Debates of March 30th, 2001

Government Of Quebec

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

Mr. Speaker, Quebecers pay over $7 billion annually in interest on the debt of the government of Bernard Landry.

Why not pay down the debt by $1 billion rather than the $500 million announced? This is a gimmick, not good sense.

Last year, Bernard Landry put his surpluses of $750 million in non-profit bodies headed by his Péquiste friends.

Today, he is doing the same thing. The sum of $950 million is being put in the Caisse de dépôt et placement for the next election campaign in Quebec or for the referendum.

Culture Link

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2001 Toronto's Commitment to Diverse-City Awards.

I was honoured to be present when the awards were presented on March 23 by Culture Link, a non-profit community based organization located in my riding which facilitates the settlement of newcomers in Toronto.

The awards honour those who have made a special contribution to ensuring an equitably diverse community.

I want to congratulate Shaun Chen, a recipient of the award in the youth category. Consuelo Rubio was the recipient of the award in the settlement sector. In the general community category, the award was given to June Veecock.

I wish to extend congratulations to all the winners and to Culture Link for its continued commitment to the inclusion of all our people in our diverse community.

Agriculture

[Inky Mark, Canadian Alliance, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the farm crisis in Canada is not over. Our food producers are struggling harder than ever to survive.

In my riding of Dauphin—Swan River, the Farm Credit Corporation is beginning to foreclose on farm accounts.

The government does not understand the value of the family farm or the value of our food producers to the economic wealth of the country.

The government does not understand that killing the family farm is the death knell for all rural communities of Canada.

How many of us in this Chamber would survive if our incomes had been slashed by up to 50% over the last three years?

Instead of helping the farmers by working together with provincial governments to come up with long term solutions, the federal government takes the easy way out and blames international subsidies.

It is low commodity prices that have created the crisis, not the farmer. I call on the government to do the right thing and help those who have fed us for over 100 years.

Softwood Lumber

[Andy Savoy, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in less than 48 hours, the softwood lumber agreement and the maritime accord expire.

For New Brunswick the outcome of a potential trade war would be disastrous. One in eight jobs in the province is dependent on the lumber industry. It is a $670 million business.

Since 1842, when the Webster-Ashburton treaty was signed, New Brunswick has enjoyed continuous free trade with the United States. However, this is quickly coming to an end. The U.S. coalition for free trade in lumber is embarking on its fourth attempt in less than 12 years to block Canadian access to American lumber markets. All have proven unsuccessful in the past and the Government of Canada anticipates a similar outcome in regard to this one.

Given our unique lumber relationship with the United States and our exclusion from previous trade action, I urge the federal government to move quickly and renew the maritime accord before it expires at midnight on March 31. Time is of the essence.

Government Of Quebec Budget

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

Mr. Speaker, for the first time a woman, Pauline Marois, tabled the government's budget in the Quebec National Assembly.

This budget stood out for its sensitivity to the needs of the public and its resolutely social democratic thrust, including an additional $2 billion for health care funding which is coming out of the Government of Quebec's revenues and not from federal transfers, which now account for only 14 cents on every dollar invested in health care in Quebec.

The budget also contains commitments for education funding which are well above what was expected, tax cuts which target low- and middle-income earners, major support for the resource regions through tax holidays and other incentives for local processing and, finally, additional anti-poverty funding.

In closing, I wish to draw the House's attention to the announced creation in Laval of a biotechnology and human health complex and of the Centre de développement des biotechnologies, evidence of the Bloc Quebecois' firm desire to support the research and development sector. In short—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Vancouver—Kingsway.

Crime Prevention

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on March 9, for the Minister of Justice, I was pleased to announce $2.6 million to fund 80 crime prevention projects in B.C.

These crime prevention grants support community projects across the country in regard to the efforts of communities to prevent crime. It is the people who work in our local communities to reduce crime who deserve much credit for continued action and success in improving the safety of our streets.

I am pleased that B.C. benefited from those grants. Clearly our Liberal government is committed to a proactive approach to crime prevention and to safe communities for all Canadians.

Health

[David Anderson, Canadian Alliance, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the impact from foot and mouth disease is very real. Canadians have watched the devastation of the European rural areas.

In Canada people are willing to work to prevent this disease from entering the country. They are waiting for direction from the government.

For the last month the Canadian Alliance has called on the government to ensure that inspection and prevention measures are adequate and for programs to educate the general public.

I would like to take a few moments this morning to talk about a real life issue where Canadian people need direction. Across Canada there are hundreds of high school students who are planning on going to Europe over the Easter break. These young people want to do the right thing. If they go, they are concerned about bringing foot and mouth back to their communities, but if they cancel and stay home, they are being told that they will each lose approximately $1,500 of their deposit.

The government was willing in the last 24 hours to charge the Canadian taxpayer thousands upon thousands of dollars in airfare by forcing its members to return to Ottawa last night. What is it willing to do to help these young high school students do the right thing? Can the government give these students help or direction in making this decision?

The Environment

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the latest of a series of decisions reversing environmental restrictions, President Bush has withdrawn the U.S. from the Kyoto accord. He places the needs of the American economy ahead of such global obligations.

A spokesman for the Union of Concerned Scientists said “This is the most anti-environmental act by an American president in modern history”.

Our domestic initiatives will not diminish our competitive edge with the U.S. Let us not wring our hands and feel compelled to slow our efforts to follow the incredibly short-sighted decision of President Bush.

Canada should seize the moment to save the protocol and enhance our moral authority internationally as we continue to negotiate with the European Union countries. It would underscore our determination to move forward with them in our commitment to the reduction of global warming. It would give evidence of our firm commitment not to put all our eggs in one sink.

Heating Fuel Rebate

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that the $1.5 billion home heating rebate had many difficulties, not the least of which was the sending of cheques to prison inmates and the deceased. What is less well known is the manner in which the government accessed this money.

The government did it through the issue of special warrants, which, according to long established House of Commons procedure and practice, are only to be used in very special circumstances. Indeed, the questionable practice does not escape the watchful eye of Canada's auditor general, who leaves office tomorrow.

Mr. Desautels has suggested that upon assuming office his successor should investigate how the government accessed the money without parliamentary approval and whether there is a precedent for using special warrants to approve new programs.

Clearly the government's haste to implement the program resulted in a significant waste of taxpayer money. It appears that not only were Canadians duped with their own money in last November's election but it was accomplished in a highly questionable and perhaps unauthorized manner.

Liberal Party

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with a 21-seat majority, a low turnout in the last federal election, one scandal after another, and motions to gag the opposition, the Liberal majority was taken by surprise.

In their rush to get back home, leaving members of the public waiting for answers from the government, the Prime Minister and his MPs made it only too plain how they run the nation.

But what was particularly evident was that the Prime Minister lacks any leadership over his own party, and is no longer even able to convince his MPs to do their job.

It is high time that this Prime Minister bowed to the public interest and gave some thought to his future.

Great Lakes

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are home to 45% of Canada's industrial capacity and 25% of Canada's agricultural capacity, providing for $180 billion in annual Canada-U.S. trade.

The Great Lakes basin includes eight of the twenty largest Canadian cities and 9.2 million Canadian inhabitants.

Water level fluctuations in the Great Lakes result from environmental factors such as precipitation, runoff from the drainage basin, inflow from upstream lakes and rivers and outflow to downstream lakes and rivers, as well as human factors, such as dredging, diversions and consumption.

This year lake levels are low once again, which is a cause for alarm for Canadians whose lives depend on these bodies of water for employment and recreation.

I call upon the government to take action in the fight against unnecessary water loss in the Great Lakes due to human involvement. It is essential that we maintain this valuable resource for Canadians today and for Canadians tomorrow.

Health

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Prince Edward Island's Kensington Intermediate High School has cancelled a school trip to France and the United Kingdom because of concern over hoof and mouth disease.

I call upon the federal government to take heed of the P.E.I. example and immediately take measures to educate Canadians in a massive Canada wide program to ensure this disease does not enter the country.

Canada needs more stringent preventative measures to protect Canadian livestock from hoof and mouth disease. Canadian travellers must be told what steps they can take to prevent bringing this disease into the country, whether it is through dried meat or infected clothing.

Returning travellers from infected areas now have to disinfect their shoes, but what about the other two pairs of shoes they have in their suitcases? What about the clothes they are wearing?

Canada can no longer remain passive about this issue. We must start a program tomorrow and it is the government's responsibility to impose it.

Softwood Lumber

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to the current softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States.

Yesterday the subcommittee on international trade tabled a report that calls on and supports government action to vigorously defend Canada's interests under international laws.

We also call on the government to appoint a special envoy with the aim of developing unified strategy for the whole country. It is critical that Canada speak in a unified voice on this file.

I congratulate the minister and his department for his leadership and hard work on behalf of our industries.

I would also like to congratulate my fellow committee members and the 120 members of the House who have signed their names in support of free and fair trade on softwood lumber.

There is still time for those other members who would like to sign on to this report.

Health

[Garry Breitkreuz, Canadian Alliance, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the risk of foot and mouth disease entering and gaining a foothold in our country has many farmers and their families losing sleep at night.

An article in the Edmonton newspaper quoting a lead veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has me worried. To quote Larry Delver, the veterinary program officer with the CFIA, he said:

We are at risk. We don't have sniffing dogs at the Edmonton or Calgary airports and we can't go through a traveller's luggage unless we are suspicious...Once people go through the foot baths at the airports they are gone. We just have to trust them.

This is not a time for partisan politics. All members of the House and all levels of government need to put every ounce of effort into protecting our borders from this outbreak.

If the government is so dedicated to Canadian farmers and, for that matter, our economic prosperity, then how does it justify only six dogs, minimal baggage inspection and flat out failure to inspect people and baggage coming here from areas infected with foot and mouth?

We should not be needlessly ringing alarm bells, but we are talking about a $20 billion industry that needs protection. Why has the government not put in place a plan to better handle this issue?

Canadian Human Rights Commission

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, does anyone over there on the government's side of the House care any more?

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has issued a serious and damning report on the government's failure to meet its own objectives and there has been zero response. Why has the government fallen down on meeting its employment equity objectives? Why has it again failed the aboriginal people of the county and robbed the community of its dignity, human rights and basic needs to health, housing, income security and decent work opportunities?

I applaud the Canadian Human Rights Commission for speaking out and recommending that social conditions be added to the act to prohibit discrimination of poor people.

The question remains, however, of whether the government will address these serious shortcomings outlined in the commission's report. While scandal racks the multiculturalism minister and the PM ponders his bill of sale, people are hurting. Government policy is failing from neglect and indifference.

We in this party will not let the government off the hook on human rights, employment equity and justice for the poor.

Prime Minister

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have a right to expect their Prime Minister to obey conflict of interest rules 100%, yet the evidence so far confirms that the Prime Minister had a real and substantial personal stake in the value of the Grand-Mère golf course during the time he influenced the allocation of public funds to surrounding real estate.

Is the Liberal government refusing to submit this apparent breach to an independent inquiry because it knows the Prime Minister's role in l'affaire Grand-Mère cannot pass close scrutiny?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is starting off on the wrong foot again.

There is no conflict of interest here on the part of the Prime Minister. This was demonstrated by the documents which have been tabled. The Prime Minister has been quite clear on this. It has been made quite clear by the agreement of sale between himself and Jonas Prince, and in Mr. Prince's later agreement of sale to Mr. Michaud of these very same shares.

There is no conflict of interest. Once again the opposition is failing Canadians with no questions about softwood lumber, no questions about agriculture, no questions about unemployment, no questions about the economy, no questions about the—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary—Nose Hill.

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the documents clearly show just the opposite of what the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Yesterday he evaded a question about the possibility that the Prime Minister not only had an interest in the golf course in the form of a debt owed on his shares, but also that he had retained some of the actual shares not covered by the 1993 note with Jonas Prince.

I will ask the question again. Did the Prime Minister or any member of his family personally hold any shares in the Grand-Mère golf course after November 1, 1993?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, first, the debt is not an interest in the golf course. Second, I think the documents are clear. Neither the Prime Minister nor any member of his family held an interest in the shares. They were all sold to Mr. Prince on November 1, 1993.

Again the hon. member is letting Canadians down, as is her party. It is failing in its duties as an opposition party by not asking questions of interest to Canadians as they affect the lives of Canadians in areas like health care, the environment, the economy, agriculture and softwood lumber. She and her party ought to go back to dealing with real issues of concern to real Canadians.

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister is clearly letting Canadians down by not answering simple questions that would clear up an ethical cloud over the Prime Minister's head.

The Prime Minister's company held 25% of the shares of the Grand-Mère Golf Club. We know that. Yet the note with Jonas Prince clearly refers to only 22% of those shares.

What happened to the other 3%? Did the Prime Minister or a member of his family retain, after November 1, 1993, those 3% of shares representing an interest in the golf course, yes or no?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, she has misquoted the agreement of purchase and sale of November 1993. It spoke of approximately 22%.

The agreement by which Mr. Prince sold all the shares he had acquired from the Prime Minister in November 1993 said that in fact he had sold all the shares he had acquired. There are no missing shares except in the fog in the hon. member's brain.

[Grant McNally, Canadian Alliance, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for two days we have asked the Minister of Industry, who is responsible to the House to uphold the Canada Business Corporations Act, to tell us whether the Grand-Mère Golf Club complied with all applicable laws.

The letter from the head of his corporations branch said that the registry did not comply with the requirements of the act. Will the minister stop evading the question and tell us whether or not the Grand-Mère Golf Club broke the law?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the examination is complete and direction has been given. Information will be filed, posted and made public.