House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was briefing.

Topics

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I want to be as helpful in explaining this to the member as I can. If someone is in Canada without legal status, the individual can be deported.

Once we had evidence that was provided by the RCMP to my department at the end of January, this individual was arrested by immigration officials and deportation procedures began. I was personally informed about this around the end of February. I think the facts speak for themselves.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration tells us that the deportation process comes under her department and that she commenced the deportation proceedings toward the end of the year 2000, as soon as there was sufficient evidence. This is all fine and well, but it is not the issue.

The issue is whether in September 1999, when a request for extradition was made by Italy, the Minister of Justice informed the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration accordingly at that time. This is all I want to know.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for members to understand the procedure. As soon as the RCMP investigation provided evidence as to the identification and the whereabouts of this individual, my department was informed so that deportation proceedings could begin.

He was arrested. He is in detention and is presently awaiting a deportation hearing. He is not a permanent resident.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the minister is still not answering the question.

Could the Minister of Justice tell us if, in September 1999, she informed her colleague, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, not publicly but during cabinet meetings or confidential discussions with her, that a request for extradition had been made by Italy regarding a person who was in Canada or who wanted to enter Canada?

Did the minister inform her colleague, back in September 1999, that a request for extradition had been made? This is what I want to know. I am not asking when the deportation proceedings began. I am asking whether the minister informed her colleague back in September 1999. It is as simple as that. Did she or did she not?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I have indicated, and my hon. colleague has also tried to indicate, that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration was informed by appropriate federal authorities when Mr. Amodeo was positively identified and located by the RCMP, and when there was sufficient evidence to commence deportation proceedings.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Howard Hilstrom Canadian Alliance Selkirk—Interlake, MB

Mr. Speaker, I was at the protest today and I will tell members what farmers are saying right from Saskatoon to Ottawa. They are saying that this minister had better resign because he is not dealing with the agriculture crisis in the country.

Let us talk about those statistics from when the government first heard about the crisis. In 1998 we put it forward in the safety net committee and the agriculture minister stood in the House and said that NISA and crop insurance were plenty enough for farmers, and that was all they needed.

When will the other $400 million be given to farmers because the crisis is still on the go?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can say what he likes but it was not too long ago that they changed their minds. In the last term they said very clearly in their platform that they would remove subsidies. Finally they have seen the light. I am sure Canadian farmers are pleased.

When they said there should be no support for farmers, we increased the support from $600 million a year to $1.1 billion a year, and two weeks ago to $1.6 billion a year.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Howard Hilstrom Canadian Alliance Selkirk—Interlake, MB

Mr. Speaker, the proof is in the pudding. In 1993 this government came to power. In 1995 it drove farm support down to around $650 million when it should have been up to about $1.5 billion.

The gap between Canada and the United States is big and the government has not narrowed it. Farmers are asking for another $400 million. Will you commit today to get that $400 million or will you quit?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member from Selkirk—Interlake is an experienced member and I know he wants to address his remarks to the Chair, not to anyone else.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the record of the government speaks for itself in increasing the support for agriculture to the highest level since 1995.

With the support from the provinces there is $2.66 billion for safety net support this year, as well as up to $700 million in interest free loans to assist farmers this year.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, last year Europe and the United States each provided more than $300 per capita in assistance to their farmers.

At the same time Quebec and Canadian farmers received barely half that, $163 per capita. The measures announced by the minister are therefore totally inadequate.

The farmers here today are desperate because they are unable to compete with Europe or the United States. Does the government understand their need for assistance and will it commit to providing them with the $400 million they need?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the government is continually working to find support and strength for the agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada.

I remind the House once again that in the last two weeks we have provided an additional $500 million. With the provincial support it takes that to $830 million more than there was two weeks ago. We increased the interest free loans by two and a half, up to $50,000 per farmer interest free to assist them this spring.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, for the past two years, farmers have had to pay $816 million more in fuel costs.

The vote seeking measure taken by the Minister of Finance with his $125 or $250 cheques has completely missed the mark.

What then is the minister waiting for before he corrects his mistake and helps those who are really suffering from the increased fuel prices, that is farmers, taxi drivers and self-employed truckers?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, that is why we have substantially reduced taxes for all Canadians, why we have inaugurated a very extensive farm assistance program, and why we will continue along the same lines.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

David Anderson Canadian Alliance Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Mr. Speaker, there are several things missing from the government's self-righteous and feeble response to the agriculture crisis.

It is missing any coherent, long term farm policy. It is missing a meaningful commitment to agriculture. It is missing the feeling of desperation that families feel as their livelihoods go down the drain. It is missing $400 million. When will the government come up with the additional money needed to stabilize this Canadian farm income crisis?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, it is really refreshing that Alliance Party members have finally as the sixth or seventh question today raised agriculture. They have seen the light. I appreciate their support and so do farmers.

We were there with the financial support back when they said there should not be any and back when they said they did not even support supply management. Farmers will be encouraged with that, but I remind them that the government has been there, will be there and will be there in the future.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Scott Reid Canadian Alliance Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, according to the main estimates for the 2001-02 fiscal year, the department of agriculture's budget has been reduced by $470 million from last year. Two days after these numbers were released, the minister of agriculture announced $500 million in conditional disaster relief.

Unless we use the Liberal new math, the additional money was only $30 million. When I count on my fingers and toes what I get is that it is only 6% of the money the minister claims to be giving. Does the minister of agriculture think that Canadian farmers cannot add?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I offer again a briefing. The President of the Treasury Board has offered a briefing for hon. members on the other side.

What showed up in the supplementary estimates was that the support for the AIDA program for one year is there. The liability was created for CFIP for the next year, and it was booked in the same year. That shows there are two items booked in one year and not in the next year. There is no change as far as the support at that time in agriculture. Since then we have added $500 million more.

Mining IndustryOral Question Period

March 14th, 2001 / 2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

Canada's mining industry is going through some very difficult times, especially in my riding, with the closing of gold mines in various regions of the country. We must intervene in order to ensure the future and the security of thousands of jobs in this sector. Between 1948 and 1976 the government adopted a program of emergency assistance to provide support to the industry during such periods of difficulty.

What will the Minister of Finance do to help Canadian miners keep their jobs and ensure a prosperous future for our mining industry?

Mining IndustryOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the tireless efforts of the hon. member and of the other members from northern Ontario, Quebec and the Territories, we have introduced a new flow through share credit.

I can now tell the House that following the meeting of the association in Toronto this weekend this is working very well, once again thanks to the efforts of these members. I am prepared to announce today that my department has undertaken broad consultations on fiscal matters in order to help the industry.

I would like to thank all members for their ongoing and intense interest.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister misleads the House when he says the opposition has not—

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

Obviously it is provoking disorder. I know the hon. member for Palliser will want to be more careful in his choice of words, especially in a preamble.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

He says the opposition has not raised agriculture as an issue. What is factual is that when we do ask a question of the Prime Minister on this topic he invariably deflects it to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. It is noteworthy as well that on the emergency debate he did not even participate.

The fact of the matter is that in 1993 when the government took office there was more than $2 billion more than currently for agricultural assistance. When will he put that money back into agriculture when it is needed most?