Debates of Feb. 22nd, 2001

Fundraising

[Monte Solberg, Canadian Alliance, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this was a $60 a plate fundraiser. Government ministers should have known. Their own security service was warning them at the time. There is absolutely no excuse for government members attending. The government has had every opportunity to condemn a group like FACT.

Is the minister now saying that the new anti-terrorism legislation will not outlaw giving money to a group like FACT?

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

Mr. Speaker, we all know with regard to charity registrations—

[Monte Solberg, Canadian Alliance, Medicine Hat, AB]

I am not talking about that. I am talking about Lawrence's bill.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Could I be allowed to answer, please. It is within the mandate of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. We have a fair process and we all know the process.

All the organizations that are registered as charity organizations have legitimate activities. If there are any that do not have legitimate activities like terrorist organizations, for example, the solicitor general and I are working on something to ensure that those organizations will not discredit those that are acting in a good manner.

Gasoline Pricing

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for months now, the price of gas has been approaching record highs. Prices sometimes fluctuate by seven to ten cents a litre on the same day. All companies post the same price at any given time.

But we can rest easy. Today, we read in a study done for the government by the conference board that “Consumers across the country are well served by the current market system that determines gasoline prices”.

My question is for the Minister of Industry. How can we trust this study, when some of the conference board's influential members include corporations such as Shell, Petro-Canada and Esso Imperial?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the Conference Board of Canada is recognized, or at least ought to be recognized, across the country as an independent organization, one that has substantial credibility in many communities.

The conference board has done a study, one of many. Studies have been done as well by many provincial governments over the years, all of which have come to the conclusion that gasoline prices in the country relative to the rest of the world are quite competitive.

That does not mean anyone likes paying more for gas, but we have to recognize the simple reality that there is no indication based on the work of this study that some kind of regulatory regime being imposed by government at this time will improve the situation with respect to gas prices.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister of Industry explain the conference board's astonishing conclusion that all is well in the petroleum industry, when the introduction to the same report says, and I quote: “Some issues, such as taxation and competition policy in Canada, are beyond the purview of the study”.

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, it is very easy for any member on any matter of consumer pricing to get up and make a declaration or representation in the House. The fact of the matter is that is why we have organizations like the conference board to look at this issue. It is arm's length. It is independent. It is an expert.

The report is that gasoline prices in Canada relative to the rest of the world, be it Europe or elsewhere, are competitive. There is no indication or evidence that a regulation regime such as being proposed by the member would do any good at this time.

Fundraising

[Deborah Grey, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government repeatedly defends giving money to FACT which is a terrorist front.

As of Monday, Britain has brought in new anti-terrorism legislation that forbids the type of fundraising supper that two of our senior cabinet ministers went to.

Canada signed an agreement back in 1999 that it would no longer allow this to happen. It is now the year 2001 and I would like to ask the minister a question. Will the new legislation, if in fact it ever shows up, allow ministers to attend these kinds of fundraising suppers? Yes or no.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I think my hon. colleague is well aware that in this country CSIS does not indicate who it is watching and who it is not watching.

The legislation will protect our charitable organizations. I hope that when the legislation comes forward my hon. colleague and her party will support it.

[Deborah Grey, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, in fact members of the government had any number of warnings that FACT was a terrorist front. The Sri Lanka High Commission knows about it. The CIA and foreign affairs knew about it and gave warnings that these people should not be going to this thing. It seems that everyone knows except the immigration minister herself.

Today her lawyers are in the supreme court saying that a small group called FACT is in fact a terrorist front. Does the minister agree with those documents that are in her name or not?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am looking at the language of the factum and the hon. member goes far beyond what the factum says. This is a matter being argued in court.

I suggest to her, because of the sensitive nature of the court case, that she be careful in her language and that she not try to stereotype or smear several hundred thousand good Canadians with her language.

Agriculture

[Marcel Gagnon, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the European Commission has banned all exports of cattle, meat or milk from Great Britain until March 1, after 27 cases of foot and mouth disease were discovered in an abattoir in England.

My question is for the Minister of Agriculture. Can he tell us whether Canada imports these products from Great Britain and, if so, whether it intends to follow the lead of the European Commission?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, when we became aware of this, Canada suspended the issuance of import permits for semen, embryos, animals and animal products from the United Kingdom because of the confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

[Marcel Gagnon, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Great Britain also acknowledges that it cannot identify the products it has exported to Canada.

Yesterday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicated that there was no question of banning the use of animal meal in cattle food.

Can the minister tell us with certainty whether animal meal is still being imported into this country?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the fact that Canada has a very good tracing system. When products from the United Kingdom or anyplace in the European Union come to Canada, the tracing system of where they are and where they can be used is followed very thoroughly and monitored all the way to ensure that any risk material does not get into the food chain system in Canada.

Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, in 1995 Algerian refugee claimant Ahmed Ressam was arrested for breaking the law but he was allowed to stay in Canada. He was arrested again, this time for theft, but again he was not deported. Finally, he was deported in 1999 after trying to smuggle explosives into the United States.

Yesterday we learned in a French court that Mr. Ressam's Montreal apartment was being used during this time as headquarters for the world's most wanted terrorist, Ossama bin Laden.

Could the immigration minister tell us why this dangerous terrorist was allowed to stay in Canada four years after he should have been deported?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, fighting terrorism is a number one priority for the government. We have a security intelligence agency that is very capable and able to observe these people. Observance and co-operation with other governments around the world prevent disasters from happening like in this very situation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I see the immigration minister is glued to her seat today. If combating terrorism is the top priority of the government, why was this twice arrested man who had broken the terms of his refugee claim allowed to stay in one of our largest cities for four years, using his apartment as headquarters for the most dangerous terrorist front in the world?

What kind of a safety protection plan is that for Canadians? Why was this man allowed to operate this terrorist organization for four years when he should have been deported?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada is not and will not be a country that permits, welcomes or allows criminals, terrorists or those who have committed crimes against humanity to remain in Canada. They are inadmissible to Canada and are removed as quickly as possible.

However, I reject the Canadian Alliance's suggestion and attempt to equate refugees with terrorists. I have to say that we look at cases individually. Everyone is entitled to due process but not everyone should be maligned.

Peacekeeping

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. The creation of the United Nations buffer zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea should spell the end of a bitter border war.

There are clearly significant problems to overcome, including the demarcation of the border, the return of over 1,000 prisoners of war and the need to feed hundreds of thousands of refugees. Could the minister to comment on Canada's peacekeeping role and his assessment of the present situation?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are indeed in Africa. We have been in a number of operations more recently in the Central African Republic, but we have observers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Sierra Leone.

Our largest contingent in Africa at the moment is on the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. We have some 450 troops there. They are doing a terrific job. They have the greatest piece of new equipment which is the envy of all of our allies. It is the armoured personnel carrier known as the LAV III, and they have great looking uniforms as well.

Taxation

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Soaring oil prices have resulted in record profits for big oil companies in the country. In fact, in the first three quarters of 2000, we had a profit increase in the energy sector of about $4 billion or a 127% increase over 1999.

In light of that, would the minister consider bringing in a surtax on big oil companies in order to use that money to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in alternative energy sources?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows full well, we have a corporate taxation system which applies to all industries. We do not want to be distorting investment decisions. The fact is that the energy industry does make a major contribution to the country's balance of payments. It makes a major contribution to employment.

The question of rising oil prices and gasoline prices is a matter of major concern to the government. We will continue to monitor the situation.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it seems the Minister of Finance is more concerned about protecting the big oil and gas companies.

By introducing this surtax that my friend has suggested, it would be cost effective and it could be used to develop environmentally sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Why will the minister not consider that at least as a possibility?