Debates of Dec. 7th, 2001

Health Care

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member ought to take a look at the facts. Right now health care transfers to the provinces are at an all time high. Equalization payments to the provinces, which goes to health care and other services, are at an all time high. That does not take into account the massive amounts of money that have gone into better practices, the health transition fund and health care research right across the country.

Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, according to the recent joint declaration of co-operation between Canada and the United States, the concept of safe third country implies that a refugee whose application is rejected by the United States can no longer apply in Canada.

Can the Minister of Immigration confirm that, had this agreement been in effect in 1973, none of the Chileans fleeing the Pinochet regime would have found asylum in Canada had they initially been denied asylum by the United States?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question.

It is true that the Geneva convention permits the negotiation of a safe third agreement. It is also a fact that the United States and Canada have agreed to negotiate a safe third agreement. It is also a fact that the Government of Quebec has been supportive and has given unequivocal support to the development and the concept of a safe third agreement.

It is also true that this is the year 2001 and there are some people who would be stuck in the 1960s and 1970s. In fact Canada and the U.S. have--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Ottawa Centre.

Canada-United States Border

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, following the tragic events of September 11, what measures have been taken by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency to improve the flow of goods across the border?

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the Windsor border crossing the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Revenue announced a new program called customs self-assessment. It is a pre-approved program for carriers and importers for the smooth flow of goods across the border.

American carriers told me that they not only think it is a wonderful program but they also praised Canada for being a leader--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for South Surrey--White Rock--South Langley.

Airline Industry

[Val Meredith, Canadian Alliance, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in the last two years during the transport minister's watch we have seen an almost total collapse of Canada's airline industry.

Recently the minister was too late in amending the Air Canada Public Participation Act. He still refuses to change foreign ownership limits. He was caught off guard by the sudden demise of Canada 3000. He now refuses to consider Air Canada's proposal to expand open skies, instead thinking that he will save the industry by personally taking control.

Is the minister totally incapable of developing a strategy for the airline industry or is he--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.

[André Harvey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport has repeatedly said that he is prepared to do anything to increase competition here.

The member may be assured that we will continue to do everything to make the competition real, within the country, despite the public proposals that are sometimes made rather strangely.

Points of Order

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, for clarity, I may have inadvertently indicated that the Minister for International Trade will speak with Mr. Racicot in Washington today. Indeed, he will have a conversation but it will be on the telephone.

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as someone acquainted with the work that gremlins can sometimes do to amend the record of Hansard , I would like to ask the Speaker to pay particular attention to ensure that the Hansard report for today reflects accurately the response of the Minister of Industry with respect to the recession in Canada.

[The Speaker]

I am sure the Speaker, who will have some oversight on these matters, will be ably assisted by hon. members on every side of the House.

Government Response to Petitions

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to six petitions.

Committees of the House

[John Williams, Canadian Alliance, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on the Advisory Committee on Labour-Management Relations in the Federal Public Service.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

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

Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations, I have the honour to present the ninth report of the standing committee entitled “Building a Transportation Security Culture: Aviation as the Starting Point”.

At the outset, I would like to thank all the members of the parliamentary committee, as well as the staff, June Dewetering and John Christopher, and Paul Cardegna, the clerk of the committee.

Pursuant to Standing Order No. 109, the committee would like a comprehensive response to the report.

The core of the report says that we should have a new transportation act which has as its focus a secretary of state for transportation security. Within that framework, all the elements such as immigration, customs, police officers and all the stakeholders, including the air carriers and the staff of the air carriers, will work extremely hard to make sure that our airlines are safe.

It was a wake–up call on September 11 when an aircraft was used as a cruise missile. We do not ever want our aircraft to be not secure. Included in the recommendations are a stronger cockpit door with ISO standards, up to date screening systems, with the appropriate sniffing devices, using dogs, and improved technology, a better list—

[The Speaker]

I know the hon. member is a diligent chair of his committee and is fully conversant with the report but the presentation of committee reports is limited. I think that perhaps he is giving a longer than necessary summary at this point.

Criminal Code

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

moved for leave to introduce BillC-419, an act to amend the Criminal Code (firefighters).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce into the House an act to amend the criminal code (firefighters), which would increase the severity of punishment for criminal acts, such as arson, that injure or kill a firefighter. Specifically, the bill would create two new criminal offences of aggravated assault and first degree murder when the victim is a firefighter acting in the line of duty.

When I think back to the bravery shown by firefighters on September 11, I believe we have a legislative duty to protect our protectors.

I wish to thank the International Association of Fire Fighters for its support of the bill and for its ongoing efforts on behalf of our firefighters.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Petitions

[Val Meredith, Canadian Alliance, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from over 542 constituents in the lower mainland. They are upset with the amount of sex and violence that is presently on the television stations. They humbly request the House of Commons to urge the CRTC to reduce the sexual and violent content contained on television.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-46, an act to amend the Criminal Code (alcohol ignition interlock device programs), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Criminal Code

[The Speaker]

When the debate was interrupted for question period, the hon. member for Vancouver East had the floor. There remains 14 and one-half minutes in the time allotted for her remarks.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have concluded my remarks and have nothing further to add.