Debates of Nov. 6th, 2001

Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, it is important for everyone to know that whenever there is a security concern, if there is a concern about the identity of the individual or if we have any evidence to suggest that they will not show up for their hearings, we can and we do detain.

I have actually told the member opposite that we do that, that we do that whenever we have a concern, and yet he wants to continue to give the impression that people are released from detention even when we have concerns. That is just simply not true.

Health

[Steve Mahoney, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Yesterday Mike Harris, premier of Ontario, said that the federal government had not made health care one of its top priorities. In fact he also accused the Government of Canada of a funding shortfall.

What are the real facts on the Government of Canada's health care spending in the province of Ontario?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Mike Harris likes to point the finger at others but when it comes to health care he has no one to blame but himself. His government made choices and Ontario is now stuck with the fallout.

They chose tax cuts over health care. They chose tax cuts over education. Ontario's own numbers show that since 1998 over half of additional funding for health care in Ontario came from the federal government. Last year alone it was 55%.

Mike Harris can try to blame others for his choices and his priorities. We have reinvested in health care and will continue to do so. We are proud of our--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Churchill.

Employment Insurance

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, employment insurance has not been cutting it for many thousands of laid off lumber industry workers. While the Liberal government plays footsie with the Americans, workers find themselves unemployed in an economy on the verge of recession with little or no EI benefits because of Liberal government cuts to the program.

Could the Minister of Human Resources Development tell us if she has any intention of temporarily topping up EI for laid off lumber industry workers to help them through this trade war?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the potential impact of the recent decision on workers in the softwood lumber industry. As I have said in the House before, we anticipate the majority of workers in the softwood lumber industry will be eligible for employment insurance should they need it.

Aside from income support the hon. member will know that we make significant transfers to the provinces for use in the active measures, the part 2 benefits for individuals. Now is the time to use those benefits should the workers need them.

Softwood Lumber

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Atlantic lumber producers have been hit with a 12.5% anti-dumping duty. Up until just a few days ago there was no indication from the U.S. or the Canadian government that there was any problem with Atlantic lumber. Now it is clear the NAFTA deal is no deal at all.

My question is for the Minister for International Trade. Does he agree with the statement that when it comes to softwood lumber there are no free trade rules; there are no fair trade rules; there are only the American rules?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I understand very much why the member is angry at this time, but what is important is that we work on that one together with the Americans.

I am encouraged by the lunch I had with Mr. Racicot because I found him to be a man who I think is fair. He is very close to the president of the United States. He is a man who has listened. We have been able to talk about the very difficult circumstances that so many of our communities are going through. I think we can work on that one together for a long term solution.

Foreign Affairs

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

At this very important time in our history, incredibly the foreign service finds itself with 600 unfilled positions around the world.

The deputy minister testified at committee that he does not have the budget to hire new people and pay quality people fair wages.

Will the minister, in his upcoming security budget, make sure there is money available to hire and replace these 600 necessary positions at this very critical time?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as a submission as part of the prebudget process, to the Minister of Finance, but I find it difficult to take issue with the points the hon. member has made.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence told the House defence committee that “We will have to catch up a little bit on the timing” of replacing the Sea Kings for 2005.

However those in charge see it quite differently. Col. Henneberry, head of the Pacific fleet helicopters, stated “It is my opinion that there is a strong potential we will be conducting Sea King operations well past the year 2010”.

Will the minister the minister make public today his departmental plan to deliver new helicopter--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of National Defence.

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her representation and desire to get these helicopters just as quickly as we possibly can, and we are aiming to do that.

The memorandum she referred to that suggests 2010 is only in an extreme case, such as if we run into further difficulties in getting them delivered. We will do everything we can to get the helicopters replaced just as quickly as we can.

Meanwhile, we put $50 million into upgrading the Sea Kings and they will be performing quite well in the Arabian Sea area.

Employment Insurance

[Joe Peschisolido, Canadian Alliance, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in October, 26,000 full time jobs were lost and the unemployment rate increased to 7.3%.

In this difficult economic time, job creation must be encouraged. The Minister of Finance said that payroll taxes are a cancer on job creation.

Does the Minister of Human Resources Development agree with her cabinet colleague and will she cut EI premiums to create jobs?

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

Mr. Speaker, as a result of consistent monitoring and prudent changes, the employment insurance system is there and is stronger than ever to support Canadians should they need it.

I remind the hon. member that the government has taken a balanced approach, consistently reducing employment insurance premiums while increasing the benefits. The government will continue that approach and it will serve us well in these difficult times.

[Joe Peschisolido, Canadian Alliance, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has some $40 billion surplus in the EI account. Our own chief actuary said that only $15 billion is needed for even the worst recession.

The minister said that she will not cut premiums but there is more than enough money in the EI account.

The minister cannot have it both ways. Either the money has been wasted and it is unavailable for EI or the minister can cut premiums. Which is it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, first, over the course of the last four to five years the government has cut over $6.5 billion in premiums. They are now substantially reduced.

Second, the hon. member talked about job creation. Under the Minister of Human Resources Development, almost 67,000 full time jobs have been created in Canada over the past three months.

There is a final thing I would raise. In this difficult time, when I am preparing a budget and dealing with each of my cabinet colleagues, I would really appreciate it if the opposition would not set me up.

Airline Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, less than two weeks ago, the Minister of Transport gave Canada 3000 a $75 million loan guarantee to help it with its financial difficulties.

Today, we have learned that the company is getting ready to lay off 1,400 employees of Royal Aviation.

Will the minister explain to us his criteria for giving loan guarantees, if preserving jobs is not one of them?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the criteria covered many things, such as investment by investors, restructuring of operations, taking measures for employees, and all sorts of things like that.

The treatment for Canada 3000 will be the same as for all other airlines.

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

Mr. Speaker, given that Canada 3000 has just rejected job sharing, which would have saved jobs, should the minister not make it a condition of any assistance to airlines that jobs be maintained?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, this was the case for Canada 3000. Like any other company, it is entitled to lay off employees only in accordance with the Canada Labour Code and collective agreements. I think that Canada 3000 is meeting these obligations.

Immigration

[Peter Goldring, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Centre-East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Creuso, the minister's adviser, is a disgraced Italian politician who has been investigated for corruption, sentenced to jail, skipped out on his fine and immigrated to Canada.

Canadians would like to know how Mr. Creuso, with a sterling resumé like that, would ever qualify for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian government job.

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

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that before anyone is granted permanent residence status to Canada, he or she must undergo the statutory requirements of both security checks and criminality checks.

I would also say that further checks are done before citizenship. If, however, an individual knowingly lies or misrepresents himself or herself, citizenship can be revoked under the legislation.

[Peter Goldring, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Centre-East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of public works, while representing Canada, was travelling abroad with a known felon as an adviser. That is not a comforting thought, is it?

It certainly adds a new meaning to the expression “Canadian representative at large”.

How could the minister not know Mr. Creuso had a felonious past? Why did the minister's staff or immigration not inform the minister of his rap sheet?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before lunch today, when I was asked by the media, I did not know about his problem with the Italian law. I learned like anyone else who reads the Globe and Mail on Saturday mornings.