Debates of Dec. 9th, 2004

Taxation

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, due to a glitch in the tax law, former JDS employees owe hundreds of thousands of dollars on money they never earned. They have been ignored by the government for over three years. The Prime Minister told these people to their faces that his government was going to help. Two months ago the Minister of Finance said he could help. Last month the revenue minister said a solution was doable. Nothing happened. Nothing ever happens.

Why does the Prime Minister break his promises? Will he stand up today, keep his word and help these people?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member understands that the law prevents me from commenting on any specific case. However, as has been said before, officials from my department and the Department of Finance are seized of this issue and are working on it at this time.

Marriage

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in Saskatchewan people licensed as marriage commissioners have been told that they have to perform same sex marriages or turn in their commissioner licences. This is clearly an infringement of their religious and conscience rights protected by the charter. All these commissioners want is to be able to provide the same services that they have faithfully provided for these many years.

Will the federal government correct this discrimination to ensure that the appointment of any commissioner, who objects to performing same sex marriages on the basis of religious beliefs and conscience, will not be terminated?

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the judgment is clear that no official should be compelled to perform a same sex marriage if it is contrary to religion or conscience. We will take this up at the federal-provincial-territorial conference in order to ensure that provincial legislation is in line with the federal and provincial commitments under the charter.

Millennium Fund

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we recently learned that the millennium fund, a $150 million fund, was administered like the sponsorship program. The money was supposed to curry Quebec's favour, the correspondence was kept secret, the program was run by Alfonso Gagliano, and some of the funded projects were dubious, to say the least.

In light of the sponsorship scandal, has the Prime Minister asked for a full internal audit of the program, just to be on the safe side, in order to make sure the abuses of the sponsorship program were not repeated?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the program was established to benefit Canadians and Canadian organizations across Canada. The millennium partnership program was not in fact managed by the Department of Public Works and Government Services. It was managed by the Millennium Bureau of Canada. It was established to oversee the operations of what was a temporary program because it was, of course, time sensitive based on the millennium. The program does not exist any more. It has been terminated.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would refer him to statements made by Ms. Bouvier last Thursday.

Will the Prime Minister, who, the day after the Auditor General's report was released, expressed public outrage at the administration of the sponsorships, admit that anyone the least bit prudent would have ordered a full investigation into this whole matter?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the millennium program did not have any connection to the sponsorship program. The evidence he is describing was actually raised at the public accounts committee. I would urge him to let the public accounts committee do its work. We are looking to the public accounts committee moving forward and reporting at some point on the millennium program. Quite clearly, the last millennium is over and, as such, so is the program.

Firearms Program

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in my hometown a 22-year-old woman was selling crystal meth. She was attacked by a sword-wielding 17-year-old high on this addictive drug. Two lives were ruined.

When the minister is voting on the additional $80 million for the firearms registry tonight, he should consider that the money would add one additional police officer to every one of the 308 constituencies for five years. This would go a long way to combat illegal drugs.

How does the government justify wasting money on a gun registry, when the money is needed for the front line crime fighters?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, our gun control program is an important part of public safety. In relation to the hon. member's question, we have a national drug--

[Some hon. members]

Oh. oh!

[The Speaker]

Order, please. It is impossible to hear the Deputy Prime Minister give her answer. I know she doubts it when I suggest that members want to hear the answer, but we have to try to get order somehow. I would urge hon. members opposite her to remain a little more quiet, so we can all hear her answer. Some members may want to hear it.

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have a new national drug strategy which has a number of different components. Clearly, we need an education component, a prevention component, and an enforcement component.

I have talked to law enforcement officials across the country about the challenge of crystal meth. In fact, the RCMP is working with local police forces across the country in an integrated way to see what we can do to prevent--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for St. John's South—Mount Pearl.

Social Development Canada

[Loyola Hearn, Conservative, St. John's South, NL]

Mr. Speaker, all of us here have the opportunity to do our Christmas shopping whenever we want. However, those who receive old age security and Canada pension benefits must wait until the cheques come, usually December 22. This forces them out into all kinds of weather in the midst of huge crowds.

Will the minister responsible be a Santa this year and not a Scrooge, and get the cheques out a few days earlier?

[Tony Ianno, Liberal, Minister of State (Families and Caregivers)]

Mr. Speaker, that is the first I am aware of it. We will certainly check with the department to see what can be done on that basis.

The Environment

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment will be in Buenos Aires next week to take part in the Conference of the Parties, COP 10, on climate change, of which the Kyoto protocol is the first step.

I want to ask, what is the minister's objective for this meeting?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the objective is to ensure that Canada can fully play its unique role, because it can play an essential role in helping the world reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

First, Canada is a northern country affected by the problem. Canada is a partner in Kyoto. Canada's economy depends heavily on energy, like those of the United States and Australia, countries that have not signed on to Kyoto. Canada enjoys excellent relations with emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico. Finally, Canada has extensive technological expertise.

Canada is a part of the problem, but it will be part of the solution.

Industry

[Rob Anders, Conservative, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government of China is trying to buy Canada's largest mining company and has now also expressed interest in Alberta's oil sands. It would be state ownership of Canada's natural resources. It sounds like the national energy program all over again, except this time by a totalitarian regime with an appalling human rights record.

Government ownership was a disaster for western Canada that destroyed businesses and families, and ended up costing Albertans $60 billion. Why is the government supporting NEP 2?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is completely hypothetical. We have no transaction in front of us whereby the government of China is seeking to acquire any company. Until we do, the question is hypothetical. Our human rights record is second to none in the world. I do not know why the hon. member would make such an insinuation.

Natural Resources

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last January the Minister of Natural Resources promised a quick answer on federal funding for the cleanup of abandoned uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. It has been almost a year. We are still waiting for an answer.

However, in the meantime over four million tonnes of radioactive material is being leaked into Saskatchewan lakes and streams. This is becoming an environmental disaster and people's lives are at risk.

Will the government commit today to the cleanup of these abandoned mines?

[R. John Efford, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just made a statement that is not correct, that I promised a quick answer. I promised the minister from Saskatchewan an accurate answer. I did not place a timeline on it. We have had discussions with the government of Saskatchewan. We are very concerned about what is happening. There will be an answer coming soon.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the day before yesterday, a group of mayors were in Ottawa to denounce the closure of nine RCMP detachments. They said they were pleased with what they perceived as virtual unanimity at the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Just this morning, it became obvious that no agreement had been reached for the services provided until now by the RCMP to be taken over by the SQ or other police forces. Furthermore, the mayor of Rivière-du-Loup was quick to express his displeasure at the remarks of the Minister of Public Safety yesterday during question period.

How can the minister be so insensitive to the mayors, who are denouncing a decision that will be of no benefit to anyone except organized crime and will leave our borders practically unmonitored?

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

Mr. Speaker, while I would not want to comment upon what happens in committee, I believe the commissioner of the RCMP appeared before the committee. He made a very compelling case, as he should because this is an operational matter, explaining why the redeployment of officers in the province in Quebec, and in particular the region of the eastern townships, will actually lead to heightened public safety.

In fact, the Sûreté du Québec was consulted in relation to this redeployment. Let me reassure the hon. member that the redeployment of these officers will actually heighten the level of safety and security for the people of Quebec.

Infrastructure

[Wajid Khan, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities.

The gridlock between Mississauga and Toronto is horrendous. It costs businesses billions of dollars. It is creating deadly air pollution and affecting the quality of people's lives. This problem must be addressed. The way to address the problem is a bus rapid transit link between Kipling and Square One.

The people in the Mississauga and Toronto corridor can wait no longer. I understand that the municipal and provincial governments are ready. Will the minister commit to funding the BRT project from the strategic infrastructure--