Debates of Nov. 29th, 2004

Ukraine

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, while world opinion has been unanimous in calling for free and fair elections in Ukraine, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who made campaign-style appearances with Prime Minister Yanukovych only days before the Ukrainian election, has said that he considers the flawed results favouring his candidate to be final.

Will the government call in the Russian ambassador for consultations and urge Russia not to interfere in Ukraine's democratic process?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate the Canadian position, which has been quite clear. We have had many conversations with the European Union, with Javier Solana who is in Kiev right now. I have had conversations with Joschka Fischer, the German foreign minister. We have rejected the results of this election. I have now asked my officials at the embassy in Kiev to attend the supreme court proceedings in that country.

We commend the Ukrainian people for maintaining their protest peacefully. We hope that there will be a resolution in that direction and that Russia will respect that process as well.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government has invested over $10 million in governance projects providing Russian decision makers with Canadian expertise and experience. I hope the government will ensure that all advice given focuses on encouraging Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Canada should be using its aid dollars to support the democratic process in Ukraine.

Will the ministers of foreign affairs and CIDA commit to a lead role for Canada to offer aid, resources and observers necessary for Ukraine to hold a free and fair repeat election?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is prepared to do whatever it can, whenever it can to ensure that elections in Ukraine are fair, open and transparent. One cannot have democracy unless there are fair and open elections.

Let me also state that this election should not be about the east, or the west, or the north, or the south. It should be about the democratic right of the people of Ukraine. There must be no interference by any outside government, including Russia.

La Francophonie

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for la Francophonie.

The Francophone Summit that just concluded in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, saw the international Francophonie make a resolutely political shift.

Could the minister tell this House how this political shift will facilitate the implementation of efficient solutions to the problems faced in the Ivory Coast, Haiti and the Congo, among others?

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

Mr. Speaker, at the Francophone summit, more than 60 countries approved the principle of the responsibility to protect, a principle that the Prime Minister of Canada is putting forward at the UN, to transform it and make it more humanistic.

At this summit, a resolution was passed concerning the Ivory Coast, to confirm the UN resolution, particularly with respect to the arms embargo. We know how important this issue is in the Ivory Coast.

In Haiti, we have approved a text providing for an agreement between the European Union, the Organization of the Francophonie and Canada to resolve the problems—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Perth—Wellington.

Housing

[Gary Schellenberger, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a real need for more affordable housing in Perth--Wellington. Unfortunately, organizations in my riding did not benefit from the Canada-Ontario affordable housing program because the funding formula was too restrictive and they could not build units with the funding allotment and the strings attached.

Why has the government failed to revise the funding formula so communities in my riding could benefit from the federal-provincial program to build much needed affordable housing?

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Housing]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his letter with regard to his constituents.

Let me just indicate to the member that this government is serious in terms of providing affordable housing for people in Ontario and throughout the country, as well as for our seniors. In fact I am happy to report, based on the question the hon. member just asked, that I and my counterparts are meeting today and tomorrow for the purposes of making sure that the $400 million that has been earmarked for Ontario can start to roll, with the flexibilities that the province and the federal government are working on. I hope to be able to deliver on those promises which this government has committed to for affordable housing.

Port of Prince Rupert

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last week mayors from British Columbia and Ontario came to Ottawa to demonstrate their support for new development plans at the port of Prince Rupert.

Expansion of the port and its container facilities, when combined with improvements to the rail system that services it, would ensure that critical trade opportunities are not lost due to transportation backlogs and border delays.

Conservative MPs recognize the tremendous economic potential of a new and improved port of Prince Rupert, but time is short. Is the Minister of Transport prepared to come on board with this proposal?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I was in Prince Rupert two weeks ago. I was very impressed by the proposal and the number of partners that came to the table ready to contribute. That is why I had a long discussion with my B.C. colleagues at caucus. Everybody is in support of this project. We just have to find the ways and means to support it financially.

Obviously it is a great project. It has the greatest potential because of the new trade with China. We are very interested in that project.

Housing

[Christian Simard, Bloc, Beauport, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal-provincial conference of housing ministers opens today in Gatineau. As we know, CMHC has a surplus of $2.4 billion. With that surplus, the government could respond positively to requests from various groups to invest $2 billion per year in the construction of social and affordable housing.

Does the minister responsible for housing intend to use this meeting to take a firm position on the use of the CMHC surplus to restart social housing construction?

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Housing]

Mr. Speaker, I indeed look forward to meeting with my counterparts over the next two days to talk about flexible rules, innovative and creative ideas as to how we would, in partnership with the communities and stakeholders, be able to deliver on the affordable housing.

This government has committed over $1 billion so far in terms of affordable housing. We are determined to look at all creative solutions, including looking at CMHC's retained earnings, as a way and means of being able to provide further social and affordable housing.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Last week Fishery Products International announced the closure of its groundfish processing plant at Harbour Breton. The plant employs some 350 people.

Fishery Products International is allocated fish resources by the minister, a common property resource owned by the people of Canada. The future of Harbour Breton is dependent upon fish quota allocations. The minister has full authority over fish quota allocations. Would the minister consider allocating to the community the quota traditionally processed at the Harbour Breton facility?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, when I met with my hon. colleague last week he raised that issue with me. I recognize the importance of this issue to him and the people of Harbour Breton. I will continue to work with him on this important issue.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Carolyn Parrish, Independent, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, all members of Parliament have constituents suffering under a wide variety of devastating humanitarian circumstances that require minister's permits. I currently have at least a dozen heart-wrenching cases that have been refused by the minister.

For transparency and clarification, will the minister agree to lay on the table in the next sitting day the total number of permits issued during the last 12 months, the distribution of those permits over 308 ridings and the number of permits granted through immigration lawyers and consultants who charge fees for these services?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is asking for a great deal of information, some of which may not actually be in keeping with the Privacy Act.

I will have to take that back to the department and to the minister to look at the issue.

Foreign Affairs

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, but today stateless Palestinian refugee claimants are facing deportation from Canada. Their deportations will ultimately lead to their return to poverty, violence and severely limited human rights in refugee camps where many have lived their entire lives before escaping to Canada.

Could the Prime Minister assure us that Canada will live up to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and, given his personal commitment to the protection of Palestinians, will he ensure that stateless Palestinian refugees are not deported from Canada?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, this is a day that we have been honouring at the United Nations for 27 years. Our solidarity with the Palestinian people is very important.

Canada will continue to promote the security and safety of the Palestinian refugees and to find a solution in the Middle East. Members can count on our country to put forward its very best efforts at this time.

I am very pleased that the member has given me the opportunity to celebrate this 27th anniversary of solidarity with the Palestinian people

Army Cadets

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for years now, the town of Cap-Chat has been the site of the cadet summer training centre. There are persistent rumours that the Minister of National Defence is planning to close this camp and transfer it to the Valcartier base, to save money.

Can the Minister of National Defence confirm or deny this rumour that he intends to combine the Cap-Chat cadet camp with that of Valcartier and thus terminate 70 jobs and an exceptional 32 year history?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, decisions about cadet matters are made by the military authorities in each province. I know that the military authorities in Quebec are looking at the best way to guarantee Quebec cadets access to these services. We are absolutely committed to the cadet program. I am certain that our military leadership will examine this issue and find a solution that guarantees the young men and women of Quebec access to a good training system for cadets, in Quebec.

[The Speaker]

I would like to point out that we had three additional questions and answers today.

It can be attributed to the relative quiet in the Chamber for which I thank all hon. members.

Certificates of Nomination

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 110(2), I am tabling a certificate of nomination with respect to Telefilm Canada. This certificate stands referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Pursuant to Standing Order 110(2), I am tabling a certificate of nomination with respect to Canada Lands Company Limited. This certificate stands referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Government Response to Petitions

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.

Food and Drugs Act

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Minister of Health]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-28, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)