Debates of Feb. 7th, 2002

Veterans Affairs

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Today members of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs visited the Perley-Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa. They heard how Ontario government cutbacks to the centre have slashed the operational budget from $30 million per year to less than $15 million per year. While the community resident care will be hardest hit, there remains concern among veterans and their families about the care they receive.

What is the minister doing to ensure the best possible level of care for our local veterans in the Ottawa area?

[Rey D. Pagtakhan, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada shares the sentiments of the member and those of the subcommittee that indeed we should ensure the quality of care in the long term for our veterans. It is our duty to do this.

We are closely monitoring the situation around the country, not only at the Perley-Rideau Veterans Health Centre. Moreover, about three weeks ago, on January 15, we set an agreement so that the level of funding is there to ensure that the quality of care for our veterans is in place.

The Environment

[Dave Chatters, Canadian Alliance, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, depending on who one speaks to and where one is at the time, the government's message on Kyoto seems to be all over the place. Today's message was that the environment minister plans to ratify the Kyoto agreement as early as June at the G-8 in Kananaskis.

Yesterday the Minister of Natural Resources promised to produce a plan to demonstrate to Canadians how they would reach the Kyoto targets by 2010 before we ratify, I guess because the only one who really knows for sure is the Prime Minister.

Could the Prime Minister tell us when Canadians will see the plan to reach the Kyoto targets?

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is serious about taking action to address global problems with climate change. The goal is to ratify the Kyoto protocol and Canada intends to meet its Kyoto target for greenhouse gas reductions. The decision on ratification will follow full consultation with the Canadian public, interested parties and the provinces.

First ministers have committed that no region will bear an unreasonable burden as a result of this plan.

Highway Infrastructure

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Trans-Canada Highway between Rivière-du-Loup and Edmunston has become a top priority, since it is the deadliest highway in Canada.

Quebec has already pledged to invest up to $225 million. All that is missing is the federal contribution to make this stretch a safe four lane highway, as promised by the Prime Minister during the election campaign.

Does the Minister of Transport, who will meet a delegation from KRTB and Edmunston this afternoon, intend to sign the agreement that was proposed by the Quebec government and which has been on his desk for a number of weeks, and does he intend to invest the some $400 million that are required to upgrade this highway?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we have an infrastructure program for the country's highways. It is quite possible to allocate funds to the Canada-Quebec and Canada-New Brunswick agreements to upgrade this highway in New Brunswick.

I am sorry, as are all my colleagues, that the lives of four children were lost in an accident. This is a very serious situation, but highways can be improved. We have the funds and we intend to use them in co-operation with the provinces.

Agriculture

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food knows that unfair American farm subsidies have been devastating to Canadian farmers. There is a new U.S. farm bill right now that is sitting in the senate. That new bill has more money for American subsidies and expands the list of crops it will subsidize.

Yesterday when I asked the minister if he knew about this farm bill he said that it was very complicated and he really did not understand it. When will he get to understand it and when will he do something about it?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I suggest the hon. member go back and read the transcripts of the meeting yesterday. What I said was this. The ways in which the United States have been paying and subsidizing its producers are very complicated. The Minister for International Trade, the Prime Minister and myself have had discussions. Later today I will have further conversations with my counterpart in the United States and will point out the detrimental effect of their subsidization of producers in the United States.

Forest Industry

[Lawrence O'Brien, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, on January 25 the Canadian Forestry Association officially recognized Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador as Canada's forest capital for 2002.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources highlight for the House the valuable role that forestry plays in the economic and environmental health of our communities?

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, Natural Resources Canada is very proud to be a part of the forest capital program. Over the next 12 months we will provide funding, staff resources and facilities to Corner Brook to celebrate the historic community-forest relationship with a focus on the future through public awareness and education on forest conservation.

Corner Brook is also the home of the western Newfoundland model forest, a federally sponsored program. By working together with local industry partners, they are advancing our knowledge of sustainable forest development for the benefit of all Canadians.

Airline Industry

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we get the sense with the Minister of Transport and his air policies that he could not spill a glass of water if the instructions were written on the bottom of the glass on how to do it. On top of the $24 air security charge we now understand that Ottawa will raise the rent at the nine largest airports in the country. This on top of the $24 air security tax.

Why is the transport minister so committed to taxing Canada's air industry deep into the ground?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it must be embarrassing for the constituents of the hon. member for him to come into the House day in and day out not having done his homework, not understanding the national airports policy and not understanding the fact that his party supported the government on the airline policy which has been a success despite September 11.

Why does this member not do his homework, get the facts and engage in legitimate debate instead of acting like a buffoon in the House?

Cinar

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, almost three weeks ago, the attorney general of Quebec had to abandon the idea of laying criminal charges in the CINAR affair for lack of sufficient evidence, because the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency refused to co-operate with the RCMP, citing the confidentiality of tax files.

This is particularly offensive because we know that when individual citizens cheat the system out of even a paltry $1,000, proceedings are immediately launched against them.

How can the minister justify this double standard?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, there is no double standard. I can assure the member that investigations are carried out as appropriate by the department, the agency or the RCMP.

Airline Industry

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-49 ensures it gives the Minister of Finance more tax dollars for his general revenue fund but does nothing to ensure security at airports.

The new airport security agency can contract security to airport authorities who can subcontract to the lowest bidder, the same system that was in place September 11. Dollars from the $12 GST, the greedy security tax, are going into the hands of Liberal appointed airport authorities, the same authorities that made donations to the Liberal Party in the last election.

My question is for the minister responsible. Will the government change the Elections Act to ban political donations by airport authorities or will it continue to accept money from them so that a portion of that $12--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Transport.

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there are so many untruths in that particular statement that it would take an hour to give a factual answer. The fact is that under the new air security regime we will enhance standards. We will have federally regulated employees from coast to coast. They will be better paid and do a better job. They will be discharging the will of the House as enunciated by the hon. member and other hon. members.

This agency will do its job and will continue to give Canada the best air service in the world.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Ahmed Qurei, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I also draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Senator Roberto Castelli, Minister of Justice of Italy.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Points of Order

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During question period the Deputy Prime Minister, in response to a question from me in which I asked him if his government would take immediate steps to eliminate fundraising in Canada by Hezbollah, replied that had been done. I have documents here from the Department of Foreign Affairs and from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions which speak to the fact that is not the case.

I want to avoid a repeat of what happened with the defence minister earlier. I would like to give the Deputy Prime Minister an opportunity to clarify the situation and table any documents that support his contention that the government has in fact eliminated Hezbollah fundraising opportunities.

[The Speaker]

I am sure that tomorrow the hon. member may have more questions to ask in question period on this matter. I think he has made his point. I have no doubt there will be discussions between the hon. member and the Deputy Prime Minister. He can ask for documents. No doubt there will be some discussions with the media. Those things will happen. We will read about it tomorrow.

The House resumed from February 6 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Privilege

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as the various House leaders of all parties in the House know, over the last number of days there have been some extensive discussions among the parties on the outstanding privilege that has been before the House. I want to commend all of those involved in those discussions for acting seriously and in good faith to find an appropriate solution. I would particularly like to mention for our side the deputy government whip, the hon. member for Brossard--La Prairie.

I understand, Mr. Speaker, you will find unanimous consent in the House that all questions necessary to dispose of the privilege motion by the hon. member for Portage--Lisgar be immediately put and decided now without further debate.