House of Commons Hansard #69 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, seasonal work's peak period has arrived. The current Employment Insurance Act and its regulations are making hundreds of families poorer and damaging the economy of a number of regions of the country.
There are still too many seasonal workers who do not qualify. Could the Minister of Human Resources Development tell us whether she will amend the act soon and thoroughly, in order to enable seasonal workers to receive benefits?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that just recently we passed Bill C-2 in which we repealed the intensity rule. That does have a direct impact on seasonal workers.
As the hon. member points out, the issue of seasonal work is one that pertains to particular regions across the country. That is why we are working, region by region, with communities to help diversify the economy and find new solutions for employment for Canadians living in those parts of the country.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister says “region by region”. Let us provide an example to better illustrate the problem.
Last year, the minister justified having workers from Charlevoix change regions by linking the lower north shore and Minganie region with the Lower St. Lawrence, L'Islet and Montmagny region. The effect of this was to penalize seasonal workers in Charlevoix.
The minister can act immediately and quietly to help the workers of Charlevoix. Is she prepared to do so now?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, as I said, on this side of the House we understand the importance and use of employment insurance, but we also believe that the most important tool is a job.
That is why we are working directly with communities. I and my colleague responsible for economic development in the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick are working to assist specific communities build a stronger economy and to focus on ensuring that the men and women living in their communities have access to work.
Jim Abbott Canadian Alliance Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Auberge des Gouverneurs, the hotel the Prime Minister showered with grants and loans in the months prior to the 1997 election, has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Given that the taxpayers are on the hook for the money, will the Prime Minister take responsibility for the millions of dollars he obtained from Canadian taxpayers to finance this failed business venture?
Grants And LoansOral Question Period
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised the member would put the question in that way given that with respect to this project the local caisse populaire; the mayor and councillors of Shawinigan; Société québécoise de développement de la main-d'oeuvre; the local tourist association; the provincial péquiste member of parliament, Claude Pinard; the local MNA for the house of assembly; and a variety of different funding institutions participated in developing this facility.
From time to time we do have bankruptcies in Canada. They happen in all ridings represented in this assembly, but no one would suggest that governments should not participate—
Jim Abbott Canadian Alliance Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Speaker, let us take a look at what the minister and the government are responsible for, not the other part of it.
Let us talk about the federal government's part: $720,000 from HRDC and $925,000 from the BDC, at election time by coincidence. The federal economic development agency lent the hotel $400,000 and gave the adjoining convention centre $658,000. That is $2.7 million. Surely even the minister must take $2.7 million as a serious amount of money to be responsible for.
Grants And LoansOral Question Period
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Industry
Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is a serious amount of money to be responsible for. I am very happy to report that with respect to the BDC the funds it provided are totally secured in this transaction.
Marcel Gagnon Bloc Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the parliamentary secretary said that there has been no change in government policy on the issue of cheese sticks for the last 20 years.
The minister does not seem to be aware that, in 1995, there was a change. The government agreed to an import quota of 20,412 tonnes of cheese products.
My question is for the Minister for International Trade. Why is the minister continuing to jeopardize the cheese industry by granting additional import permits in excess of the quotas that were negotiated?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, there has been no change in Canada's policy on this matter for the past 20 years.
Unfortunately, since 1999, the United States has refused to import Canadian products that are of excellent quality. Our government is determined to reopen the U.S. market to Canadian cheese producers.
As for occasionally allowing imports in excess of the quotas, this always happens for specific consumers who need a specific product. It is the only way these import permits are issued.
Marcel Gagnon Bloc Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is time the minister reviewed his file.
Because of his careless handling of this issue, cheese stick imports have increased by 70% over the past three years.
Why does the minister persist in telling the House that if we import products it is because we have needs? This is false. Producers tell us that they have all they need to meet domestic demand.
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is contradicting himself. He is saying we do not need it, but imports have increased by 70%.
If imports have increased by 70%, it must be because there is a demand on our market.
We will continue to protect and to promote the interests of Canadian producers who make very good products that are popular in our market. We also want to reopen the U.S. market, from which they have been cut off since 1999.
Bob Mills Canadian Alliance Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want Lisa's law. It may be too late for Lisa Dillman but it is not too late for thousands of Canadian children across the country.
The Minister of Justice talks about putting children first. This is a perfect example of how she has failed again. Her lack of action defends the rights of pedophiles over children.
I ask again: Will the Minister of Justice ensure that children will never be forced to visit pedophiles in jail ever again?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, in relation to this very difficult and troubling situation, the hon. member is probably aware that we and the provinces are in the process of reviewing the Divorce Act and family law legislation across the country.
I certainly encourage the hon. member and anyone else who is interested to make known their views as to whether or not we can better define that which is in the best interests of the children for the purposes of the Divorce Act.
Bob Mills Canadian Alliance Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, study, study, study, that is all we hear.
John Schneeberger, a convicted sexual offender and pedophile, is using his children to get at his ex-wife. His children are being used as pawns in a sick game. When these types of individuals are convicted of sexual assault they should lose their ability to force visits with children.
I ask again: Will the minister change this law so that it never happens again? We do not need to study it. Canadians are saying it is wrong.
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have pointed out to the hon. member on a number of occasions, and as Mr. Justice Foster made plain in a court in Red Deer on Friday, Mrs. Dillman can either appeal or seek variation of the custody and access order.
I would encourage her to do that as quickly as possible to end this difficult situation for everybody.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Children and Youth. Today is World No Tobacco Day. Recently released figures show that smoking rates for youth are declining, but we have a lot more work to do, particularly with young women, aboriginals and in Quebec.
Could the secretary of state tell the House what the Government of Canada is doing to combat smoking among Canada's youth?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the Government of Canada announced a $480 million tobacco control strategy. Of this amount, $210 million will go toward a mass media campaign with special emphasis on youth.
I am also pleased to inform the House that earlier today my colleague the Minister of Health launched three youth pilot projects: Rightstuf Racing, Blue Ribbon Campaign and VRAI. These projects are designed to raise awareness on tobacco issues and to build on the protection, prevention and cessation elements of the new tobacco control strategy.
Rick Casson Canadian Alliance Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government is about to guarantee a huge loan of Canadian taxpayer money to an American company just so it can buy Canadian airplanes. The loan is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. The Minister of Industry has spun this as a one time deal to save jobs.
With the emergency funding tab multiplying every few months, how many exorbitant one time deals will Canadians be on the hook for, for this one private company?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I know the Alliance has always had a soft spot for Embraer. There was a time when it was providing all the information it could against Bombardier to help it at the WTO. Despite the Alliance's effort, we have won four panel decisions at the WTO.
We will get to the bottom of this affair and will safeguard the jobs of thousands of Canadians, not only in Quebec, as those members would like people believe, but from coast to coast, led by Bombardier, a great champion of Canadian industry.
Rick Casson Canadian Alliance Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, $1.5 billion is a lot of money. Would it not be better for the government and the aerospace industry in Canada to level the sanctions in the four cases we have won against Brazil, instead of guaranteeing loans?
The Prime Minister told us he would fight fire with fire when dealing with unfair trade situations with Brazil. Will he make the right decision when dealing with hard working taxpayer money?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, our government will make the decisions that are necessary to bring Brazil back to the table. We want to end this folly of subsidies in the aircraft business.
It does not make any sense for Brazil to go that route. Canada is determined to go back to dialogue and negotiation with Brazil. We will take the means necessary to convince the Brazilians to come back to the negotiation table and stop these financing loans at costs that are not acceptable in the aircraft business.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
Yesterday, the government of Quebec announced a grant of $23.5 million to the integrated centre for pulp and paper technology in Trois-Rivières. The university, the CEGEP and the industry have thus joined forces to make our region a leader in pulp and paper training and development throughout Quebec and eastern Canada.
In light of the promises of the Liberal Party of Canada during the election campaign, when does the Minister of Industry intend to make his decision known to stakeholders in the Mauricie region, who are waiting on his commitment to make this project a reality?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of National Revenue, received a new request for financial assistance on April 5. The file is under study and, as soon as it has been analyzed, we will make our position known.