House of Commons Hansard #65 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was s-24.
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, once again let me say that the power and authority of the Canadian Wheat Board is vested in the hands of its board of directors. The board of directors consists of 15 people, 10 of whom are duly elected by farmers themselves.
The hon. gentleman talks about freedom and choice. What is wrong with democratic elections among farmers who choose their own directors to make their own decisions?
David Anderson Canadian Alliance Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, the organic farmers are not part of that group. They are not represented by it.
The minister should reread his title. He is the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board. He is responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board Act. He is responsible for its glaring failures.
Arnold Schmidt wants to sell the organic flour he mills from his own grain. If he farmed in Ontario he would have no problem doing that. Because he lives in Saskatchewan the wheat board minister has decided he cannot export his own product.
How can the minister support this unequal and unfair policy that is penalizing development in western Canada?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that when wheat or barley are exported from Canada, wherever in Canada they come from, they require the appropriate export permits.
In the case of Mr. Schmidt and others, their concerns have been drawn to the attention of the Canadian Wheat Board. It seems to me that decisions respecting the operations of the board are better made in the hands of farmers than by politicians in the House of Commons, on this side or on that side.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC
Mr. Speaker, there have been grave concerns about the health of Haroun M'Barek for some days now.
In deporting him to Tunisia, the Canadian government has committed a serious mistake. It must now assume the responsibility of doing everything possible to quickly reach a solution to this human tragedy.
Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform us of the approach he plans to take to the Tunisian authorities in order for Mr. M'Barek to finally gain access to the health care required by his condition?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are continuing to make representations to the Tunisian government on behalf of Mr. M'Barek. This is a serious situation and we have indicated our interest in it.
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Mr. Speaker, for over the past 10 years there has been terrible conflict in Sierra Leone. At least two dozen individuals have been identified for potential prosecution for war crimes in the region.
Could the foreign affairs minister tell us what Canada's position is with respect to the special court that is being set up by the United Nations in Sierra Leone.
John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada continues to be very concerned by what is happening in Sierra Leone. We are particularly concerned that those who are responsible for many crimes and atrocities be held accountable for their actions.
However the details with respect to the organization and budget for the special court for Sierra Leone are still not finalized. The Canadian government will consider those in determining whether to make a financial contribution at the appropriate time.
I should also advise the hon. member that the member for Nepean—Carleton is currently on his way to west Africa in order to investigate the situation there, and to report back to me.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my office I hosted a briefing on the mountain pine beetle infestation in British Columbia which has already killed 5.7 million hectares of working forest, an area twice the size of Vancouver Island and a number that is expected to quadruple this year. If left unchecked this epidemic has the potential to destroy the economy of north central British Columbia.
Will the Prime Minister agree to meet with the new premier of British Columbia and commit to providing a share of the resources necessary to combat this epidemic?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, Natural Resources Canada already conducts a considerable amount of research that is used by western provinces in the management and control of the mountain pine beetle.
Obviously the hon. member has identified a serious pest problem in our core sector and I am certainly anxious to pursue every reasonable means by which the Government of Canada could help our forest sector find a solution.
Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis-Et-Chutes-De-La-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the task force on shipbuilding tabled its report in late March, yet we are still waiting on any indication from the Minister of Industry of his intentions in connection with this vital generator of employment and regional development tool.
Now that the Minister of Finance has announced his $19 billion surplus, is the Minister of Industry prepared to ask his colleague to release the necessary funds for a true shipbuilding policy?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised an important matter. We are currently reviewing the report and will have a response from the Minister of Industry in due course. I repeat, this is a very important matter.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, news reports indicate that the Government of Canada is considering setting up yet another federal bank to help service the needs of small and medium sized businesses in exporting to developing countries.
Could the Deputy Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance give the House assurances that there will be safeguards put in place and built into any enabling legislation to prevent political interference in lending decisions so we can prevent the debacles that we saw with the Prime Minister and the BDC?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the hon. member's question about the debacles and so on.
We have a certain number of federal lending institutions operating at arm's length from the government. They have accomplished an excellent record in serving the public interest, including the business community and the workers of Canada.
If there is any new institution of the kind that is suggested by the hon. member, I am sure it will meet all the necessary criteria and standards to keep up the excellent record achieved by other similar institutions.
Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, in his response to a question from the member for Palliser, the Minister of Finance said something to the effect that money being allocated for agricultural aid was not real money but merely a journal entry. I think that was what I heard him say.
My question has to do with the money being applied to the debt. Is that real money or is that too just a journal entry?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I am having a little bit of difficulty with the hon. member's question. I want to be as general as I can.
The fact is that the money going to the farmers is real money because we understand the needs of Canadian farmers. We understand the need to protect the Canadian farm family. We also understand the terrible competition arising from the disloyal subsidization in France and in the United States. I can tell the House that the Canadian government has demonstrated time and time again, and the minister of agriculture has demonstrated time and time again, that they will—
AgricultureOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
This brings to a conclusion today's question period. The Chair does not have a surplus of time.
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, an agreement could not be reached under the provisions of Standing Orders 78(1) and (2) with respect to the report stage and the third reading stage of Bill C-7, an act in respect of criminal justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other acts.
Under the provisions of Standing Order 78(3), I give notice that a minister of the crown will propose, at the next sitting of the House, a motion to allot a specific number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of proceedings at the said stages of the bill.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Obviously, we have heard the notice of motion that has just been given by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, but I would simply like to draw to your attention and that of the House that the reasons behind the minister's notice of motion seem completely unfounded to me.
He was indeed unable to reach an agreement under the standing orders but we could have reached an agreement on the bill itself, which might have sped things up.
Youth Criminal Justice ActOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
With all due respect to the hon. member, this is not a point of order but rather matter for debate.
Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, I would appeal to you as the Speaker to perhaps hesitate to accept this motion from the minister until such time as there has been time for adequate debate in the House.
Youth Criminal Justice ActOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
Let me just add to the debate. This is a notice of motion, not a motion at this point. Certainly everything that has been on the floor of the House is consistent with our rules and practices notwithstanding that there may not be total agreement. That is why we are here to debate.
House Of CommonsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
I have the honour to lay upon the table the report on plans and priorities for 2001-02 of the House of Commons administration.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario
Liberal
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary 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 16 petitions.
Aileen Carroll Liberal Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34 I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation to the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, held March 12 and 13 in Paris, and to the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Standing Committee, held on March 14 in Paris.
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 20th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding its order of reference from the House of Commons of Tuesday, February 27, 2001, in relation to the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, in regard to vote 20, under Privy Council, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer. The committee reports the same.