House of Commons Hansard #88 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreements.

Topics

TerrorismOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member for Beauséjour—Petitcodiac.

Softwood LumberOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB

Mr. Speaker, since meetings with U.S. trade representative Zoellick and commerce secretary Evans two weeks ago, what has the government done to defend Canada's softwood lumber industry from U.S. trade actions and protectionist American lumber industries?

Softwood LumberOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

London—Fanshawe Ontario

Liberal

Pat O'Brien LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and his continued interest in this important matter.

The government has been very active on three specific fronts relevant to softwood lumber. First, we are committed to trade action. We are now in the process of requesting a WTO panel and the government will take six measures to the WTO for adjudication regarding the U.S. trade action. We continue to hold official discussions. Last week in Toronto there was enough progress made that there will be discussions next week in Washington to look at the root causes.

In light of the tragedy in the United States, the government is advocating quietly but persistently for our lumber industry.

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport was quite right when he said our airport security does not need to exactly mirror the U.S. to be safe. Many people think that some of the U.S. measures like armed air marshals are making it easier for generals to shoot down civilian airliners and will actually make people feel less safe in the air.

That being said, the minister has not convinced Canadians that our security systems are fine as is. One can become an airport security guard in Canada with 20 hours of training. That is the same amount of training that one gets at McDonald's.

Why will the minister not admit that this training is insufficient and that contracting security out to the lowest bidder is--

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. Minister of Transport.

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry that the hon. member from the NDP continues to denigrate unionized workers who do a very valuable job across the country screening all the baggage. These people are trained. They are re-tested every two years. If they need additional training that is something we would be prepared to look at.

Why does she continue to beat up on individuals who are trying to do their best?

TerrorismOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting prime minister. Apparently, according to CNN, British and American troops have begun special operations in Afghanistan.

I would like to ask the acting prime minister, was Canada informed before this took place? What did we know? What can he tell the House? It is extremely important that we know whether or not Canada has been informed of these operations and what took place.

TerrorismOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, we are not aware of such action being taken at this point in time. I just came back from the NATO meeting. There has been a lot of discussion about it. Of course when it comes to special operations there is not a lot of information that would be divulged publicly for security reasons.

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, one of the first anti-terrorist measures to guarantee airline safety needs to be securing the cockpit.

When will the Minister of Transport be able to assure travellers that, number one, the cockpit doors are locked, and number two, the cockpit doors are reinforced?

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, the regulation for the locking of cockpit doors was issued on September 17, the first day the House was back. Transport Canada, as the regulator in Canada, is working with the FAA and the European authorities to ensure that new design changes come into effect to strengthen cockpit doors. These will then apply to Bombardier, as our principal manufacturer, and Boeing and Airbus.

We are all working together to the same end, to the same result, which is to protect airline passengers.

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the minister's answer is going to reassure the passengers who are flying today that the cockpits are secure.

He insists that the baggage handlers are adequately trained and have sufficient numbers to do their job yet they disagree. He refuses to consider allowing the crews to carry stun guns or pepper spray. He refuses to take precautionary measures, such as protecting the passengers with air marshals. He even intends to prevent U.S. aircraft with sky marshals on board from entering Canada. Why?

Airline SafetyOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member has been too preoccupied with the integration problems of his rump group and the Conservative Party to have noticed that we have added additional security measures. They have affected hazardous materials and sharp objects on planes. There are measures dealing with access of airside workers to planes, screener training, photo ID, enhanced infiltration testing, and the strengthening of the cockpit doors as I mentioned.

Why is the opposition so intent on trying to discourage the travelling public from getting back into the air?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Scott Reid Canadian Alliance Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, the publicly stated promise of performance for employment insurance states that when a Canadian loses his or her job, the claim should be processed in 21 days and the first benefit cheque should arrive shortly after that.

In eastern Ontario the reality is a whole lot different. In August only 32% of claims were processed within this timeframe. Many laid off workers have to wait eight weeks or more. Callers to the information centre are advised it will take 15 days just to inform them of the status of their claims.

When will this unacceptable situation change?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Laval West Québec

Liberal

Raymonde Folco LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, the increase in EI claims reflects the impact of a downturn in the economy that is being felt in some parts of the country and in the economy itself. In addition, recent work stoppages have greatly affected productivity. This has limited the number of workload reduction options, that is, overtime, and has added to the backlogs in many offices around the country.

We are working to reduce this backlog to provide the level of service that Canadians have come to expect. Our goal is to maintain service levels to 28 days for new claims.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Scott Reid Canadian Alliance Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, I think the speaking notes prepared for the hon. parliamentary secretary were intended for a different question.

A year ago when Kanata's high tech sector was booming, the 21 day promise of performance was almost always met. Now that thousands of workers in Kanata and the rest of eastern Ontario actually need help, the EI system is falling apart at the seams.

The government's main campaign point in recent elections has been that it is a competent manager. A manager who meets his targets only 38% of the time could expect himself to be collecting employment insurance pretty soon.

How long will it be before the targets that were met last year will be achieved in this part of the country this year?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Laval West Québec

Liberal

Raymonde Folco LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat the answer that I gave a moment ago.

There have been a number of factors that have meant that the work has slowed down. We are working on this right now.

I would like to add that the employment insurance program is there for Canadians who face layoffs. HRDC officials are working now to ensure that employees affected by layoffs are able to access the benefits they are entitled to.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

September 28th, 2001 / 11:45 a.m.

Bloc

Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister, whose lack of leadership at the international level can only be deplored, recently said that he is in favour of a diplomatic approach and that he would seize the opportunity provided by the Commonwealth meeting and the Francophonie summit to broaden the coalition in the fight against terrorism.

How does the Minister of Foreign Affairs explain that Canada is one of the countries that announced that it would not take part in the Commonwealth meeting, thus contributing to its cancellation?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the decision to postpone the Commonwealth meeting was taken by the Prime Minister of Australia and the Commonwealth Secretary General. It is a decision that we must respect.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Bloc

Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC

Mr. Speaker, since Canada's decision was made before the decision of the Prime Minister of Australia, can the minister tell us if the Canadian government intends to take part in the Francophonie summit, which is scheduled to take place in Lebanon, in October?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I will simply say that the Prime Minister is prepared to travel to all the way to Australia, as well as to Lebanon, if meetings take place as scheduled.

SudanOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Maurice Vellacott Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to take a see nothing, do nothing approach toward the extremist brutal regime in Sudan. As recently as two days ago in this very House, the Liberal government refused to condemn the Sudanese government for its crimes against humanity and genocidal acts toward its own citizens.

Why will the Liberal government not condemn this terrorist and genocidal regime?

SudanOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

If only the world were so simple, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week the United States praised the Government of Sudan for the attitude that it has taken in the current circumstances.

I hope the hon. member understands what we, with our allies, are endeavouring to do at the present time. It is to build the broadest consensus possible to move against terrorism. Comments such as his are probably not that helpful.

SudanOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Maurice Vellacott Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, to take an example of that, a low Flight to justify his position, CSIS documents show that the Sudanese regime has continued to very aggressively pursue an agenda of international terrorism. It has used its embassy staff to raise funds for Osama bin Laden. It has given diplomatic credentials to bin Laden's followers so they can travel anywhere in the world. It has actually budgeted for international terrorism. It has worked with bin Laden to manufacture chemical weapons for use on civilians.

Again, I ask the foreign affairs minister, what more does this brutal Sudanese regime have to do before the Liberal government will condemn it?

SudanOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the choice of timing for such a question is unfortunate. I will not comment on security intelligence reports as I think the member should expect that I would not do. In the present circumstances I reiterate to him, we are endeavouring to build the broadest possible international consensus to act against terrorism. We and the United States certainly hope that the Government of Sudan will continue not only the encouraging words it has used but will be part of that consensus.

Porcupine CaribouOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU

Mr. Speaker, Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski made recent remarks to re-emphasize his desire to drill in the sensitive Porcupine caribou calving grounds in Alaska. He also criticized Canada's opposition to this plan, singling out our Minister of the Environment.

Will the Minister of the Environment tell the House his position on this important issue?