House of Commons Hansard #96 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was guns.
Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, this thermonuclear project is an international collaboration between the European Union, Japan, China, the United States, the Russian Federation and Canada.
Does the federal government plan on making a monetary commitment to this project regardless of whether the bid is awarded to Canada?
Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this is in fact just an elaboration of the previous question. The hon. Minister of Natural Resources, as I indicated previously, has received representations from a number of colleagues in the House of Commons about this project. It is indeed a very big priority for members on this side of the House.
I take the hon. member's point now as representation. We are finally glad to see the Alliance or at least one member who seems to also support this initiative, supported by countless Liberals.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, as of today, nearly 1,500 citizens and over 40 organizations in the Mauricie, including a good number from the riding of Saint-Maurice, have publicly supported the creation of a high-speed train line between Quebec City and Montreal, with a stop in Trois-Rivières.
My question is this: since the cabinet committee on economic union recently recommended that this high-speed train project be brought forward, does the Prime Minister intend to take advantage of this opportunity to leave his region with a tangible legacy, and could he tell us if he might accept its findings?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have indeed studied the possibility of a high-speed link between Quebec City and Windsor. I hope to be able to make a statement on this subject very soon.
Railway TransportationOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. There seems to be an unusual amount of noise in the chamber for a Tuesday. I know many hon. members are trying to help others with their questions or answers as the case may be, but sometimes there are so many members helping that it is hard to hear the person who has the floor.
I am not accusing any one side of being unanimous in its efforts to help, but the right hon. member for Calgary Centre now has the floor and we have to be able to hear the question.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has just said that Canada has received no proposal on missile defence from the United States. What then is cabinet discussing? The foreign minister says that there will be a decision next week. A decision on what?
Paul Forseth Canadian Alliance New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board. The last budget promised up to a billion dollars of reallocation from low priority program areas to more valued ones like cleaning up their mistakes. What specific examples can be cited of this so-called reallocation program where any money has ever been taken from a minister and given to another?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, the reallocation exercise is about making choices about priorities. It is about good government.
We have asked the ministers and their departments to identify programs further down the priority scale so that we can reduce or eliminate them and concentrate on programs of more importance to Canadians. Treasury Board is analyzing the proposals and we will soon be in a position to make our decisions public.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the microbreweries are dismayed by the Competition Bureau's decision to stop its investigation of the major breweries, despite acknowledging that if the major breweries continue their actions, this could hinder free competition.
Since, by law, the Minister of Industry has all the authority needed to act, does he intend to order the competition commissioner to re-open his investigation in the very near future so as to ensure the survival of the microbreweries?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the Competition Bureau concluded, after an investigation, that currently, the actions do not violate the law, and it is prepared to accept new information. If the hon. member has any information, I invite him to present it to the Competition Bureau.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, it must be embarrassing for the Prime Minister, preparing to leave office, to have the United Nations special envoy in Canada commenting on deplorable conditions on reserves right here in the country. It must be embarrassing to have the United Nations criticize Canada for its failure to uphold the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Will the Prime Minister use the next few months to do what he should have been doing over the past decade, and put Canada back on the map as a beacon of equality and respect for human rights?
Bob Nault LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, it would be helpful if the NDP would join with us in working toward improving the legislative structure and the institutional structure of first nations. That would be a good start.
Second, in the last budget of the Minister of Finance the government put almost half a billion dollars a year in new money into aboriginal communities and their issues. That will go a long way toward improving the lives of aboriginal people.
Norman E. Doyle Progressive Conservative St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, since the closure of the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has said that he will encourage local fishermen to ignore the moratorium on the northern cod. He said that the Newfoundland and Labrador government will not assist the federal government in any prosecutions if fishing continues.
Rather than a violent confrontation on the issue, will the minister now agree to sit down again with the various stakeholders in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery with a view to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement?
Robert Thibault LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I know these are very difficult times in Newfoundland and Labrador and I know it is very difficult for the premier and for all his cabinet ministers.
The member will recognize that we made this decision in the best interests of the stocks and in the best interests of the communities of Newfoundland and Labrador for the long term. Fishing these resources illegally will not serve any good purpose. It will reduce the resource.
They have asked us to do increased scientific work. They would not want us to invest our resources in protection rather than conservation.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
We have a number of important visitors in the House today.
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Right Hon. Lord Robertson, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I also draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Carlos Frederico Ruckauf, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Republic of Argentina.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I also draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Anna Magreth Abdallah, Minister of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The House resumed from May 2 consideration of the motion
Parliament of Canada ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
It being 3:02 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the referral to committee before second reading of Bill C-34.
Call in the members.
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Parliament of Canada ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
I declare the motion carried. Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
(Motion agreed to and bill referred to a committee)
Joe Comuzzi Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, would you please seek consent to add my name to those who voted in favour?
