Debates of Feb. 12th, 2001

Canadian Alliance

Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, on January 31, HRDC directed Parks Canada to take immediate measures to protect park wardens from danger while they are engaged in law enforcement activity. The Minister of Canadian Heritage has had three reports since 1993 stating that park wardens are at risk.

Since that time Parks Canada has been engaged in an ad campaign featuring a park warden with the suggestion that all is well in the national parks. Despite the multimillion dollar smokescreen, all is not well in Canada's wilderness. Wildlife is being slaughtered while the minister funds false images.

The minister should know that 60 grievances have been filed over job conditions in the last six months alone and that the January 31 labour board ruling means wardens are out of uniform and off the job.

The ad campaign is a gross misuse of public funds. It is sad that the minister responsible has millions of dollars to spend on ads to mislead the public but no money to ensure the safety of our park wardens as they protect wildlife in our national parks.

Actions speak louder than words. It is time to equip our wardens to do the job they were trained to do.

AgricultureStatements By Members

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, no other country has the high quality, diverse and inexpensive food that we do in Canada. We spend under 10% of our income on food. No other country spends less and some spend twice as much. The reason for this is an extraordinary, diverse and efficient agricultural sector.

Across Canada farmers and their families produce a huge selection of healthy food at minimum costs. They do this in face of subsidized competition overseas.

By paying such a low price, are we not in fact short changing farmers? In some regions and for some crops it appears that we are.

I urge all Canadians to buy Canadian food products and to buy them as close to the farm gate as possible. If necessary, be prepared to pay a premium for higher quality and freshness. Let us make sure that our agricultural sector remains strong and vibrant.

Gala Des OlivierStatements By Members

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, last evening at Montreal's Monument-National, the third annual Gala des Olivier was held. The Olivier awards were created in 1999 in honour of one of the great Quebec comics, Olivier Guimond, to celebrate comedy and the people who bring comedy to our lives.

Clémence Desrochers was the recipient of the Association des professionnels de l'industrie de l'humour award. It was a token of the great affection, love and esteem in which this great woman is held. Over her 40-year career, her monologues and songs have provided us with an accurate and moving picture of scenes from everyday life.

Congratulations to all the organizers of this great evening, particularly to Claudine Mercier and Mario Jean, who were at the helm of this event and managed to keep us in stitches.

Bravo to all those who received Oliviers and all those who were nominated, great masters of amusement all.

HousingStatements By Members

Liberal

Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU

Mr. Speaker, in winter the housing crisis in Nunavut becomes more evident. In such a harsh climate no one can survive without shelter. Inuit know this and traditionally everyone is taken in from the cold. Sleeping on a porch or on a floor is better than freezing outside.

Currently 15% of the Nunavut population is on the waiting list for housing. As the population of Nunavut is growing by 12% per year, this waiting list will certainly increase in numbers.

I assure my constituents that I am committed to working with the federal and territorial governments to improve the situation. The challenge of housing in Nunavut is a huge problem, but when we all work together toward the same goal I know we can achieve great things.

Heart MonthStatements By Members

Canadian Alliance

Diane Ablonczy Canadian Alliance Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, February is heart month, fittingly enough. This is a time for all of us to give some extra thought to that marvellous little creation, the human heart, and how we can keep our own in top condition. It likes a diet low in fat. It loves to get out for a little exercise. It is a non-smoker.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in this country. It costs all of us nearly $20 billion every year. That is why representatives of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society are here today. They urge government and non-governmental and professional organizations to work together to find ways to combat this crippling condition.

Every Canadian could also be part of this fight. If we treat our hearts well they will reward us with many years of faithful service, the better to enjoy life and all it has to offer.

International Criminal CourtStatements By Members

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Speaker, the July 1998 adoption of the treaty for the establishment of an international criminal court is the most dramatic development in international human rights and international criminal law in the second half of the 20th century.

On June 27, 2000, parliament enacted comprehensive, historic, watershed legislation to implement the ICC statute for Canada and to provide the legislative foundation to bring war criminals to justice. As of today 140 countries have signed the treaty and 28 countries including Canada have ratified it.

The ICC treaty will end a culture of impunity, deter national crimes, protect international peace and security, and serve as an international justice model.

In a word, the ICC treaty is a wake-up call and a warning to tyrants everywhere. There will be no safe havens, no base or sanctuary for the enemies of humankind. As well, our domestic legislation will place Canada at the forefront of the international justice movement and give juridical validation to the anguished plea of victims and survivors from the second world war to the killing fields of today of “never again”.

East Coast Music AwardsStatements By Members

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, last night all of Canada witnessed another great instalment of the East Coast Music Awards. On behalf of all members of parliament I extend congratulations to all the award nominees and the winners, from Damhnait Doyle of Newfoundland to Lenny Gallant of P.E.I., or as Jonovision says “PE1”, and Natalie MacMaster of Cape Breton.

For all of us who are lucky enough to call the east coast home, the musical culture that is expanding to the rest of Canada and throughout the world is quickly becoming a great success story.

Great music and great culture have long roots in Atlantic Canada, from the immortal Portia White to Wilf Carter, Dutch Mason, Great Big Sea, the Rankins, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, the Barra MacNeils, Roch Voisine, Barachois, Stan Rogers, Harry Hibbs, Don Messer, Rita MacNeil, Men of the Deeps, and many more. We also extend special congratulations and good luck in March to Grammy nominee Natalie MacMaster.

Jigs and reels have expanded to rap, Acadian blues, folk, soul, choral and instrumental.

Pierre-De-Lestage High SchoolStatements By Members

Bloc

Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, on January 7, fire destroyed the Pierre-de-Lestage high school in Berthierville, the county seat of the riding of Berthier—Montcalm, which I have the honour of serving since 1993.

This tragedy, which caused bedlam in our community, has seriously disrupted the lives of hundreds of students and their parents. In a spirit of solidarity, the community has pulled together to make it possible for the student body of some one thousand young people to complete their school year at the high school in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, L'Érablière.

Today I would like to draw attention to the courage of the students, parents and teachers of this school and the great spirit of co-operation from the institution in the neighbouring municipality which took them in the day after this sad event.

My best wishes to all students and staff of both schools for the rest of the school year, and congratulations on the spirit of brotherhood that has enabled these young people to continue their schooling with peace of mind and will therefore contribute to their academic success.

AgricultureStatements By Members

Liberal

Susan Whelan Liberal Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned for the future well-being of farm families from coast to coast who are struggling to survive under the weight of increasing input costs as prices for their commodities continue to remain well below the costs of production.

Our grain and oilseed growers in particular need more financial support. They need it delivered quickly, or spring planting could be at risk for many.

I strongly encourage the government to immediately finalize with the provinces and farm groups the improvements needed to ensure agriculture's future.

Correctional Service CanadaStatements By Members

Progressive Conservative

Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, it is high time the Liberal government ceases its current practice of lowering security classifications to enhance parole eligibility for violent criminals. Law enforcement and victims groups have chastised the Liberals for defending CSC's ludicrous policy of frequently moving killers from maximum to medium or minimum security prisons only months into their life sentences.

As prisons like the Kingston pen were set to increase transfers by 29%, the solicitor general's order for a review is cold comfort to anyone. The proverbial horse is out of the barn.

The Liberals tried to deny former CSC Commissioner Ole Ingstrup's creation of the 50:50 quota system that established the practice of rushing violent criminals through the prison system at record pace. Then CSC incredibly allowed murderers like Antonio Lorenz and Michael Hector to receive minimum security placements months into their life sentences for violent murders. With problems and incidents in our prisons up 25% this year and dangerous practices of fast tracking and releasing of cold blooded killers, the solicitor general should remove his head from the sand and instead of simply mouthing the words public protection actually do something about it.

The EnvironmentStatements By Members

Liberal

Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, mercury is a toxic substance listed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

In Canada mercury has contaminated fish as well as traditional northern foods. A large source of mercury emissions and other airborne pollutants comes from coal fired power plants. Their emissions are an environmental hazard and a public health risk.

Recently the states of New York and Connecticut have asked Ottawa to assess the damage caused by Ontario's coal fired power plants to their population. Hopefully the environment minister will conduct a comprehensive assessment, considering the fact that Canada has signed international agreements on mercury emission production.

The United Nations protocol on heavy metals committing Canada to reduce emissions of mercury, cadmium and lead by 50% requires now strong domestic implementation for the protection of public health.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Okanagan—Coquihalla B.C.

Canadian Alliance

Stockwell Day Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, last week we asked the Prime Minister to explain the apparent conflict of interest between his meeting with the immigrant investment brokers and then the flow of funds that began just days after that to the Auberge Grand-Mère Hotel, which of course was attached to the golf course that he still had shares in, contrary to what the Minister of Industry tried to tell us last week.

The Prime Minister said that he had nothing to do with this, that in fact this was all controlled by the Quebec government.

In fact we have now obtained documents from the Quebec government showing that these funds were not managed by the Quebec government but by the brokers themselves.

Will the Prime Minister please try to explain why he denied that these funds were in fact controlled by the brokers.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the brokers were carrying out their work pursuant to a program administered by the Quebec government. In any event, neither the Prime Minister nor the federal government have played any role in the flow of funds and where they went.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Okanagan—Coquihalla B.C.

Canadian Alliance

Stockwell Day Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the documents are here and now I am able to give him the information. The information we have here is that the Quebec government was not in the direct management and control of these funds. The Prime Minister stood here on February 7 and said “the investment fund is managed by the province government”, and yet he knows very well these funds are not.

When he met with those investment brokers, some of whom had criminal records or charges pending, he was aware of that fact at the time. Was it because of the apparent conflict of interest that he was trying to hide these facts?

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, there is no real or apparent conflict of interest. This is what was found by the ethics counsellor and this is what he confirmed on Friday. The assertion that the Prime Minister owned the shares at the relevant time is totally not accurate.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

February 12th, 2001 / 2:15 p.m.

Okanagan—Coquihalla B.C.

Canadian Alliance

Stockwell Day Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the ethics counsellor was just out last week saying that he did own those. The Prime Minister had better take up that point with the ethics counsellor.

As regards the regulations for selecting immigrant investors, I cite the Government of Quebec document entitled “Le courtier gérera le placement de l'investisseur”.

And the broker and not the Government of Quebec manages the funds. Why did the Prime Minister wrongly try to transfer responsibility onto the back of the government—

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

The Speaker

The Leader of the Opposition will want to be very prudent in his choice of language. I think he knows that it is out of order to suggest that a member has said something that is false in the House. There are disagreements, I understand, between hon. members in respect of certain facts, but to suggest that some member said something false I think is getting very close to the line.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I will very carefully follow the admonition of Mr. Speaker. I hope that the Leader of the Opposition will do the same and withdraw his false assertion.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Canadian Alliance

Deborah Grey Canadian Alliance Edmonton North, AB

Mr. Speaker, what would be terrific is if the industry minister would recant what he said on February 8. He defended the Prime Minister's dodgy involvement with immigrant investor funds by claiming that the Prime Minister's shares in the golf course were held in a blind trust. That is 100% false. He can check that with the ethics counsellor.

This business about who owned the shares, the Prime Minister got those shares back on January 27, 1996. They were his. He had an interest in the hotel right beside the golf course at the Auberge Grand-Mère.

Did the industry minister make those claims out of ignorance or fear?

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, first, I spoke with the ethics counsellor this morning to double check the facts. I would suggest that the member, or any other member, or any member of the media could do the same because he is quite happy to convey accurate information.

The reality is that shares were not held by the Prime Minister prior to 1993 because they were sold. The proceeds from those shares were not realized until a much later date. Indeed, the Prime Minister's lawyer, who is also a trustee, in consultation with the ethics counsellor and the Prime Minister, sought to secure the proceeds from that sale. That was confirmed in a conversation this morning. I would suggest—

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

The Speaker

The hon. member for Edmonton North.

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period

Canadian Alliance

Deborah Grey Canadian Alliance Edmonton North, AB

Now there is dodging, Mr. Speaker.

Let me quote something else from the industry minister. He said recently, and I quote, “Ministers are required to ensure that their affairs are dealt with by putting those in trust, and that is what the Prime Minister did”.

He could not have been more clear, but he could not have been more wrong.

Why does the industry minister just keep tossing off the truth?

Ethics CounsellorOral Question Period