative to help bring Canada's niche environmental expertise to other countries.

SCI uses an innovative public-private business model to provide host cities with Canadian solutions to their environmental problems. SCI's partners have successfully generated interest in 58 projects and $3 billion in potential economic activity.

One such partner, ADI Group based in Fredericton, is currently finalizing a deal that will provide the city of Katowice, Poland with a $3 million waste water treatment facility.

As Mr. David Beatty, president of ADI Limited, explained “SCI is a very useful vehicle for heightening Canadian firms' visibility in international markets”.

My congratulations to Mr. Beatty and ADI on their successful bid. It is my hope that SCI will be expanded to full program status. This will allow our Canadian firms the opportunity to share their environmental expertise with the rest of the world.

Willard MacPhail

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say a few words in tribute to Willard MacPhail, a well-respected farmer and community leader who recently passed away.

Willard's accomplishments are many. He served as a municipal councillor for 21 years and became the first mayor of Cornwall after the amalgamation of North River, Cornwall and Elliot River. He was a founding member of the North River fire department and remained active for 37 years.

Willard organized the P.E.I. Quality Swine Units, served as a director of the Canadian Swine Breeders Association and was chair of the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvements. As well, he served as a member of the Chicken Farmers of Canada.

However, first and foremost, Willard was a family man, devoted to his wife Kathy and their three children. While he would not want to be singled out as a role model, he certainly was that and more.

Willard's commitment and dedication is appreciated and will be greatly missed.

Humanities and Social Sciences

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada and the researchers it supports play a special role in our nation.

Today we speak of the global village, a concept created by Marshall McLuhan, a great Canadian. When discussing links between demography and society we commonly refer to the boom, bust and echo generations, concepts created by David Foot of the University of Toronto.

The work of these Canadians and of more than 18,000 Canadian researchers who work in the humanities and social sciences is a precious national treasure.

Their research advances our understanding of the histories, attitudes and values shaping human behaviour. It allows individuals, communities and organizations to better understand the major social and cultural transformations affecting them. It enables us to know ourselves.

The tragic events in the U.S. illustrated the essential contribution of the humanities and social sciences. We cannot go a day without the media quoting expert researchers in the fields of culture, religion, international relations or psychology. Let us support the humanities and social sciences.

Airport Security

[Jim Gouk, Canadian Alliance, Kootenay—Boundary—Okanagan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago I asked the Minister of Transport to explain how spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on state of the art detection equipment for major airports would enhance safety for the travelling public when many smaller airports do not even have basic x-ray equipment. Passengers travelling through these smaller airports arrive on the secure side of the minister's fancy new equipment.

His answer was that travellers from these smaller airports are rerouted through security at the larger airports. That is untrue. The minister either intentionally misled the House or he is imply incompetent.

I pursued this matter at adjournment proceedings where I had the opportunity to expand on my question and seek a more detailed and hopefully more accurate answer.

The minister obviously thinks so little of the safety of the travelling public that he did not even send his parliamentary secretary. He sent the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health who, if possible, knows even less about airport security than the transport minister.

Perhaps the Prime Minister should make airport security the responsibility of the immigration minister, a portfolio where Canadians have learned to expect incompetence.

Ghana

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give a hearty welcome to His Excellency John Kufuor, president of the Republic of Ghana, on the occasion of his official visit to Canada.

President Kufuor is the first Ghanian head of state to visit Canada since the country's independence in 1957. He is a founding member of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana and was elected president of the country in December 2000.

Ghana is one of Africa's thriving nations with a commitment to the principles of democracy. Its peaceful and transparent transition of political power from one democratically elected government to another is a model for many African countries.

Relations between Canada and Ghana reflect four decades of personal and official contacts that began through Canadian development assistance and through common membership in the UN and the Commonwealth.

Ghana receives Canada's largest aid program in sub-Saharan Africa and is Canada's third largest export market in sub-Saharan Africa.

Quebec Municipal Elections

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was election day for more than 330 Quebec municipalities. More than 4,000 municipal representatives and mayors were entrusted with the responsibility of representing their fellow citizens.

Voting day is never a commonplace occurrence, but yesterday's exercise of democracy was a historical event for many cities. Montreal, Quebec City, Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Lévis, Trois-Rivières and Gatineau, to name but a few, were electing the mayors and councillors for their new cities for the first time.

The Bloc Quebecois wishes to congratulate all the mayors and councillors who were elected yesterday. Quebec's cities are an important part of our lives. We are certain that these elected representatives will continue to contribute to the development of their respective cities and of Quebec as a whole.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Outaouais region experienced a great exercise in democracy.

The new city, a result of a forced merger by the government of Quebec, elected its first mayor and councillors. This amalgamation of five existing cities, Aylmer, Hull, Gatineau, Masson-Angers and Buckingham, will form the new city which will be called Gatineau. This name was imposed by decree by the government of Quebec.

There were two well-known municipal politicians running for mayor: Yves Ducharme, mayor of the current city of Hull, and Robert Labine, mayor of the current city of Gatineau. The people spoke, and Yves Ducharme was elected mayor of the new city.

I would like to congratulate both mayoral candidates in addition to all of the candidates for council for their valuable campaigns. I would especially like to commend their volunteers for their commitment and dedication.

I wish to offer my mayor, His Worship Yves Ducharme, my sincere best wishes and my complete co-operation. The challenges will be difficult, but Mr. Ducharme and his team are up to the task.

Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act

[Brian Pallister, Canadian Alliance, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, 10 months ago an Ottawa woman, Catherine McLean, was killed by a Russian diplomat who was driving drunk. At that time the Minister of Foreign Affairs deplored the fact that the drunken diplomat was able to claim immunity from Canadian law.

Now under Bill C-35 the same minister proposes to expand the number of foreign representatives who are above Canadian law. This contrasts to Bill C-36 which asks Canadians to surrender their civil liberties in the name of security.

It is not true that expanding diplomatic immunity is necessary to catch up to the international community. Most countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are very careful about not extending diplomatic immunity too far, no further than is required under international law.

There is no excuse for putting anyone above the law while asking Canadians to surrender their civil liberties. Bill C-35 should be withdrawn.

Science and Engineering

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the very accomplished individuals receiving awards granted by the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada today.

Dr. David Schindler of the University of Alberta received the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. This $1 million research prize is one of the largest awards for science in North America and recognizes Dr. Schindler's enormous contribution to the field of ecology.

I also recognize the winners of the NSERC 2001 Steacie fellowships and doctoral prizes. Steacie fellowships are awarded to the most outstanding Canadian university scientists or engineers who have earned their doctorates within the last 12 years.

One of the recipients is Dr. Sarah Otto of the department of zoology at the University of British Columbia which is located in my riding of Vancouver Quadra.

NSERC also awarded the first Howard Alper Post-doctoral Prize to Dr. Glenn Tattersall, also of the University of British Columbia.

World Trade Organization

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the next round of the WTO begins this week and will continue to promote a definition of free trade which is far too narrow.

WTO rulings have been forcing Canada to begin dismantling too many programs including the auto pact, domestic and export support programs for agriculture, and research and development assistance in the high tech sector.

Issues this week at Qatar could include health care and education. Canadians certainly want to ensure these vital sectors remain in the public non-profit sector.

The New Democratic Party remains adamantly opposed to the WTO because it fails to meet the most basic and elemental tests of democracy, equality and sustainability.

Until the WTO devises a rules based economy that begins to protect people and not just the multinationals, until we have enforcement of rules to protect human rights, working men and women including farmers and our environment, this party shall continue to oppose the WTO with vigour.

University Football

[Robert Lanctôt, Bloc, Châteauguay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois is thrilled that the University of Montreal will have a new elite football team, for the first time in 30 years.

The Carabins will benefit from an investment of close to $2 million in the stadium and artificial surface, of which nearly $1,637,000 came from Quebec's Secrétariat au sport et au loisir.

Francophone students and athletes will now have a football option in Montreal. This alternative will lower costs for the academic year by providing young players with opportunities at home.

University football players and fans will now have a choice. Following the success of Laval's Rouge et Or, Quebec has built a solid inter-university reputation, and the other university teams are looking forward to the arrival of the Carabins on the circuit.

Ireland

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Friendship Group which I am proud to chair has met many key political figures from Northern Ireland during the past four years, including president Mary McAleese and Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble who seeks re-election tomorrow as first minister of the Northern Ireland assembly.

As Canadians we pray for the success of the peace process in Northern Ireland, especially those four million of us who are of Irish ancestry from both traditions.

Today I congratulate the leader of Sinn Fein, Mr. Gerry Adams, for his outstanding contribution in advancing the peace process in Northern Ireland. Mr. Adams will meet once again with our Prime Minister later today. I ask members to join me in welcoming to Ottawa the leader of Sinn Fein, Mr. Gerry Adams.

Seniors

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my duty to remind the House that this week is National Seniors Safety Week. While in these changing times issues of personal safety and security are foremost on all our minds, we must recognize that for our aging population there are even greater concerns requiring even greater care.

We must take seriously our responsibility to our senior citizens by ensuring that they have within their reach all the necessary means by which they can make their lives and homes safer.

In our efforts to help Canada's senior citizens we must always take steps that not only prevent accidents but also enhance independence. Simple home renovations that provide better lighting and clearer instructions on prescription medication are just two simple ways that our seniors can protect themselves.

I urge all members to work toward ensuring that seniors and seniors' issues are not pushed aside but rather that they are dealt with in a swift and decisive fashion.

In that spirit I renew my call on the government to appoint a minister of state responsible for seniors' issues to ensure that our seniors have a clear and focused voice in cabinet.

Pesticides

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the World Wildlife Fund has compiled a list of 60 pesticides that are banned in several countries because of concerns related to birth defects, toxicity hazards and the danger they pose to people, water quality and wildlife.

Canada's pesticide regulatory agency confirms that 59 of those pesticides are still in use, leaving Canadians exposed to chemicals that certain other countries deem to be too dangerous.

Approximately 500 pesticides are allowed for use in Canada, nearly three times the number some European countries such as Finland, Sweden and Denmark allow. Many of these pesticides were approved before 1960 and therefore a prompt re-evaluation of these pesticides is urgently needed.

Canada's 30 year old Pest Control Products Act is badly inadequate for the protection of the health of Canadians and children in particular. I urge the Minister of Health to introduce new pesticide legislation.