House of Commons Hansard #66 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was general.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said. All the rules were followed all the time during the time the member for LaSalle—Émard was the minister of finance.
Chuck Strahl Canadian Alliance Fraser Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, blind management and blind trusts are both described on the ethics counsellor's website. The supervisory agreement is something dreamed up in the Prime Minister's Office.
Let me quote from the agreement. It states:
--supervisors may consult with and obtain the advice, direction or instruction of the [finance minister], or the [finance minister] may personally intervene in order to exercise the rights and privileges associated with the Shares....
Why was the former finance minister allowed, essentially, to direct the affairs of his company while he directed the tax laws of the country?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I just said that the rules were applied. These rules were established after a recommendation by a commission established by the government of the day, the Conservative Party, and were followed by the former minister of finance, and now by the two cabinet ministers who are in the same position. They are all following the rules as they existed in the past and exist now.
Robert Lanctôt Bloc Châteauguay, QC
Mr. Speaker, just before the last general election, the government made formal commitments regarding highway 30. The moneys earmarked so far by the government are very far from the $357 million promised to the region.
Since people from the Montérégie are here this afternoon to ask the government to make good on its promise, is the minister prepared to sign the memorandum of understanding and invest 50% of the public portion of the costs to complete highway 30?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, highway 30 is another example showing that the federal government has invested significantly in Canada's infrastructure. We have negotiated the details of this important project. Soon, along with the Quebec government, we will be in a position to announce something, but we will do so only when we are ready.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.
Canadian firefighters are on the front lines in many emergencies, including possible terrorist chemical or biological attacks, yet the Liberal government has so far refused to fund their participation in the International Association of Fire Fighters hazardous materials training for first responders program.
When will the minister finally come up with the $500,000 needed to fund this vitally important program to enable our firefighters to respond effectively to any acts of terrorism on Canadian soil?
The Americans have funded this for some time. When will the Canadian government finally come up with the funding needed?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have held meetings with firefighters a number of times as a caucus. The member knows that we have advanced the security files substantially, both through the budget of 2001 and last week's budget. We will continue to work on that with all law enforcement agencies and security agencies. We are working through our department to implement training programs for first responders. In fact, I attended a meeting with first responders in Calgary some time ago.
Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has continuously said that we cannot extend jurisdiction beyond the 200 mile limit, nor can we impose custodial management. Russia, however, has requested the United Nations to extend its boundaries to take in almost half of the Atlantic, and 30 other countries are lined up ready to move.
Why is Canada not taking such action so we can protect our resources for our people?
Robert Thibault LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, we will be having a debate on Wednesday night and we can certainly discuss that.
The member should know that we held a forum in Newfoundland last week where experts in international law came together to discuss this matter, to see what the ramifications would be and what the possibilities would be. We have already extended the 200 mile limit.
I understand the discussions were very good. I am looking forward to the report from that meeting, which does not support the member's position too well.
Stephen Harper Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up with the Prime Minister on the sweetheart deal he gave the former finance minister which allowed him to run Canada Steamship Lines while he was writing Canada's tax laws.
The only answer the Prime Minister has given us is that “if it was good enough for Sinc Stevens it is good enough for me”. Is that really his position?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the rules were very clear. If there had been any danger of a so-called conflict of interest, the former minister of finance would have given the file to the secretary of state responsible in the Department of Finance and he would have advised me. On some occasions he even left the room so he would not be part of the discussions.
Roger Gaudet Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, in Haute Matawinie, ham radio communications depend on SRC equipment. The SRC has hiked facility user costs from $100 to $2,400 annually per operator.
Does the Minister of Heritage consider it acceptable that the SRC has multiplied by 24 the charges to ham radio operators, and could she not let the SRC know that this is unreasonable in an area where there is no possibility of cellphone use?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I believe the hon. member has a good point, one he needs to raise directly with the SRC.
Electoral Boundaries CommissionOral Question Period
The Speaker
It is my duty, pursuant to section 21 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, to lay upon the table a certified copy of the report of the federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Alberta. This report is deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 53.1, I move:
That a debate pursuant to Standing Order 53.1 take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2003, on the subject of fisheries.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by a number of Canadians, including petitioners from my own riding of Mississauga South. The petitioners acknowledge, as I do, that life begins at conception. They point out that Canadians support ethical stem cell research which has already shown encouraging potential to provide cures and therapies for the illnesses and diseases of Canadians.
They also suggest that non-embryonic stem cells, which are also known as adult stem cells, have shown significant research progress without the immune rejection or ethical problems associated with embryonic stem cells.
The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find the therapies and cures necessary for Canadians.
Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition dealing with marriage signed by some 100 constituents from my riding of Cambridge.
The petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House that the institution of marriage has always been defined as a union of a man and a woman, and was upheld as such by votes in the House. The petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada respect and uphold the current understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions today.
The first petition is signed by hundreds of residents of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, including in particular a group of veterans against nuclear arms and Mr. Emil Grieshaber. The petitioners are very concerned about the possibility of war in Iraq. They point out that the defence minister has stated, “Canada is ready to go to war again for humanitarian reasons even if the action defies international law and the UN charter”.
The petitioners call on Parliament to call for the perpetrators of all crimes against humanity to be brought to justice by international police action and tried before the International Criminal Court or its interim equivalent. As well, they call for a return of Canada's foreign and defence policies to a full respect for and full compliance with international law and the UN charter.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 70 residents of Victoria, British Columbia, and in particular supporters of the group Conscience Canada. The petitioners point to the Constitution Act which guarantees freedom of conscience and religion. They point out that, in their view, contributing to the Canadian military through the payment of income taxes is an infringement of their freedom of conscience and religion.
They call for the establishment of peace tax legislation by passing into law my private member's bill, the conscientious objection act, which recognizes the right of conscientious objectors to not pay for the military, but to apply that portion of their taxes that was to be used for military purposes toward peaceful, non-military purposes.
Geoff Regan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
The House resumed consideration of the motion.