House of Commons Hansard #67 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was offenders.
ImmigrationOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. The Chair has to be able to hear the questions and the answers. Even the minister might say something out of order.
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the suggestion that the member makes is clearly ludicrous. It does not matter how a person votes in this country as to what his or her citizenship is.
What I know is that there is often more to the story than what the member opposite has to suggest. I would be pleased to look into this case. If in any way something inadvertent has been done it can be corrected, but often there is a situation. If the member would give me the information, I would be pleased to look into it.
Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. Presently there are more restrictions on interprovincial trade than there are on international trade. Interprovincial trade barriers impede the free flow of goods and services between Canadians and stifle the economic development of Canada.
Could the minister tell the House what efforts have been made by the Canadian government to promote the removal of impediments to interprovincial trade in these changing economic times?
John Cannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Brampton Centre for his question and acknowledge his interest in the issue.
Over the years the government has been a strong advocate of reducing interprovincial trade barriers. Let me point out the agreement that was signed on international trade with the provinces, the territories and Yukon in 1994.
Let me also point out that there was a meeting in April of all ministers. They put forth an agenda which will culminate in a meeting of all ministers on May 31 to June 1, basically to work on reducing trade barriers within our country.
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada knows that the multicultural minister has slurred communities. Today at the heritage committee she insisted that she did not need cultural sensitivity training, even though she promoted this training for everyone else.
Will the Prime Minister demand that his junior minister receive her own training?
Hedy Fry LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, while we are on the question of cultural sensitivity training, I would like to quote the hon. member across the way when he said:
The focus of the federal government's multicultural activity should be on enhancing the citizenship of all Canadians based on equality and not on race, language, culture and ethnicity.
We cannot enhance the equality unless we understand the barriers that people face to achieve it. I invited the hon. member to come with me to listen to Canadians across the country when I went on eight regional consultations. He told me that—
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, that person needs help anyway. This morning the minister told the heritage committee that her department policy is to not share daily press clippings with the opposition critics.
Canadian taxpayers are paying for this service. This is the only department that has an official policy not to provide press clippings. Why is it denying the opposition critics this information? Why the secrecy?
MulticulturalismOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. We cannot waste time. There are a lot of other people who want to ask questions. The government House leader has the floor.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will know, or at least his House leader knows, that this kind of subject is discussed frequently at House leaders' meetings and is always solved in a positive manner.
Benoît Sauvageau Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, rather than meddling in the content of educational materials, the government would be better advised to see that Nav Canada respects the rights of francophones.
Apparently, Nav Canada will not hire unilingual francophone candidates because they have to be taught English.
Does the minister responsible for official languages intend to require that Nav Canada respect the law so that francophones receive the same treatment as anglophones?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Nav Canada is required to meet its obligations under the Official Languages Act.
Nav Canada is subject to the provisions of the act and a complaint has been filed with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. The process will go forward and we will follow it very closely.
Diane St-Jacques Liberal Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
The Centres of Excellence for Women's Health are a vital link in the government's efforts to improve the quality of care being provided by the health care system, the protection of health, and the health of aboriginal women and of women living in rural areas.
Will the Minister of Health tell the House what steps he has taken to ensure the continuation of the vital work being done by the centres of excellence?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, last week, I was very pleased to announce our intention to invest an additional $1.7 million next year in the Centres of Excellence for Women's Health.
The centres have contributed greatly to knowledge and have truly established Canada as a world leader in all women's health issues. I am particularly grateful to the women in the Liberal caucus for their strong support of these centres.
Carol Skelton Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, the average Saskatchewan farmer earned under $7,000 last year. That does not include any wages or return in equity.
The wheat board minister claims that his government has provided $30 billion of passive farm subsidies. Saskatchewan farmers could not have received much of this passive money. They would like to know how much of this passive phantom money was used for advertising and administration.
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the statistics show that since 1985, through various initiatives of the Government of Canada, there has been something over $30 billion invested in a variety of farm support programs across the country of which about one-third or so would have flowed into the province of Saskatchewan. Those are the historic statistics.
This year, through a variety of safety net measures, more than $2.6 billion is being provided to Canadian farmers through a variety of programs in co-operation with the provinces, and the amount flowing into Saskatchewan is over $700 million.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice in her capacity as the minister in charge of dangerous driving legislation, et cetera.
The minister will be aware of the controversy surrounding the use of cellphones while driving. The Canadian Medical Association Journal had an editorial on it today. Could the minister tell us whether she would be willing to convene a meeting of her provincial counterparts to discuss the merits of various ways of regulating the use of cellphones while driving?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, obviously the hon. member raises an issue of some growing concern for many Canadians. I would certainly be happy to have a discussion with my provincial and territorial counterparts in relation to this issue.
Since the hon. member is a member of the justice and human rights committee, he might want to suggest the committee take up the subject. If he has recommendations I would be happy to consider them.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of a delegation of members from the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, led by His Excellency Mr. Gennady Seleznev, Chairman of the State Duma.
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I think you would find unanimous consent to revert to routine proceedings for the purpose of presenting the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the selection of votable items in accordance with Standing Order 92. Under the rules this report is deemed upon presentation.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
Is there unanimous consent to revert to the presentation of reports by committees?