House of Commons Hansard #140 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am really glad the member mentioned the police because in another instance, apparently one of the customs officers was approached and attacked by another violent individual. The police were summoned after he hit the alert button and it took them 12 minutes to get to the scene.
How does the Deputy Prime Minister think that customs officers can keep Canadians safe, when they are not even allowed to protect themselves?
Sophia Leung LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we are very sure that our customs officers are doing a very good job. They are vigilant all the time to protect the safety and security of Canadians.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance confirmed in the House that the $2 billion earmarked for infrastructure in the last budget will not be managed by a foundation but rather through a fund on which the government will have direct control.
Could the Deputy Prime Minister tell us if this $2 billion is immediately available, or if it will be over a seven year period, based on some people's interpretation?
Is the $2 billion available immediately, yes or no?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, of course, there is currently a bill before parliament. It will be debated and hon. members will vote on it. Until then, there is no money. Afterwards, I will have to propose to Treasury Board a program under which the money could be spent.
Ultimately, I will have to answer questions here in parliament as to how the funds will be used.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the MOUs for highways 175, 185 and 30 are ready.
Will the government pledge to immediately sign these three memoranda, to allow Quebec to go ahead, and also to fulfill the promises made by the Liberals during the last election campaign?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, I think it would be prudent on my part to at least wait until the bill is passed by parliament. In any case, I will prepare a program, I will discuss with provincial governments, and then we can make decisions.
Rob Merrifield Canadian Alliance Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, Health Canada has been covering up information about synthetic insulin. An access request shows that Health Canada is sitting on 465 reports of adverse reactions, including eight deaths.
Why would the minister's department hide this life and death information?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health is not hiding this information. We are well aware of the reports of adverse reactions. Those adverse reactions are being followed up on.
Let me reassure the hon. member that we are well aware of the concerns of those who suffer from diabetes and those who are concerned about adverse reactions to synthetic insulin.
The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation and will take whatever steps are necessary in the future.
Rob Merrifield Canadian Alliance Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, there have been seizures, comas, brain damage and deaths. Doctors lack this lifesaving information because Health Canada is hiding it.
The Society for Diabetic Rights demands a public inquiry on access to insulin from animal sources. Will the minister call for an inquiry and ensure that Canadian diabetics get the drugs they need?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the hon. member that animal insulin is available in this country. In fact, my department is not hiding information in relation to adverse reactions. The department is well aware of the reactions and of the tragic deaths.
Let me also underscore the fact that in relation to any drug there are adverse reactions. Diabetes is a particularly complex and difficult disease. What we are doing is studying those adverse reactions.
I also want to reassure the hon. member that doctors have available to them the product monograph in which it clearly indicates the possibility of adverse reactions.
Gérard Binet Liberal Frontenac—Mégantic, QC
Mr. Speaker, again in connection with our government's support in defence of the safe use of chrysotile asbestos, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. What is the status of the policy on the safe use of chrysotile asbestos in federal government buildings?
Don Boudria LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, this industry deserves our utmost congratulations. The member who has just spoken also deserves to be congratulated for his efforts regarding the safe use of asbestos. I know that all members commend him.
My department inspects the buildings regularly. The Government of Canada, through my department, recognizes that modern chrysotile products are completely safe, if used properly. That is my department's policy, and I am pleased to state it for the hon. member in answer to his excellent question.
Keith Martin Canadian Alliance Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe continues to brutalize his citizens despite the Commonwealth ministers meeting last week. Mugabe will continue to play games with the lives of his own people until we stand up and make a strong stand.
Will the government stand up, do the right things, save lives and impose unilateral sanctions on Robert Mugabe and his henchmen?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows well, there is a process in the Commonwealth whereby--
ZimbabweOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. The House is anxious to hear the answer and a little order might help. The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs has the floor.
Bill Graham Liberal Toronto Centre—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Speaker, obviously some of the members opposite have been watching Mr. Mugabe's tactics too long and they are taking an example from him.
We want to ensure that we can protect the people of Zimbabwe. The Commonwealth meeting said clearly that Mr. Mugabe will allow inspectors in and will allow fair elections or he risks being expelled from the Commonwealth when the meeting takes place in Australia. I am confident that when our Prime Minister goes there he will carry that message to Mr. Mugabe.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Fabienne Brin, a French national currently in Canada, is searching for her daughter, who was kidnapped by her former partner. Although there was an international warrant out for him, he was able to enter Canada, eluding the RCMP, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, and Immigration Canada.
Will the minister explain how an individual for whom an international warrant has been issued for kidnapping can make it across the Canadian border and wander freely around the country with a kidnapped child?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, there has just been a late development in this story. There has been an arrest made. Everyone is okay. The father is in custody. The mother and French authorities have been informed. The RCMP will be releasing details on this arrest later this afternoon.
Jim Pankiw Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, several years ago the Liberal government implemented a series of aboriginal based regulations causing turmoil in the B.C. commercial salmon fishery. After five unsuccessful years of urging the minister of fisheries to correct this illegal situation members of the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations voted this past December to disallow the regulations.
I want to ask the House of Commons chair of the scrutiny of regulations committee, the member for Surrey Central, when he will table the disallowance report in parliament.
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, the report is before the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations which is meeting tomorrow. The wisdom of members of the committee will of course prevail.
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should have resolved these issues long ago. The file has been sitting on his desk for over five years. Certainly that highlights the need for regulatory reform in the country. The corrective action on the regulations could have been done before the commercial fisheries started in B.C. this year.
Murray Calder Liberal Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government House leader. This morning before the American senate finance committee U.S. trade representatives spoke about the possibility of launching an anti-dumping and countervail duty against Canadian farmers and the Canadian Wheat Board. What will the government do to protect our farmers?
Ralph Goodale LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing new here. These allegations have been made and investigated by U.S. authorities no fewer than eight times over the past decade. The score thus far is eight to nothing in favour of Canada.
The Canadian Wheat Board is a fair trading agency within all the rules of NAFTA and within all the rules of the WTO. If the United States wants to know the source of the problem in world grain markets, it should look in the mirror and recognize that its own unfair subsidization is the cause.
