Debates of May 9th, 2003

Fisheries

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador stated his desire to renegotiate the terms of Confederation. The minister's response was a flippant dismissal, followed by laughter from the government backbenches.

The government's mismanagement of the cod fishery has left the provinces with few choices. One clear choice is to demand more control over the industry. Why is the government unwilling to give Newfoundland a say over its own resources?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the province has its own responsibilities regarding fisheries, but what is very important is that since the science says that we need to have a moratorium on cod and the duty of the minister of fisheries is to apply the moratorium, we need to help the communities. I know that Canada is so willing to have a very good partnership with the government of Newfoundland to help the community, and to know what the plan of the government of Newfoundland is, how much money they are ready to put on the table and what program designs they have in mind, because constitutional change will not help.

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what arrogance. The Liberal government thinks it knows it all.

While the provinces call for changes, the fisheries minister responds by saying, and I quote him, “The federal government has always been in charge of the fishery”. We have seen what a stellar job it has done. Stocks are depleted, businesses are shutting down, and thousands are out of work. Obviously the federal government's way of doing things is not working. Will the government commit to devolving greater control of the resources to the provinces?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I said yesterday that this is a problem throughout the planet. According to the most recent estimates of the FAO, 75% of the world's fish stocks are either fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted. This has nothing to do with the Constitution of Canada and everything to do with the necessity to follow what the science is telling us to do and to help on the ground the communities affected. It is what federally we want to do with Newfoundland and Labrador, with New Brunswick, with Quebec, with all--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast, and a little order, please.

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what arrogance again, a government that darn near lost Canada a few years ago telling us how it could run it better. Shameful.

The government's arrogance extends beyond Newfoundland and Labrador. Across the country there is a systematic dismissal of provincial concerns by this government. The government has failed to resolve the softwood and offshore drilling issues in British Columbia. The government has failed to address the health delivery options for Alberta and the rest of Canada. The government has failed to resolve devastating duties on wheat in Saskatchewan.

Why is the government's only response to provincial concerns to stall, to dismiss or to ignore them altogether?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more easy to do for the opposition but nothing less positive to do than to be involved in fed bashing in everything.

The Government of Canada has responsibilities. These responsibilities are not always easy. It is not easy to go in with a moratorium. We are very unhappy to have to do that but it is necessary. We are very proud of the positive solutions we have found with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on so many files, whether it is Voisey's Bay, whether it is Hibernia or whether it is about fisheries, the fisheries where the fish are still in good shape. That is why this province has the strongest economic growth of all the provinces in Canada.

[Deborah Grey, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I doubt if the riots would bear that out.

This situation has far less to do with fish than it does the complete arrogance of this government. These Liberals across the way start to laugh when the provinces voice legitimate concerns.

When the federal government has an attitude like that it is small wonder the provinces get fed up. Why will the government not admit that maybe, just maybe, the provinces might know more than it does when it comes to fishing, farming, firearms or forestry?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let us stick to fisheries since it is the problem that we have today. We have a government that is saying we need to apply the moratorium because science is asking us to do that and then to work as good partners to help the communities. We have another government that is saying, “Give me more powers because I want to fish more despite what the scientists say”. I have difficulty in seeing how it would help in the long haul for the fisheries to have, instead of one minister that takes the responsibility, six ministers, because we would have to share with the other five provinces involved in the Atlantic fisheries.

[Deborah Grey, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that was a nice try, but they want to co-manage, not fish more.

Let us look at who is who in the hinterland. B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador: all of these provinces have been alienated by the arrogance and the disdain of this government. Before we know it we will be up to the 7/50 formula. Why will the government not act now to discuss provinces' legitimate concerns to head off a constitutional crisis at the pass?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, no, on the hon. member's point, it is not a constitutional crisis, it is a fisheries crisis, and we want to address it in good partnership with all the localities, the communities and the governments. It has nothing to do with the Constitution of Canada and everything to do with the problem that is throughout the planet.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Chandler, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and local MP went and told hundreds of plant workers who have been without any pay for more than a month and who have no work due to a lack of crab to process, that the federal government would not extend their EI benefits.

Will the government, which is responsible for the collapse of the stocks because of its mismanagement, finally realize that what is needed right now is special EI measures for plant workers to help them make ends meet, and that this is the responsibility of the government?

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, who is doing a wonderful job to help people in his riding and the region and for everything he has been doing. We announced short-term measures totalling $14 million to assist these people. We immediately began consultations on long-term measures. Next fall, we will be making announcements to help people who depend on the fishery.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the secretary of state who just answered that workers should be patient said that there would be diversification measures. This fall, as he said, will be too late, particularly since the help that was promised is for communities and not one penny of it will go to the pockets of plant workers who need money now.

Will the minister admit that special employment insurance measures are needed now in order to help plant workers, and that Ottawa cannot wash its hands of the situation?

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I find it unfortunate that the member only listened to a part of the answer. There is $14 million available now for short-term measures. What we have said is that there will be long-term measures. We must not forget that $600 million has been transferred to Quebec for labour training. We are working with the government, which is looking for solutions to help the people in the region, and that is what we are going to do.

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, back home, on the Lower North Shore, there is no crab left. The people need help. Indeed, the economy will have to be diversified through initiatives already being contemplated. It is urgent to act by improving the employment insurance program. Will this government act or not?

[Diane St-Jacques, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague said, we are already transferring $600 million to the Province of Quebec to help those who have lost their jobs. In addition, the Department of Human Resources Development is making available to the workers its full range of programs, including employment benefits, support measures, the Youth Employment Strategy and initiatives under a pilot project for older workers.

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am returning to my riding, and I have people waiting for me there. Can the government understand that I will not repeat its insensitive line about not being able to do anything? Will it be a little compassionate and announce specific measures instead of having the people in our region wait until the fall?

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I just mentioned a minute ago that we are making $14 million available immediately. I suggest that the hon. member who made a proposal to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans last night ask people who have projects to contact the Sept-Îles office for assistance. This has not happened yet. We assure them of our full cooperation because, like them, we are committed to finding solutions.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government House leader. I think he is still there in that position.

The leader of the provisional government says he will not implement the first nations governance act, or maybe. We think the former finance minister will do to first nations governance what he did to taxpayers and the GST, so let us find out where the provisional government really stands. Can we have a free vote on the governance act to find out if the former finance minister means what he says?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this is a bit unusual as a question. The House leader of the hon. member's party and her own backbench MP filibustered the bill and now she is asking us whether we will time allocate to undo the filibustering of her colleague and then whether we will allow a free vote on having the time allocation motion, or something like that. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure you were able to follow it. I am still trying to figure it out.

Foreign Affairs

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that was a nice try, but we are really trying to find out where the provisional government is at on this question.

In fact the same provisional government leader has said that he wants star wars. One day later, the defence minister says he does too. Now he says we have 99 days to make up our minds. Clearly the minister is not taking his orders from Parliament because he will not let us debate the issue. Could he tell us who put him up to putting star wars on the fast track and why? Why the 99 days?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, no one put me up to anything. This was a proposal that was forwarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and myself to cabinet. It is being discussed in cabinet. It was discussed in the national caucus. It was discussed yesterday in the caucus committee and it will be discussed on Monday again in the caucus committee and on Tuesday in the cabinet. There is a lot of discussion going on on this side of the House and I would commend this process to the other parties.

The Economy

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada figures are out and in fact there were 14,000 job losses last month. That is directly related to the SARS issue, but is it not pretty clear evidence of what the mishandling of that issue has cost the Canadian economy? In fact it has cost us 14,000 jobs. How can the government simply sit there and ignore those figures?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we are all very proud of the way the Minister of Health handled this issue from the Government of Canada, working closely with provincial and local public health authorities, and we are delighted that we have turned the corner on this difficult health issue.

There is no doubt that this issue was not helpful in terms of employment, but I want the hon. member to know what the government is doing to make sure we return to full strength, with $100 million that has been committed to the effort, including $10 million to promote Toronto and Canada as tourist destinations, and changes to the EI rules. The Business Development Bank will work with customers. We are working with communities to restore economic strengths, travel and tourism. It will not be long--