Debates of June 13th, 2001

Agriculture

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, livestock producers and their representative organizations have written my office setting out their concerns over Bill C-15. They have raised concerns that livestock and poultry producers will face criminal charges for simply following ordinary farming practices.

Why does the justice minister refuse to specify in legislation that normally accepted animal husbandry practices will not be subject to criminal prosecution?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, we have consulted widely in relation to this legislation.

In fact we made changes to the legislation to accommodate all the reasonable needs and concerns of those involved, be they hunters, trappers, those involved in the agricultural sector or whomever.

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, all I can suggest to the minister is that she get out there and listen again because that is not what the farming community is telling us.

The farming community is telling us that this legislation cannot go through as it is presently set up without a specific reference to farming practices as normal practices that are not subject to prosecution. That is what is required.

I am asking the minister to stand and say that. Farmers want that legislation. Can she do that today?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I can do no better than quote the Globe and Mail today, which says the following—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please. The Chair heard the question and would like to hear the answer.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, let me quote:

—this sorely needed overhaul of the cruelty laws—the first in more than a century—is aimed squarely at criminals who enjoy inflicting suffering on animals. That's how most courts would interpret it, and case law would swiftly be established. The Alliance should realize this and quit stalling.

North American Free Trade Agreement

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, chapter 11 of NAFTA on investments is to be discussed by the three countries in July.

The Prime Minister has already stated that chapter 11 of NAFTA does not pose a problem, while the Minister for International Trade is concerned about it. As we know, transnational corporations are making all kinds of representations to have this chapter maintained.

Does the minister realize that the interpretation given to chapter 11 jeopardizes the governments' ability to act, which means that it is urgent to limit its scope?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc member for Joliette exaggerates the scope that we are trying to give to chapter 11.

We have always felt that chapter 11 works well. There are Canadian investments around the world that deserve to be protected; they must be protected, and we will continue to protect them.

As for chapter 11 of NAFTA, our government never wanted to change it or renegotiate it but rather to clarify certain aspects, to improve its transparency. I believe and I firmly hope that improvements will be made.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister met with his Mexican and American counterparts on May 8, and chapter 11 was to be discussed. Moreover, the NAFTA commission will meet at the end of July and this item is on the agenda.

Could the minister tell us which changes he will propose to settle this issue once and for all?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I note the hon. member's tone when he talks about settling issues “once and for all”.

But as we know, there are agreements in place; these must continually be adjusted to reflect the new reality, and so do the institutions that have developed. So, on this issue as on many others, we do not settle issues “once and for all”, as the Bloc Quebecois claims.

I will say that I am very pleased that my colleagues from Mexico and the United States have agreed to have the commission look at chapter 11 to improve its transparency and clarify certain aspects, but it works—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Yellowhead.

Health

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 20,000 Canadians are on the waiting list for knee and hip replacements. The average waiting time for this surgery, for the lucky, is six months. Some Canadians have to put their lives on hold for a whole year. Luck should have nothing to do with health care.

Does the health minister believe that the waiting times are acceptable standards for health care in Canada?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, that is the very reason we have been encouraging provincial governments to increase enrolment in medical schools. It is the very reason we have been encouraging provincial governments and the professions to open the door to those with training in medicine and in nursing who come to the country.

I can tell the member one thing. One way not to deal with waiting lists is to do what the Alliance contends and have an American style two tier system, because that would make matters far worse.

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the minister understands quite where we are at on this side, but I think he should understand exactly that as recently reported we need 150 orthopedic surgeons just to meet existing demand. However, it takes 10 years to train one.

An aging population will only make this problem worse. Surely we will not wait for the Romanow report before we address this problem. The minister is good at smooth talk and no action. How many new positions will be opened up this fall?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, three years ago total enrolment in first year medical schools was about 1,570. This fall it will be over 2,000. That is progress.

I will say something else. The way we deal with waiting lists is to act on the agreements that all governments came to last September: more doctors and nurses; better equipment, for which we have given the money; better information technology to modernize the system; and making this a country where doctors want to stay and practise. That is the agenda we are working on on this side of the House.

Canada Post

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Government Services if he is ready to order Canada Post to keep the North Sydney postal terminal, not to sell it but to use it for other postal operations.

Cape Breton badly needs employment. Surely Canada Post should be creating more jobs in our region, not unemployment.

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the hard work of the hon. member for Sydney—Victoria on this file. He has been speaking with Canada Post authorities, with the president, and he has been speaking with me, the minister responsible.

I can assure him today that Canada Post in the near future will find a new vocation for the Sydney postal terminal.

Access To Information

[Cheryl Gallant, Canadian Alliance, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week we appealed to the information commissioner for help in getting 31 access requests from HRDC. This week the commissioner is talking about excessive secrecy and delays.

HRDC had the second highest number of complaints in the entire government. The commissioner said that cases arise where the minister's own office disrupts the process. Will the minister assure the House that her office is not holding up our access to information requests?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely will assure the hon. member that is the case. We will not be holding up their requests.

Her question gives me a chance to explain to the House what the information commissioner did say. He agreed, as I have said before, that the department did experience a large increase in the volume of requests due to the issues raised last year, but with specific reference to the number of complaints, he said “The matter is well in hand and not indicative of a systemic problem”.

My department has had an extraordinary record in providing information through the access to information process. We hope very soon to be back with an A grade and certainly will ensure that the information is conveyed as quickly as possible.

[Cheryl Gallant, Canadian Alliance, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have asked for information about grants to the Prime Minister's riding, grants to the minister's riding, and about the way access to information requests are processed in her department.

Correspondence from her office all have one thing in common. They are all matters about which she has taken political heat. Is that why we are not getting anything from her department, that she cannot take the political heat?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, all I can say is that I am still here in the same place I started when I was taking political heat from that party.

Radio Canada International

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, La Presse featured a report that Radio Canada International would no longer be producing weekend newscasts.

Three months ago, however, the Minister of Canadian Heritage signed a one year memorandum of understanding with the CBC in which the corporation guaranteed the services of Radio Canada International, without any cuts.

Will the minister explain why the current memorandum of understanding is not being respected, and will she assure the House that the services of Radio Canada International will be able to continue, as provided for in last month's memorandum of understanding?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, it must be remembered that it was this government which saved Radio Canada International. It is also true that there will be a very good partnership with Radio Canada International in the future.

We are pleased that the CBC is in partnership with Radio Canada International in this memorandum of understanding because, with the power of the CBC and the strength of Radio Canada International, we will accomplish wonderful things together.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since the government has promised a more commercial grain handling and transportation system. The plan required the Canadian Wheat Board to negotiate commercial agreements with the rest of the grain industry, but this has not happened.

Could the Minister of Transport tell the House why these commercial agreements have not been signed? What is he doing to end this impasse that is negatively affecting Canadian agriculture?