Debates of June 4th, 2003

Member for LaSalle—Émard

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister says that there were no special deals for the former minister. Let us talk about them.

Other cabinet ministers have blind trusts but that former cabinet minister had a blind management.

When it comes to dumping oil, everybody else gets a fine but that former minister gets a special deal.

Finally, on the issue of foreign tax shelters, that former minister is given a special deal.

How many more special deals can we expect for the former finance minister?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I really am reluctant to get down to the level of reply that is required here, except to set the facts straight.

First, the former minister of finance has complied with all the regulations and all the required procedures by the ethics commissioner. The fact is that he is not involved in the day to day management of that particular company.

However, to set the record straight, that company was fined by the government for an infringement of the law. That is not a special favour.

Softwood Lumber

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while the Minister for International Trade acknowledges that the crisis in the softwood lumber industry is worsening, and his colleague in Natural Resources confirms that the option of loan guarantees in still on the table, the Secretary of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec refuses to act for fear of displeasing the Americans, according to what he said in the House yesterday. Yet the companies are at the end of their rope, and calling for help.

Can the minister confirm that the loan guarantees are legal under international trade rules, and can he explain why he is not making them available to the industry?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday to the hon. member, this was one of the options that was considered when we introduced a $350 million package. It is still on the table.

However it is in our best interests to make sure we find a long term solution to this problem because it is something that has been going on for a long time. That is what we are focusing on.

We hope that in the near future there will be a solution to this but failing that, we have always said that we are committed and that we will do more to support the industry and the workers.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while he is telling us that the loan guarantee option is still on the table, the workers can no longer put anything on their dinner table. That is the problem. He ought to realize straight off that there is a problem.

In the fisheries sector, for instance, the government decided to recognize that the workers affected by the cod and crab moratorium are in exceptional circumstances, and so it brought in exceptional income assistance measures.

What I am asking him, therefore, is whether the same could not be done in the case of softwood lumber, to bring in exceptional income assistance measures—since EI measures are inadequate—so that this might be supplemented with such measures as—

[The Speaker]

The hon. secretary of state.

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

Mr. Speaker, for the softwood lumber problem, we have implemented measures for a total of $350 million. These are concrete measures. There are $110 million for the industry, to develop the communities. These are measures we have implemented in order to help the workers get through this crisis, and we hope to see this resolved as promptly as possible. Those of us on this side of the House are seeking solutions.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State responsible for Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec does not need to look for solutions. They are right there in front of him. They respect NAFTA. They are called loan guarantees. That is what the industry needs, and despite his package of measures, hundreds of jobs are being lost in our regions.

Is there anyone on the government benches who is responsible enough to take the economic situation of our regions into account? They can keep their nice speeches; what we need are real measures.

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we, in fact, acted more than seven months ago. We did not wait until we had the situation now where we have layoffs. We acted way before.

Yesterday I outlined the programs: $81 million to support workers; $110 million to support communities; money for research and development; and money to make sure that we get new markets.

We have responded to support employees across the country. We will continue to do that and, as we have always said, if more needs to be done the government will take action to do more.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I appeal to the ministers and members from Quebec. When they meet people out on the ground, as we do, they must realize the distress that workers and companies are experiencing.

I call on one of them to speak on behalf of their colleagues, to stand up and tell us why they have been silent and why they have not insisted that the Minister of Industry put in place the measures that the regions need and that everyone knows are necessary. Let them stand and answer.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. Minister for International Trade is standing; I believe he wishes to respond and he may do so.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think it would be totally irresponsible to pit one region against another, and to tell us that a minister from Quebec must tour Quebec, when 50% of softwood lumber exports that are being penalized right now come from British Columbia.

Our government is concerned about Quebec's interests. We are concerned about Quebec's workers. We are also concerned about workers in British Columbia.

[An hon. member]

There are problems everywhere.

[The hon. Pierre Pettigrew]

I cannot accept the tone used by the Bloc Quebecois, as though all of a sudden, we should feel more sorry for Quebeckers than other Canadians. That is completely—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, speaking of delays, it took just one day, a single day, for the government to accept a proposal to buy luxury jets, approve the sale, issue a contract and take possession.

Canadian farmers and plant workers are losing their livelihoods waiting for the government to debate and decide if the agriculture sector is indeed hurting.

When will the government offer a compensation package for the cattle industry? Why can the government purchase luxury jets and have that deal go through in a day while farmers have to wait weeks?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member knows that there is a program for compensation for those herds that have to be depopulated. All the farmers will be able to get compensation for that.

As far as a larger review, this is something that is ongoing. The situation is evolving. We need to have a good understanding. In fact, that is why the Minister of Agriculture today is in Alberta, to make sure that he meets with the beef industry, has that view and takes that view into consideration.

This situation is being worked on. The Minister of Agriculture is on top of this issue to have a good understanding of what is needed to resolve some of these issues.

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

Mr. Speaker, those ministers' assurances are not allaying fears across the country. We have to dispel any fears that it is unsafe to eat Canadian beef.

Today, Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg called on Canada to reform its testing standards. He is not the only one troubled by our nearly four month delay in reporting the case. We saw the harm from the delay in the government reaction to SARS. We have seen the harm in the delay of the helicopter program. The minister's feeble response this morning does not cut it.

When is the agriculture minister going to bring about the implementation of measures to expedite testing?

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

First of all, Mr. Speaker, Canada has the best testing system in the world within that framework.

For the hon. member to question that, he should know better. He should not be standing up in the House and questioning a system that is recognized all over the world by the international community. He knows better. He should be speaking about the good work done.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is recognized as the best in the world. It is doing everything possible to make sure there is a full investigation and let the scientists do their study so we can open the borders and give confidence to people around the world that Canadian beef is safe.

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

I have no confidence, Herb. That is the problem.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Relax, Peter.

[The Speaker]

I am quite relaxed. The hon. member for Winnipeg--Transcona has the floor.

Government Policies

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the new Tory leader's secret deal permitted him to vote for star wars yesterday because I cannot imagine Orchard being in favour of that.