Debates of May 14th, 2001

Foreign Affairs

[Denis Paradis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, first, Canada offers its deepest condolences to the families of the victims on both sides in this tragic conflict.

Canada condemns the violence and terrorist acts and calls on all parties in the region who truly want peace to condemn these events themselves.

The report of the Mitchell commission represents a constructive contribution to the efforts of the international community and suggests a way out of this conflict for the various parties. Its recommendations mirror Canada's policy and as long as—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

Transportation

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned over incidents of air rage. As a matter of fact new international incidents have heightened this concern.

My question today is for the Minister of Transport. Could the Minister of Transport explain to the House how he intends to deal with this threat and what exact steps has he taken to make sure Canadians are protected when they travel by aircraft?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada is taking a leadership role in addressing this issue. We are working closely with stakeholders. We hope to have policies and procedures in place this summer. We are working with airlines and police organizations.

The Alliance members may laugh but air rage is no laughing matter. We will be distributing a booklet in the next little while entitled “Unruly Passengers: The Police Response”. Also we took an interim measure, which became effective on March 17, requiring cockpit doors to be locked during a flight when an incident or threat to flight safety arises due to unruly or abusive behaviour.

Agriculture

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, over the last two weeks I have been asking the Canadian Wheat Board minister to exempt organic wheat growers and millers from the buyback provisions of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly. The minister promised to ask the elected board members what he should do.

Has the minister asked the directors and what instructions did they give him?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman acknowledges that there is a board of directors in place at the Canadian Wheat Board. Two-thirds of that board is directly elected by farmers.

The concerns with respect to organic matters have been raised with the directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. They have put in place a producer direct sales system. They have more recently improved that system. The most recent representations have been drawn to their attention and I trust they will respond in a timely manner.

Highway Infrastructure

[Robert Lanctôt, Bloc, Châteauguay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services recently confirmed that construction work for the two bridges and the completion of Highway 30 would begin at the earliest opportunity.

Since that meeting, the Quebec Minister of Transport earmarked the necessary funds to complete Highway 30 and he has said that he is ready to share the costs on a 50:50 basis.

Since this project dates back a few years, will the minister follow the example of his Quebec counterpart and immediately allocate the funds required to build the two bridges and complete highway 30?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we pledged to build two bridges and 14 kilometres of road in partnership with the private sector. We have hired consultants to set up a system to promote the construction of these two bridges and 14 kilometres of road.

The Environment

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, news of more delays by the government in supporting the relocation of families at risk in Sydney, Nova Scotia, is very disturbing. Clearly there is hardly a need for more studies. They only add to the agony and grief of families already suffering enormously.

I have a question for the Minister of the Environment. Will he commit today to an immediate and proper relocation program for the families affected by the toxic contamination of the Sydney tar ponds?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the question follows those by representatives of the same political party last Friday. We intend to wait until we have the scientific report which was commissioned and which we expect this week before making decisions on relocation and a number of other questions related to that.

We do not think it is appropriate to proceed without having the scientific basis for decisions which could massively disrupt the lives of individuals and involve great cost to public authorities both federal and provincial.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the Minister of the Environment. It is not the disruption of these people's lives. It is their health and their very well-being that people in Sydney, Nova Scotia, are most concerned about.

Based upon the health risk and based upon the science that is pending, will the minister today give his commitment on behalf of the government to financially assist those at risk who need to be relocated permanently to avoid life altering illness?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question relates to those who need to be relocated permanently. It is exactly that question upon which we are attempting to receive the best scientific information we can.

If he wishes to move people away from that part of Cape Breton, surely we should at least have the scientific basis upon which to do it.

Justice

[Myron Thompson, Canadian Alliance, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, because of recent events once again thousands and thousands of families across Canada are living in fear and watching their children every moment of every day for fear that some perverted criminal that likes to hurt kids is on the loose. Many of them are on the loose because of the failure of the government to protect society the way it should.

Which member of the government will stand and declare that the life of a child is far more important than the lives of these perverted violent individuals?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I would hope that my hon. colleague would never want to politicize one of the most unfortunate and difficult situations in Canada today. Our prayers and our hearts go out to the family at this time. I am surprised my hon. colleague would ask such a question.

Point Of Order

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to go back to an incident, which occurred earlier during oral question period. It involved the Minister of Canadian Heritage, when she was answering a question raised by a Canadian Alliance member.

I want to make it clear that I am not questioning the value of Mothers' Day and even less so the role played by the mother of each member of this House.

However, during oral question period, the Minister of Canadian Heritage mentioned her mother's presence in the gallery. Mr. Speaker, we received a directive addressed by you to all the House leaders, in which it is pointed out that the right to mention the presence of certain individuals in the gallery is a privilege which, under Beauchesne's parliamentary rules, is the exclusive prerogative of the Chair. Under this procedure, a list of the names of people who may be pointed out by the Speaker is drawn up.

Twice in this House, you strongly warned members, the Bloc Quebecois member for de Repentigny and the Canadian Alliance member for Edmonton Centre-East, to apologize, and you threatened to no longer recognize them during statements by members or during oral question period.

The aim of this point of order is simply to find out if there are two standards in this House and to guide members on pointing out the presence of certain guests. We each have visits from family and want to know if, in the future, we can point out their presence during oral question period.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I was not aware of this directive, but I would like to offer my deep apologies. Obviously, what I did went against the standing orders. I would also like to apologize because I know my Mum does not want to get me into trouble.

[The Speaker]

I can perhaps help the hon. member for Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île-d'Orléans and the Minister of Canadian Heritage by quoting from Marleau and Montpetit, at page 239:

Only from the Speaker's gallery can distinguished visitors (such as heads of state, heads of government and parliamentary delegations invited to Canada) be recognized and introduced to the House by the Speaker.

I have to say I was a bit surprised when the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who was the deputy prime minister a few years ago, mentioned the presence of someone, even though it was her mother, in the gallery. It is difficult for the Chair to do otherwise than to indicate to the minister that her recognition was unacceptable from a procedural standpoint, as I have done for the other members during statements by members.

However, I am sure the minister's mother, having heard the hon. member's point of order, will now raise the matter with her daughter and the matter will be dealt with accordingly.

Government Response To Petitions

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions.

Automotive Pollution Reduction Act

[Clifford Lincoln, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-350, an act to protect human health and the environment by oxygenating automotive fuels.

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of introducing a bill to protect human health and the environment by oxygenating automotive fuels. This is the second time I have tried to do so.

However, hope springs eternal. The objective of the law is that no person shall produce or import for use or sale in Canada or sell or offer for sale any gasoline or diesel fuel that has an oxygen content of less than 2.7% by weight, the idea being to make gasoline purer and less polluting. I hope the bill will receive the strong support of the House.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Motor Vehicle Transport Act, 1987

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

moved that Bill S-3, an act to amend the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, 1987 and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the first time.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present another petition from people of central Ontario who support the re-establishment of VIA Rail service between Toronto and Peterborough.

The petitioners point to the environmental advantages of this, for example, the reduction in greenhouse emissions, and to reduced accidents, reduced wear and tear and waste of time in traffic jams on Highway 401. They also point out that this would strengthen Peterborough as a business centre, educational centre and tourist centre. It would also strengthen public transit for the entire greater Toronto area.

I am pleased to say that this petition now has support in no less than eight federal ridings, namely, Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Durham, Whitby—Ajax, Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, Markham, Scarborough—Rouge River and Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington as well as Peterborough itself.

The petitioners call upon parliament to re-establish VIA service between Peterborough and Toronto.

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of a number of Manitobans who would like to bring to the attention of the House the following: that the Government of Canada may be asked to support the U.S. national missile defence program.

They wish to point out that NMD is a unilateral initiative of the United States and that it would be a step toward the deployment of weapons in space, it would lead to a new arms race, it would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and that these treaties are cornerstones of the international non-proliferation arms control and disarmament regimes long supported by Canada.

The petitioners therefore call upon parliament to declare that Canada objects to the national defence program of the United States and they ask that parliament play a leadership role in banning nuclear weapons and missile flight tests.

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from a number of residents in Ottawa West—Nepean calling on the Government of Canada and on the House of Commons in particular to support the imposition of an immediate ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides until such time as their use can be proven to be safe and without long term harm to the environment, this as consistent with the precautionary principle.

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is signed by constituents in Ottawa West—Nepean calling on the House of Commons to support, in accordance with the report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the lifting of sanctions against Iraq and the immediate cessation of bombing in Iraq.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by approximately 800 individuals regarding a plant closure announced in January of this year. Visteon Corporation will be closed down and the plant will be transferred to another lower wage country. Somewhere in the order of 1,200 jobs will unfortunately be lost.

The petitioners would like to set up a meeting with the Minister of Industry to review the situation and to look into possible solutions for the people who will be adversely impacted by this move.