House of Commons Hansard #83 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was disease.
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister said he was prepared to answer questions. We will find out.
Canada is not officially a party to the war in Iraq. What evidence can the defence minister point to that Canada's exchange troops will not be regarded as unlawful combatants if captured by the Iraqis?
My question is, can he tell us with certainty that they will be covered by the Geneva convention?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has already answered that question very clearly.
In terms of my answering of questions, I will acknowledge I am somewhat more reluctant to answer questions from Alliance members regarding ships and exchange soldiers. First of all, because they agree with us on these matters and then they go accusing us of not caring about our soldiers, which is ridiculous. When that fails, they resort to name calling.
That explains my reluctance to address their questions with the same seriousness that I apply to the Bloc and the NDP.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, recently, Dr. Yvan Turmel, the coroner conducting the inquest into the terrible accident on route 185, concluded that the highway urgently needs to be widened to four lanes. His conclusions confirm the urgent need to invest in improving this highway.
When does the federal government plan to confirm it will pay its half to make this highway safe?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Quebec government has not yet signed the federal-provincial agreement for infrastructure funds. If that can be done, there will be enough money to improve this highway.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister responsible for CIDA insisted that Canada is living up to its obligations to fight the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Based on our share of the world's wealth, Canada's pledge to the global fund over four years falls short by $232 million.
If the CIDA minister will not respond to the UN envoy's plea for Canadian leadership, will the Prime Minister step forward and commit to our fair share of the global fund?
Susan Whelan LiberalMinister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, Canada has committed $100 million U.S. to the global health fund and has paid its first two installments.
We have taken the HIV-AIDS file very seriously within CIDA and we are increasing our spending from $20 million to $80 million per year for a total of $270 million over five years. We have invested $50 million in the vaccine fund to find a vaccine for HIV and AIDS. Obviously Canada is taking its contributions and its role very seriously.
Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, the 1994 budget boasted about taking measures to prevent Canadian based companies from using foreign owned affiliates to avoid paying Canadian taxes. These measures did not affect Barbados. The Auditor General estimates that Canadian direct investment in Barbados has swollen from $628 million in 1998 to $22.3 billion in 2001. She estimates this loophole has cost Canadian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Who decided to keep Barbados open when it closed down Liberia?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of the Auditor General's recommendation and, as I have said a few times now, there were a number of measures taken over the years subsequent to 1992 with respect to tightening the Canadian tax base. We continue to consider the appropriate measures, given not only the Auditor General's comment in late 2002 but other commentary as well. The matter is under review.
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, on March 27 the government of Saskatchewan announced the creation of 1,200 new licensed day care spaces over the next four years as part of the provincial budget. This announcement comes two weeks after the Minister of Human Resource Development announced the federal-provincial-territorial child care agreement.
Can the minister tell the House what the Government of Canada's contribution is and what the government is doing to support child care for Canadian families?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to see the government of Saskatchewan announce a 45% increase to its kids first program in its budget last week. This comes with the support of a $29 million transfer from the Government of Canada to the province that will help increase the number of regulated child care spaces as well as subsidize Saskatchewan parents to access these spaces.
This is an example of good federal-provincial relations in support of our youngest citizens. I hope that we will see such announcements from other provinces in the months to come.
Business of the HouseOral Question Period
The Speaker
It is my duty pursuant to Standing Order 81(14) to inform the House that the motion to be considered tomorrow during the consideration of the business of supply is as follows:
That the House of Commons express its regret and apologizes for offensive and inappropriate statements made against the United States of America by certain members of this House; reaffirm that the United States continues to be Canada's closest friend and ally; hope that the U.S. led coalition in Iraq is successful in removing Saddam Hussein's regime from power; and urge the Government of Canada to assist the coalition in the reconstruction of Iraq.
This motion standing in the name of the hon. member for Calgary Southwest is votable.
Copies of the motion are available at the table.
The House resumed from April 1, 2003, consideration of the motion that Bill C-28, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 18, 2003, be now read the second time and referred to a committee; and of the amendment.
Budget Implementation Act, 2003Government Orders
The Speaker
It being 3:05 p.m., the House will now proceed to the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion for second reading of Bill C-28.
Call in the members.
(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)
Budget Implementation Act, 2003Government Orders
The Speaker
I declare the amendment lost.
The House resumed from April 1 consideration of the motion that Bill C-23, an act respecting the registration of information relating to sex offenders, to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee, and of the amendment.
Sex Offender Information Registration ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-23.
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, I believe you would find consent in the House that those who voted on the previous motion be recorded as voting on the amendment now before the House, with Liberal members voting no.
Sex Offender Information Registration ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this way?
Dale Johnston Canadian Alliance Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, Canadian Alliance members will vote yes to the amendment, and add the member for Lanark—Carleton to the vote.
Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC
Mr. Speaker, the members of the Bloc Quebecois are voting against this motion.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, the members of the NDP who are present vote no on this motion.
Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, the members of the Progressive Conservative Party will vote yes to the amendment.
Jim Pankiw Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, I vote yes.
