Debates of Nov. 15th, 2004

Electoral Reform

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, since taking office this government has demonstrated its commitment to democratic renewal. We have done so again in the Speech from the Throne. However, before we engage in any solutions we must be sure we identify the problems, and that is the process we are engaged in. I have consulted widely with the members of the opposition and with interested parties, and in due course we will come forward with our positions and our suggestions.

[Ed Broadbent, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, due course is normally the kiss of doom. I hope that is not the case.

Considering that Australia has changed, New Zealand has changed, Scotland has changed, and Wales has changed, will he commit the government to an action plan so that we in this Parliament can make change before the next election?

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that I suspect we will end up debating is indeed when the next election might be. Not knowing that, I cannot possibly commit to something like that. The government is serious in examining democratic renewal in our institutions, but before we engage in choosing solutions we have to be certain we have identified the problems and what is the root cause of those problems. Before we go off reinventing Parliament, which has stood us in good faith and in good strength, we should be very careful about how we engage in that exercise. We will be careful and we will move forward.

Economic Development

[Brian Fitzpatrick, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in 2001 the federal government committed $80 million to a paper mill at Chandler, Quebec. In making this commitment, the government was in receipt of a consultant's report that painted a dismal picture for this type of plant. This project is now into creditor protection and is the subject matter of a major public inquiry in Quebec.

Why did this Liberal federal government decide to sink millions of dollars into a project that was doomed from the very beginning?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada gets involved in particular in projects where the risks are such that the industry and the private sector do not necessarily want to get involved. It is our mission to support private enterprises and those that will create jobs.

In such cases, if we do not take any risks, we can be sure of one thing: the projects will go nowhere. We have a duty to take risks and, therefore, we do so.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during the summer of 2001, in the Gaspésia affair, the experts hired by the minister warned him with alarm. The viability of the project depended on a very low dollar. The demand for that type of paper would be flattening out for quite a while. The process selected represented incalculable technological risks.

Does the minister recognize he has a responsibility to those unsecured creditors who are going to lose tens of millions of dollars because they did not have access to crucial information?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, on an issue like this one, we do not act alone. We take coordinated and consistent action with a number of stakeholders: the Government of Quebec, the private sector, and so on.

At the end of the day, since the project did not pan out for reasons that the inquiry is or will be revealing, we will know what went wrong. Also, of course, concerning a recovery plan, we will consider and analyze any positive proposals that come our way.

For the time being, however, I find it pretty twisted to be so adamant about wanting to blame anyone for wanting to help the people in the Gaspé.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary North Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is a government of empty platitudes and promises when it comes to our country's aboriginal peoples. Three years ago, the Liberals established a program to compensate victims of residential school abuse, but as it turns out, 80% of the $80 million which has been spent has gone to Liberal waste and mismanagement.

Canadians have now learned that for every $5 budgeted and spent on victims of residential school abuse, only $1 reaches those citizens. I call upon the minister to explain this disgraceful--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, there is no mismanagement involved here. We in fact have--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

We will have some order. The Deputy Prime Minister has the floor and the member for Calgary Centre-North will want to hear the reply because he has a supplementary to ask.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have put in place a process of ADR, which we hope will avoid some of the problems and emotions surrounding litigation before the courts. This ADR process began last year. We are now processing more cases more quickly than ever before. If the hon. member is suggesting that there were some set-up costs in terms of preparing for the ADR process--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Centre-North.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary North Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal legacy is starting to become apparent: promise a lot and deliver very little.

This performance report completed by the minister's department does not talk about operational costs. It talks about the program being fully operational and operated in the most efficient manner possible. It is bizarre that the minister thinks that this is a success. I ask the minister to look into the eyes of the victims of residential school abuse and tell them she is satisfied that 80% of their compensation is going toward bureaucracy.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, that is simply untrue. I have indicated, in response to the member's first question, that we have an ADR process. We have now processed, I believe, over 2,000 claims. We are processing more claims all the time.

If the hon. member is suggesting that he is opposed to ADR and the work of Mr. Hughes and others in setting up that process and that we should drag every one of these victims through the courts, then let me reassure the hon. member that everybody on this side of the House disagrees.

Cultural Diversity

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, UNESCO member countries had until today to state their position concerning a draft convention on cultural diversity. However, the federal government has not yet made public its decision on this project.

Since the deadline is today, has the Canadian government stated its position to UNESCO and, if so, what is that position?

[Liza Frulla, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, the position of the Government of Canada should be known in the very near future, that is today or tomorrow.

Indeed, we will state our position to UNESCO officials. This is a first draft. We are also working with the Coalition for Cultural Diversity to ensure that our position reflects that of Canada, of the coalition and of all the provinces.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, close to $1.5 million was taken from the francophone envelope of the Canadian television fund and spent on animation series that did not use francophone writers or actors.

Will the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who just promoted cultural diversity, ensure that this diversion of funds is stopped internally and that the money earmarked for French language production is given back?

[Liza Frulla, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian television fund is a partnership between the public and private sectors. If there have been administrative problems, we will certainly contact officials to find out what is going on.

National Defence

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the decision to allow military housing to deteriorate is not the fault of the current renters. The Canadian Forces Housing Agency says it is broke and cannot afford to address all the health and safety concerns. Why is the government making the rank and file of the military pay for cuts to the defence budget with huge rent increases?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, that is entirely inaccurate. We know very well that many people in our forces choose to live on bases. We have spent considerable money on improving the housing on the bases. We will continue to spend money to improve the housing on the bases. Our priority is the well-being of our armed forces who live on bases, but we have to have a balance between what they pay on the bases and what the immediate concerns in the community are. I am working with the President of the Treasury Board to ensure that this relationship is a fair one to our armed forces.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government transferred rundown base housing to a new agency to avoid the cost of necessary repairs.

Instead of underfunding the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, will the government complete the necessary capital repairs that should have been done before the families are hit with any further huge rent increases?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have spent considerable funds, some $400 million over the past few years, on housing on the bases, and we are committed to spending $120 million more in the next three years to renovate, improve and maintain military housing. Nothing is perfect on the bases, but we are working with our armed forces to make sure that the living conditions are correct.

As I said, I am working with the President of the Treasury Board to make sure that rents on the bases are fair in light of the conditions of the housing in which the members live.

Health

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Health regarding an issue that was raised earlier, namely, that of Internet pharmacies, but contrary to what was asked, I want to compliment the minister for finally wanting to address this issue. More specifically, what I want to ask him is what specific action he is willing to take, together with his provincial counterparts, to curb prescription drug sales by Internet.