Debates of May 6th, 2002

Government Expenditures

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have replied to all the questions in the House of Commons that have been asked of us, whenever there have been questions. After that people appeal to the ministers and they appear in front of committees where questions are asked by members on both sides of the House of Commons.

We have always given a reply to the Canadian people. They have been satisfied enough to ensure that this government is still in power and that the Tories are in the corner for a long time.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday the minister of agriculture stated that he might consider WTO and NAFTA challenges against a crippling U.S. farm bill. That is a big maybe. The Liberal delays on the softwood lumber have cost tens of thousands of jobs in Canada already. Now we are seeing the same delay on agriculture.

Did the minister of agriculture tell the U.S. secretary of agriculture that Canada will initiate WTO and NAFTA challenges the same day that the U.S. farm bill was signed into law?

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food met with Secretary Veneman in Ottawa on Saturday. He certainly told her and the United States, in no uncertain terms, how upset we were about this.

If we can find any way in which we can take this to the WTO now, we will. However certainly they have upset us and at the next talks at the WTO we will lead the way and build support around the world against the United States agricultural subsidies.

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

Mr. Speaker, the question was will they initiate a trade challenge or not? I do not remember what the answer was but it sure was not about that.

We have to keep pushing on our trade negotiations as the secretary said, but we will not convince the U.S. to drop its subsidies anytime soon. Our farmers need to have some protection in the meantime from those high subsidy levels that cause overproduction.

Perhaps I should ask the Prime Minister this question. Will he immediately use his government treasury to put forward a trade injury compensation program to stop the hurt that is caused by these rising U.S. subsidies?

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, we certainly realize that subsidies do not work. The Americans are saying that their farm bill is about trade liberalization but they are wrong. It is about protectionism. In fact this bill was driven by a market that was driven by farmers going to the mailbox. It does not encourage people to be entrepreneurs, which our Canadian farmers are.

We will go to the WTO if we have any proof at all that they have gone past what they can legally do.

Government Contracts

[Odina Desrochers, Bloc, Lotbinière—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general is about to ask the RCMP to investigate the dealings of Groupaction. Indeed, the Globe and Mail has revealed that the mismanagement is much more widespread than originally believed.

Given the ever more frequent blunders with Public Works and Government Services Canada's sponsorship program, does the government plan on launching an independent public inquiry to get to the bottom of the problems throughout this department, as the Bloc Quebecois has been calling for since March?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the member need not shout. I can hear, he is not that far away.

I would like to draw to his attention the fact that the auditor general's report, as I have already mentioned to another hon. member, will be tabled as early as Wednesday of this week, or in 48 hours and 25 minutes.

[Odina Desrochers, Bloc, Lotbinière—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about $1.6 million in the case of Groupaction alone, when the total program budget is in the neighbourhood of $40 million annually.

Given the amount of money involved and the serious questions raised about the quality of management at public works, does the government not think that a public inquiry is warranted, and urgently?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the conclusions will now be available in 48 hours and 24 minutes, one minute sooner than when he asked his last question.

Softwood Lumber

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the trade minister's stupid remark that no workers had lost their jobs--

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I am sure the hon. member will want to rephrase his question and avoid the use of that word which I think is offensive.

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the trade minister's uneducated remark that no workers have lost their jobs because of the softwood lumber dispute has not helped Canadian legal challenges under NAFTA.

In a positive move, three large Canadian lumber producers have now announced NAFTA legal challenges for damages from U.S. softwood lumber trade actions. These challenges now total over $500 million.

Will the minister instruct his department to assist smaller companies to co-ordinate their efforts so they can pursue and seek--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Industry.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, no one in this country has worked harder in the interests of the softwood lumber industry and its workers than the Minister for International Trade. He has led the efforts on behalf of a united industry with all the provincial and territorial governments to protect and defend the Canadian position.

We bear very much at heart the interests of workers, families and communities affected. We are looking at a wide range of options by which we can show that we will stand by Canada's softwood lumber industry.

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I was at the premiers conference. I heard how many people were unemployed and how many would be unemployed. The government is ignoring the plight of unemployed forestry workers. The minister is in Spain. In one day $100 million was spent for the Prime Minister's luxury jets, and $260 for unemployed forestry workers. That is an insult.

The minister has known for months this problem was coming. Is it any wonder the government has failed to announce a comprehensive plan for unemployed forestry workers?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of ways in which we are assisting workers, communities and the industry. The benefits to those who may be unemployed are only part of that. There are a number of programs being used. If the needs are greater, we have an open mind with respect to other options.

This government will be there to stand behind and stand with the industry, whether it is helping it diversify markets around the world or broaden its research and development into new products. We will be there to stand with the industry against these unfair American trade practices.

Government Contracts

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government silenced a public servant by telling her to mind her own business when she questioned the relevancy of spending $3 million to fund agricultural fairs and hunting and fishing shows all over Quebec. This example shows the mismanagement and political interference that afflict the sponsorship program.

What is the Minister of Public Works and Government Services waiting for to order an independent inquiry on all the activities of his department, not just on Groupaction, but on his whole department?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, we will patiently wait until Wednesday, when the auditor general will table her report. Most of the other members of parliament will wait patiently. I am convinced that the hon. member opposite will show the same patience and come to the same conclusion. All appropriate measures will be taken and this government will display its usual transparency.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the problems are much broader than what is covered by the ongoing investigation. This situation reminds us of the scandal at the Department of Human Resources Development, which the government tried to downplay in the same way.

The documents mentioned this morning in the media refer to problems of mismanagement, administrative flaws, political interference, double billing, overbilling, inadequate follow up and monitoring, and bad practices.

What more does the government need to order a public inquiry?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the report has yet to be tabled. We wonder why one of the few Bloc Quebecois members who did not send a letter supporting sponsorship initiatives is suddenly asked to put this question.

Gun Registry

[Garry Breitkreuz, Canadian Alliance, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, despite all the evidence to the contrary from his own department, the Minister of Justice keeps bragging about how wonderful the gun registry is working and how it is keeping firearms out of the hands of people who should not have them.

Will the minister please explain how Hells Angels leader Maurice “Mom” Boucher managed to get a firearms licence? This licence authorized him to buy a 9mm handgun and three pump action shotguns.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have said many times in the House that when the government decided to proceed with the gun registration system we wanted to put in place the philosophy that would ensure that we would keep building a safer community. The gun registration system has been working very well on the licensing side and on the registration side.

If members look at the declaration that has been made by the new leader of the Canadian Alliance, they will see that party's caucus is deeply divided on the question.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Canadian Alliance, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the minister that Mr. Boucher was a biker gang leader proudly complying with the firearms registry. His criminal record includes convictions of theft, sexual assault with a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying a firearm and counselling violence. That is whom the minister gave a licence to. Yesterday Mr. Boucher was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

The minister's so-called culture of safety is failing Canadians and failing them badly. When will he ask the auditor general to determine--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Justice.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why the hon. member keeps attacking the gun registry system. It is a very good system that this government has put in place.

Let me quote what the leader of the Canadian Alliance once said “It is an issue that is dividing caucus. I support the concept of gun control and I will be putting out my own survey to find out how my constituents feel”.

He supports it. We support it in order to ensure that we keep building a safe society.