Debates of April 2nd, 2003

The Member for Lasalle—Émard

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure I heard a question mark at the end of that, but let me remind the hon. member, as I mentioned a few moments ago, that since 1992 a number of changes have been taken dealing with issues related to offshore income earned by corporations or by owners based in Canada. I itemized a number of those changes to tighten the Canadian tax base and, subsequent to the Auditor General's last report, we continue to review those provisions.

Airline Industry

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the transport minister said that cabinet is “reviewing” the fees and taxes imposed on the air industry. The review is a waste of time, time that the air industry does not have.

The issue has been studied. The transport committee has done it and has recommended broad based tax relief. The Travel Industry Cost Coalition, the Air Transport Association and air carriers have all studied this and arrived at a fact, a fact that the transport minister has not seemed to grasp: that the air industry needs broad based tax relief, tax relief that the government does not have the courage to give it.

Why will the government not cut taxes across the board for the air industry and let the air industry fly?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member would agree that every time there is an industry issue in any particular industry, we cannot respond by cutting all the taxes. It does not make any sense.

We know that in Bill C-28, which is before the House, we have proposed the reduction of the air transportation security charge by over 40%. The member's party has proposed that this bill not be dealt with for more than six months. Let us get on with things that actually can help people.

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are holding up the bill because we do not want the tax cut, we want it eliminated completely, and the government does not seem to understand that.

It is one thing to say that the answer is not always to cut taxes, but the answer surely is not to raise taxes, which is all the government has done to the air industry year in and year out.

Given that the government was prepared to give tens of millions of dollars in corporate welfare to Air Canada, given that it had the cash on hand, why does it not take that cash and then transfer it to a broad based tax cut for the entire air industry on a level playing field? Why will the government not do that?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member mistakes the case. The fact is that the government was prepared to provide a short term loan guarantee to enable Air Canada to get debtor-in-possession financing. Air Canada did not require that fully secured government loan. It has raised the money itself. I wish the hon. member would stick to the facts and then he would perhaps ask intelligent questions.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, from recent media reports we have learned of workers from the Philippines being sold as domestics and child care workers for $800. The federal government program for live-in caregivers paves the way for such situations.

Will the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration admit that the federal live-in caregiver program leads to practices which debase women?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think the program is bad in itself. I do, however, feel we must be very clear on this. Using the Internet for slavery is, to my mind, totally revolting. I have asked my department to look into this. I also feel that we must not confuse the issue. One can promote a program and prevent this type of thing from recurring.

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, domestics are often victims of physical, psychological or sexual abuse. In light of the recent events, will the minister put an end to a program which paves the way for the degrading exploitation of female foreign workers, or will he at least bring in a replacement program designed to prevent the emergence of situations which are a violation of human rights?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I think there is a middle ground. We can keep the home helper program, which I am told by the communities I visit is a good one. But I do believe we must work to ensure the respect of human rights. Tools must be developed to prevent abuses.

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, contrast the immigration minister's treatment of a Holocaust denier versus a Holocaust survivor. The minister admits Zundel, allows him to make a refugee claim and ignores a known security threat, but the minister tries to give the boot to Helen Ann Dougherty, who has Alzheimer's.

The minister has extended every consideration to Zundel but has refused compassionate permission to Mrs. Dougherty. Why did it take a public outcry for the minister to do the right thing?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is unacceptable to use Mrs. Dougherty to try to score political points. I have announced very clearly that, on compassionate grounds, I have asked officials in my department to take the necessary steps to ensure that she can remain in Canada. Instead of trying to score points, the member should be congratulating this government for once again showing compassion.

[Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has also made quite a switch on Zundel. First it was, I will not allow our system to be abused, just watch me, and now he sits by, content to let the process wind on and on. He will not use his power to end Zundel's refugee charade, but he was quite prepared to squash elderly Mrs. Dougherty. He only sprang into action when faced with public humiliation.

Why did the minister try to kick out the Holocaust survivor but shelter the Holocaust denier?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, by her question I understand one thing, and that is that on their side they disagree with taking steps based on compassionate grounds, so they are against the fact that we emitted a permit for Mrs. Dougherty. Shame on them.

Multiculturalism

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about reports that schoolyard bullying, discrimination and intolerance are on the increase nationwide. Could the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women tell us what her department is doing to prevent and address such discrimination and intolerance?

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, schoolyard bullying, discrimination and intolerance concern us all.

[The Speaker]

Order. Despite the discussions at the other end of the Chamber, there is a question and answer going on up here. I would urge hon. members who wish to continue questions that we have finished with to perhaps carry on the question and answer session in the lobby. There is a wonderful lobby at the far end that would be perfect for this kind of exchange.

In the meantime, the hon. Secretary of State for the Status of Women has the floor and all hon. members will want to hear her answer.

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am responding to the question around schoolyard bullying, discrimination and intolerance. I want to tell members about a program called “Reaching Across Differences” that the multiculturalism department is supporting. It provides information and training to elementary school children in the North Okanagan Valley in British Columbia to increase their awareness of the impact of discrimination and bullying. Youth have taken the leadership and are planning all of the processes involved.

Health

[Carol Skelton, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last year Canadian health officials drastically underestimated the spread of the effect of the West Nile virus, carried by water loving mosquitoes. Many were shocked at the spread of the West Nile during the prairie drought.

Once again, contamination of the blood supply proved deadly in Canada. Will the minister be able to protect the blood supply system and meet the July 1 deadline for a screening test for West Nile virus?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should be aware, Canadian Blood Services is an independent service. I had the opportunity, however, to meet with the blood services last week and we talked about the issue of the availability of a test. They were able to reassure me, based on their information as of last week, that a test will be available in the coming months to ensure the safety of our blood system and to be able to take reasonable precautions in that regard in relation to West Nile virus.

[Carol Skelton, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the responsibility is always given to someone else. We have seen the deadly results of the West Nile virus in the national blood system. We saw the difficulties in screening for viruses when carriers show no symptoms.

What is the government doing to determine whether SARS can be transmitted by blood donors who otherwise appear to be symptom free?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, our scientists, who are in fact some of the world's best, are working in close co-operation with fellow scientists at the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, the WHO in Geneva, and with other researchers around the world.

It would be nice if the world were as easy as the hon. member seems to suggest it is. Let me reassure every Canadian that our doctors are working as hard as they can with doctors around the world to ensure that the public's health and safety are protected.

Young Offenders

[Robert Lanctôt, Bloc, Châteauguay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec Court of Appeal has backed up the Bloc Quebecois' claims by ruling that provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Minister of Justice said that he would take some time to analyze the judgment and come up with an official position.

Does the minister not think that it would be appropriate to suspend the application of the legislation while he does this analysis?

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

Not at all, Mr. Speaker. The act has come into force. It is now in effect and we will proceed with it. Incidentally, last year when we decided to delay its coming into force for one year, we did so based on a consensus reached around the table at a federal-provincial-territorial meeting.

That said, it is important to look at the Court of Appeal judgment as a whole. It is a reference which comments on six issues. It is important to understand that the reference confirms that when the Canadian government passed the legislation, it was acting within its jurisdiction.

Salon international de l'alimentation

[Gérard Binet, Liberal, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have been told that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food will be speaking today at the Salon international de l'alimentation in Montreal.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain to the House the importance of this type of event for the agricultural sector?

[Claude Duplain, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

Indeed, today, the Salon international de l'alimentation, commonly referred to as the SIAL, is an extremely important event for agriculture. It is a wonderful opportunity for 700 exhibitors, including more than 370 from Canada, to showcase their know-how and promote their products. The show is expected to draw some 15,000 professional buyers from 70 different countries.

Events like the SIAL provide an excellent opportunity for Canada to increase its share of the world food market and the Government of Canada is determined to work together with the sector to reach its objectives.

Once again, the Government of Canada has done a wonderful job.