House of Commons Hansard #141 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.

Topics

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is there unanimous consent?

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik on his eloquent speech. He has criticized the new tax which the finance minister has just slapped on the airline industry and which will directly hurt regional air carriers.

As my colleague mentioned earlier, regions are already penalized by distance and by the fact that private carriers are dropping routes that are essential for regional development.

Recently, we learned that Air Alma will no longer provide service to the Magdalen Islands. It is a tragedy.

I had the opportunity to visit my colleague's region. Many economic stakeholders say that, because of the low frequency and low quality of air transportation, we can have all the fine tourism development policies we want, but we will not be able to draw tourists to regions like his to bring greater prosperity.

I congratulate the hon. member but, at the same time, I would like him to put his words into action. If he is so deeply convinced that the government is making a mistake on something as fundamental as the finance minister's tax policy, and that the government is further strangling the regions in Quebec, including his, let him vote against Bill C-49, hand in his resignation and sit as a Bloc Quebecois member, because we are the only real advocates for Quebec and its regions.

That was my question. Let him draw the logical conclusion of his argument.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

Mr. Speaker, the member knows that I will never join the Bloc Quebecois. I understand that even though we may be friends outside the House of Commons, we are adversaries here.

I will mention what is important in this bill. There are some good things. I mentioned to members one aspect of the bill that is penalizing people. I believe the government can make changes. We have a good finance minister. If he understands what is happening, he can move some amendments.

It is important to find solutions. As the Liberal member for Stoney Creek was saying earlier, there could be changes over the next year. However, I would like these changes to be made immediately and to see airport taxes abolished. We will keep on fighting.

But that does not mean that I am ready to vote against my government. I will not vote against my government because we are working very hard. However, I am certainly allowed to speak to Bill C-49 and to state my opinion publicly with regard to this bill. That is what is important.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

I understand the members opposite, but I speak up to defend my constituents.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say what I think of the speech of my colleague, the member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik.

Like my friend from the Liberal Party, I come from regions and I stand for the regions of Quebec. The area I live in is next to my colleague's. It is true that this bill implementing the December 2001 budget will squeeze the regions more than ever.

I do not know if the government is aware of what is going on in the regions. For Canada, regions are comprised of Quebec, the maritimes and Ontario. I would like to talk about sub-regions, and in particular those in Quebec, the area where my colleague lives, my own region of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, the Abitibi, where I had the privilege of living for three years. Therefore, I am very well aware of the situation in the Abitibi.

I believe my colleague has identified the problems. However, I deplore the fact that the hon. member is not taking his argument to its logical conclusion. When one is against three quarters of a bill introduced by the Minister of Finance, one should be logical and say “There might be something good in it, but all the rest is bad; therefore, I will vote against it”.

I call upon my colleague to say “I am part of your government, but I will vote against this bill, because it penalizes the regions. This bill implements measures that are detrimental to the regions”.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the government is active in a number of areas. The hon. member for Outremont was involved with the regions. He has now taken up other duties as Minister of Justice.

We know that remote areas such as ours are adversely affected not only in the transportation sector, but also in mining, forestry and raw materials.

But today, the purpose of my speech was to tell the government a solution must be found for airports in remote regions. This may be a minor issue, but it is an important one for me.

I will always support my government regarding the budget as a whole. This is a given. I will never vote against my government. However, I will not refrain from saying what I think of a bill. This is what I am doing.

It is not a matter of saying “Will you vote for this or for that?” The Bloc Quebecois could often vote with us, but does not because we have proposed good measures. This happens half of the time.

As I was saying earlier in my speech, I truly hope that this government will find a way to eliminate air security charges for airports located in remote regions.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Tony Valeri Liberal Stoney Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the hon. member. As he has indicated, he has every right to put forward his perspective and defend his constituency. He has done a good job of doing so.

He made reference to the exemption for remote areas and small aircraft. I am sure the hon. member realizes there is a provision in the bill that speaks to remote areas and exemptions for smaller aircraft. The question is whether the communities he is speaking of fall into that category. When the bill was proposed there was concern for the more remote areas. There is such a provision in the bill.

I would ask the hon. member to look at the bill and see whether the areas in his riding fall into that category and meet the exemption. I hope they do.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned the list earlier. The hon. member for Stoney Creek should know one thing: on the left are the 20 airports already targeted in the bill dealing with the ways and means motion, a bill that was tabled on January 29, if memory serves. It is about 125 pages long and this information is on page 80.

We have just received the list of the 45 airports that should be considered to be located in remote regions. This is what is important. We have the list and I read it all earlier. This is what we must find a solution for. Transport Canada knows the airports located in remote regions. When we say remote, it means north of the 49th parallel, or perhaps the 45th in Quebec. We should not talk about the 49th parallel in Vancouver. Let us talk about the 49th parallel in Quebec, above the 50th parallel. This is where it is important to eliminate the charges. This includes the Magdalen Islands, Rouyn-Noranda in the Abitibi, Nunavik and the Lac-Saint-Jean region. We must find a solution to eliminate these charges.

Budget Implementation Act, 2001Government Orders

1:50 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Williams Canadian Alliance St. Albert, AB

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Nanaimo--Cowichan.

I am pleased to rise and speak to Bill C-49, another piece of legislation by the government that seems a little disastrous and roughly drafted. I was going through the bill a minute ago. The first thing I draw to the House's attention is on page 3 of the bill. Clause 5, Establishment and Mandate of the Authority, says:

(2) The Authority is for all purposes an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada.

It says for all purposes.

Clause 28 on page 9 says:

(1) The Authority may enter into contracts, agreements or other arrangements with Her Majesty as if it were not an agent of Her Majesty.

We can have it one way or the other way but we cannot have it both ways. This is the attitude of the government. It wants everything its way. Will the agency be an agent for the Queen in all ways as subclause 5(2) says?

The hon. member for Nanaimo--Cowichan has reminded me he would like to say a few words. They will be important words because he will bash the government as much as I am doing.

The point is it will either be an agent of the Queen at all times or it will not. Let us be specific and get these things clarified. This type of drafting of legislation should never get this far.

In a typical Canadian way we have had the private sector running airport security. There has been a big debate in the United States about whether it should be private or public. The United States decided it would be public. In a true Canadian way we said we would create an agency that was neither private nor public but somewhere in between. It is rather strange. The government still does not know whether it will tax the Canadian travelling public or charge it a fee.

We had a briefing yesterday at the finance department. The department told us it will charge $12 per ticket. Of that, 78 cents will be GST and $11.22 will be a fee. The money will be taken from people with no debate and no chance to object. It will be spent not only on the travelling public but on the entire airline industry.

It is a tax. The government did not get rid of the GST. It now wants to charge GST on a tax it will impose. Not only that, it will not put it into the consolidated revenue fund. It will give it all to the new agency.

The government does not know what it is talking about. I wish it did because the Canadian travelling public's safety is at stake. The bill seems like something thrown together by the government on a whim at the last minute when it realized it had no real objectives.

My colleague pressured the minister into getting air marshals on planes. After months of stalling and saying there was no way we would have air marshals in Canada the minister said yes, we would have them. This happened courtesy of our member. It is more of the same.

I am concerned less about the bill's security provisions than about its secrecy. I know the auditor general would be the auditor because the bill tells us that in clause 31. However Clause 32 says no information could be made public without the authorization of the minister. On the next page it goes even further. Subclause 32(2) says:

The Authority, authorized aerodrome operators and screening contractors must keep confidential any information the publication of which, in the opinion of the Minister, would be detrimental to air transport security or public security, including financial and other data that might reveal such information.

Not only is the government saying it would not tell us what it was doing. It would muzzle private industry subcontractors who work in the airline security. We would not know what was going on. If I read the act properly I am not sure the auditor general would be able to make public her analysis and audit of the institution.

We need to seriously examine this piece of legislation. I hope to have much more to say when we resume after question period.

Gala des MasquesStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Carole-Marie Allard Liberal Laval East, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour for me to rise today to congratulate the winners and the nominees at the Gala des Masques, which was held last Sunday and which I attended with the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Twenty-four masks were presented to artists and to productions. Among the actors who received awards were Benoît Brière, Rosemary Dunsmore, Annie Berthiaume and Guy Jodoin. Denis Marleau received a mask for his staging of Le Petit Köchel .

All members of the theatre community do great work. Thanks to them, we experience some unforgettable moments. I urge my colleagues to join with me in expressing our gratitude.

B.C. Winter GamesStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Philip Mayfield Canadian Alliance Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC

Mr. Speaker, the 2002 British Columbia Winter Games open on February 21 in the city of Williams Lake, the heart of the colourful Cariboo in central British Columbia. It is a great four day party and everyone is invited.

This gold rush of competition features 27 different sporting events at 19 venues in Williams Lake, Quesnel, 100 Mile House and Lac La Hache. About 2,500 world class athletes will be competing for places in the Canada Winter Games.

Local individuals and community groups have been working with great enthusiasm to make this the best British Columbia Winter Games ever. We will be ready to welcome the athletes, their families and their fans. With our average annual snowfall of about 166 centimetres and an average temperature of minus five degrees we have great weather for this year's events.

I congratulate the organizers and the army of volunteers for a great job in getting these games running. I extend my best wishes to the athletes as they test themselves in the competition.

Let the games begin.

Science and TechnologyStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce to the House today that the University of Manitoba recently benefited from just over $8 million in grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. These grants from the CFI will be used for 10 different research projects at the university.

Three of these projects are centred around health issues: new methods to detect the biological markers of breast cancer; infrastructure for spinal cord injury research; and funding to a centre for molecular signalling and genetics research to study the body's protective immune responses.

Other projects focus on new technologies for engineering and construction, enhancing the university's research into sustainable crop and animal production systems, and data security for financial transactions online.

I offer my congratulations to all recipients and to the University of Manitoba. I wish them well in their research and development initiatives. I hope that ongoing research and important breakthroughs will help make our lives as Canadians better than they are already.

Dawson CityStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dawson City, Yukon, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend.

In the 1890s our country was mired in a depression. It was the Klondike gold rush of 1898 and its nuggets, kicked off after Skookum Jim, George Carmacks and Tagish Charlie discovered gold on the banks of Bonanza Creek, that helped put our country back on track.

The gold rush changed the face of our nation. People from all walks of life and all over the world ventured north to stake their claims in the gold fields of the Klondike. By the spring of 1898 Dawson City had more inhabitants than any place north of San Francisco and west of Winnipeg. Today Dawson City is the home of the Trondek Hwechin first nation, placer mining, a burgeoning arts scene, and of course the sour toe cocktail which is self explanatory.

A century ago the first mayor of Dawson City was Henry Macauly and I am delighted that the mayor today 100 years later, His Worship Glenn Everitt, is in Ottawa. I invite all members here today to come with me tomorrow to Dawson City for the 100th anniversary ball where we will be kicking up our heels in fine Klondike style.

I wish Dawson City a happy 100th birthday.

AgricultureStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, today, February 7, is Food Freedom Day. It is a day of celebration for those who eat at least once a day but it is not as happy for those who produce our food.

Today Canadians have earned enough money to pay for their entire year's food supply. It takes just 37 days out of the whole year for an average Canadian to pay for his or her groceries. In 1999 Canadians spent 10% of their personal disposable income on food. This compares to 13% in France, 15% in Germany and 33% in Mexico.

Farmers are earning just a fraction of the average Canadian food dollar. While Food Freedom Day is February 7, January 9 is the day on which we have paid for the farmers' amount. That is right. It is January 9. It takes only nine days to pay the farmers for a year's worth of food. Nine cents of a $1.50 loaf of bread is returned to the farmer. Sixteen cents goes to the dairy farmer for a $1.50 glass of milk. A waiter or waitress in a restaurant earns more in tips for serving the food than the farmer who produces it in the first place.

We need to recognize our primary producers so that Food Freedom Day can be a day that everyone can celebrate including our farmers.

Aboriginal CommunitiesStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, February 7 marks the historic signing of the peace of the braves in Waskaganish between the Government of Quebec and the Grand Council of the Crees. This event will go down in history as did the signing of the Great Peace Treaty in Montreal 300 years ago.

The agreement seals a new partnership and a long-term vision of the development of nation to nation relations between the Cree people and the Government of Quebec.

By ratifying this historic agreement, the Government of Quebec is taking a further step forward in its recognition of the status of aboriginal communities and was held up as a model for all governments to follow by the Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Matthew Coon Come.

The Bloc Quebecois also wishes to pay tribute to the exceptional leadership and work of Guy Chevrette and Bernard Landry, as well as of Grand Chief Ted Moses, whose open mindedness will further the development of his people as equal partners with Quebec. The peace of the braves is the embodiment of the new vision of dealing with aboriginal nations and, more than ever, will pave the way for more harmonious and dynamic relations, which respect and serve everyone's interests.

AgricultureStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

Mr. Speaker, today is Food Freedom Day in Canada, the day when Canadians have earned enough money in this calendar year to pay their groceries for the entire 12 months. This year it took 38 days for the average Canadian family to earn enough money to buy food for the year. Two years ago it took 42 days.

Today farm leaders on Parliament Hill pointed out that Canadians spend but 10% of their income on food and they want a lot more Canadian consumers to be aware of it. In many other parts of the world the cost of food is significantly higher.

Thanks to our farmers Canadians enjoy one of the safest, high quality and most affordable food supplies in the world. Although Canadian consumers benefit from the tremendous effort made by farmers, the share of the consumer dollar that actually reaches the farm gate has shrunk to levels no longer sustainable.

On behalf of farmers everywhere in Canada the government must begin to provide significantly more financial support to address the farm income crisis across the country.

AgricultureStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON

Mr. Speaker, happy Food Freedom Day. It is kind of like tax freedom day except it pertains only to our food bill. If we put 100% of our total income toward our basic food requirements, today is the day we would have our yearly bill paid in full.

This day is possible because Canadians enjoy a safe and affordable food source produced by the Canadian farmer. Despite the fact that our farmers generate a safe and accessible product the portion of the bill that goes directly to them was paid in early January.

If we were to eat a meal worth $9.20 excluding tip in a restaurant, only 50 cents would go to pay the people who produce all the food. By comparison a respectable gratuity for the server on that same meal would be about $1.38.

To continue to have a reliable food supply our farmers need our support. I am calling upon every member of the House to support our primary producers with a lobby for cash. Let us make food freedom day a celebration for everyone in Canada.

InfrastructureStatements By Members

February 7th, 2002 / 2:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Val Meredith Canadian Alliance South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, when the budget was introduced in December the $2 billion strategic infrastructure fund was to be administered by an arm's length foundation. However when the legislation was introduced this week, surprise, a Liberal cabinet minister will get to decide where the money goes. Yesterday the Prime Minister said this change occurred because he believed that decisions about the fund should be made by people who report directly to parliament.

If this is the case, perhaps the government could explain why it rejected a transport committee report recommendation that a secretary of state for transportation security be created to be responsible for aviation security and report directly to parliament. Instead the government created an arm's length authority to administer the $2.2 billion air travellers' security fund.

Why the inconsistency? Could it be that the Liberals have not quite figured out how to use the air travellers' security fund for patronage purposes?

Jason DevlinStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Jason Devlin, a young man from my hometown of Sundre, Alberta. Jason recently received the Governor General's award for bravery.

As Jason was in-line skating by Bearberry Creek near Sundre last spring he spotted a seven year old boy being pulled into the icy water by a dog caught in the current. Without hesitation and with skates still strapped to his feet Jason jumped to the boy's rescue and pulled him to safety.

Since receiving the award Jason has developed a strong desire to help others and is considering pursuing a career as a firefighter. I am sure that any fire department would be more than pleased to work shoulder to shoulder with such a brave individual. It is not every day we hear about such a selfless act.

On behalf of all the residents of Wild Rose and Canada I thank Jason for his courage and wish him well on whatever the future has in store for this extraordinary young man.

John DreweryStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

John Harvard Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB

Mr. Speaker, funeral services are being held at this time for John Ronald Drewery who died at the age of 77 early last Sunday morning in his home in Cornwall, Ontario. John was a familiar face to Canadians as a parliamentary reporter, war correspondent and news anchor during his 41 years with CBC television.

Raised in Stouffeville, Ontario, he joined the Royal Air Force during World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving in the 101st Squadron Lancaster bombers. He was a member of the first graduating class of the journalism program at Carleton University. He also worked in the motion picture division of the Canadian army and served in Korea, Cyprus and Germany.

As a former broadcaster with the CBC myself, I know how much his work for the CBC was appreciated. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

Jean-Philippe RoyStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, Jean-Philippe Roy, who was born in Sainte-Flavie, a beautiful coastal community that is part of the La Mitis regional county municipality, will participate in the Olympic Games, which will be held from February 8 to 24.

Jean-Philippe will take part in the downhill skiing competition and will race in the slalom, giant slalom, super G and combined events.

Jean-Philippe Roy was aiming for the 2006 Olympic Games, but his talent and his work earned him a spot on this year's team. Last year, he was the Canadian champion in the slalom and giant slalom events. His coach, Thierry Meynet, likes to say that, in 2001, Jean-Philippe was one of three skiers in the world born in 1979 to earn World Cup points.

I am asking hon. members to join me in wishing the best of luck to Jean-Philippe and to all the athletes and coaches who will be taking part in the Salt Lake City Olympic Games.

Congratulations to all. The Bloc Quebecois is proud to see that you are among the world's best athletes.

Black History MonthStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON

Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month and therefore an opportunity for all of us to recognize the important contributions and achievements of African Canadians both historically and today.

Through a variety of activities, organizations across the country will help to: highlight the achievements of black men and women; dismantle stereotypes; and provide role models for young black Canadians. We officially recognized Black History Month in the House through a unanimous vote in 1995. We know that black Canadians have been making important contributions to Canadian society for over 400 years. They have been a part of many milestones in Canadian history.

I am sure that my colleagues in the House will join me today in recognizing and celebrating February as Black History Month.