House of Commons Hansard #11 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was kimberley.
Kyoto ProtocolOral Question Period
The Speaker
I am sure the hon. member for Winnipeg--Transcona was directing his question to the Chair, but of course the Chair will not be ratifying anything. The Minister of the Environment will answer the question as I assume it was directed to him.
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, as a candidate for the leadership of the New Democratic Party federally, I can understand why kamikaze is well on the mind of the hon. member. I wish him luck in avoiding the fate that he has set for himself.
With respect to the date, it remains the same. The Prime Minister announced in June of last year that he hoped to have ratification this year. It is still our intention and our wish to have it this year. There is plenty of time. I would just remark that since that 18 months, since June of last year, there has been a one week delay in one meeting.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, we wish the Minister of the Environment, not you, Mr. Speaker, would show some real enthusiasm for Kyoto and all the benefits that could come to Canada both economically and environmentally, if the government would just show some enthusiasm, and make it clear that this is a national project, that we are going to do it together and that no one particular region will be disadvantaged unfairly. Say it, get on with it and let us have ratification and implementation not in 10 years but very soon.
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the problem with the would be leader of the New Democratic Party is of course he is so involved in the internal debates of that party he is not paying attention to speeches made elsewhere. I indeed am an enthusiast for the Kyoto protocol's opportunities on the economic front. They are dramatic. That is why I say that while we can add up as much as we want, the potential job loss on one side is almost certain to be exceeded by the job growth on the other.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, between 1942 and 1946, the Department of National Defence and the National Research Council experimented on Canadian soldiers by exposing them to the worst chemical agents, including mustard gas, at CFB Suffield in Alberta. Now 60 years later those brave soldiers are suffering from a wide range of health problems linked back to those tests.
Is the Minister of National Defence prepared to compensate these men or will the government force them to go through another costly legal battle on behalf of Canadian veterans?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I was informed that these tests had been conducted in a safe way and produced great benefits for Canada and our allies in protecting ourselves from chemical attacks of various kinds. However I will look into the matter of the soldiers to whom the hon. member refers and will get back to her and the House on that matter.
Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is on record for saying that $1.3 million in grants and loans to Mouse Island wharf will benefit the local community. The president of the Mouse Island facility has stated that Samson Enterprises, headed by the minister's brother-in-law, has a monopoly on the site. It would seem the community that is benefiting is the minister's own family.
Since the minister's brother-in-law has the monopoly, will the minister tell us what other shipbuilder will benefit from the facility?
Government GrantsOral Question Period
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Gerry Byrne LiberalMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Not a problem, Mr. Speaker. I want to say categorically there is no monopoly arrangement with Mr. Samson for the use of the lift, the storage area or the boat servicing area on Mouse Island. There is a wide range of users. In fact, Mr. Samson's company will only be a recipient of approximately 11% of its use. First nations are also major users as are tourist operators in the area.
However, there is a mouse on Mouse Island that has a penchant for Limburger not for Canadian cheddar because, while it was walking around and exploring this issue, it neglected to point out that Gabriel LeBlanc, the president of the development association, is also an executive member of the Richmond Country Progressive Conservative Riding Association.
Bob Mills Canadian Alliance Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the government's latest economic model on the impacts of Kyoto it admits that it will miss its target emissions by about 70 megatonnes. These lowball figures just really show the ineptitude of this minister in dealing with this file. Why is the minister so intent on ratifying an agreement that he has no intention to live up to or honouring on the international stage?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, this government fully intends to live up to its commitments under the Kyoto agreement. I notice the hon. member is in complete contradiction to the leader of his party who said we had no plan. This man apparently knows what is in the plan. The two of them had better get together and figure out what is what.
I can assure him however that when we release all the information on what we intend to do, he will find that 70 megaton gap, as he described it, fully covered.
Bob Mills Canadian Alliance Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, there will not be any problem of getting confused about the government's plan because it does not have a plan. That is really obvious.
The Kyoto accord targets carbon dioxide which itself is not a pollutant. The minister should know in fact that smog is caused by such things as particulate matter, nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxide and other things, yet he continues to confuse the two issues. In Calgary last week he talked about smog and all those sorts of things.
Why does the minister not come clean and tell Canadians what Kyoto really is about?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should indeed look into what causes smog. One thing that is very important in the creation of smog is heat. What is climate change and global warming? Heat. Therefore, along with those other pollutants that exist, we get the problem of smog.
That is my little science lesson for him but perhaps he might like to look a little further into this. I would be happy to give him a lunch maybe sometime and explain it in more detail.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government's poor management over the past months is making it liable to legal action for depriving the area of Les Basques and Les Escoumins of ferry services. It is depriving this area of revenues of nearly $5 million a year by failing to repair the wharves it still owns.
Having killed the 2002 season for the ferry between Trios-Pistoles and Les Escoumins, could the federal transport minister at least confirm that the repairs will be made in time to ensure the operation of the ferry for the 2003 season?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as I said previously, we are studying the situation. I hope to soon be able to state that we will be repairing the wharf at Les Escoumins.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, this should be done before winter.
On both sides of the river, the local population has had enough. The people want an answer before November 1, so that the 2003 season can be saved and future operation of the ferry can be ensured.
How can the federal government generate $10 billion in surpluses and at the same time fail to repair wharves that are its property, depriving the area of $5 million a year in tourism revenue?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, it is very important to have all repairs done before next operating season. I hope that, for next summer, the ferry service between Trois-Pistoles and Les Escoumins will be in place.
I think this is the result everyone is looking for.
James Rajotte Canadian Alliance Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. One of the industries which will be hit hardest by the Kyoto accord is the Canadian steel industry. The steel producers are solidly against the government ratifying the Kyoto accord. In Canada they represent over $11 billion in revenue, $3 billion in exports, 150,000 jobs and $600 million in research and development. Some 65% of their product is recycled and they are now a major contributor to environmental projects in Canada.
Why is the government jeopardizing investments in an industry that is so essential to our well-being?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, at least in one respect the hon. member is correct. The steel industry is extremely important to Canada's economy and of course to those people who work for it or are suppliers to it. I could add that the measures which are under consideration for implementing the Kyoto accord will not impact adversely on the steel industry.
James Rajotte Canadian Alliance Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, that is exactly the opposite of what the steel industry itself is saying. The steel industry is essential to the Ontario economy, particularly in Hamilton. A large segment of the steel produced is tied up in energy projects. If investors choose to invest in projects outside of Canada because of Kyoto, steel revenues will be significantly affected and jobs lost.
The Minister of Industry has a responsibility to stand up as a spokesperson for industry in cabinet. He has raised concerns twice outside the House. Will he stand up today and defend the steelworkers in southwestern Ontario?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I would think, and I hope the hon. member will think about this himself, that the council of the City of Hamilton, steel city in Canada, would pay particular attention to the issue he has raised. Yet the Hamilton city council has endorsed ratification of the Kyoto pact.
In addition, he might consider that the people who are most concerned about jobs in this country are the labour unions not the business community. They also have endorsed ratification of the Kyoto accord.
Tony Tirabassi Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the government have continuously supported trade initiatives with impoverished nations, so that all involved may better participate and benefit in this new era of globalization. I understand that the Minister for International Trade will be leading a trade mission to Africa in November.
Given the challenges that Africa faces related to trade and development, what can Canadian companies gain by participating in the upcoming trade mission?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, yes indeed, I will be leading a trade mission to South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal from November 15 to 26.
It is becoming quite clear that as Africa modernizes its private and public sectors, many African economies are looking outward to meet the demands and challenges of modernization.
Canadian companies have a lot to offer, particularly when it comes to education, technology and infrastructure. This mission will enable Canadian companies to develop new trading partnerships and a market that is ripe for Canadian products and services.
Rob Merrifield Canadian Alliance Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, today we learned of a plan to inoculate 500 first responders in preparation for a smallpox outbreak in Canada. The government has failed to obtain the product to treat the possible side effects of the smallpox vaccine.
It is interesting that the U.S. has ordered 100,000 doses of this product from a Canadian company. Why has the government even failed to order the antidote?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the hon. member and all Canadians that the government is working with public health officials, the provinces and territories in doing everything necessary to develop the required plan to ensure, in the very unlikely situation of smallpox being used as a form of bioterrorism, that we are prepared to meet that threat.
In fact, as the hon. member is probably aware, we are now in the process of revising our national smallpox contingency plan. That is a plan that is being developed in partnership with the provinces and territories. Upon its completion it will be released to the public.
Rob Merrifield Canadian Alliance Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, that did not answer the question at all.
There is a problem and the problem is that smallpox is a real threat in this country. The United States has a plan to inoculate every American within days of an attack. If we were to order today, we would not take possession of vaccine for six months.
Why has the government failed to announce a plan to assure Canadians that it has a vaccine?