House of Commons Hansard #30 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister talked with President Bush in Chile about trade disputes, particularly softwood lumber, did he obtain any assurance that the U.S. government would not again appeal the NAFTA ruling, a final ruling, and would immediately restore free trade in softwood lumber?
Mark Eyking LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade (Emerging Markets)
Mr. Speaker, 200,000 people rely on the softwood lumber industry. Sales are worth $11 billion. We are aware that a bill has been put forward. It is against U.S. trade law and the Bush administration is also against it. We will continue to push hard to get every dollar of the $3 billion that was collected wrongfully from our producers.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, if I understand the parliamentary secretary's answer, the Prime Minister has not succeeded in getting a promise as simple as abiding by a final ruling from the NAFTA tribunal.
When the American president comes to visit on November 30, how does the parliamentary secretary plan to push for a resolution of the trade disputes that we have with the Americans, not only softwood lumber, but beef and pork as well?
International TradeOral Question Period
November 23rd, 2004 / 2:50 p.m.
Sydney—Victoria Nova Scotia
Liberal
Mark Eyking LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade (Emerging Markets)
Mr. Speaker, we are very proud that the President is coming to Canada. He made good signs on the beef issue and we look forward to better signs on softwood lumber. We will welcome the President, and look forward to dialogue.
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail passengers are fed up with riding in lemons. Like the submarines, these were one of Jean Pelletier's bargains that has gone seriously wrong. Yet the adventure started off well, with visits to chateaux among pleasant company, side trips to Switzerland and Italy to check if the trains were running on time.
When will the Minister of Transport stop his speculation on CP property and concentrate on VIA Rail trains?
Jean Lapierre LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am in fact concentrating on the future of VIA Rail, which is why, within the next few weeks, we will be appointing a chairman of the board and a CEO. A business plan will then be forthcoming, and we will be able to share it with our colleagues.
The future of VIA Rail is important to us, of course. That is why we are in the process of seeking out the best person to direct this major company.
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadian MPs and other international monitors are reporting widespread and disturbing abuse that took place in the Ukrainian electoral process. Yesterday I asked sincerely, but to no avail, if the Prime Minister had joined other leaders in expressing concern to the Ukrainian administration that disturbing instability will result in that particular area if democracy is suffocating.
I will ask my question again. Has the Prime Minister himself actually expressed his concern on behalf of the democratic process in the Ukraine, and if he has not, when will he do that?
Dan McTeague LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the House that the Prime Minister has done just that. I also want to assure every member in the House of Commons, as we have delegations from the House there now, that we share the grave concerns about the voting procedure and, of course, the way in which it was counted.
We cannot ignore the plight of Ukrainians today and this country takes this unanimously in a way that is very serious.
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday a coalition of approximately 30 animal use industries wrote the justice minister and asked him to reintroduce former Bill C-22 to improve animal cruelty provisions within the Criminal Code. I understand that animal welfare groups and animal industry groups are now united in wanting to see this bill reintroduced and passed as soon as possible.
Will the Minister of Justice reintroduce the bill in the House without material alterations, other than to address traditional aboriginal hunting and fishing practices, at the earliest possible opportunity?
Irwin Cotler LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill. It had the support of animal industry groups, animal welfare groups and all stakeholders when it died on the order paper. It is a priority for the government. We intend to reintroduce the bill as soon as reasonably possible without substantial changes, except for those that relate to hunting and other practices of the aboriginal people.
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has once again called the government onto the carpet for ripping off the EI fund. The government overcharge last year alone was $42 billion, bringing the total to $46 billion.
Is the minister not just a little ashamed that “...the government has not observed the intent of the Employment Insurance Act?”
John McCallum LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member ought to know that the EI account has been consolidated with the books of Canada since 1986 on the advice of the auditor general at the time. This means that the annual premium revenue and program costs in a given year directly affect the government's bottom line in that year.
The hon. member should also know that the government has reduced the EI premium rate in every year since 1994 from a high of $3.07 to $1.98 in 2004.
Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister said that the territories were one stage below the provinces, and he mused that he had plans to turn the territories into provinces.
This is another example of the Prime Minister's lack of long term vision and of the disregard the government has shown to Premier Handley and Premier Okalik. They have been waiting for over a year for a plan from the federal government on having a share in their resource revenues and having power over their economic futures.
Is the finance minister waiting for the territories to become provinces before he treats them seriously?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, that is an amazing assertion for the hon. member to make. The Prime Minister has met with the premiers of the three territories on a number of occasions. We are very responsive to their concerns around devolution and are working with them closely in relation to the whole devolution process.
In addition to that, it was this Prime Minister who put in place the northern strategy, and my colleague, the minister responsible for Indian affairs, along with my colleague, the minister responsible for northern development, are working with their territorial--
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, while UNESCO is drafting a convention on cultural diversity, the WTO is working on a draft agreement on the liberalization of services, which could potentially include culture. The Department of Canadian Heritage has presented Canada's position and this position is quite vague, to say the least.
Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage explain why Canada's position is still so nebulous when discussions on this matter are so advanced at both UNESCO and the WTO?
Liza Frulla LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I must reject my hon. colleague's premise. Our position and our response to the draft agreement is that we want a convention that is legally applicable, protects culture and ensures that each country can have a policy on culture and regulations to protect their culture. That is the objective.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, today a group of advocates from the Best Medicines Coalition, representing AIDS patients, pharmacists, seniors and others, are here in Ottawa to once again impress upon the Minister of Health to address the issue of Internet pharmacies.
Now that the minister has consulted with his provincial counterparts, what concrete steps is he prepared to announce to the House in this regard?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this is a serious issue of the adequate supply and safety of drugs for Canadians and we are continuing to monitor the issue. We believe there are no shortages at this time. However we are looking at all options to deal with the issue.
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, media reports note that Citizenship and Immigration Canada's exotic dancer program has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Romanian women who apply to work temporarily in this field in Canada.
In the past, the department has stepped up enforcement measures with regard to this particular program due to the concerns about the exploitation of the workers involved.
Could the minister outline what measures are being taken to ensure that workers admitted under this program are not part of the global trafficking of women, that their rights as workers are being respected and that they are not subject to exploitation while in Canada?
Judy Sgro LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that any time we talk about exploitation of women or trafficking in women, these are things we take very seriously. We make sure that all of us at this end of the House are doing our jobs and moving forward in making sure that we are protecting the women in this country.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wish to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in our gallery of Mr. Max Binder, President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Mr. Flemming Hansen, Minister for Transport for the Kingdom of Denmark.