Debates of Sept. 27th, 2001

The Canada Jobs Fund

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of National Revenue acknowledge that time is of the essence and he must act as quickly as possible?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, part of my mandate in economic development requires me to spend most of my time in Quebec's regions.

We intervened in recent years with programs of enormous vision. We targeted the realities and economic forces of all the regions.

This very morning, in fact, I was in the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region to announce an important project for the region called Alumiforme, a project in the automotive industry. There is a lot of future for the regions, if they believe, as we in the government certainly do, in regional development, and we will keep working on it.

National Security

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last night the revenue minister met with the U.S. ambassador. The United States is moving to create a secure perimeter with or without Canada. Our trade dependency dictates that we must be within that perimeter.

What, if any, concrete assurances did the minister give Ambassador Cellucci to ensure that Canada does not end up on the outside looking in?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I first want to pay tribute to all customs officers who have been working very hard over the past few days. They have rendered wonderful services to our Canadian society and deserve a big round of applause.

Second, I requested a meeting with the U.S. ambassador and the meeting took place last night. We had a meeting of the minds in the sense that we share exactly the same vision. We both want to protect our communities by working in co-operation with each other. That is the key to success.

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is 17 days and counting and the minister has yet to reveal a plan to secure our borders.

Bill S-23 expedites trade but it does nothing to address the shortage of personnel, resources and laws required to properly secure our borders. Hopefully the minister reassured the U.S. ambassador last night. He now needs to reassure Canadians. What is his anti-terrorism plan?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, if members on the other side of the House were at all interested in the customs system, they would know that there was something announced last June with regard to the ports and airports across Canada requesting additional resources and involving additional resources.

I want to tell the member that on this side of the House the government is very proud of our customs system. We have been working to ensure that fantastic reforms will be put in place. The problem with those members is that they did not pay attention to Canadian security or to customs. Last night I was proud to say that we are the leader--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Hull--Aylmer.

Wireless technology

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 100th anniversary of the first wireless transatlantic transmission by Marconi.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry tell us what the government is doing to celebrate this historic event?

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and Newfoundland are sponsoring the international Wireless Vision Congress, Marconi's legacy, which is currently taking place in St. John's.

Wireless technology has a tremendous impact on our daily life, in the health care sector as well as in education and in the economy.

The congress welcomes more than 350 delegates representing over 20 countries. There will be a demonstration of wireless medical services between St. John's and Labrador, and the first Canadian course given in space, thanks to a link between students and the international space station.

National Security

[Charlie Penson, Canadian Alliance, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Business Council on National Issues has called for the government to move quickly on Canada-U.S. co-operation on our border.

Canada's largest businesses want real action to deal exclusively with border issues. They want to harmonize immigration and security laws to ensure the free flow of trade that our economies have come to depend on.

Given the gravity of the situation, will the government stand up for Canadian business and take real action to immediately harmonize our border with the U.S.?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, following the meeting last night there was no doubt in my mind that it was a meeting of the minds in the sense that we were moving in the very same direction.

We recognize that change on both sides of the border for the two countries is important and that with trade being the cornerstone of our economic development, we have to make sure that the border works.

In order to make sure the border works, facing the volume that we have, we came to the conclusion that Bill S-23 is a good start and that we have to keep using innovation in our human resources in a more efficient manner.

[Charlie Penson, Canadian Alliance, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Bill S-23 might be a good start but Canadians want to know that there is much more coming from the government. This is a very serious issue in a time of crisis.

What is at stake? Hundreds of billions of dollars a day in two way business with the U.S., business that depends on a just in time delivery basis. We cannot allow Canadian businesses to be shut out of the U.S. market because of inaction at our borders.

Does the minister not understand the need to resolve these issues immediately?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we do recognize that we have to pay attention to trade. Eighty-five per cent of our exports go to the Unites States.

However, we have to recognize as well that we started the reform the customs system a year and a half ago with Bill S-23. We are working in co-operation with the U.S. We have put in place some pilot projects, such as Canpass. We have a joint pilot project. We have to make sure that within the global marketplace, because of the volume with which we must deal, that the border works for our trade, for our business community and for our travellers. The goal of the two countries is to work hard to make sure that it does work because we do not--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Drummond.

Canadian Banks

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the European Union and the United States have taken very specific measures to track down and freeze the assets of terrorist groups.

Since September 11, all the government has done is ask Canadian banks to co-operate with the FBI, but this directive does not apply to Canadian bank branches located in tax havens.

Is the Minister of Finance prepared to close the Canadian market to banks located in tax havens which refuse to co-operate?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we have asked Canadian banks to co-operate fully. They have issued a release in which they have said that they have fully implemented the process. I can tell the member that as far as Canadian banks are concerned, there is 100% co-operation.

I spoke with my counterparts in other countries, including U.S. Treasury Secretary O'Neill, and I can say that Canada is certainly in the forefront. We are setting the course in many countries because now is the time for international co-operation and Canada will lead the way.

The Environment

[Andy Savoy, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

Last summer we had too many days with poor air quality. Canadians are worried. Some Canadians are even suffering from respiratory ailments.

What is the Government of Canada doing to address this serious situation and when will Canadians see a difference in our air quality?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is quite correct. Last summer we saw an unprecedented number of bad air quality days. Sadly, it is also true that many thousands of Canadians die because of respiratory diseases exacerbated by bad air quality.

The measures in the ozone annex that I signed last December in the United States and in the domestic package which was introduced in the House and explained in the House I believe in February earlier this year will result in an overall reduction of some 40% to 45% in air quality problems.

In addition, in response to the hon. member's specific question, next summer, in June-July, the first reductions in sulphur and gasoline will--

[The Speaker]

Order, please.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Annelies Verstand, Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment of the Netherlands.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Business of the House

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on my usual Thursday question I would like to ask the government House leader about the business for the rest of today, for the rest of this week and for next week.

Is he prepared yet to advise the country and the House on discussions he has had with opposition House leaders with regard to a special debate on air traffic in Canada?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon we will continue with Bill C-27, the nuclear waste bill, followed by resuming the debate on Bill C-33 on Nunavut surface rights. Should this bill be completed before the end of the day I would then propose to advance the emergency debate previously scheduled for this evening.

Tomorrow we will debate Bill C-32, the Costa Rica trade agreement. I do not propose to call other legislation tomorrow.

On Monday we will begin consideration of Bill C-31 concerning the Export Development Corporation, followed by Bill C-30, the courts administration bill, followed by any previously listed business that has not been completed if such is the case.

Immediately after I complete reading this statement I will be proposing a special order which will make it possible to have a take note debate on the airline industry on Monday evening.

Tuesday shall be an allotted day. On Wednesday we will deal with Bill C-34, the transport tribunal bill, and any unfinished business.

For Thursday and Friday I hope to be consulting with House leaders of all parties regarding the adoption of the modernization committee report, second reading of the foreign missions bill which will be introduced shortly, and the miscellaneous statute law amendment bill that we pass once per parliament.

Pursuant to the business statement I just made, I believe you would find unanimous consent pursuant to earlier discussions to move a motion. I move:

That, at 6.30 p.m. on Monday, October 1, 2001, the House shall continue to sit and shall resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider a motion “That the committee take note of the difficulties experienced by the Canadian airline industry”, provided that, during consideration thereof, (1) the Speaker may from time to time act as Chair of the committee (2) no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes (3) the Chair of the committee shall not receive any quorum call or any motion except a motion “That the committee do now rise”, (4) when no Member rises to speak, or at 10.00 p.m., whichever is earlier, the committee shall rise and (5) when the committee rises the House shall immediately adjourn to the next sitting day.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.