Debates of May 8th, 2002

Dangerous Offenders

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, habitual killer Conrad Brossard was arrested this week for the rape and murder of Cécile Clément. Brossard was on a day parole, courtesy of the National Parole Board despite its noting that he had difficulty managing aggressive impulses during previous attempts at release. We do not need any lengthy and expensive investigation to tell us that the parole board messed up, that it made the wrong decision, that it was negligent and therefore should be held accountable.

We ask the solicitor general, how many more Canadians have to lose their lives before he puts a stop to the early release of dangerous offenders?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, this is a tragedy. Our sympathy certainly goes to the family and to the community.

I have expressed my deep concern of this tragedy to Correctional Service Canada and the National Parole Board. They are launching a board of investigation into the matter. They have assured me that they will have a full and thorough review.

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is a tragedy that is happening far too frequently in this country.

Conrad Brossard is but one more indictment against the faulty parole system and the failure of Correctional Service Canada to effectively rehabilitate career criminals. Dan Brisson, Dennis Strongquill, Mike Templeton and Benoit L'Écuyer are all police officers who were shot by parolees.

When will the solicitor general do the right thing and scrap the accelerated release programs that push dangerous offenders back into our communities?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is a tragedy and I have expressed my concern to Correctional Service Canada and the National Parole Board. There will be a full review of this very unacceptable incident.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, the unanimous report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities is now one year old. The nightmares generated by the employment insurance program continue to pile up. There are hundreds of victims of the department's inaction: the self-employed, seasonal workers, older unemployed workers, workers related to business owners, pregnant women and youth.

Are we to interpret the minister's lack of action as a sign that the government has permanently resigned itself to doing nothing to rectify the flagrant injustices in the EI program?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Not at all, Mr. Speaker. We have made many changes to employment insurance to help workers.

We eliminated the intensity rule, established small weeks, improved access to benefits for seasonal workers, doubled maternity and parental leave, helped parents return to the workforce, eliminated the waiting period for apprentices, reduced the premiums for eight years in a row, amended the rule on reimbursements and more.

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

Mr. Speaker, mostly, the government has misappropriated $40 billion that belongs to the unemployed. The EI program is a disgrace to this government.

Given the promises made during the election by several ministers and members sitting in the House, is the government not ashamed of refusing to rectify these nightmares generated by its EI system? Will it put an end to the misappropriation of funds belonging to the unemployed?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, we have not hesitated in acting to help workers.

The real disgrace is that the Bloc Quebecois often voted against changes that we proposed to help these workers.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, the international trade distorting U.S. farm bill will cripple Canadian farmers. Net income on many farms is already well below the national poverty level. The government must shoulder its responsibility for international trade and keep our agriculture competitive in the face of U.S. subsidies.

Will the agriculture minister announce a trade injury compensation program today?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said in the House yesterday, I had a very good meeting with my provincial colleagues on Monday and Tuesday of this week. We discussed a number of issues including the agriculture policy framework and our concerns over the American farm bill. I pledged at that time that the government will seek every way to challenge and to counter the effects of the United States farm bill on our Canadian producers.

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

Mr. Speaker, we cannot wait forever. It is going to be a sorry sight when we see the agriculture minister go into cabinet on bended knee to ask the finance minister to do something.

I am wondering if the finance minister will provide any program money to implement a trade injury compensation program. He has the dollars. Let him stand up and say whether or not there is anything for Canadian farmers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I hope the hon. member is not telling me he does not want me to go into cabinet. I will go in standing proudly with Canadian farmers. The government has shown before that when Canadian farmers needed assistance we gave them all the resources we possibly could to help them.

We solicit the support of the provinces. Some of them have been there, with considerable pressure in the past. I trust they will be there with us again.

Sports

[Joe Peschisolido, Liberal, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been media reports alleging discrimination with regard to the Government of Canada's--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. I know the hon. member is a popular member, but we have to hear his question. It is impossible to hear. The hon. member for Richmond has the floor. I stress this to all hon. members.

[Joe Peschisolido, Liberal, Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been media reports alleging discrimination with regard to the Government of Canada's funding of Canadian professional sports teams. Could the minister of public works set the record straight?

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

Mr. Speaker, since 1999 the Government of Canada has sponsored all Canadian professional hockey teams. Every team receives $150,000 annually in sponsorships.

I cannot wish the Ottawa Senators good luck tonight, but I will wish all three Canadian teams good luck.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the environment minister said that he continues to promote Kyoto because of the opportunities it might afford. The only opportunity Kyoto affords is for an unwieldy bureaucracy to enforce the draconian restrictions. Studies which show benefits to Canada are based on outdated economic methods and unrealistic assumptions.

Why will the government not seize on the real opportunities and do more to promote conservation, all kinds of transitional fuels and alternate energy?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we have major programs in this area. I must get together with my hon. friend. Perhaps we could have lunch together and I could go over the many programs in this area where we are promoting this.

I might add that in his own home province of Alberta, MLA Denis Ducharme is the chairman of the Alberta Energy Research Institute. I do not think that could be a conflict of interest, but nevertheless he is an MLA as well. I am pleased that he said, and I am quoting from a newspaper “Kyoto targets are reachable in a time frame not far off the Kyoto 2012 deadline”.

That is pretty good. I am pleased that Alberta is with us on this.

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

Mr. Speaker, I suggest he listen to the premier and some of the other members there and the environment minister.

I would also say it is pathetic what the government has put toward alternate energy. While the Americans have put $4.6 billion toward alternate energy, he is talking $5 million to $6 million. It is pathetic.

Has the minister not noticed that his whole caucus is abandoning him? The ministers of finance, natural resources, industry and the Deputy Prime Minister are abandoning him.

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, this is another case where the Alliance members find the spending programs of the government are small and insignificant because of course we are so responsible fiscally. They believe in major expenditure.

I am delighted to hear the support of the Alliance Party for substantial increases in the amount of money we put into alternate energy and into research. We are delighted to see this change of heart.

With respect to the Alberta government, my hon. friend said in Hansard on April 18 “it is not reasonable that Canada should get credit for American emissions reductions”. Here is what the minister from Alberta said--

[The Speaker]

The minister will have to save that for another day. The hon. member for Saint-Bruno--Saint-Hubert.

Public Safety Act

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport, the privacy commissioner is calling upon the government to respond to his objections to Bill C-55 on public safety, certain provisions of which he claims are a step toward totalitarianism.

How does the Deputy Prime Minister intend to respond to the privacy commissioner's concerns?

[André Harvey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the privacy commissioner has merely said that he wishes to see the measures proposed by Bill C-55 implemented as promptly as possible. That is what we are proposing with Bill C-55.

Energy

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Minister of Natural Resources participated in the meeting of the G-8 energy ministers that was held last week in Detroit.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. What were the outcomes of the meeting of the G-8 energy ministers and how will this outcome help Canada and other countries meet sustainable development objectives?