Debates of April 9th, 2003

Iraq

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it will be a long time before we find out whether or not there have been such efforts. Enfants du Monde, an NGO that has been working in Iraq for a number of years, had this to say:

The key United Nations documents protecting civilian populations are being swept aside, ignored, violated. The entire world is a powerless witness to these crimes against defenceless human beings. Who can speak of victory in such circumstances?

Is Canada going to join with all those who are troubled by the violation of the Geneva conventions?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has indicated, Canada will be joining with those who intend to move on, now, to the phase of humanitarian aid and reconstruction, rather than hurling recriminations, which will do nothing for the people of Iraq. We want to move on to a positive phase. We will be providing aid to the people of Iraq.

Immigration

[Lynne Yelich, Canadian Alliance, Blackstrap, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration claims security is his top priority. Yet, figures from the Auditor General tell us the minister has lost track of 36,000 deportees.

How can the minister bluster about the importance of security when he fails to ensure the deportation of these individuals?

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

Mr. Speaker, we must be very careful here.

First of all, as I said before, our country does not have an exit control program. At the same time, we have a policy for the integrity of documents. We issue a new permanent resident card which is 20 point fraud resistant. We now have a new computer system that will integrate all offices at the enforcement level.

The bottom line is that we are more secure and we are doing what we have to do. We need that balanced approach between openness and vigilance.

[Lynne Yelich, Canadian Alliance, Blackstrap, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this problem did not show up overnight. We are talking about 36,000 cases.

We heard the minister's plans to eventually reduce the backlog of deportees. How does he intend to do that? How does he intend to find them? When will he deport these individuals?

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

Mr. Speaker, immigration is an ongoing issue. We implemented new legislation last June 28. We have provided our agents better tools to work with and they are doing their job.

We have also great potential. We are working closely with my colleague, the Solicitor General, on a special task force with the RCMP and law enforcement. We are doing what it takes.

Our policy is not about building walls. It is about controlling doors.

Airline Industry

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Air Canada's recent decision to file for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act deepened the crisis in the airline industry in Canada, and this is likely to affect the economy in the regions.

Could the Minister of Transport tell us if he has an action plan in store to alleviate this crisis in the airline industry, and special measures to help the regions that might find themselves without regional air carriers?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are currently assessing the impact of our policy on small airports across the country, as well as Air Canada's situation. We are looking for a solution that will be fair to all Canadian travellers.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the airline industry has been crippled by an incredible number of taxes and charges of all sorts, such as the security tax, the airport tax, the fuel tax and charges paid to NAV CANADA.

Instead of managing by crisis, does the minister intend to take advantage of this exceptional situation to review the tax structure for this industry, as the Bloc Quebecois and the industry have been requesting for over a year now?

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

Mr. Speaker, as members are well aware, we have already announced in this year's budget a reduction in the air security tax. While it is always necessary to consider the structure of our tax systems, I do not think that the situation of one specific corporation should determine our tax system.

Auditor General

[Paul Forseth, Canadian Alliance, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

The Auditor General receives operational funding through the Treasury Board, the same entity which comes under scrutiny of the Auditor General. The Auditor General has been quoted as saying this arrangement is uncomfortable, perhaps even a direct conflict of interest, and potentially threatens the Auditor General's parliamentary independence.

How does the government defend having the Auditor General asking for operational money from the very department she has to audit?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, we address the funding of the Auditor General in a fair and responsible manner. I do not think we are in a conflict of interest.

I encourage the member to look at all the reports tabled by the Auditor General in Parliament and he will see that she did criticize the Treasury Board Secretariat. I am referring to the one tabled yesterday. She criticized us for many reasons. Despite that, last year we gave her $9.2 million more to do her job. I do not think we have a problem here.

[Paul Forseth, Canadian Alliance, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General must audit the books of some 70 departments, 40 crown corporations, 10 department corporations, and 60 other entities, with new duties added every year. Additional duties require more money beyond just an annual appropriation, money that is currently granted by government rather than an independent Parliament.

Does the government not see the potential for a loss of independence when the Auditor General must go cap in hand to the Treasury Board?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the member seems to forget that according to the Auditor General Act, she can report to Parliament that she thinks the money we are giving her is not sufficient to fulfil her duties.

Last year we gave her $9.2 million, a 13% increase in her budget. I know some of my colleagues in this place would be very happy to receive the same increase.

Trade

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the ability of small and medium sized businesses to compete by helping them develop and expand their export and trading activities.

Would the Secretary of State for Rural Development and FedNor please tell us what the Government of Canada is doing to encourage trade relations between the United States and northern Ontario?

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the importance of developing strong economic ties with the U.S., and that is why, unlike members opposite who spend their time denigrating the Canada-U.S. relationship, we are spending our time developing a strong trading relationship with the U.S.

I am pleased to announced that FedNor will be sponsoring a trade mission to Detroit, Michigan, from June 7 to June 11. We understand that increased trade will create an environment which will lead to increased economic activity and increased jobs.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, there is a critical shortage of housing on reserves in Canada. The Auditor General says it is a crisis: substandard housing, overcrowding, mould contamination, and a shortage of 8,500 homes. All this and what do we get from the government? The Indian and northern affairs minister says that first nations want a market process, that they want to have mortgages on their homes.

First nations do not want mortgages with huge interest going to banks. They need homes built to the same quality that all Canadians expect and deserve. When will the minister understand that he needs to listen to first nations, not dictate to them?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, since 1996 when we brought in the new policy dealing with aboriginal communities vis-à-vis housing, we have built some 2,600 new homes in the communities. Yes, it is true we are concerned that because of the population growth we are having difficulty keeping up.

Part of the new strategy in working with the AFN and the funding we have given them to work with us on housing was to develop the kinds of programs and services where first nations, through land use planning and community planning, would be able to develop their own housing stock. Of course that housing stock would be part of their equity so they could buy and sell--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Palliser.

Steel Industry

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, low priced steel coming into Canada from several countries is resulting in downsizing and threatens the future of the entire Canadian steel industry.

Both steelworkers and producers want Canada to impose significant tariffs on underpriced imports just as the American government did one year ago. Instead, worried yet again about possible WTO repercussions, the government's only response is to shuffle responsibility back and forth between finance and international affairs.

Would the finance minister tell us when the government plans to galvanize itself into action on this important issue?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have taken time to consult with the industry very extensively on this matter. Quite frankly, we have tried to develop a common position that we could take forward. It is important to note that the U.S., in taking this action, has in fact lost an action before the WTO. We need to take into account international trade rules in deciding what steps we will take.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, along with the 36,000 persons awaiting deportation, the Auditor General's annual report states there is no coordination between the immigration lookout system and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency at Canadian border points.

The last study on the issue was in 1991 and showed that customs officers missed up to 80% of those who should have been referred to secondary inspection by immigration officers. When will the minister instigate action on the blatant shortcomings of his department?

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

Mr. Speaker, it could have been also my colleague who answered that question. Why? Because a few weeks ago we signed a memorandum of understanding to promote exactly that policy based on coherence. That is exactly what we are doing from the primary line to the secondary line. At the same time, we have some immigration agents who are there, just before the people disembark, to make sure that we check the integrity of documents. We are doing exactly what the Auditor General is asking for.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, that is a start, but not only is Canada unable to deal with thousands of individuals who should be deported, apparently we have a revolving door policy that lets them walk back in.

Recently in Toronto, two known Jamaican career criminals were charged with armed robbery and hostage taking. With fingerprints on file and extensive records of over 20 years for similar offences, both had been deported to Jamaica three times, accompanied by immigration escorts.

Would the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration indicate how he plans to tighten the entry points to stop the revolving door policy of deporting criminals so that they are thrown out and stay out?

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all I would say again because of what we are doing with customs right now, it is important to control the doors. That is exactly what we are doing there. We cannot comment on the specifics. I do not know specifically about those cases.

What we need to do is focus on the integrity of documents. We have to make sure that we have a management system that, with customs and other agencies and our department, will be able to do their jobs. That is exactly what we announced a few weeks ago.