House of Commons Hansard #25 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was products.
John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government continues to add to the democratic deficit. Due to objections from China, democratic Taiwan has been denied World Health Organization status.
Last spring Parliament passed an opposition motion that called for Canada to support the admission of Taiwan as an observer at the World Health Organization.
Why is the government refusing to support Taiwan at the World Health Organization?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, because we have discussed this many times before, participation in the World Health Organization requires the support of all members of the World Health Organization.
We have told the Taiwanese government, and many others have done, and offered complete help for World Health Organization issues through other means. We inform and participate with the government of Taiwan. We recognize their legitimate interest in these issues. We wish to work with them, but we cannot control completely ourselves what happens in other international organizations.
John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC
Mr. Speaker, this is the same tired anti-Taiwan mantra that the minister used nine months ago in the House and failed to convince his own caucus members who supported the opposition motion to support Taiwan's application for observer status.
The democratic deficit continues. How can the government justify ignoring the expressly stated will of Parliament?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, sometimes the expressed will of politicians runs up against some hard facts which they cannot change. This happens to be one of them.
In this case we cannot change the WHO by ourselves. To suggest that we are anti-Taiwan is completely erroneous. The fact of the matter is the House, the members of the House, all of us wish to work with the Taiwanese government and the Taiwanese people to ensure that they get the best health organization help they can.
We are doing that, and we are working through the international channels that we can. We support their ability and their wishes to have good health organization information. We will continue to do that.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
It has now been one year since our country was struck by mad cow disease. One of my constituents recently told me that he had sent 13 cows to the abattoir and received $882 for them, instead of the $10,000 he would have got a year ago, and, in one very tragic instance, a cheque of $2.01 for 2 animals.
What is the government prepared to do to help farmers in my riding and elsewhere?
Mark Eyking LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell for asking that important question. Being a big promoter of the dairy industry in the House, he knows the effect BSE has had on farms and farm families.
We are taking many approaches. One is to get the border open. The other one is to roll out financial programs. One of those financial programs is the cull cow program, a $120 million program. We also recently removed the slaughter requirement from that program to get more money to producers and in their hands more quickly.
Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, there is a growing consensus of unfairness in how the federal government deals with the provinces in relation to resource development.
The Minister of Natural Resources has alluded to the fact that government will bring the Atlantic accord in line with the accord's fundamental commitment to give prime benefits to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Is this the policy of government and, if so, will the Deputy Prime Minister stand and confirm this will be done before the election call?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, in a conversation some months ago with the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Prime Minister indicated that these were matters that needed to be carefully examined and re-examined.
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador can rest assured that this is going to be done.
Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, this uncertainty is no way to grow an economy. If we were dealing with the old German currency, we would have a flat mark.
When will the Minister of Natural Resources live up to his commitments? When will he stop ducking the issues and when will he put his money where his mouth is?
Natural ResourcesOral Question Period
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
R. John Efford LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, in my almost 20 years in politics, I have never ducked any issue and the hon. member opposite knows that very well.
As the Minister of Finance just answered, we have taken it under consideration. We have had discussions with the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and we are not to be put on any timetable by the member opposite.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Quebec and New Brunswick governments have signed an agreement to develop a joint strategy and thereby avoid a repetition of last year's crisis in the crab fishery. That crisis affected 3,000 workers in Canada, including 1,000 in the Gaspé. These two governments are doing more than their share.
Given that it will be crab fishing season very soon, will the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans accept his responsibilities by tabling his plan for the snow crab fishery without further delay?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the department is currently considering all fisheries management methods, including for snow crab. The plan will be announced in due course.
David Kilgour Liberal Edmonton Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Yesterday I spoke to packers in the United States who told me that they are laying off 100 employees soon because they do not have access to live cattle from Canada.
Thousands and thousands of families on both sides of the border depend on that border being opened. Does he have any words of encouragement for Canadians on that?
Mark Eyking LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Edmonton Southeast for his question.
I had the pleasure meeting with some of his farmers last month and they told me their concerns. One of the things that they want to see is the border opened. The Prime Minister and the government is working to open that border.
I would like to commend members on this side of the House and across the floor who will be going to Washington next week to talk to the Americans about opening the border. It would be good for both countries if the border were open.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting Prime Minister.
Michel Vennat and André Ouellet have been suspended as presidents of crown corporations. They were given to March 1 to explain themselves. I understand they met with the President of the Treasury Board. Mr. Ouellet, I understand, is coming to committee to testify.
I have two questions. First, is Michel Vennat coming to testify to Parliament? Second, on what fixed date will a decision be taken on whether these suspended officials will be fired?
Stephen Owen LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, I will take that question under advisement and provide an answer next week.
There is an ongoing investigation and consideration of the facts. We will carry through with the investigations that are underway and provide that information, but also take action on these files as soon as it is appropriate.
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, it has come to light that in 1981 the Canadian Red Cross and Health Canada knew of a test that could have prevented the transmission of hepatitis C through blood transfusions.
They chose to do nothing. As a consequence thousands of innocent Canadians, including my constituent, Allan Blumenfeld, contracted hepatitis C.
Why has the Prime Minister not done the right thing and reopened the compensation package for those infected prior to 1986?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, the government is very sensitive to the people who are living with hepatitis C. The government has committed $525 million for individuals infected with hepatitis C before 1986 and after 1990.
In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments this commitment will help ensure that individuals infected with hepatitis C do not incur out-of-pocket expenses.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Mr. Speaker, almost one year ago, the House of Commons adopted a motion to support Taiwan's application for observer status in the World Health Organization. At the time, this motion was of an urgent nature, because the Asia-Pacific region had just been hit by SARS.
Given that almost an entire year has passed, and now bird flu is hitting that same part of the world, why is the Minister of Foreign Affairs still refusing to intervene with WHO member states so as to facilitate Taiwan's application for observer status in this organization, even if it means changing the organization's bylaws.
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, my answer is the same as to the previous question. The member knows perfectly well that the organization's bylaws are what will pose a problem. The entire international community must approve in order to change an international organization's bylaws.
Instead, in Canada—because we intervened on behalf of Taiwan—we are working with the Government of Taiwan to ensure it has all the information it needs to respond to the health crisis affecting its citizens. That is what we are doing.
There is a practical solution to this problem, not the ideological solution the opposition member would have us adopt.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, another tax season is going by and still the government refuses to plug the outrageous tax loophole where businesses can write off fines as tax deductions. Does it not see how fundamentally wrong this is? Has the Liberal Party completely lost its ability to tell right from wrong? This situation is offensive to the sensibilities of any thinking Canadian.
My question is for the finance minister. By what warped reasoning does he continue to give tax breaks for breaking the law?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, hon. members will know that this is not the first time that the hon. gentleman has raised this matter. In response to him on previous occasions, I have indicated that I would take his question as a representation, as part of my consultations with Canadians.
Obviously, if there is something to be said on this matter, it would have to be said a week from Tuesday.
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, when the government decided to compensate only the victims infected between 1986 and 1990, it claimed that earlier infections were not preventable and that nothing could have been done to protect transfusion recipients before 1986. Now we know that this travesty was preventable and there was a test, yet the government still refuses to administer justice.
Why has the Prime Minister not shown compassion for the suffering and the dying?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Health, the government has shown great compassion and has great compassion for those suffering with Hepatitis C. In fact, as I indicated earlier, it has committed $525 million for individuals infected with this grave disease.
In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, the government will help to ensure that these victims do not incur out-of-pocket expenses. The government is very compassionate to those concerned.
Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC
Mr. Speaker, CN employees have been on strike for roughly 20 days now and, according to the union, the employer has hired scabs from the United States in order to maintain operations.
Will the Minister of Labour commit to ending this unacceptable situation immediately, and can she tell us what solutions she intends to put forward?