Debates of May 28th, 2001

Division No. 104

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

We are.

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Fanshawe, ON]

If we are, then the minister will certainly be convening that meeting.

As my colleague knows, the minister has raised this issue with U.S. trade representative Zoellick and with secretary of commerce Evans in Quebec City and the Prime Minister has raised this personally with President Bush. We are looking for the kind of exemption for Atlantic Canada that existed in years gone by.

The reality is, as my colleague knows, that it is a decision for the American government to make. We very much hope that they will take that step and that the Atlantic provinces will be very happy with that.

As the Speaker knows very well with the riding he represents, this is a national problem which requires a national Canadian solution that is good for all Canadian producers from coast to coast to coast. We ask for a united Canadian position that we can take forward because the facts very clearly support the Canadian industry.

I want to thank my colleague for his question. I hope he will continue to lend his enthusiastic support to the united Canadian position.

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

Mr. Speaker, my question was for the minister responsible for the environment. We talked about infrastructure funding especially as it relates to the cleanup of St. John's harbour.

I know that when I finish tonight I will get a prepared response from the parliamentary secretary, but I will say that I am looking for answers to specific questions and I hope that the member in responding will answer my question and not give me the same diatribe that we got from the minister.

When we talk about funding for the cleanup of St. John's harbour we talk about the specific funds committed to by three parties: the municipalities, the provincial government and the federal government. This is something that has been discussed for years and has been promised every time there is talk about an election, as we saw the Minister of Industry promise when we had the election in November.

However, in fact, my colleague from St. John's East, who is sitting here with me, and I were supposed to be taken out of the political picture by two candidates who would, according to the Minister of Industry, help him deliver the funding for the cleanup of St. John's harbour.

The municipalities in the region and the provincial government have committed their share of the funding, one-third of the total amount each, the total amount being approximately $100 million. The federal government is supposed to have promised and committed the other one-third.

Every time the issue is raised the government says it gave its infrastructure funding to the province. That is not being truthful. The infrastructure funding given to the province was the regular program funding that all municipalities across the country have available to them.

Here we are talking about specific funding for a specific purpose. Everyone knew the intent when the original agreements were talked about. Let me ask the parliamentary secretary, when she responds, to tell us if the province has come asking for specific funding. If so, why has the government not delivered as the government originally promised to do?

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a significant groundswell of interest in environmental protection in municipalities right across Canada.

In the case of St. John's, the enhanced awareness of the need for sewage treatment and the high priority stated within the community can be attributed in large measure to the hard work and dedication of the St. John's Harbour ACAP, which is a volunteer group of citizens. Its work has been supported by the Department of the Environment at the federal level as well as the Newfoundland government.

The infrastructure Canada program for Newfoundland and for all provinces is intended to assist municipalities to deal with their priority needs, with a focus specifically on environmental needs. The priorities established in Newfoundland by all levels of government have been drinking water quality and rural communities.

The solutions to this problem are complex and require significant investment. The solutions to the problem cannot be reactive and will not be ad hoc. A long term approach must be found at a national level and must include all levels of government.

Environment Canada recently hosted a national forum on municipal wastewater effluent. This session was attended by various stakeholders including provinces, territories, municipalities and their associations, environmental non-government groups and first nations. The objective of this national forum on municipal wastewater effluent was to share examples of best practices, information and ideas being employed to address municipal wastewater management issues right across Canada.

The creation of the Prime Minister's task force on urban issues is also an important step in addressing this issue.

I am sensing that perhaps I am out of time. Let me conclude by saying that the Government of Canada and the task force will continue to work with the provinces and the municipalities to identify appropriate mechanisms through which we can address the needs of municipalities across the country.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at ten o'clock, pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7.27 p.m.)