Debates of Nov. 7th, 2001

Softwood Lumber

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's response notwithstanding, it is my impression that we are in the process of sliding back to the 1996 strategy of negotiating tariffs, lowered ones it is true, but still tariffs and quotas for softwood lumber, and these have penalized Quebec in particular.

Is the response the minister let slip yesterday concerning the long term not an indication that we are heading toward a 1996-style strategy?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Just the opposite, Mr. Speaker. What I said is that what we wanted for the long term was free trade, precisely so as to avoid managed trade agreements.

That is, therefore, what we want in the short term, the medium term, and the long term. We want free trade in this area.

I greatly appreciate the co-operation of the government of Quebec. Yesterday, I had the opportunity of holding discussions with their minister responsible for forestry practices.

The government of British Columbia is making a magnificent contribution. Never in the history of the softwood lumber issue has the Canadian team presented such a united front.

Terrorism

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the foreign affairs minister back from his mission abroad and congratulate him on his efforts.

While in the Middle East last week the minister refused to condemn Hamas or Islamic Jihad for their terrorist activities or their attacks on civilians. Terrorism is a daily reality for the people of Israel. Sadly, last Sunday two students were killed and dozens of others were injured in another terrorist attack. Since then, both groups have claimed credit.

Will the minister now condemn Hamas and Islamic Jihad?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we denounce all acts of violence used to attain political objectives. We denounce them for their ruthlessness and for the fact that they undermine the cause that they seek to espouse. Terrorism does not speak to anybody. It speaks only on behalf of the criminals that perpetrate it.

The hon. member may have noticed that in seeking to have governments in Iran, Syria and Lebanon renounce groups that use violence for political objectives, I drew a certain amount of negative criticism in those places. I should have thought that he would give me some--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Portage--Lisgar.

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

I do, Mr. Speaker, some. After the minister's mission, Canadians are left somewhat puzzled about the government's moral obtuseness. Last week the minister said that Hamas and Islamic Jihad attacks on non-combatants are equivalent to Israel's attempts to track down terrorists and kill them. Yet that is exactly what the coalition of which Canada is a part is committed to doing.

Is the minister not concerned that his own comments will undermine somewhat the efforts to stop bin Laden and al-Qaeda?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure I recognize that quote, but let us try to be clear.

In every case the use of violence, particularly directed as I said in the Middle East against civilians, is unacceptable to achieve any objective, political or otherwise, and must be denounced and must be stopped.

What we seek to have governments do in this region is to stop using those groups as a means of achieving political objectives. If there are political objectives to be attained, then they should be sought through the appropriate means.

Interest Rates

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with interest rates for personal loans around 10%, mortgage rates around 7%, and the interest rate for the Bank of Canada at 2.75%, interest rates for credit cards have resisted this downward trend, and remain near 18%.

Does the Minister of Finance plan to sit back for much longer before deciding to come to the aid of consumers, particularly during this economic downturn?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as the member must know, there are some credit cards with much lower interest rates. There is a whole range of credit cards.

Some cards offer different services and have higher rates, while others have lower rates.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given the privileges the law grants to the banks in particular, is it not reasonable that in return there be limits set on the interest rates that financial institutions charge for credit cards in order to help consumers?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, what the big financial institutions will say, is that, first, credit cards are very competitive, there are many different cards, different types, and second, there is the whole issue of fraud, and this has to be paid for.

That being said, it is quite normal, and interest rates should come down in any event.

Health

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to protecting Canadians from bioterror, the government is doing too little and may even be too late. It set aside just $5 million to stockpile medications. That is just 3% equivalent to what the U.S. plans to spend. The government's own health department has said it needs to spend 10 to 20 times that much just for anthrax and botulism.

The government has yet to tell Canadians what they can expect if there is smallpox bioterror. Will it do so today and be specific about it?

[Jeannot Castonguay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I must say that, since the events of September 11, this government, with the Minister of Health and all ministers responsible, has taken action daily to improve our security systems, our checkpoints throughout the country.

It has been in touch with the provinces, starting with frontline health care workers.

The important thing is to begin with the excellent health care system we already have in place, to ensure that the necessary measures are taken by frontline workers to identify the risks threatening us—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary--Nose Hill.

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I guess it escaped the government's notice that that answer had nothing at all to do with the question, which was about smallpox.

Smallpox is an explosively contagious disease, for the benefit of the government, and could threaten every Canadian if it were used for bioterror. Many Canadians are asking for a smallpox vaccination as a precautionary measure.

My question is, and I would like an answer to the question: How is the government planning to ensure that every Canadian who requests a smallpox vaccination can obtain one?

[Jeannot Castonguay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is a topic of interest to all Canadians, and rightly so. They should know that smallpox is not a local problem. It is a global one.

I am very pleased to say that yesterday, and the day before, at the OECD conference with health ministers from some 30 countries, this was one of the items on the agenda: specifically, how we could work together in the event of such an attack. Such an attack is highly improbable but we must still be ready anyway.

These are measures taken by the government. This conference was requested by the Minister of Health—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for St. Paul's.

International Aid

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Cooperation. With winter approaching, what specifically is Canada doing to ensure the long term health of those children in Afghanistan and Pakistan?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, in the next three days Canadian funds will enable UNICEF to immunize 45 million children in Afghanistan and Pakistan against deficiencies of vitamin A. This will save the lives of approximately 60,00 children in this area.

Canada is the lead country around the world in the provision of vitamin A; 1.5 billion capsules have been distributed up until now. It affects about 100 countries around the world. As I said, it will save about 60,000 lives this winter in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Airline Industry

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government has offered Canada 3000 $75 million in loan guarantees, conditional upon a 30% reduction of capacity and costs. Its attempts to reduce costs by shutting down Royal Airlines and laying off workers have been rejected by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.

Could the Minister of Transport tell the House if, along with reducing costs, he will also make it a condition that Canada 3000 applies to the job sharing program of Human Resources Development Canada to minimize job losses?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is well known that airlines around the world have encountered difficulties over the last year, problems that have been exacerbated by the aftermath of the events of September 11. The difficulties affecting Air Canada and Canada 3000 have been well documented, as have their requests for assistance.

The government has given them assistance in compensation for the losses sustained on September 11, for indemnity of third party war and terrorism insurance and for considering loan guarantees for Canada 3000. The government has acted where necessary.

The Environment

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. At Bonn this summer, Canada committed to support legally binding consequences for non-compliance with the Kyoto protocol requirements. At Marrakesh this week, Canada appears to be vacillating on this commitment.

The Deputy Prime Minister was in Bonn this summer when that commitment was made. Could he tell the House whether we will stick with that commitment or will we change it?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the head of the Canadian delegation in addressing the meeting in Marrakesh, at the very opening of the session a number of days ago, made very clear Canada's position on compliance. I detected in that statement no change in the position from that adopted in Bonn.

Softwood Lumber

[Gary Lunn, Canadian Alliance, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber crisis is affecting all Canadians. Over 30,000 forestry workers in B.C. alone will be unemployed by the end of the year. B.C.'s mill towns are at the risk of becoming ghost towns. We have asked the Prime Minister over and over again to get directly involved in this file.

My question is very simple. Has the Prime Minister personally spoken with President Bush this week? Yes or no. Have you picked up the phone and called the president of the United States on this file?

[The Speaker]

I know the hon. member will want to address his questions to the Chair. The right hon. Prime Minister.