Debates of Oct. 21st, 2002

Health

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in fact as the hon. member may be aware, the government, in particular the Department of National Defence, has a stockpile of vaccine. We have determined that the stockpile is not sufficient to implement our search and contain approach, an approach recommended by the World Health Organization.

My department has presented to the government and we will be moving forward on a new procurement plan in relation to the purchase of the necessary smallpox vaccine, so that the public safety and security of Canadians will be protected.

The Environment

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail recently submitted to the Minister of Transport a funding proposal for a rapid train project in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. This proposal would include financial involvement by the federal government.

Should the government decide to go ahead with this project, could the Minister of Transport assure us that the most performing environmental technologies will be used, out of respect for the commitments made with respect to the Kyoto protocol?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Justice

[Chuck Cadman, Canadian Alliance, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for 32 years Robert Moyes racked up 36 convictions, including three attempted murders, armed robbery, forcible confinement and escape. He has stabbed prison guards. In sentencing him to life for a 1986 bank robbery the judge said:

The time has finally come to put a stop to your predatory activities for as long as possible.

Moyes is now convicted of seven first degree murders over a nine month period in 1995-96, and get this, while he was on day parole. When will the government stop paroling multiple repeat violent offenders?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, public safety is always the number one issue.

What we do in our penal institutions is to ensure that if an offender is caught and convicted that he is punished for the crime and rehabilitation is put in place.

Archives

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, the Governor General said that the government would create “[...] a new institution that brings together the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada [...]”.

How can the government pledge to provide new tools to reach Canadians and strengthen key arts and heritage institutions while making budget cuts of 26% to the Canadian Archival Information Network program, in the very first year, while the initial budget in the three-year agreement is $2.3 million?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we are of course talking about two different issues when we refer to the National Archives and the National Library. Three years ago, it was decided that it would be a good thing to merge these two institutions to present to the general public everything is part of the wealth of historical information belonging to the National Archives and the National Library. This is what we will do.

Automobile Industry

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government sat and watched the Auto Pact die and the industry slide into crisis. The CAW, the big three and municipalities are calling for a federal auto policy. Last week Navistar Chatham announced the closure of its truck plant. It is moving to Mexico. At almost the same time a Windsor plant was proposed by DCX with a request for federal support. All the Minister of Industry can say is that our health care system is incentive enough, the health care system he and his government gutted.

Can the minister explain why he is so intent on screwing up our auto industry, just like he did our health care system?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that some three or four months ago I convened a sector council from the auto sector, including the five manufacturers most active in Canada, the CAW, representatives of Ontario and Quebec governments, the dealers, and the parts makers, to work together in developing a strategy for continuing investment in the auto sector over the coming 10 years.

In the last couple of years we have seen additional important investments in the sector. We will work together to ensure that continues.

Government Grants

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The Mouse Island wharf received a promise of a $600,000 investment from Herman Samson in return for a monopoly deal on the wharf. This benefits the minister of fisheries' brother-in-law. The money came from ACOA when the present minister of fisheries was the minister responsible for ACOA.

Will the minister tell the House what part of this deal is not a conflict of interest?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, I will speak slowly so he understands.

There is no monopoly agreement with Mr. Samson for the use of the lift, the storage area or the boat servicing area. I do understand that the president of this organization, who is a member of the Richmond County Progressive Conservative Association, did enter into a deal with Mr. Samson on an area exterior to the actual facility itself. That is between them and Mr. Samson.

Foreign Affairs

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a bit earlier, during Oral Question Period, the Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed that the government was advising Canadian citizens not to travel to Algeria because of the atmosphere of violence there.

On the other hand, with the lifting of the moratorium on deportation of Algerians, are we to conclude from the Canadian position that it is not dangerous for both parents to travel to Algeria but that it would be dangerous for their two-year-old, who is a Canadian citizen, to do so?

Is there a danger for some people and not for others? We would like to understand this logic.

[Mark Assad, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, each case is studied individually. There is no blanket deportation. Each case is examined by the Department of Immigration, which does so compassionately, and recognizes all humanitarian cases.

Committees of the House

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the first report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership and associate membership of the committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the first report later this day.

Canada Labour Code

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-230, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Public Service Staff Relations Act (scabs and essential services).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to again introduce my bill.

This bill would prohibit the hiring of persons to replace employees of an employer under the Canada Labour Code who are on strike or locked out or employees of the public service who are on strike. This bill is also aimed at ensuring that essential services are maintained in the event of a strike in the public service.

I hope there will be a debate on this bill at last, and I also hope to be able to convince my parliamentary colleagues to pass it, since I feel it is essential to the defence of these workers.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During the presentation from the Bloc member the microphone was not on and we did not get interpretation. It also means it will probably not be in the official Hansard . I wonder whether there could be consent that the member's statement, as written on his paper, could appear in Hansard as if it had actually been spoken in the House.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In defence of Private Members' Business, I would then ask for you to have this member make his presentation again because we did in fact miss it.

[The Speaker]

Would the hon. member for Manicouagan mind repeating what he said?

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Of course not, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to again introduce my bill on scabs and essential services.

This bill would prohibit the hiring of persons to replace employees of an employer under the Canada Labour Code who are on strike or locked out or employees of the public service who are on strike. This bill is also aimed at ensuring that essential services are maintained in the event of a strike in the public service.

I hope there will be a debate on this bill at last, and I also hope to be able to convince my parliamentary colleagues to pass it, since I feel it is essential to the defence of these workers.

Lisa's Law

[Bob Mills, Canadian Alliance, Red Deer, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-231, an act to amend the Divorce Act (limits on rights of child access by sex offenders).

Mr. Speaker, my bill, which is old Bill C-400 from the previous Parliament, is also known as Lisa's law. It protects children from being forced to visit their pedophile parents in jail.

The bill is in the same format as Bill C-400 that I introduced in the previous session and which was in committee. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 86.1, I wish to have the bill returned to its previous status before prorogation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[The Speaker]

The Chair is satisfied that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-400 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 37th Parliament. Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 86.1, the bill is deemed read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

(Bill deemed read the second time and referred to a committee)

Endangered Species Sanctuaries Act

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-232, an act respecting the creation of sanctuaries for endangered species of wildlife.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the protection of endangered species, our country does not have workable, effective legislation to protect species at risk which are on the verge of extinction. Encroachment by humans and the destruction of habitat and poaching are all major contributors to the ever increasing numbers of species that are hurtling toward extinction.

This bill will enable us to save species by allowing us to protect critical habitat. The bill obliges the federal government to engage in agreements with the provinces to protect critical habitat.

Individuals will be remunerated at fair market value for loss of land where agreements cannot be made. Also, the species deemed at risk will be deemed at risk by scientists under COSEWIC. In effect, this bill strikes a balance between private interests and public needs and will go a long way to saving species at risk.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)