House of Commons Hansard #35 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was fee.

Topics

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Rex Barnes Progressive Conservative Gander—Grand Falls, NL

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals collect millions in taxes on airline tickets, user fees, security taxes and fuel taxes, none of this is being reinvested into rural areas. Rural Canada needs access to affordable air travel in order to encourage investment and tourism access.

Gander airport became known around the world last year, but because of the monopoly in the airline industry, ticket prices are making it unaffordable for tourists to fly to my riding.

Yesterday the Minister of Transport had no time to meet with tourism industry officials who wished to discuss this very issue. When will he make the time to reveal the Liberals' plan to save rural airports?

Airline IndustryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr.Speaker, I will endeavour to raise the issue of the member's constituents who wish to meet with the Minister of Transport. The Minister of Transport is one who is known to be very accessible to a number of Canadians. He cares very much about ensuring a proper and competitive airline industry in Canada. He has stated that and he has worked very hard on that issue, as we all know.

Natural ResourcesOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has hinted at providing federal assistance to Manitoba to develop a $5 billion project at Conawapa.

The Minister of the Environment said Ottawa is examining the feasibility of federal support for a $1.4 billion transmission line to get the generated power to Ontario. We support this initiative.

Why has the federal government refused to assist the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop the Lower Churchill project?

Natural ResourcesOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the position of the federal government is clear. We are looking at a range of measures that could help achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Where there are proposals from the provinces or from the hydro corporations of the provinces to improve transportation systems, we will certainly look at them regardless of where they come from.

Firearms RegistryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Garry Breitkreuz Canadian Alliance Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the justice minister bragged that the gun registry was worth $1 billion but his actions contradict his words.

The minister refuses to permit aboriginal hunters to buy ammunition without a firearms licence. Can the minister explain why his government delivers thousands of rounds of ammunition to reserves and hands the ammunition out to aboriginal hunters who are not in possession of a firearms licence?

Firearms RegistryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Northumberland Ontario

Liberal

Paul MacKlin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, we are doing our very best to administer this program. As the minister said yesterday in the House, there are challenges in starting up a new program and we are working, and have worked in the past, with our aboriginal communities to try to make their life better, and in particular the waiver of fees when, for example, their hunting is for sustenance.

We believe we are doing a good job and we are going to proceed with that which is founded in good public policy.

Government AdvertisingOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, my constituents are irate about the blatant waste of their money being used for “in your face” government advertising at the Grey Cup.

Businesses advertise their products and services to increase business but no one is worried about the Government of Canada going belly up. The deductions on our paycheques are reminder enough that we are Canadians.

How much did the Grey Cup advertising cost? Why does the government waste these millions advertising itself instead of spending on health care?

Government AdvertisingOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to provide the normal details with respect to this matter to the hon. gentleman in response to an Order Paper question. I will provide him with the full breakdown. I would report that we have our advertising arrangements with the CFL on a full annual basis, not just the Grey Cup game, but throughout the year. I am happy to report as well that the contract was concluded this year without the assistance of an external advertising agency.

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the vice president of the CSN echoed the thoughts of other stakeholders from Quebec when she said, in reference to the Romanow report, that it ran the risk of paralyzing any chance of applying concrete, innovative and urgent solutions to current problems.

Will the minister acknowledge that the only solution is to transfer the money required promptly, and without any strings attached, in order to avoid hampering the efforts of stakeholders, who have the interests of patients, rather than structures, at heart?

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of Health explained quite well that we have in the past agreed with the province of Quebec. There was an agreement in 2000. We did not paralyze anything.

I do not see why Minister Legault would be offended by our proposal to help fund home care when the province of Quebec spends less per capita on home care than any other province.

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the response given by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs is ironic. The president of the FTQ added his voice to the consensus by stating that the required funding must be injected immediately without any further studies or discussions.

Will the minister admit that the way to avoid discussions is to transfer the required money without any strings attached, since Quebec knows best when it comes to health care?

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, every survey indicates that Quebeckers want their governments to work together.

The Government of Canada will work with the Government of Quebec to improve health care in Quebec. It is not simply a question of money. Even Premier Landry has said so. It is about what approach should be taken, and we will agree on identifying the right priorities.

The ministers of health will be meeting next Friday. We have no intention of dragging our feet when it comes to helping Canadians.

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Carol Skelton Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, in the health committee, a Health Canada official would not say whether donated semen coming from the United States to Canadian fertility clinics was from prisoners or not.

Is the health minister able to guarantee Canadian couples that they are not receiving semen from American prisoners?

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, what I am able to guarantee is that all donor semen that comes into this country and is used must meet stringent standards imposed by Health Canada. I have no reason not to presume that all donor semen meets those high standards.

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Larry Spencer Canadian Alliance Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

Mr. Speaker, Romanow's former finance minister, Janice McKinnon, is quoted today as saying, “If we are struggling to fund the health care system now, how can we afford to expand it?” She also argued that present spiralling medical care costs threaten to divert money from other important programs.

The Romanow report suggests a massive expansion. Given the finance minister's Peace Tower promise of no new taxes, what cuts will he make to finance the spiralling costs and the proposed Romanow expansions?

HealthOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Finance has said and as I have said, obviously our health care system needs new money. The exact amount of that new money and the funding profile of that new money is something that will to be negotiated between federal, provincial and territorial governments.

However let me reassure the hon. member, as a health minister I am very sensitive to the fact that my colleagues who sit here have their own priorities and their own program initiatives on behalf of Canadians. What we need to do is ensure that we can meet the needs of all Canadians.

Canada Elections ActOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Rob Anders Canadian Alliance Calgary West, AB

Mr. Speaker, the government floated a trial balloon yesterday proposing a ban on corporate and union donations to political parties. It would replace this money with government subsidies.

The Liberals have cancelled three fundraisers in the last six months. The Prime Minister's clinging to power has diverted resources away from the party coffers and made the public trough look attractive.

Why is the government designing public policy around its party's financial needs?

Canada Elections ActOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am the person responsible for the Elections Act. I have not introduced any legislation in the House of Commons yet. I have indicated in the House of Commons that it was my intention, and it still is, to introduce it before Christmas, and the hon. member should not heckle his own question.

Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

James Lunney Canadian Alliance Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, next week the Auditor General will report on the state of marine communications in Canada. It ought to be a shocker.

Since 1995, the Coast Guard has experienced amalgamation, downsizing and cross training. What committee found when we toured MCTS coastal facilities was appalling: failed transmitters, service interruptions, cancelled training programs and dedicated officers under great duress.

In this day of heightened worldwide alert, surely watching our coast ought to be a top priority. Will the minister commit to correcting the chronic million dollar budget shortfall right now?

Coast GuardOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, I am always pleased to receive these requests for more spending from the Alliance members because they cover a wide range of areas. Generally, we have worked out on this side of the House that it is about $3.6 billion a question period.

I certainly agree with the hon. member that we must ensure that the Coast Guard has the resources it needs to continue to protect our coast as it does. It is an excellent service. It needs some money, and I am sure in the budget allocations that we have talked about it will be given great consideration.

HealthOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Romanow Report proposes certain mandates for federal public servants. These include: setting common indicators and benchmarks, measuring and tracking the performance of the health system, consultation and coordination, and of course reporting.

How, with all this red tape and bureaucracy, can the government think it is going to give people faster access to a physician or emergency care?

HealthOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, there will be no new red tape and no new bureaucracy.

However the hon. member raises a very important issue. Canadians want their health care system to be accountable to them. This September we saw the very first issuing of performance indicator reports, and the province of Quebec participated in that endeavour.

I hope the hon. member is not suggesting that she is criticizing the work that has been done in Quebec and other provinces and territories to inform the public in the country around the performance of their health care system.

Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Roy Cullen Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a number of different issues to be settled as far as skills training is concerned. This is the case in the community of Etobicoke, of course. The Canadian population is greying and many skilled workers are approaching retirement age.

Recognizing that there are many players involved in this challenge, including business, what concrete steps are being taken through partnerships between government and industry to ensure young Canadians have the skills they need?

Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Laval West Québec

Liberal

Raymonde Folco LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the Minister of Human Resources Development is today participating in the launch of a career information kit which is called “The Future is Wide Open”. This kit is the product of a strategic partnership between the Government of Canada and the Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Sector Council.

Skills and learning are the foundation of Canada's innovation strategy. We need to ensure that young people have the opportunity to participate fully in the economy.

HealthOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

Mr. Speaker, to assist the Minister of Health in her earlier question in debate about public versus private for profit, Mr. Romanow did say that Canadians view medicare as a moral enterprise, not a business venture. He also advocated a new national drug agency.

While recognizing that this requires negotiations with the provinces and territories, is the Minister of Health open at least to the idea or the concept of a national drug agency and formulary?