Debates of Nov. 29th, 2002

Kyoto Protocol

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

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my colleague from Selkirk--Interlake and I know that he has a big interest in agriculture.

I would like to ask the member to consider the following points. Agriculture in Canada is a big user of energy by its very nature. It is also in a difficult position because so many other countries are subsidizing their farmers so heavily. Farmers in Canada can compete on the basis of the market, but they have difficulty competing against the subsidized products and treasuries of other countries.

Considering that energy is such a huge cost of agriculture, I would like my colleague from Selkirk--Interlake, and the agriculture critic for the Canadian Alliance, to explain what kind of position this will put the Canadian grain and oilseed industry in if we see massive increases in energy costs.

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question which brings us to one of the key points for a sector like agriculture. The cost of energy is a direct cost in the use of tractors and trucks that are used out in the fields. It is also a cost in the production of fertilizer and many of the inputs that farmers have to buy to raise the food that we need to live.

The Kyoto protocol would add cost to our food production which would raise the price for people on fixed incomes trying to buy food. It would also impact on our exports. We know other countries have a lot of subsidies so some of their costs are borne by society as a whole, but our subsidies are small and limited.

What is the impact if we were to increase the cost of raising grain, beef and all other agriculture exports? The member for Peace River has mentioned that it would make us less competitive in our exports of food and raw commodities.

Once we are less competitive, we would sell less on the world market. What does that mean? That means we would have less hard foreign currency being earned and coming into the country, less ability to pay for health care and education, and less ability in fact to pay for the Kyoto agreement that the government is pushing us into, especially if we would have to buy credits from countries like Russia or others that have this deal to sell credits.

This whole plan would simply make our standard of living even poorer. It would reduce the productivity of Canada as a whole. We already know that productivity is much less than it should be. It is much less than our main competitors in the OECD countries.

Our party is basing its position on common sense, rational thought, and not a belief in some mythical walk in the snow by the Prime Minister. It was probably a walk in too much heat that caused him to come forward with this plan.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will begin by saying that it is an honour for me to take part in this debate on the ratification of the Kyoto protocol.

First, I would like to explain to all members, to Canadians and to Quebeckers who are listening to the debate or who will read the transcript that, in my riding, which has over 100,000 residents, the vast majority of my constituents support the ratification of the Kyoto protocol.

A large number of them took a close look at the whole issue and they feel they have enough facts to justify their support for ratification. I want to mention a few of these groups.

First, there is NDG 2020 which is an umbrella organization comprised of over 10 community groups, the majority of which work on the environmental front. It's members are scientists as well as committed residents. It has a solid understanding of Kyoto and what the ratification would mean for Canadians. Second, Eco-quartier GRAME, which is an environmental group that works on alternative energy sources.

I wish to thank my parliamentary intern Jake Wilson for all the assistance he has provided me over the last several months on gaining a better understanding of greenhouse gases, the Kyoto accord, and the implications of ratification by Canada of this particular accord. I am wholeheartedly in favour of ratification.

I would like to read into the record two short letters from two constituents which are representative of the literally hundreds of letters that I have received since I was first elected in 1997.

Dear Ms. Jennings, I'm writing to commend you in your enthusiasm for the Kyoto protocol, which I understand you support. I urge you to be as vocal as possible when the debate comes up very shortly. I am on the verge of urging my children not to have kids!! Please help me not to have to think this way. Katherine Addleman, PhD.

Dear Marlene Jennings, We urge you to vote for the ratification of the Kyoto Accord in Parliament this year. Sincerely, Judith Beny and Gordon Masten

Those two letters are short examples of hundreds of letters that I have received from my constituents. The overwhelming majority of them have said that Canada must ratify Kyoto as quickly as possible. Since the Prime Minister's announcement that it would be ratified before the end of 2002 I have received letters in support of that decision.

We have heard a lot from the opposition, particularly Canadian Alliance members, on how Canada should not ratify Kyoto and how we need a made in Canada plan. That is quite interesting. I would like to commend the hon. member for Red Deer, who is the Canadian Alliance critic for the environment, for his vigorous attempts to heap criticism on the environment. I would like to commend a number of other critics of Kyoto who have advanced the ludicrous argument that we should not ratify Kyoto, but implement a made in Canada plan instead as if the ratification of Kyoto would preclude and exclude a made in Canada plan.

The government will proudly ratify the Kyoto protocol which binds other nations to compliment our efforts. We will create a made in Canada plan to implement those changes. We must do both and we will do both.

Do we need an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? What is wrong with a made in Canada solution? We do need a made in Canada solution. Climate change is a global problem. Carbon dioxide emissions do not obey geographical boundaries. The consequences of climate change are not confined to heavily polluting countries. That is one of the reasons why we need a global accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The atmosphere is around the entire planet and even the Canadian Alliance would agree with that statement. We need to build a global framework to reduce carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere. That is what Kyoto is all about. It is a global framework to deal with climate change and it requires global targets.

However, what the opposition does not want to tell Canadians but what the Liberals proudly tell Canadians is that Kyoto would allow each country to develop its own method of emissions reduction. Kyoto is not a plan. Kyoto is an objective and there is a big difference with that. It is up to each country to come up with its own national solution.

The beauty of Kyoto is that it does require a made in Canada plan for reducing emissions. Having a made in Canada plan does not exclude ratification of Kyoto. In fact, ratification of Kyoto would require a made in Canada plan for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions because Kyoto is not a plan, it is an objective. That is very important.

It is no different from two people who decide that they have an objective: they wish to have a family, they wish to have children. That is an objective. How they achieve that objective may take different routes. It may be by natural insemination, it may be artificial insemination, it may be by adoption, or it may be by fostering. The plan is how to achieve the objective. The objective is to have a child.

Kyoto is an objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally and the plan will be made in Canada. With over 10 years of discussion and exchanges with the provinces and territories, ordinary Canadians, scientists and industry, we have gone a long way to achieving--

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I regret to interrupt the hon. member. She will have 12 minutes remaining in the time allotted for her remarks after question period.

Hiv-Aids

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is Canadian HIV-AIDS Awareness Week. Launched in 1991, the goal is to increase awareness of HIV-AIDS, challenge HIV-AIDS related stigma and discrimination, and promote prevention efforts.

The United Nations AIDS agency reported that 42 million people are living with HIV and 3.1 million people have died of AIDS this year. In Canada today more than 50,000 Canadians are living with HIV or AIDS. The epidemic is not over, but the UN AIDS agency reports that prevention programs work. Countless Canadians are working hard to develop new and better HIV prevention programs, and at fostering understanding and support for people living with and affected by HIV-AIDS.

I ask all hon. members to join me in saluting them and to wish everyone involved a very successful Canadian HIV-AIDS Awareness Week.

Queen's Jubilee Medal

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

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, December 1, 2002, it will be my honour to present the Queen's Jubilee Medals to 20 very worthy people from across the riding of Edmonton--Strathcona.

The recipients are: Dr. John Elliot, Mrs. Agnes Jelhof-Jensen, Dr. Norm Kneteman, Dr. Greg Korbutt, Mr. Frank Kozar, Dr. Jonathan Lakey, Mrs. Diana McIntyre, Miss Katherine McLean, Mr. Dennis Miller, Mr. Dan Novak, Captain Jonathan Perry, Mr. Thomas Quigley, Dr. Ray Rajotte, Mrs. Dorrell Robertson, Dr. Edmond Ryan, Dr. James Shapiro, Mr. John Simpson, Mr. Paul Welke, Mr. Harold Williams, and Mr. Walter Wynnyk.

My sincere congratulations go out to all the Jubilee Medal recipients.

Diabetes Awareness Month

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the month of November has been Diabetes Awareness Month. More than two million Canadians have diabetes and that number will reach three million by 2010.

It is important for all of us and especially diabetics to have a well balanced diet which gives our bodies the proper nourishment they need. As well, physical activity, which can include walking, biking and all sorts of exercise, will help lead to a healthy lifestyle and allow us to make healthy choices.

Being more active and having a better diet will not only reduce the number of Canadians who have this disease, but also reduce the costs to our health care system.

Curtis Myden

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased today to recognize a great Canadian athlete from Calgary, Alberta, who two days ago announced his retirement from the world of competitive swimming.

Mr. Curtis Myden has been a member of Canada's National Swimming Team for over 10 years, a period of time in which he established himself as one of Canada's best all time swimmers. Over the course of his distinguished career, Curtis won medals at all the highest levels of competition: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the Pan Pacific Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the Pan American Games. He is a three time Olympian and is the holder of three Olympic bronze medals.

Just as important, Curtis has long been recognized as both a leader and a model of fair play and sportsmanship. Curtis now moves on to new challenges outside the pool. He will soon be embarking upon a career in medicine, an objective he has had for several years.

I know all hon. members will want to join with me in wishing him much success in his new field of study as well as hearty congratulations for an outstanding athletic career.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to remind the House that November is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR Awareness Month.

CPR saves lives by ensuring a sufficient supply of oxygen until emergency medical attendants arrive. CPR is a simple technique that can be learned in under four hours, but despite this, fewer than 3% of Canadians know how to perform it.

This month, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is advising Canadians to learn to recognize the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes and to phone immediately in the case of an emergency.

I invite members to support the initiatives and programs planned during CPR Awareness Month, and I urge all Canadians to take the time to learn it.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Brian Pallister, Canadian Alliance, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, when the aboriginal affairs minister took over the management of Manitoba's Dakota Tipi First Nation, he paid off all the public sector accounts but he left over a quarter of a million dollars owing. Like thousands of other private sector businesses negatively impacted by the government's policies, my constituents are very saddened by the unfairness of this approach and it is hurting people.

A local hardware store has laid off two people and it will not fill a third position. A local plumber is owed $10,000; a grocery store $3,500.

Jocelyne Durand, who owns a local dry cleaning firm, wrote to me:

I am a widow running a business on my own since my husband's death in February of 2001. I have six employees and I am responsible for paying their wage. I don't want to let them down.

This heartless approach the government is taking hurts local businesses and it hurts band members too, because it threatens the relationship between them.

Christmas is approaching. My constituents and other small businesses affected by the government's policies are not asking for the minister to continue to be a grinch. Nor are they asking him to be Santa Claus. They are simply asking him to pay what these people are owed.

Livestock Genetics

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, diversity of species is a critical foundation of the success of life on the planet. In the same way, genetic diversity of livestock, cattle, hogs, poultry and so on in Canada, is the foundation of the quality and security of our food supply.

While Canada is doing a good job of nurturing the genetic diversity of food plants, we are doing little to preserve and promote livestock diversity. As a result we are depending upon fewer and fewer strains of farm animals. For example, most dairy cows in Canada are very closely related to each other. This is a dangerous situation in terms of risks of disease and future development of livestock varieties.

I urge that livestock genetics be given special attention in the budget. We need a national centre for the conservation of our research into livestock genetics like the one we have for plants in Saskatchewan. Let us listen to the Canadian Foundation for the Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and act soon on this before it is too late.

World AIDS Day

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, World AIDS Day, which is held every year on December 1, has chosen as its theme stigma and discrimination, which remain the main barriers when it comes to preventing HIV/AIDS and dealing with it effectively.

Too many people continue to refuse treatment for AIDS or refuse to publically acknowledge that they carry HIV for fear that they will suffer discrimination.

However, the statistics are alarming: three million people have died of AIDS in 2002; five million new cases have been reported, including two million cases among women, and 800,000 involving children under the age of 15; 42 million people around the world are now infected and if nothing drastic is done, more than 68 million people will die from AIDS by 2020.

By focussing on stigma and discrimination, World AIDS Day encourages people to break the silence and remove the barriers to preventing and dealing with HIV/AIDS effectively. The fight against HIV/AIDS will only be won when—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Laval West.

Peacekeeping

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House of the outstanding work of a Laval resident, Clémence Lacroix, who was awarded the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal for her work in Egypt, where she served with the Canadian Forces.

Peacekeepers like Ms. Lacroix make it possible for Canada to carry out its role in peacekeeping around the world.

I ask for the support of my parliamentary colleagues in congratulating people like Clémence Lacroix for their work in peacekeeping.

Health Care

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a few words of advice for the provincial health ministers. They should not hold their breath waiting for real cooperation from the government in fixing our health care system. If they think the Prime Minister is sincere when he says he will work with the provinces to come up with a plan, think again.

When it comes to cooperation with the provinces, the government gets a failing grade. Just ask the energy and environment ministers how much cooperation they got trying to come up with a workable Kyoto plan.

The energy and environment ministers got so sick of the Liberal government's arrogance they postponed a meeting which was supposed to happen last week and they cancelled the meeting that was supposed to be held today.

Beware, provincial health ministers. Get ready to be ignored.

Landmines

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind the House that next week we will mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines.

Tomorrow, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Cooperation will participate in a plaque unveiling ceremony in the Lester B. Pearson building. This plaque will be a permanent reminder of the leading role that Canada played in this historic treaty. This event will also mark the opening of an international symposium organized by Mine Action Canada.

A hundred and thirty countries have ratified the landmines treaty and, partly with the help of a $72 million grant from CIDA, millions of hectares of land have been cleared of mines. We must remember, however, that the tragedy of anti-personnel landmines has not ended. They continue to kill indiscriminately long after the conflicts themselves have ended. We must remember that in countries which have not yet been cleared of landmines they continue to pose a major obstacle to physical and economic reconstruction.

Electoral Reform

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to legislation being introduced on electoral reform and party financing. I expect to see a ban on corporation and trade union donations to political parties, as well as strict limits on individual donations. This will be undoubtedly based on Quebec legislation introduced a quarter of a century ago by René Lévesque, a bill, which he said after he left office, of which he was most proud. Premier Gary Doer has implemented similar legislation recently in Manitoba.

Given the string of pratfalls by the government in rewarding companies with rich government contracts after they donated handsomely to the Liberal party, this is welcome news indeed.

Since being drummed out of cabinet last spring, the MP for LaSalle—Émard has expressed concern about the democratic deficit in Parliament, and indeed in Canada. If this legislation is as complete and fulsome as it should be, the member for LaSalle—Émard may end up with far more democracy than he will be able to handle.

Agropur Plant

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

Mr. Speaker, until very recently, the Agropur plant processed millions of litres of milk produced by farmers in my region. Following an administrative decision, all of the processing operations will be moved outside of the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean.

The survival of a region like ours depends on this ability we have to process our own raw materials in our own region. These are special circumstances and they require special support measures.

However, the minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec is unable to provide speedy assistance. This is another example of the federal government's lack of interest when it comes to the survival of businesses in the regions of Quebec.

For the secretary of state and the Liberal government, it is clearly out of the question to help workers of the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean area.

Marguerite Maillet

[Serge Marcil, Liberal, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, Acadian author Marguerite Maillet will receive the title of Officer of the Order of Canada from Canada's Governor General. At the same ceremony, 30 Canadians will be invested as Companions, Officers or Members of the Order of Canada.

Madame Maillet is a major Canadian literary figure. Her work is known throughout the Americas and Europe. She is a source of inspiration for Acadia and for Canada.

She has long been involved in promoting literature through research and teaching as well. She is also the co-founder of Bouton d'or d'Acadie, a publisher of children's literature in French, English and Mi’kmaq.

My sincere congratulations to Marguerite Maillet on this richly deserved honour, as well as to all the others who will be honoured at the same investiture.

Lower Churchill Project

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, there is growing evidence, on a daily basis, that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the province of Quebec may be close to signing the Lower Churchill deal, consisting of a 2,000 megawatt generating facility at Belle Island. This is a $4 billion project.

In spite of the fact that massive amounts of power will be developed, we are still faced with the prospect that no provision may be made to make power available for industrial development in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador because this power may be developed for export only.

If this indeed the case, then I would caution Premier Grimes to go slowly and listen attentively to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador who are saying that it is better to leave this project undeveloped for the time being than to make hasty decisions today that will be regretted for generations to come.

Goods and Services Tax

[Scott Reid, Canadian Alliance, Lanark—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for months the Liberal government has been unlawfully charging the goods and services tax on Hydro One's debt retirement charge. A debt payment is neither a good nor a service and therefore is not eligible to be taxed. In fact, debt is by definition a deferred tax. This makes the GST on the debt retirement charge an unconstitutional tax on a tax. That is just the start.

As a result of the decision of the Ontario government to refund all higher than expected electricity bills retroactive to May, the federal government is now in receipt of millions of dollars in GST revenue on electricity charges that have been retroactively cancelled. When a customer returns a good or service to a store and gets a refund, the GST on the cancelled good or service is always returned to the customer. That should be true in this case too, but the federal government has been strangely silent about the millions it has collected in GST on the refunded portion of Ontario's hydro bills.

The return of these millions of dollars to Ontarians across the province is a legal obligation of the government. Why will the government not do what is right--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Halifax.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, public commissions can build nations and create legacies or gather dust and achieve nothing. “A commission is only as good as the government it's advising”, the first nations voice of experience said yesterday.

The 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was supposed to be about gathering strength. Instead it has been gathering dust. Of 400 recommendations, only four have been fully implemented. Meanwhile aboriginal families lives are ravaged by poor health from birth to premature death.

AFN national chief reminded us yesterday that aboriginal Canadians have been waiting for years to move their third world health to 21st century Canada.

Our commitment to improve health for all Canadians will be measured in the improved health of our aboriginal peoples.

The Prime Minister is committed to working in full partnership with the provinces and territories to implement Romanow. This ignores the critical health commission recommendation that aboriginal health will only be improved by working in full partnership with first nations. This needs to start with first nations inclusion in the upcoming first ministers talks.

Health

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after a day of reflection on the Romanow report it looks like the government's agenda all along was to shut down alternative delivery options.

We believe that health care should combine the efficiencies of the private sector and the equities of public insurance.

Is it the government's intention to shut down alternative deliveries by the provinces?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions, our publicly financed health care system presently contains a mix of delivery modes. I have no reason to believe that will not continue.

However, my obligation is to ensure that in the delivery of health services there is respect for the five principles of the Canada Health Act. In fact, if there are delivery modes that call into question any one of those five principles, clearly that is a problem for me and I will be raising it with my provincial or territorial colleagues.