Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2001

Agriculture

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in an attempt to reduce grain handling and transportation costs a number of farmers in western Canada have joined together to ship their grain to export positions by collectively using producer cars. An increasing number of these producers are making use of trackside loading facilities such as the ones operated by West Central Road and Rail. These facilities do not fit the regulatory regime of the Canadian Grain Commission.

The issue of these producer car loading facilities was first presented to the commission last July. We now know that the commission does not plan to make any decision at least until March. This is unacceptable. Once again the Liberal minister of agriculture is playing catch-up to the industry instead of providing leadership. The uncertainty caused by the government's waffling is costing farmers money.

Three separate independent studies, Justice Estey's, Arthur Kroeger's and the Canadian Transportation Act review, have told the government how to fix the grain handling and transportation system. How long will farmers have to wait for the Liberals to act?

Landmines

[Janko Peric, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the fourth anniversary of an historic day in international humanitarian law, the signing of the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines. The Government of Canada is celebrating the convention's anniversary by highlighting Canada's commitment to landmine survivors.

Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs' special adviser on landmines, Senator Sheila Finestone, announced Canada's continued support for the Landmine Survivors Network's Raising the Voices initiative. This project will empower landmine survivors to represent, organize and advocate on their own behalf.

Joining Senator Finestone are Mr. Jerry White, a landmine survivor from the U.S.A. and co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network, and Mr. Porfirio Gomez Zamora, a landmine survivor from Nicaragua and a Raising the Voices participant.

I am pleased that Mr. White and Mr. Gomez have joined us in the House today to witness our proceedings and to help us celebrate this important anniversary.

Disabled Persons Day

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today we mark International Day for Disabled Persons with a theme of “Full Participation and Equality”.

The Canadian Labour Congress and the International Labour Organization have done pioneering work to help people with disabilities.

Today the CLC launched a national education campaign to stop discrimination at work. The ILO has developed an international code of practice to accommodate current and potential employees with disabilities in the workplace.

Our federal government, however, has failing grades in the duty to accommodate our citizens with disabilities. We have seen cuts to eligibility to CPP, cuts to the Canada assistance plan, cuts to acceptable housing, cuts to training programs and recently 90,000 people have been forced to reapply for the disability tax credit.

Today I call on the government to finally bring in adequate income support, remove physical and policy barriers and create real employment opportunities for the millions of Canadians who live with disabilities. Equal citizenship now.

English Language Media

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the revelations made by Normand Lester, new stakeholders are now surfacing and their contribution is very enlightening.

For example, Maryse Potvin, a researcher in social sciences and an expert on racism, is studying what she calls the dérapages racistes or racist excesses toward Quebec in Canada's English language media since the 1995 referendum.

Ms. Potvin talks about a national psychosis in English Canada and says that she can see the elements of the speech and the mechanisms leading to racism.

The comments made by Robson, Francis, Johnson and others columnists whose intellectual probity is matched only by the rigour of their methodology, were closely examined.

I invite all those who care about the truth to put an end to the shocking excesses that tarnish Quebec's reputation by consulting the research done by Ms. Potvin in the scientific magazines Canadian Ethnic Studies and Politique et sociétés , to end such slandering.

Education

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge a program operating in a family of schools in the Jane-Finch community of my riding of York West. Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview's project, “Partners for Conflict Resolution”, is a program that promotes positive peer culture and non-violent approaches to conflict resolution.

This partnership program will bring peer mediation services into our school to give our youth alternatives to violence. It is critical that we nurture citizens who are able to solve personal conflicts without violence.

Partners for Conflict Resolution will play an important role in many students' interpersonal development. Its early intervention and prevention aspects intend to stop violent behaviour. Further, the project will counteract the emergence of a culture of violence in the city.

It is through these partnerships and this community based approach that we can work against violence with those who will build the future of our communities: our youth.

Trade

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, today the Coalition for a Secure and Trade Efficient Border, including the Canadian manufacturers and exporters, the chamber of commerce and the CFIB, call on the government to take a commonsense approach to customs and border management.

The coalition has been out ahead of the government in proposing ways to ease congestion and secure borders through the use of technology, pre-clearance and better co-operation between the Canadian and U.S. governments.

It is time the Solicitor General of Canada, the Minister for International Trade and, above all, the Prime Minister establish a high level and ongoing dialogue with Canadian industry.

America listens to proactive governments. The Canadian way is to take initiatives and to make proposals. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada did this with free trade. We now trade $1.7 billion a day with the Americans. Last month the PC/DR coalition unveiled our plan for public protection and border management.

Today, the Coalition for a Security and Trade Efficient Border gave the government 77 ways to act better. When will the government act on this set of proactive recommendations that follow similar recommendations that the PC/DR coalition proposed last month?

3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, from November 20-28, I had the opportunity to travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina with three colleagues from the House as part of the second stage of the Canadian Forces Parliamentary Program to visit Canadian troops currently serving with the NATO joint task force, the SFOR.

During my visit, I was able to observe the daily routine of the members of the 3rd battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment in their role as peacekeepers among communities that have been hard hit by the conflicts that are now raging.

I would like to thank the members of the battalion for their hospitality and kindness throughout my visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Canadians are proud of our peacekeepers, who work tirelessly to meet the tremendous needs of the people of Bosnia.

Ed Whalen

[Rob Anders, Canadian Alliance, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to express on behalf of this caucus and all members of the House our best wishes to Ed Whalen.

Yesterday in Florida, Ed suffered a massive coronary and is on life support in a hospital. His beloved wife Nomi is by his side and I know that Ed will derive great strength from her presence.

Ed Whalen has been a fixture on the sports and charity scene in Calgary for nearly a half century. It can be said that Ed gave more back to the community than he could have ever got in return. All community causes have gained something from his support. No matter how busy or how rushed he was, if somebody stopped to talk, he always found a bit of extra time to say hello.

Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go out from this place at this time to Ed Whalen, to Nomi and his family and all their friends. To use one of Ed's favourite expressions, we hope Ed overcomes this “malfunction at the junction” and comes back home from Florida soon to continue his good deeds and good life as an outstanding Calgarian.

Terrorism

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that for obvious diplomatic reasons the United States will continue to talk positively about our association in the war on terrorism, but actions speak louder than words.

Canadians now watch with dismay as the longest undefended border in modern history, a source of pride for over a century to Canadians, is now being defended by hundreds of U.S. troops on the ground and overhead by armed U.S. helicopters.

Will the Prime Minister admit that maybe the Americans are a little nervous about legislation that still allows fugitives into the country without documents, that still allows these people to be members of terrorist organizations and that fugitives from the U.S. will probably never be extradited, if they make it—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as usual the Leader of the Opposition has the matter totally wrong. I have just come from meetings with Attorney General Ashcroft in Detroit. He confirms that the Americans are not militarizing their border. They are continuing to do as they have done since September 11. They have national guard people working with their existing immigration and customs inspectors to help make up for the fact that they do not have enough in those services. They will be hiring and training more.

In the meantime, they are using the national guard people to facilitate trade across the border. This is a matter of confidence in Canada and its relationship with the United States, not the opposite. The hon. member is wrong, wrong, wrong.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the government stopped letting people without identification into the country, maybe the U.S. would not now be putting soldiers at our border.

Will the government immediately take the necessary measures to stop letting people into our country and to show that we are masters in our own house? It is feasible.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong in his allegations.

The United States stationed the national guard to help their own customs and immigration inspectors in order to ensure efficiency at the border.

The action taken by the United States is in no way due to a lack of confidence in our Canadian system. It is just the opposite.

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

Mr. Speaker, if my neighbour said “Look I trust you but I`m going to have soldiers watch you all the time with armed helicopters overhead”, I think I would wonder what was going on.

Not just standing with our U.S. allies, but it is very important at this time to stand with Israel. People in Israel have lived for too long in fear of their children being blown up on buses and in fear of their young people being literally blown up while they go to restaurants and bars.

Will the government, though it has properly condemned these acts as it should have and we agree with that, say unequivocally that Yasser Arafat must take all measures to stop this devastation and that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in whatever measures it takes to defend itself? Will he say that right here?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's support of government policy because on December 2 the Prime Minister responded with anger to the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Jerusalem and Haifa with these words:

All Canadians are outraged at this monstrous taking of innocent life. We reject absolutely any suggestion that such abhorrent action can ever be justified in any way. Violence and fear are never the tools of justice, they are the weapons of blinkered extremists—who tolerate only their point of view and accept no civilized restraint in seeking its imposition.

I am glad to hear that, at least in principle, the Leader of the Opposition is agreeing with these strong words.

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

Mr. Speaker, Yasser Arafat has failed to clamp down on groups like Hamas, which inflicted brutal terrorist attacks on the civilian population of Israel on the weekend.

Canadian people are not content to be bystanders to terrorist acts. The government supported the multinational ultimatum to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan: “Stop sheltering terrorists or be treated as terrorists yourselves”.

Will the government deliver that same ultimatum to Yasser Arafat or will it continue to sit on the fence?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong. Canada is not on the fence. It is condemning unequivocally the terrorist acts against Israeli civilians. I do not see why the hon. member is not supporting us on this, instead of trying to suggest that we are doing something otherwise.

The message of the Prime Minister's words certainly can be taken as directed against the perpetrators of these terrorist acts and anyone connected with them.

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

The government is not just sitting on the fence, Mr. Speaker, it is impaled by the fence.

Today the United Nations considered a series of one-sided resolutions that would undermine Israel's right to undertake security measures and to defend against terrorism. It would single out Israel for condemnation and unequivocally side with the Palestinians in the conflict over disputed territories.

The United States and Israel boycotted the meeting. We attended, but to what end? When given the opportunity to stand up for Canadian values and to speak for the voice of Canadians, the government failed.

I want the Deputy Prime Minister to explain why the government, in its effort to fight terrorism, abstained from the vote today in Geneva.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canada abstained because it objected to the imbalance in the text of the resolution. There was no reference in the text to Israeli civilian casualties. This is a serious omission, particularly in light of the recent suicide bombings.

Canada joined the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia and Norway among others, in abstaining on this resolution. This is an important change of position and it sends a strong signal to those who are perpetrating terrorist acts.

Border Agreement

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

Mr. Speaker, the government continues to deny the need for a real North American security perimeter, which would target the continent's entry points and ensure a flow of trade within it.

Instead of that, Canada has signed an agreement with the United States only, and the U.S. government at that very moment unilaterally deployed the national guard along a border that must remain open.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledge that the presence of the U.S. national guard risks impeding trade with the United States?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, people like me and my constituents, who know the border well, see the national guard not as an impediment to trade but rather as an aid to it, because there is a shortage of U.S. customs and immigration inspectors.

Until this shortage is remedied, the national guard is helping its American colleagues by allowing international trade to cross our border easily.

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

Mr. Speaker, the new border agreement poses a problem with respect to the right to asylum.

According to the notion of safe third country in the agreement, a person whose application for refugee status is rejected in the U.S., where policies are much stricter, will not then be allowed into Canada whose criteria are much more generous toward those seeking asylum.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister realize that, had the notion of safe third country been in effect at the time of apartheid, Canada's honorary citizen, Nelson Mandela, would not have been admitted into Canada had his request for asylum been refused elsewhere?

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

Mr. Speaker, both Canada and the United States have signed the Geneva convention. The co-operation agreement, which will be signed this afternoon, commits both countries to negotiate a safe third agreement which would end asylum shopping.

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, because of the government's unwillingness to defend its point of view and its lethargic defence of its own legislation, the Americans are getting their way in the new border agreement between the two countries.

Will the government admit that, in the circumstances, the toughest provisions in both countries will be the ones that apply?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would merely point out that co-operation between the United States and Canada right now is exceptional.

The agreement signed this morning involving certain agencies mirrors what has been done with respect to customs. Obviously, all this comes under the broader authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Governor Ridge of the United States.

I would also simply like to say that what we are striving for is to keep the border open through a greater reliance on technology in order to ensure that we better meet our dual mandate. That is essentially what we are attempting to do.