Debates of Sept. 24th, 2003

Taxation

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the problem with the federal government is that it has too much money given its responsibilities. As a result, it is able to announce initiatives that fall within provincial jurisdiction.

In fact, the future prime minister's proposal to municipalities is nothing new. He used the same one in the areas of health care and education. When there is money, Ottawa interferes everywhere without regard for jurisdiction, and when the money is not there, it makes cuts and says that this is not its responsibility.

Is this not the same scenario that the future prime minister is proposing to municipalities, allegedly to resolve their problems?

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

Mr. Speaker, first, it should be noted that the federal and provincial governments have almost identical taxing powers. This is not about fiscal imbalance, it is about the ability to obtain revenue based on almost identical taxing powers.

We have priorities too, such as having a competitive economy and a just society. That is why we are working to build infrastructure and affordable housing.

Technology Partnerships Canada

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in June of this year, when the member for LaSalle--Émard was still the principle owner of a company called Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering, that company received a technology partnerships Canada grant of $4.9 million.

Would the Minister of Industry please explain why he gave a multi-million dollar contract to a privately owned, profitable company, especially when the owner of that company, the shipping magnate from LaSalle--Émard, was still in control of his empire at that time?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, technology partnerships Canada is one of the means by which the Government of Canada invests in innovation in this country. For the most part, the dollars we invest leverage four times that amount from the private sector to advance research and development and create jobs.

The member for LaSalle--Émard has for many years taken the position that he does not involve himself in matters related to shipbuilding in this country and he has always respected the guidelines in that regard.

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the program is one of the ways the government levers things from private companies, I will guarantee that.

We received, through access to information, a note from the office of the ethics counsellor reporting that the Industry Canada official in charge, Mr. Jeff Parker, phoned the ethics counsellor's office on March 18, stating that he was being lobbied by a member of Parliament about this file.

Which MP was lobbying the ministry on March 18 and why did Mr. Parker feel it was necessary to phone the ethics counsellor to report on it, unless there was a perceived or real conflict of interest?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

First of all, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jeff Parker is a public servant with the highest calibre of integrity and confidence.

Second, if the member has a question of the ethics counsellor, he should ask the ethics counsellor.

Labour Market

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during the Ontario leaders' debate, Premier Ernie Eves was criticized because there is no labour market agreement between his province and the federal government. The premier of Ontario reported that the Prime Minister said the agreements were winding down and there would not be any in the future.

Will the government confirm its intention to withdraw from the existing labour market agreements?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. We have good working relationships with the majority of provinces when it comes to labour market agreements.

I continue to work with a forum of labour market ministers to look at how better to improve these agreements for the benefit of all Canadians.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Ontario's premier was clear: he said the Prime Minister would not sign such agreements in the future.

Did the premier lie during the televised debate, or is it true that the Government of Canada intends to withdraw from these agreements?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, he certainly did not lie because next year I will no longer be the Prime Minister; therefore I will no longer be signing any agreements.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic innovation fund of ACOA has released a new list of projects. Leading the list is Techlink International Entertainment Limited. This is a company that makes video lottery terminals for gambling in the gaming industry.

I wonder if the minister responsible for ACOA can explain why a company under criminal investigation for influence peddling is receiving taxpayers' money, and why the government cannot be just a little bit more prudent with the dispensation of taxpayers' dollars?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, Techlink is a company that produces technology available for export and produces jobs in Atlantic Canada.

We get input from an independent advisory body which advises me. That advice provided a sound basis to go forward with this and that is why we approved the contribution.

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what the minister failed to add on to this company's resumé is that it also has strong ties to the Liberal Party through one of the Prime Minister's golfing chums, Mr. Louis Friedman.

In addition, Techlink has been involved in a three year RCMP investigation for influence peddling in Nova Scotia. Now comes the news that Techlink International has received a $2.7 million grant.

Can the Minister of Industry explain why a company, above all others in Nova Scotia, should receive multiple grants from ACOA with its criminal allegation and clear ties to the Liberal Party?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, this is a company that is doing business in Canada. It has applied for assistance. It is reviewed by an independent advisory board, a body that provided advice without any input from us.

Quite frankly, this is a company that is doing business in Atlantic Canada and we are completely within the norm to provide this assistance based on that independent advice.

Agriculture

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during the debate yesterday on the extensive efforts that the government has undertaken to open the American border to Canadian cattle, I heard the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food mention that he had recently announced details of $600 million for agriculture producers.

Can the minister inform the House whether cattle ranchers will be receiving a share of this $600 million? While they are grateful that the border is open to Canadian beef, they will continue to experience financial pain until live cattle can be exported to the United States.

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, certainly they will receive a portion of the $600 million in transition funds as they did last year and as they will this year.

The hon. member knows it is through the work of the government, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, cabinet colleagues, MPs and the industry, that every effort is being made and has been made, and will continue to be made. We will not rest until we have the border completely open into the United States.

With reference to the $600 million, yes, that will flow to all farmers in all provinces, as it did last year, within a very few weeks. For example, last year, it meant $110 million to Ontario farmers and over $180 million to Saskatchewan farmers.

Foreign Affairs

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen, has the Government of Canada asked the United States government why Mr. Arar was deported to Jordan for 12 days and then transferred to Syria? Who transferred this Canadian citizen to Jordan and who moved him to Syria?

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada has raised this at the very highest level of the United States, including Secretary of State Colin Powell.

In addition, we have made it very clear to Syrian authorities that Mr. Arar be brought back to Canada. In the event that they do not do that, then we want him brought forward for trial. We understand that he will be brought forward for trial in the near future. We have met with his lawyer and Canadian officials there. We are making it very clear that we want access to that trial and the ability to monitor it all the way through.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I just simply asked who transferred this Canadian citizen to Jordan? Why was he transferred to Jordan, and then 12 days later transferred to Syria? However, I will move on.

U.S. officials have said that Canadian authorities had indicated that Mr. Arar was not welcome back in Canada. Did Canadian authorities ever question Mr. Arar, or accuse him of any terrorist related activities?

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already told the member, this matter is being discussed at the highest levels. We have been in contact with the top American authorities.

We continue to pursue the matter, both with American and Syrian authorities. Mr. Arar is no longer in Jordan; he is in Syria. We think that is the situation we should be dealing with.

Technology Partnerships Canada

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we have known for some time that the Liberal Party has always benefited from technology partnerships loans. When it gave $87 million to Bombardier, Bombardier dutifully coughed up $411,000 back in political campaign contributions. We did not realize that individual Liberals were benefiting from technology partnerships loans.

Will the Minister of Industry confirm that the company under the ownership and direction of the member for LaSalle--Émard received a $4.9 million technology partnerships loan? More important, did he ever pay it back?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, these are not loans, they are investments which create jobs in this country. Second, they are not made until the professionals at technology partnerships Canada have completed due diligence to ensure that they are good investments that will have returns and will produce further economic activity for Canada. All of those criteria were satisfied in all of these cases.

Canada Elections Act

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government House leader who told us yesterday that proportional representation existed nowhere in the world except for one federation. Actually, this system is in use by 14 federations, including 7 in Europe. The Liberal Party itself used proportional representation to elect its new leader.

If this system is good for the Liberal Party and its members, why would it not be good for the people of Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is the same question as yesterday. The hon. member knows full well that our current system has served Canada extremely well. Not only do we have a federation, but it is the second largest in the world. The hon. member would have us adopt a system by which candidates who receive very few votes would get to sit in the House of Commons instead of those duly elected. That is not how members of Parliament should be selected.

Customs and Revenue Agency

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, two days ago, the Minister of National Revenue told this House that the error made by her agency in sending 49 tax files to the same address was an isolated incident. However, according to information we have obtained, this was not an isolated incident, and more files were sent to the wrong address.

Will the minister confirm whether other files were indeed sent to the wrong address and, if so, did she make a mistake or did she mislead this House?