Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2001

Air Transportation

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister acknowledged on Friday, in response to one of my questions, that small communities were being poorly serviced and did not have the same advantages as larger ones.

Should the minister not carry his logic to its conclusion and allow the unused financial offer made to Canada 3000 to be made to small regional carriers, which keep competition alive and serve the interests of the regions?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in Bill C-26, the role of Air Canada is to serve small communities for three years. This is very important for all communities.

As to the matter of loans and guarantees for Canada 3000, as I have mentioned a number of times here in the House, it was simply for Canada 3000 and the major carriers, in order to give them temporary help in the crisis.

Taxation

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, since 1993 the government has increased payroll taxes by 26% and next year it is to increase payroll taxes by 6%, even after accounting for its measly five cent reduction in EI premiums announced last week.

Given that there is a $40 billion surplus in the EI account, more than twice what is needed in a downturn, why is the finance minister hoarding this surplus rather than giving back a bigger share of it to employees and employers to whom it belongs?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, ever since we have taken office we have continually cut the EI premiums and this year has been no exception.

Having said that, we have also increased the benefits that have gone to workers. We have as well made sure in terms of payroll taxes that what we are doing is ensuring that we have sustainable pensions for the future. I am sure the member would not want to argue with that.

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is unbelievable. We are being led into a recession by the Liberal government and the government's response is to increase the cost of hiring people by increasing payroll taxes. Canadians are losing their jobs. Employers are having to lay off people.

Why is the government increasing payroll taxes when workers and employers need, now more than ever, payroll tax relief so they can hire more Canadians?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the cuts we have made to EI amount to $6.8 billion a year. That is very substantial.

The reason we made changes to the Canada pension plan, with the Government of Canada working with every one of the provinces, was to ensure that the pension plan was sustainable in the years to come.

Is the member telling us that he does not want to make it sustainable? Is he telling us that he wants to cut the contributions to make sure that future generations pay for those who are retiring today?

Housing

[Claude Duplain, Liberal, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for housing met to discuss an affordable housing program.

Will the minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation tell us if the meeting was successful?

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday I met with my provincial and territorial counterparts in Quebec City and we came up with a framework agreement that will allow us to build and create more affordable housing for all Canadians, as early as next spring.

Therefore the meeting was a success. In the coming weeks, we will sign bilateral agreements with all of the provinces and territories.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Reed Elley, Canadian Alliance, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs has recently stated he has consulted with about 2% of aboriginal people living on reserves in preparing for the drafting and introduction of the first nations governance act.

For years and years aboriginal people have lived under the oppressive regulations of the Indian Act, but after such a short consultation does the minister believe that he now has the moral authority to impose a new Indian Act on native people living across Canada?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that my colleague is aware that consultations on governance is a three year process. The first phase was completed at the end of October. We are now starting the second phase.

I think people would agree with me that a three year process of consultation and putting forward legislation to improve an act that is outdated is a long time in anyone's parliamentary schedule. I think that would be agreeable to all members of the House.

[Reed Elley, Canadian Alliance, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Assembly of First Nations begins meetings in Ottawa to discuss the first nations governance act. To date political Indian groups across Canada, including the AFN, the Chiefs of Ontario, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Interior Alliance, Federation of the Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, have all stated their opposition to the minister's initiative.

However my consultations with grassroots aboriginal people have confirmed that both fiscal and democratic accountability are of huge concern to them at the band level. Would the minister confirm today that fiscal and governmental accountability will indeed be written into the bill?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, consultations have not concluded. We are now in the process of assessing the consultations and looking at what the draft legislation will look like. It is a little early for me to make a suggestion to him and to others as to exactly what the bill will look like.

I can give him the assurance that the objective of the exercise is to give first nation governments the kinds of tools that any modern government would need to be successful in building a first nation economy.

Middle East

[Yves Rocheleau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the situation in the Middle East grows more and more alarming. This weekend, 25 Israeli citizens died following Palestinian Hamas attacks. Today, Israel launched missiles near the Palestinian authority offices.

The international community cannot remain indifferent to this latest escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Will the government inform the House of the position that Canada plans on taking in response to the latest intensification of the conflict in the region?

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has been firm in its support for the Middle East peace process. The only way we will see progress is for a condemnation on both sides of civilian casualties.

Both Israel and Palestine have the power to bring things to a successful conclusion by taking the necessary steps and ending the violence.

Economic Development

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue and excellent Secretary of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

Following this year's emergency debate on the state of Canada's resource industries, could the minister tell us about the changes made to support Quebec businesses in resource regions?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. This is an excellent question on a very important issue, namely the economic development of all the regions of Quebec.

On November 22, I had the opportunity to add a new component to our main program called “Idées PME”.

Today, I would like to announce a $30 million sub-component called “Essai-expérimentation”, which is designed specifically for all resource regions and based on natural resources.

Once again, our objective is to have flexible programs to meet the public's needs and those identified here. We want to create jobs and we will continue to do so.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been informed that the Sea King helicopter replacement will yield a finished product that is inferior to the equipment our forces have today.

The Minister of National Defence has indicated that in a post-cold war world the reduced specs were all that were needed. In light of the tragic events of September 11 and the subsequent increased pressures on our military, is the minister still prepared to say that our military needs can be met by lesser equipment and helicopters that are inferior to EH-101s?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to provide members of the Canadian forces with the kind of equipment, including a helicopter, that they need to do their job. They have written the statement of requirements. They have written the specifications in detail as to what is required.

This is not the cold war era to which the hon. member keeps referring. This is a different era with different requirements and the helicopter that Canadian forces members will get to replace the Sea King will be what they need to do the job.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Mr. John Ashcroft, Attorney General of the United States of America.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Committees of the House

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the order of reference of Tuesday, March 20, I am reporting today that your committee on the environment and sustainable development has considered Bill C-5, an act respecting the protection of wildlife species at risk, and agreed on Tuesday, November 27, to report it with 121 amendments.

You will be pleased to learn that the committee has worked hard and long hours to produce this first report to the House and I submit it for your consideration.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations and in accordance with the order of reference of Tuesday, November 20, I have the honour to present the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations on Bill S-33, an act to amend the Carriage by Air Act.

Your committee has studied the bill and is reporting it without amendment.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 41st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the review of the radio and television broadcasting of proceedings of House committees.

Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present a petition today from citizens of the Peterborough area who are concerned about genetically modified organisms, particularly food.

These citizens were supporters of Bill C-287. They support mandatory labelling that would allow for research and post-release monitoring of potential health effects of genetically modified foods. They would have this apply to all stages of sale. It would require the genetic history of a food or ingredient to be recorded and traced through all stages of distribution, manufacturing, processing, packaging and sale.

These petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to support the principles embodied in Bill C-287 and allow residents of Canada the right to decide whether to purchase products containing modified material.

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

Mr. Speaker, the undersigned petitioners call upon parliament to retain the federal gun registry. The Minister of Justice should remain fully accountable and responsible to parliament for this program.

The Canadian Firearms Centre must remain in Miramichi and in the public sector. The petition is from people across the country.