Debates of Feb. 2nd, 2001

Parliamentary Reform

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. What I find surprising is that the member is claiming that amendments to change commas to colons constitute a change or an improvement to anything.

She must certainly know—and I suggest she give it some thought—that the amendments she wants to propose, which would no doubt be much better than the amendments of those who used similar tactics in the past, warrant hearing by this parliament.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, who is the government leader to judge our amendments to bills?

He must understand and agree that the thrust of his reform, given all the scandals and criminal investigations involving the government, has to be to make the system more transparent and more democratic, as we, the auditor general, the privacy commissioner, the information commissioner and all the opposition parties in the House have asked?

Are transparency and integrity not what the people want?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, although I do not agree with all the member's gratuitous accusations, I do agree entirely that we must further improve the operations of the Parliament of Canada. We did so yesterday when we changed a standing order. We do it all the time among parliamentary leaders.

I think we are doing a good job, if I can put it that way, in improving things for all parliamentarians. We intend to continue to do so at all levels in the coming months.

The Prime Minister has said I would be approaching the other leaders with definite proposals on various issues, and I will.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the low participation rate in the last federal election clearly shows the public's lack of interest in the political process.

Will the government's determination to further gag the opposition not have the effect of increasing this loss of interest, since gagging the opposition is tantamount to gagging the public?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have absolutely no desire to gag the opposition.

It is obvious that the public had no intention of supporting the Bloc Quebecois and its loony ideas.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps we should look at the participation rate across Canada.

With its reform, is the government not setting the stage for imposing, without any debate, those intrusions into Quebec's jurisdictions that are contained in the throne speech? The government should have the courage to admit that this is the main reason for being in such a hurry.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is prone to exaggeration. To claim that reforming procedure to improve the operation of parliament is tantamount to amending the constitution to change areas of jurisdiction is quite the exaggeration.

Fuel Prices

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are suffering because of energy cost hikes. In Winnipeg, for example, people are paying 30% more this year for home heating.

The one time fuel rebate is not sufficient. Some who do not need it receive it. Some who desperately need it do not get it. It is true that the government had to act fast. Now it is time to act wisely.

Will the government finally establish an energy price review commission to protect Canadian consumers from wild price fluctuations and excessive price hikes?

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the leader of the New Democratic Party has recognized the assistance that was announced in the economic statement last October. Those cheques will be processed by the Government of Canada and should be in the mail to Canadians during the month of February. Eleven million Canadians will benefit. The total benefit amounts to about $1.3 billion.

With respect to the matter of price regulation, as the hon. leader will know, that is entirely within the jurisdiction of the provinces.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, is not the real reason for the government's resistance to an energy price review commission the flawed trade agreements? It appears Canada is hell bent to embrace American demands for a general agreement on trade and services with even more restrictions and penalties for Canadians.

Next week the Prime Minister goes to Washington. Will he tell President Bush that Canada does not intend to be the refrigerator of the Americas or the solution for its unlimited energy appetite? Will he tell President Bush not to count on us to support his GATS energy position?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will defend and support the well-being and the best interests of Canada, both at home and outside of Canada. I wonder what my hon. friend has in mind. Is she attacking the province of Alberta for what it is doing in terms of its own energy production? It is implicit in her question.

Business Development Bank Of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Prime Minister, who spoke so knowledgeably yesterday of Mr. Jean Carle, can the Deputy Prime Minister tell the House if Mr. Jean Carle was involved in any way, in any aspect, of the Auberge Grand-Mère file either during Mr. Carle's tenure in the office of the Prime Minister of Canada or at the Business Development Bank?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to take that question as notice.

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

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Prime Minister, can the Deputy Prime Minister tell the House whether Mr. Cedric Ritchie, the new chairman of the board of the Business Development Bank, was briefed on every detail of the Auberge Grand-Mère file before he assumed his position?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice, but I do think we should say something about the fact that a Canadian as distinguished as Cedric Ritchie has been willing to assume the responsibilities he has. That is a mark of confidence in the work of the bank and in the government.

Lumber Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement with the U.S. expires next month. The issue has come before the U.S. senate at the confirmation hearings of trade representative Robert Zoellick as the most important trade issue between our two countries.

The new industry minister has bumbled into this issue, making comments completely contrary to Canada's interests, forcing the international trade minister to burn up the phone lines and fix the problem.

I would like to ask the government: Who is in charge of this file, the Minister for International Trade or Captain Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, to answer the hon. member's question, it is quite clear who is in charge of international trade for the government. It is the Minister for International Trade.

The goal of Canada is quite clear as it relates to softwood lumber. It is to achieve free trade in lumber with the United States. That is the surest way to establish fairness for all provinces.

As soon as the trade representative is confirmed in the United States, the minister will be seeking a very early meeting with him to pursue this file and many others.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that it is in fact the Minister for International Trade.

It is imperative that Canada speak with a united voice on this issue. Yet we have two ministers of the crown who cannot get their act together. I must admit Captain Canada does appear to have an insatiable appetite for the camera.

Given the recent power struggle between these two ministers, what is the position of the government? Will the Minister of Industry have any influence over this matter, or has he been silenced?

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

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that various ministers comment on files from time to time, but the goal of Canada is very clear. It is free trade in lumber with the United States.

The hon. member might be aware that there will be a meeting on Monday in Ottawa of federal-provincial trade ministers. There will be an opportunity to pursue the various concerns that he has raised today.

Foreign Affairs

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed us that an investigation had been carried out within his department on the allegations of negligence leading to the tragic death of Ms. MacLean. He also assured us that the diplomats arrested for impaired driving offences would not drive again in Canada. At least that is what I read in the blues.

There is one thing of which he did not give us assurance, however: that justice will be done.

What guarantee has the minister received from the Russian government that justice would indeed be carried out?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it has been my priority right from the start, on behalf of Ms. MacLean and her family, to ensure that justice is done—she herself was a lawyer. That is perhaps the most important aspect of the whole matter. We also want to ensure, if possible, that such a thing never happens again in Canada.

I have spoken with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and he has assured me that, after investigation, the legal procedure will be followed. Representations have already been made as well by the Russian embassy to obtain from the Canadian police the information required to continue the investigation in Russia.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Yet, Mr. Speaker, one cannot help but be concerned by all the reports by Russian commentators and by what we hear of public opinion in that country.

Could the minister tell us whether the government is prepared to meet the necessary costs to ensure that all of the evidence can be submitted at the trial of Mr. Knyazev, and that all witnesses will be able to testify without having to incur personal costs?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, there are two things I want to point out.

Our request that diplomatic immunity be waived has not been withdrawn, and that is my preference. Should it be necessary, and should additional costs be incurred, we are ready and willing to pay them, because justice must be done.

Lumber Industry

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Alliance position on softwood lumber has been well known for eight months and reflects the current industry position. The recently formed Canadian Lumber Trade Alliance with co-chairs from Quebec and British Columbia is speaking with one voice.

Yesterday we heard ill-informed and unfortunate comments by the Bloc Quebecois and by the Minister of Industry. Will the Prime Minister assure Canadians that there will be one voice speaking for Canada on this issue?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the government will speak in one voice and will work in the best interest of softwood lumber producers all across Canada.