House of Commons Hansard #114 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was parties.
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is just as well that Alfonso Gagliano is going to the Vatican. He will need all the confession booths he can get his hands on.
These allegations regarding Vincenzo Gagliano, the former minister's son, have resurfaced and demand a separate investigation. Instead of sending Alfonso Gagliano to the Vatican, why not bring him home here to answer some of these allegations and explain how his son can benefit from government contracts?
Aileen Carroll LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we continue to hear comments here today on the possibility that Ambassador Gagliano will be moved to the Vatican. That is media speculation and just that, media speculation.
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Vatican would be completely relieved if they found out he was not going there.
What he should be doing is coming to Ottawa to do his penance, not going to the Vatican. There are all kinds of allegations that have just come out which suggest that his son Vincenzo has benefited through the former minister's department, has picked up contracts for his company. Those are serious allegations. They suggest a conflict of interest. Why is this minister not showing a little more interest and being more proactive about getting to the bottom of that issue?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, from the very first day that I occupied this portfolio I think it is fair to say that I have been proactive in getting to the bottom of these matters. The investigative measures are under way, partly by the Auditor General, partly under the Financial Administration Act, and partly by the RCMP. If the opposition is truly interested in getting to the bottom of this matter, defining the facts and seeing the proper consequences follow, it will allow these procedures to run their course.
Stan Keyes Liberal Hamilton West, ON
Mr. Speaker, a few days ago we learned that Canada's Special Olympics team may not be allowed to travel to Dublin, Ireland to compete in the World Special Olympics this summer because of concerns over SARS. Could the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport inform the House of any new developments that may have occurred to ensure that our proud Special Olympians will travel to Dublin to pursue their dreams?
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that following extensive discussions between Special Olympics Canada and Canadian and Irish government officials, a solution has been found that will enable Team Canada to compete fully at the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Dublin, Ireland, from June 21 to 29. These athletes have trained long and hard and, on behalf of the Government of Canada and Canadians in general, I would like to wish the athletes, coaches and mission staff the best of luck. We know they will do Canada proud.
Diane Ablonczy Canadian Alliance Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, there have been shocking revelations of bribery and corruption at the Immigration and Refugee Board. Two IRB judges have been hand in glove with organized crime to extort thousands from immigrants.
These corrupt judges have close links to former Liberal minister Alfonso Gagliano of contracts scandals notoriety, and the immigration minister refuses to disclose his relationship with these judges, so we have organized crime, a scandal plagued former minister as patron and a current minister who will not come clean. Just what is the government trying to hide?
Denis Coderre LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, like I said in the beginning, and she should know better because she has had legal training and she knows exactly how it works--
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
We are not sure.
We should know better: that when there is some allegation based on police operations we have to let the RCMP do its job and let justice follow its course, as simple as that.
Diane Ablonczy Canadian Alliance Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Speaking of the RCMP, Mr. Speaker, these corrupt IRB judges cannot be charged with bribery unless the justice minister consents. Quebec prosecutors say they are not going to ask for that consent. They want to lay only lesser charges. The RCMP wants the minister to step forward and get on with bribery charges. Why is this minister dragging his feet when our immigration system is being given a black eye by these corrupt judges?
Martin Cauchon LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
First of all, Mr. Speaker, she knows very well that we are talking actually about an RCMP investigation and we cannot comment, of course. We are talking basically about allegations. Having said that, on a more general note we are talking basically about criminal offences and criminal offences fall under the responsibility of the provincial attorneys. It is part of their jurisdiction. Let them do their work.
Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC
Mr. Speaker, although there will be a reception tonight to celebrate the new Physical Activity and Sport Act, Radio-Canada is preparing to pull the plug on the only French-language sports report, depriving not only francophones but also amateur athletes of an essential forum for promotion and increased visibility.
How can this government reconcile, on the one hand, adopting measures to promote participation and excellence in sports with the fact that, on the other, Radio-Canada is cutting the means for promotion and broadcasting?
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada knows that Radio-Canada's sports reports are very important for sports fans in Quebec.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage committed last week to meeting with Radio-Canada employees to see if something could be done. We support the work of Sport Quebec, as well as the requests made, because we know that people are concerned about this. The minister indicated that she was preparing to meet with the stakeholders.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, the impact of the U.S. ban on Canadian beef does not stop with the west. Quebec's meat producers are also affected, as are the meat-packing industry workers. A hundred or so of them have lost their jobs at the Levinoff plant in Montreal and another twenty-five at the Colbex abattoir in Drummondville, not to mention the hundreds of others whose jobs are threatened as well.
Having helped the workers in Toronto affected by SARS, does the Minister of Human Resources Development plan to make available the same assistance to the Quebec workers who are victims of the beef crisis?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate for the hon. member that the government will treat Canadians fairly no matter where they live. When it comes specifically to the Employment Insurance Act and its provisions, I would like to say to the hon. member that the government will be there, encouraging the use of work sharing and making sure that claims are processed as quickly as possible. We understand and appreciate the significant impact that this is having on Canadians across the country.
Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, in answer to our question on Friday about the plight of the independent lumber remanufacturers, the Minister for International Trade stated “we continue to demand their exemption from the department of commerce actions”.
This is hard to believe because they did not demand anything in the May 22 offer. There was not one word, not one mention, not one hint about the problems of the remanufacturers.
Exactly how and when will the minister keep Friday's promise to demand an exemption for the remanufacturers?
Murray Calder LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, we will do as we have been doing all the way along: getting the best deal for the softwood lumber industry for all Canadians, including the Maritimes.
The remanufacturers situation is something that we are negotiating right now with the U.S. We plan to find out what it wants and will bring that to the industry.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is exactly 10 years since the Prime Minister wrote the Lubicon Cree First Nation and promised that as soon as he formed government he would settle their legitimate and longstanding grievances. Ten years have passed, the world is watching and the Lubicon are still waiting.
Will the Prime Minister rise today and tell us that before he leaves office he will ensure that satisfaction is given to the legitimate, historic injustices that face the Lubicon Cree?
Bob Nault LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, if people had been following the Lubicon file they would know that over the last year we have entered into the final stages of negotiation. We are at the point where the provincial government, the Canadian government and the Lubicon people are together at the negotiating table with the objective of completing this longstanding grievance of the Lubicon.
It is our view that we are within a matter of issues and days away from a final agreement. I hope, as the member and the rest of the members of Parliament would wish, that this will be completed some time very soon.
Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, it took the Prime Minister just days to decide that the former minister of public works was in trouble and should be shipped off to Denmark for his protection, and perhaps the protection of the government, and yet the RCMP investigation has been going on for three years.
Does the government have any idea why this is taking so long? Is this a case of delay, delay, delay and deny, deny, deny?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, when matters come within the purview of the RCMP, it is entirely the judgment and discretion of the RCMP that applies and it should never be the intervention of politicians.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wish to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Carlos Manuel Tavares DaSilva, Minister for the Economy of the Portuguese Republic.
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I wish to table a notice of ways and means motion involving amendments to the Income Tax Act (natural resources), including explanatory notes. I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.