Debates of May 18th, 2001

Employment

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am holding in my hand a job posting for what seems like a really great job in the federal public service at the customs and revenue agency for $52,000 a year. The only problem is that under the heading of who can apply it states that only persons residing within a 60 kilometre radius of Ottawa.

What if my son or daughter from Winnipeg were qualified and wanted to apply for that job or some kid in Halifax, Edmonton or Vancouver? Why does it matter where one lives if one is qualified for the job and willing to move?

Will the government commit to stopping this unfair hiring practice and giving every Canadian equal opportunity and access to those good public service jobs?

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the geographic determination of the public service is something that has been there since 1992 and actually even before that. It allows the public service to reduce its cost in processing applications.

I think there is a general sense that it may no longer be applicable. I understand that the Public Service Commission is now investigating it and studying it. Hopefully the member could refer his concerns to Mr. Serson, who is the head of that commission.

Agriculture

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year farmers were told that the government's pockets were not as deep and that was why they could not get the kind of funding they so desperately needed to compete with international subsidies.

Yesterday's announcement of at least a $15 billion surplus puts the lie to that particular argument. Given the size of the surplus and the fact that it is one-third larger than was predicted by the finance minister last fall, will he now commit to helping out those desperate farmers today?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, when one looks at the surplus at the end of the year one must recognize that it is simply part of what was the total surplus. The vast majority of it was spent through the course of the year on agricultural matters, environmental matters, research and development, health care and a vast range of other things. The only thing that happens at the end of the year is the year end accounting when the final number in terms of debt is understood.

In terms of the importance of Canadian farmers to our way of life and to our economy, there is no doubt the support of the government, the support of the minister of agriculture, the support of—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The member for St. John's West.

Education

[Loyola Hearn, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Finance. With an aging population and greater health care demands, a smaller portion of CHST funding is going toward post-secondary education. Labs and buildings are deteriorating. Class sizes are doubling and in many cases tripling. Tuition fees and associated costs are becoming unmanageable.

In light of all his positive announcements, when will the minister address this glaring deficiency?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, let us understand that in terms of transfers to the provinces not only is the CHST at an all time high but equalization is also at an all time high.

Specifically in terms of education the 1998 budget a knowledge budget. If we take a look at the help for the research chairs, if we take a look at the investments that have gone into basic post-secondary education, and if we take a look at the help the government has provided to the vast range of educational institutions, we see that the federal government understands its role and its responsibilities and is in the process of exercising them. There is no doubt about the importance of education to the future economy.

[Loyola Hearn, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows as well as I do that a lot of that funding is not going where it is really needed, to help the young people.

Will the minister show leadership by convening a meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts, as well as affected aboriginal nations, to address post-secondary concerns? This way the problem can be addressed and we can ensure investment in our most valuable resource, our youth, not only for their good but for the good of the country.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I have certainly on a number of occasions in the past met with the Council of Ministers of Education, and one time with the current Minister of Canadian Heritage when she was in a previous post. Within the last year I also met with the current president of the Council of Ministers of Education. I am certainly prepared to continue in that vein.

Cida

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, CIDA is helping to fund the Chalillo dam project in Belize with taxpayer money.

Consultants to Fortis, the Canadian company pursuing it, have said that the project will have major negative and long term effects and that the benefits from the dam will be significantly lower than the costs because it will destroy critical habitat in the country.

Why has the minister responsible for international development seen fit to support such a destructive project?

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, the question is a very good one. Unfortunately, the member is out to lunch.

CIDA is providing funding toward the preparation of environmental and social assessments and for public consultation only. We are not contributing to the construction of any dam.

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a Canadian company that has a monopoly on the project in Belize. The project will fracture a critical area of biodiversity that stretches from Mexico to Panama.

Why does the government not take responsibility, deal with the company and block this environmental catastrophe?

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, if there is an environmental problem we will present our report to the country of Belize so it can make a judicious decision as to whether it should or should not go ahead with the project.

Fisheries

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, stakeholders in Quebec's fishing industry unanimously recommend an additional quota of 6,000 tonnes of shrimp for Quebec.

The request is based on principles of fairness and on the respect of historical quotas granted to Quebec fishers.

Does the minister of fisheries intend to reply favourably to Quebec's repeated request and give it the additional 6,000 tonnes for which it is rightfully asking?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, I will be announcing the northern shrimp plan very soon. It is a resource for which we have increased the harvesting by 300% in five years.

It is very important to make sure that conservation is our priority. There is always a huge demand. In fact there is a demand to increase the 112,000 metric tonnes by 50,000 metric tonnes.

I have met with many of the people and the minister. I will make sure that the decision I make will protect the resource for future generations. That will be the priority.

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Alliance des pêcheurs professionnels du Québec, the Fédération des pêcheurs semi-hauturiers du Québec, and the Association québécoise de l'industrie de la pêche are unanimous in their request.

Will the minister once again, as is his government's habit, reject out of hand another consensus in Quebec?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of those requests. I met with many of the people who made them. I will look at those in the same context as all other demands.

Making decisions on allocation is of course always very difficult. That is why we have set up a panel to look at how we can have transparency in the decision. The Quebec minister and all the ministers of Atlantic Canada have agreed to the panel so that they can review and make sure we make the allocation decision fairly and equitably for all Canadians.

Immigration

[Joe Peschisolido, Canadian Alliance, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Sklarzyk family has been ordered out of Canada mere weeks after the immigration department became aware of the situation. Yet a man wanted for political assassination in the Philippines has been allowed to stay in Canada for administrative reasons.

What message does the minister believe this sends about Canada when our system deports hard-working, law-abiding people and does nothing about assassins?

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

Mr. Speaker, first, our system does not deport permanent law-abiding residents citizens. We just do not deport people as he has described them, and his description is outrageous. I would also say to the member that there is a quasi-judicial independent procedure in the country that affords due process to individuals.

At committee over the past weeks, members of his party have supported due process. I thought that was their party policy. Today I hear they are not supporting—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Richmond.

[Joe Peschisolido, Canadian Alliance, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what is outrageous is the non-answer that is coming from the minister of immigration.

Regardless of what has been said there is no rhyme nor reason coming from the decisions made within the immigration system. The system is clearly broken.

When will the minister of immigration undertake real reform of the system which will ensure that legitimate individuals are allowed in and criminals and assassins are denied entry?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the plug he just gave to Bill C-11. I would like to thank the committee members for all their work. I understand the bill will be reported to the House next week.

I look forward to support from that caucus for a piece of legislation that would close the back door to those who would criminally abuse both the immigration and refugee determination system, open the front door wider to those who respect our laws and help us build our country in the tradition of immigration to Canada.

Highway Infrastructure

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport or his parliamentary secretary.

The Government of Quebec recently announced construction work on highway 50, in western Quebec. Does the Government of Canada intend to get financially involved in this project?

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, even though highways are a provincial responsibility, the federal government has committed $600 million as part of the infrastructure investment with the provinces and territories.

That said, in the case of Autoroute 50, the province of Quebec chose not to include this highway in its negotiations for the national highway system. Autoroute 50 remains a provincial highway and is not part of the NHS.

This is a good time to remind the House that the federal government had participated in Autoroute 50 over the years to the tune of $100 million over the last 30 years. I appreciate the member's question today.

Canadian Wheat Board

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board has repeatedly told the House that the wheat board has a program that will allow organic farmers to market their own grain. He is wrong. Clearly he does not understand the issue. The board's organic policy only lends farmers the money to buy back their own grain from the government.

Organic farmers have rejected this absurd idea, yet the minister continues to personally support it. Why does the Canadian Wheat Board minister choose to stifle western rural diversification and development?