House of Commons Hansard #58 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was 1915.
Maurizio Bevilacqua LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, I think that the government is very close to the fifty-fifty mark when it comes to spending.
Quite frankly I also think that the hon. member should look at the results of our economic plan, which has seen people's incomes rise and over 300,000 children get off the poverty roll.
We have seen immense examples of how life has been better with our economic plan. I do not understand why the hon. member cannot take joy in progress.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. I am not sure if he is still here, but in his absence my question is for the Minister of Health.
Last week the Prime Minister agreed that per capita health care funding is unfair to northern Canadians. Yesterday, though, the Minister of Health said she intends to implement this unfair formula in the health accord that territorial leaders recently rejected.
Will the Prime Minister or the Minister of Health assure northerners that they will support a new northern health fund of at least $60 million that is not based on per capita funding and that fully responds to the critical health care needs of northern and aboriginal Canadians?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, what I said yesterday was that I am going to sit down with my territorial health colleagues on Monday, February 24, and I am going to listen to them about the challenges they face and will face in implementing the health accord agreed to by first ministers last week.
Certainly I am aware of the unique challenges that my northern colleagues face. I hope to be able to work collaboratively with them to ensure that they secure the benefits for their people which we know will flow from our renewed commitment to health care in this country.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, gasoline and home heating oil prices have reached unprecedented highs. Ordinary Canadians are suffering. Last time this happened was just before an election and the then finance minister happened to find $1.3 billion just like that.
Is the Prime Minister prepared to tell the current finance minister to help with a similar program or do we have to wait for another election?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I regret, the Prime Minister had to leave for some pressing engagements, but I would say to the hon. member, why does he not just wait until Tuesday and then he will see in the budget if all of his dreams come true?
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, just on the eve of the election the former finance minister promised relief to Canadians from high heating costs.
The program was badly managed and resulted in some deceased and incarcerated Canadians getting cheques, but with an unseasonably cold winter and a crisis in the Gulf, will the current Minister of Finance tell us, is there a risk of predatory pricing?
Since his government refused to get rid of the GST, would it consider removing the GST on home heating fuel for this fiscal year?
Maurizio Bevilacqua LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member can be a little bit patient. There will be a budget on Tuesday and perhaps he will get his answer then.
Rahim Jaffer Canadian Alliance Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Revenue wanted some facts about GST fraud.
Here are some facts. On page 3.9 of volume two of the Public Accounts of Canada 2001-2002, under debts, obligations and claims written off, there is a figure of over $1 billion for the CCRA and that is just for one fiscal year.
Can the minister tell us how much of that $1 billion is written off to possible GST fraud?
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, perhaps I can be even more specific for the hon. member. I would like to tell him that in fact CCRA writes off in uncollectable funds, not only from fraud but also bankruptcies, 0.3% of the amounts that are actually collected.
I must say that this compares very favourably with anyone who deals with accounts receivable.
Rahim Jaffer Canadian Alliance Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the numbers the minister continues to raise are confusing Canadians because she is not being clear. In the same public accounts at page 4.2 there is a listed sum of just over $368 million as an allowance for doubtful accounts for the GST. Again, that is just for one fiscal year.
Can the minister tell us how much of that $368 million can be attributed to possible GST fraud?
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, what I can tell the member, as he knows, is that there are 78 cases presently before the courts. Yesterday he put forward some numbers and if we total all of those up they come to approximately $80 million, but when the courts finally decide it could be less than that. That is because until the courts make a determination we can only allege certain fraud.
We know that the actual fraud over the last six years has been $25.4 million. However here is some new information. There is $13.3 million that was levied in fines and 57 years of jail time by the courts.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government is preparing to present a budget which will include considerable amounts for a war described by the Prime Minister as hypothetical. Meanwhile, the spiralling prices of gasoline are hitting consumers hard.
If the government is capable of taking concrete steps in connection with a hypothetical war, what is keeping it from taking action on spiralling gas prices, and from letting us know what the budget will do to help consumers, in particular taxi drivers, truck drivers and farmers?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, as I have already stated, regulation of retail gas prices is solely under provincial jurisdiction.
All provinces have the option of regulating prices. Some, such as P.E.I. and Newfoundland, have already done so, in fact. My response to the hon. member is that this decision is up to the provinces.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, strange but true, on the eve of the election the government had a lot more imagination than it does now, when it announced that it would be sending heating oil cheques out to everybody, including people who were dead or in jail.
Does the government plan to be just as imaginative in finding some meaningful ways of helping people to cope with this rise in gasoline prices?
Maurizio Bevilacqua LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that in fact we have taken measures to help people in the past. I just want to once again tell the hon. member, as I told the member who spoke earlier, that in fact the budget is coming up next Tuesday and so he should just be patient.
Randy White Canadian Alliance Langley—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, the warden of Kingston prison suspended a guard for passing Paul Bernardo a copy of Maxim magazine, that is a men's magazine, because he said it contravened the policy that disallows it. The policy states, “sexually oriented material which promotes or encourages any form of a criminal act...”
Does the Solicitor General agree that this suspension was warranted and does the policy actually prevent potential criminal acts?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I was wondering while the member was phrasing his question if he was suggesting whether or not that material was legitimate or not, whether it was proper reading material.
The fact of the matter is that within our prison system, prisoners are entitled to read materials and to view programs that are authorized by the CRTC. There are very strict rules within our corrections system to prevent the viewing of material that is considered pornographic.
Randy White Canadian Alliance Langley—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, that is what I thought he would say. Then why is it that prisons are stocking library shelves with pornography?
Prisoners are subscribing to pornography at their discretion, for example: Hustler is in RRC on the library shelves; Only 18 at Drummond; Swank at Warkworth; Naughty Neighbors at Fenbrook; and Wet Dreams at Mountain, just to name a few.
Could the minister tell me how this double standard is helping to rehabilitate sex offenders in Wayne's World?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the member opposite is promoting certain materials for the public or prisoners to read?
The fact of the matter is that within the corrections system inmates can only read material that is authorized by the prison system. There are certain conditions for some inmates for materials they cannot read within the system. The member opposite is trying to paint everybody with the same brush.
Roy Cullen Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. Perhaps he could expand on the earlier reply by the Prime Minister.
As the minister knows, there is disagreement in NATO about the need for that alliance to provide assistance to Turkey if Iraq attacks in the event of military operations in the region.
What is Canada's position on this very important issue and why?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that excellent question.
As the member pointed out, the Prime Minister has clearly spelled out that Canada has been clear on this issue. We believe strongly that NATO is a defensive alliance. Turkey does run a risk of being attacked in the event that violence takes place in the region. We believe strongly that NATO should be taking prudent and preparatory measures together. My colleague the hon. Minister of National Defence was there and urged Canada's case.
There is no question about what our position is, NATO must be maintained. NATO is an important alliance for Canada. It is a defensive alliance and we wish to support it in this respect.
Andy Burton Canadian Alliance Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are being prevented from obtaining their passports under the guise of increased national security. In the last six months my constituency office has been inundated by hundreds of angry constituents. Some have even been forced to cancel trips, costing them thousands of dollars, due to the incompetence of the government.
I have repeatedly raised their concerns with the passport department of foreign affairs to no avail. When the advertised processing time is 45 working days, why are my constituents waiting months for their passports?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was good enough in the introduction to his question to point out there is a problem in terms of new security measures and there is a great deal of increased flow of demands for passports. The passport office is making a serious and concerted effort to respond to these requests. I regret any inconvenience to the hon. member or to Canadian citizens.
I want to assure the House that we are taking measures. We have brought in people this weekend and we will be working around the clock to reduce and eliminate the backlog of requests. We have put in measures to enable people to get their passports more quickly and to deal with it more efficiently. I will be circulating to the hon. member, and all members, statements as to how the department is responding to this.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, his measures are not working.
Along with a number of MPs from all parties I met with Kathryn McCallion, the head of the passport division on December 12, some two months ago. Despite assurances that the process would be improved, the situation has only gotten worse, much worse. Now constituents who have had to have their applications unduly delayed for weeks or months are being asked to cough up an additional $70 to $85 to supposedly fast track their applications with no guarantee their passports will arrive on time.
Why is the government now extorting additional fees for doing what should simply be its job?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canadian citizens recognize that providing a passport is a service that we have to offer and many citizens have expressed to us a willingness to pay additional money if they can have an expedited processing of their form. We are trying to serve the Canadian public as best we can.
I urge members of the House to look at the memorandum which they will be receiving. I believe that the backlog will be reduced. Within a very short period of time we will have a system in place where people applying for passports will be immediately informed whether their form is in proper shape or whether it requires rectification. Procedures are in place and the system will be reformed for Canadians.