House of Commons Hansard #53 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was area.

Topics

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette-et-la Mitis.

Genetically Modified OrganismsOral Question Period

May 2nd, 2001 / 2:35 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, everyone admits that there are problems and that genetically modified foods have already entered the food chain.

Today, four scientists sounded the alarm and said that the public is unaware that it is consuming GMOs.

Does the minister not see this new warning as confirmation that it is urgent to act and to make the labelling of genetically modified foods mandatory?

Genetically Modified OrganismsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the comments of the scientists who commented today. We also welcome the comments and the recommendations of the Royal Society of Canada, which the Minister of Health, the Minister of the Environment and I appointed, the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Council and all others.

I have said in the House many times that there is a process being led by many Canadian organizations, governments, government organizations and consumers to develop a system of labelling that could be used. However we know that it must be meaningful, credible and enforceable.

Genetically Modified OrganismsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, my question was clear, but the minister keeps singing the same old tune.

Will he continue serving up his lovely speeches, or will he finally do something concrete to restore the public's confidence and take action while there is still time?

Genetically Modified OrganismsOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to make the lovely speeches that the hon. member compliments me for, and I thank her for that.

We will continue the same process so we can have a system in the future, if we so desire, that is meaningful, credible and enforceable, so that Canadians can have the continued trust in the food system which they have at the present time.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Dave Chatters Canadian Alliance Athabasca, AB

Mr. Speaker, President Bush is looking to replace mid-east oil with North American oil. The Prime Minister has recently been promoting the tar sands in my riding for that purpose.

Increased tar sands production to the levels suggested by the Prime Minister would significantly increase levels of greenhouse gas emissions for Canada.

Yesterday in the House the Prime Minister stated that this government policy is to achieve our Kyoto commitments. If Alberta accepts this level of American investment to develop our tar sands, will the government also insist on the U.S. transfer credits under the Kyoto accord for our increased emissions?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has repeatedly said that it is in Canada's interest in our relationships with the United States to secure credits accruing to Canada for the clean energy exports that we send to other countries, particularly the United States, when that replaces a more carbon intensive source in that country. Obviously the search for carbon credits to Canadian advantage is very much a part of our agenda.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Dave Chatters Canadian Alliance Athabasca, AB

Mr. Speaker, given the president's and the vice-president's comments recently about making energy development a higher priority than the environment, just how would the minister and the government plan to achieve the transfer of those credits to Canada?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, obviously this will take discussion and negotiation with the United States. We believe very much that, in respect of the North American energy situation, there is an important opportunity for Canadians to pursue which can bring economic growth, jobs and technological sophistication to our country.

At the same time, we will also pursue our other parallel objectives that relate to renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainable development, all of which are characteristics of an intelligent society.

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, the latest trick of the federal government is to hold the sovereignists responsible for the decline of Aéroports de Montréal.

According to the Minister of Transport, ADM's problems are due to the sovereignty project.

How can the minister make such an offensive statement as that, when the problems of Aéroports de Montréal are the direct result of a series of very bad decisions by the federal government, including one that made Toronto the new gateway to Canada, which was previously Montreal's role?

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, clearly the reduction in air traffic in Montreal over the past 25 years is a consequence of the political situation.

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

David Collenette Liberal Don Valley East, ON

That is one of the reasons, but with this government's policy on national airports, I have confidence in the future of Aéroports de Montréal and the region of Montreal.

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, coming from a member from Toronto, that does not surprise me.

While we are at it, could the Minister of Transport tell us if he also ascribes to the sovereignty project the fact that the region of Montreal is the world's main producer of civilian helicopters, second only to Seattle in providing jobs in aeronautics, the third largest producer worldwide of biopharmaceuticals and fourth in the world in developing information technologies?

Do these successes also reflect this discomfort created by the sovereignty project?

National AirportsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I must thank the member for promoting Montreal, thanks to the policies of this government.

I should also inform the hon. member that I am a member from Toronto, but I am a Canadian member and I speak for all Canadians.

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. government has committed to spending more on British Columbia cross-border highway projects than the Canadian government.

Last year the federal government collected $750 million from British Columbia fuel taxes and spent $408,000 on B.C. highways. That works out to the grand total of one-twentieth of one per cent of revenues returned to British Columbia highways.

Why is the federal government gouging taxpayers and ignoring our highways?

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the hon. member that highway building in this country is the responsibility of the provincial government. It is true that the federal government has been involved by use of the spending power for about 80 years and we still are.

The hon. member should take note that the Minister of Finance in last year's budget allocated $600 million toward highway construction, and those agreements are about to be negotiated.

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, the federal government collects federal fuel taxes. The provinces spend on highways what they collect in provincial fuel taxes. In 1998-99 the federal government collected over $4.7 billion in gas taxes and spent only 4% of that across Canada on roads and highways. It is called highway robbery.

When is the government going to commit to fund a national highway strategy that meets Canada's needs and is not a national embarrassment?

HighwaysOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member ought to know that the Canadian government receives tax revenues from a multitude of sources and those revenues are then invested. They have been invested heavily in the British Columbia health care system. They have been invested heavily in the British Columbia education system. They have been invested heavily in research and development throughout British Columbia.

The federal government is working in partnership with the people of British Columbia to improve the quality of life of the people of British Columbia.

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Walt Lastewka Liberal St. Catharines, ON

Mr. Speaker, at last month's meeting of the group of 20 finance ministers there was agreement reached on what has been termed the Montreal consensus, which seeks to better integrate social as well as economic objectives around the world.

Could the Minister of Finance tell the House what further efforts are being made to advance and reinforce the Montreal consensus?

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the Washington consensus in place for a number of years now states that economic growth is a prerequisite to poverty reduction in the poorest of the poor countries. We agree with that, but as well we believe we must go beyond the Washington consensus.

Industrialized countries must recognize that health care, education, a quality environment, investing in the young and protecting the aged are also essential constituents if poverty reduction is to occur. That is known as the Montreal consensus.

I am pleased to say that it was endorsed yesterday at the United Nations, at the economic and social committee.

Equalization PaymentsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. It deals with the reinstatement of the cap on equalization payments.

Recent information provided by the recipient provinces shows the reinstatement of the cap will cause them great harm. Given the fact that the Prime Minister, right before the election last fall, called for removal of the cap on equalization payments and all the provincial finance ministers now agree with that, will the Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance now lift the ceiling or at least rebase it on 1999-2000 levels, which would be $10.8 billion instead of $10 billion?

Equalization PaymentsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, in September, at the time of the signing of the accord with the provinces, the Prime Minister agreed to lift the cap for one year. I am pleased to say that the government has carried through on that commitment of the Prime Minister.

The hon. member also ought to know that equalization is at an all time high. Equalization was one of the few programs that was not cut in 1995, recognizing the constitutional, social and economic responsibilities the Canadian government has to the provinces. Equalization has grown consistently ever since the government took office and it is now at an all time high.

Trucking IndustryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, long distance drivers are being pushed beyond the limit, yet the Minister of Transport is advocating a proposal that would allow truck and bus drivers to drive 14 hours a day, 84 hours a week, week after week. In the United States drivers are limited to 60 hours a week.

The minister knows that driver fatigue is one of the main causes of road crashes. Will he tell the House and millions of Canadian travellers why it is necessary to have transport drivers work limits 40% higher in Canada than in the United States?

Trucking IndustryOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member refers to a recommendation from the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, which is an organization composed of all the provinces and the federal government that is responding to the trucking industry which wants a regularization of the trucking hours and an enforced rest period.

So hon. members of the House can give their views in this very difficult debate, I have asked the transport committee to study the issue on an expeditious basis. I believe the committee is about to agree to that. I would invite the hon. member to make her views known at that committee.