House of Commons Hansard #24 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was industry.
David Emerson LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member knows that we try not to divulge commercially private information. He and Canadians should know that over 80% of Technology Partnerships' programs and initiatives go to the small business sector in this country.
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, CSL is hardly a small business.
There is a lot this government does not like to divulge. For example, the Prime Minister's high-flying use of the Challenger jet in his pre-election campaign cost Canadian taxpayers almost $1 million. Between January and May, the Prime Minister used the jet 26 times to make rehashed announcements, including who was running for the Liberal Party in British Columbia, and for his mad as hell tour in the aftermath of the sponsorship scandal.
Well, Canadians are mad as hell paying the bill for luxurious travel for political announcements.
When will the Prime Minister pay back this money to Canadian taxpayers for his pre-election Liberal campaign?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member obviously forgets that as Prime Minister of this country the Prime Minister has an obligation and the responsibility to travel to all parts of this country. The Prime Minister works on behalf of all Canadians, regardless of where they live, which is why he goes to small communities like Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet and other places. Canadians deserve to know that their Prime Minister is concerned about their issues and their--
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, if $1 million on airfare were not enough, it turns out, through access to information, that of the 141 flights taken on the Challenger jet between January and July, over $71,000 was spent on food. That does not include the bar bill. That represents an average of $508 per flight, just less than the monthly grocery bill for a Nova Scotia family of four.
How does the Prime Minister justify spending the equivalent of the cost of a monthly family grocery bill on an air flight? Just what was on that menu?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me again remind the hon. member that the Prime Minister has an obligation to travel across the country to meet Canadians. Let me also underscore that any of the travel taken by the Prime Minister is approved under Treasury Board guidelines.
Instead of criticizing the Prime Minister for meeting Canadians, we should be pleased that the Prime Minister takes his commitment to Canadians regardless of where they live--
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier, QC
Mr. Speaker, not only does the government refuse to apologize for its poor handling of the whole Mirabel issue, but the Liberals are pushing the limits of arrogance by refusing to give back to those who were expropriated a portion of the land that was needlessly taken from them, even though this could be done without impeding the development of the airport.
Under these circumstances, how can the government explain the refusal of the Minister of Transport to let go of the 11,000 acres claimed by the Mirabel people whose land was expropriated?
Jim Karygiannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada is aware of ADM's concerns and challenges in this matter. The department has looked into several initiatives raised by ADM. For example, on October 15 stakeholders with interest in the matter of approved access met to discuss road and rail access planning. All of the partners agreed to collaborate fully in carrying out the projects.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier, QC
Mr. Speaker, It is rather obvious that the parliamentary secretary did not understand the question. I am referring to the claims made by farmers and to the 17,000 acres of land that still belong to the federal government. The people who were expropriated want 11,000 of these acres for farming. This would leave 6,000 acres for the operations of Mirabel and for its future development. Incidentally, this is twice the area occupied by the Dorval airport.
Since the Liberals' expropriation initiative was totally out of proportion and since there is still room for future development, will the government pledge to give back the 11,000 acres of farm land claimed by the people of Mirabel?
Jim Karygiannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, Aéroport de Montréal has informed Transport Canada that it received several proposals toward the airport. ADM has met with each of the bidders to discuss their proposals. Four bidders will present detailed proposals over the next three months and ADM will then evaluate each proposal.
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport has rejected out of hand any possibility of selling back land that was expropriated in Mirabel in excess of what was needed even when the airport was fully operational, which is obviously no longer the case.
How can the Minister of Transport sink even lower in the Mirabel issue, not only by refusing to acknowledge the terrible mistakes made by the Liberal government, but especially by refusing to take steps to remedy to some extent the injustices suffered by those whose land was expropriated in Mirabel?
Jim Karygiannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, there are proposals on the table. Speculation about the possible project is premature. The selected proposals must respect the provisions of the ground lease. Once ADM has selected its proposal, Transport Canada will determine whether the minister's consent is required under the terms of the ground lease.
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary should read over the minister's notes. The minister carries a heavy Liberal legacy, which includes the mess at the Mirabel airport.
Should his current responsibility not be to apologize to the people of Mirabel and of Quebec as a whole for the Liberal government's incompetence in dealing with the Mirabel issue, and agree that the land currently leased be sold back to ensure once and for all its development?
Jim Karygiannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the land right now is with Aéroport de Montréal. There are proposals coming forward. We are looking at those proposals and working with all the stakeholders to make sure there is indeed a proposal that makes sense.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.
The Prime Minister has now admitted that the decision on star wars has already been made, the most important decisions involving that project. His own parliamentary secretary has now said that it is a done deal. When did Canada become a red state?
Will the minister admit that the decision has been made and that it was made according to the values of George Bush, not the values of Canadians?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, that is wonderful political rhetoric, but nothing could be further from the facts.
The fact of the matter is that the Prime Minister has correctly said that we entered into an agreement this summer to preserve Norad. It was only in respect of our role in Norad. There remains the discussion whether we will enter into the ballistic missile system with the United States. We are considering that in the light of the interests of Canada and whether it is appropriate for Canada.
It will be brought to the House for discussion and a vote. We will have a full opportunity to discuss it at that time.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, to think that only 12 months ago 96% of Liberals thought the Prime Minister and his views on star wars were just fine.
Nineteen months ago, the Prime Minister said he supported the missile defence shield. Yesterday, he said that the most important decision had already been made. The truth is that the Prime Minister's mind is made up.
As far as the defence shield is concerned, why does what Bush thinks matter more than what Canadians think?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I think that 95% of Liberals think that the leader of the NDP does not know what he is talking about. That too is the truth.
A decision will obviously be made regarding the missile defence shield. The decision about Canada's participation will be made in the interest of Canada, taking into account the interest of the defence of North America and our American colleagues. However, before we do that, the whole issue will be put before the House and there will be a vote.
Diane Ablonczy Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the hot question for economic asylum seekers is, how can I volunteer for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration?
Just three days before the summer election, the minister stepped in to grant a temporary resident permit to a 25 year old Romanian exotic dancer and campaign volunteer who came to Canada on a temporary work permit.
Why did the minister use her position to help a political supporter jump to the head of the queue?
Hedy Fry LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member well knows, there is a process by which a Minister of Citizenship and Immigration can grant such a temporary visa on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Many members in this House have interceded with the minister in this way on behalf of many of their constituents. It is a process that is done on a case by case basis and it is done on merit. In the spirit of transparency, the minister has asked the ethics counsellor to look into the matter.
Diane Ablonczy Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the minister's most senior political assistant, her chief of staff, has admitted that political direction came directly from the minister. In a memo, he wrote:
--the Minister has authorized a temporary resident permit for a two-year period to allow her to remain in Canada and make an application for permanent resident from within Canada.
The minister knew what she was doing and who she was doing it for.
How can the minister justify political favours to an exotic dancer, a personal supporter, while promising to fix a broken and unfair system?
Hedy Fry LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear, all members on both sides of this House know very well--
Citizenship and ImmigrationOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. Obviously there is a hue and cry for clarity, but we have to be able to hear the clear answer that the parliamentary secretary is about to give and we cannot with all this noise.
The parliamentary secretary has the floor. I remind all hon. members of that fact.