Debates of April 26th, 2004

Government Contracts

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure why the hon. member seeks to have something released that he pretends to now have knowledge of. In fact, there has been no corruption suggested by anybody in this case.

A party who did not win the original bid followed its rights and went to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. There were some suggestions that some of the evaluation criteria should be reconsidered. However, the government went beyond that, in an overabundance of caution, by re-tendering the project to ensure that everything would be open, transparent, accountable and fair.

Government Assistance

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food informed the House that he had sent 54 cheques to British Columbia farmers to cover the cost of poultry inventory that had to be destroyed because of a decision made by the CFIA to contain avian flu.

In a similar situation in Nova Scotia, woodlot owners cannot harvest their trees damaged by hurricane Juan because of the moratorium imposed by CFIA to contain the longhorn beetle.

Would the minister agree to provide exactly the same kind of compensation to Nova Scotia woodlot owners for their inventory as he did with B.C. poultry farmers?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right that the Government of Canada, through the Health of Animals Act, was allowed to compensate British Columbia producers because of avian influenza.

In terms of the longhorn beetle, we are working very closely with both the communities and those who have had trees destroyed by the longhorn beetle.

In terms of Nova Scotia and hurricane Juan, those are different circumstances. I know the Government of Canada has been working very closely with the Government of Nova Scotia on that issue.

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the minister said the government is working closely with the people of Nova Scotia, but he is sending cheques to the people in British Columbia. We would just like to have equal treatment.

Other than the fact that one is a flu and the other is a beetle, it is the same situation. In British Columbia the CFIA policy caused farmers to lose their entire inventory and the minister paid. In Nova Scotia they are losing their entire inventory, but the government is not paying.

We want equal treatment. Why the discrepancy?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has been working very closely, both in Nova Scotia and in and around the Toronto area in terms of the eradication of the Asian longhorn beetle.

As the hon. member knows, this pest and a number of other ones, and one other one in Nova Scotia, are creating havoc in forestry areas throughout Ontario. I want to give him my assurance that the Government of Canada will do everything in its power to eradicate it.

In terms of the issue with regard to hurricane Juan and the circumstances that were created because of that, that is a different issue dealing--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay.

Oil Industry

[Sébastien Gagnon, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in an electorally motivated move, the federal Liberal Party candidate in the riding of Jonquière—Alma has denounced the federal government and the Minister of Natural Resources because they refuse to establish the petroleum monitoring agency recommended by the Standing Committee on Industry.

Does the Prime Minister not realize that even the Liberal candidates agree with the Bloc Quebecois on the creation of a petroleum monitoring agency? When faced with such facts, does that not mean it is time for action?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what it takes to get through to the hon. members opposite on this issue. I have said it time and time again, and the answer will not be any different than the answer I gave last week. We have not made any decision on setting up a monitoring agency for gasoline prices.

In Quebec, P.E.I., and Newfoundland and Labrador, it is presently set up by the provinces. It will not work the way the hon. member says it will work.

[Sébastien Gagnon, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister complains about the democratic deficit. He does not even respect the recommendations of a committee of the House. He refuses to listen to the elected members and prefers to protect the oil companies.

Is the Prime Minister not, by his attitude, demonstrating that he prefers to defend the oil companies rather than consumers?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is not accurate for the hon. member opposite to say that we want to protect the big oil companies.

In Newfoundland and Labrador three years ago there was a monitoring agency set up to monitor gasoline prices. Today in Newfoundland and Labrador the cheapest gas we can buy is 89.9¢ per litre. That is with an agency set up.

If there are unfair practices with oil pricing or any other pricing structure in Canada, the hon. member should go to the Competition Bureau and lodge a complaint.

Correctional Service Canada

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the last two Liberal solicitors general talked the talk but failed to walk the walk when it came to contraband in federal prisons. As a result, an alarming amount of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and alcohol and weapons continue to endanger the lives and the security of our correctional officers.

My question is for Minister of Public Safety. What does she plan to do exactly that will stop this illegal activity, or will she too simply talk the talk?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises a very serious question. I know, because of the hon. member's interest in this area, he understands that every correctional system in the world has a problem with drugs and contraband in general.

CSC's approach is a comprehensive one. We are controlling the supply of drugs through interdiction activities. We are reducing the demand for drugs through prevention and treatment. We are also putting in place and have in place harm reduction approaches, including bleach and immunization programs for hep A and B.

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, inmates demanding the right to vote, bleach kits to clean illegal needles, drugs, government tattoo parlours and pornography. It would appear that the only solution the government has is to give in to the inmates' demands. It is a little different when the needs of the correctional officers are brought forward: improper level of staffing, handcuffs, inadequate security measures.

My question is for the Minister of Public Safety. Why are the criminals getting a better deal than our correctional officers?

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously correctional officers are a very important part of our law enforcement and safety system in this country. Correctional officers do a very important and very dangerous job on a daily basis.

Let me go back to the hon. member's overall comment around contraband in prisons. As I say, this is a problem that has been identified by every correctional system around the world. We have to take sensible long term approaches to this. I wish there were a quick fix but I think the hon. member is intelligent enough to know there are no quick fixes.

Agriculture

[Gary Pillitteri, Liberal, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the plum pox virus is a serious plant disease that threatens the tender fruit growing, processing and nursery industry in parts of Canada.

Could the Minister of Agriculture tell us what efforts the government is taking to eliminate the virus from Canada?

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the plum pox is a very serious disease for the tender fruit processing and nursery industry across the country. That is why I was pleased today to announce, with the member for Niagara Falls and the member for Erie—Lincoln, a contribution by the Government of Canada of some $80 million to help eradicate the virus.

The Government of Canada takes very seriously its responsibilities to eradicate viruses such as that and will continue to work with the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia to do exactly that.

Heritage Canada

[Gary Schellenberger, Progressive Conservative, Perth—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

There are many cultural and recreational projects that are planned for my riding. These include the living life project in St. Mary's, the Mitchell Arena, the Discovery Centre in Stratford and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Our communities support these projects and volunteers are bearing the burden of fundraising. They are forced to watch the Prime Minister doling out money to vulnerable Liberal ridings.

Why is it not possible to treat all Canadians equally?

[Hélène Scherrer, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell my hon. colleague that every riding is treated equally and that we are looking at all requests.

I have had calls and meetings with my colleagues on the other side of the House. I have treated each and every one exactly the same way.

Infrastructure

[Gary Schellenberger, Progressive Conservative, Perth—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

Several municipalities in my riding need to improve their water sewage infrastructure to meet current standards and regulations.

The Liberals announced $1 billion for rural municipal infrastructure last year. The province has committed the money. The clock is ticking.

If the federal government does not commit its share, the projects will be lost. When will the government keep its commitment to our rural communities?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Minister of State (Infrastructure)]

Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives me the opportunity to say how optimistic I am that there will be an agreement on the municipal rural infrastructure fund with the province of Ontario very soon.

Agriculture

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to softwood lumber and the missile defence shield, there is another matter that deserves special attention: mad cow.

During his upcoming visit to Washington, will the Prime Minister spread the word that there was only one case of mad cow in Canada and that the Americans can open their borders not only to young animals but also to animals over 30 months of age? This affects cull cattle producers, most of whom are in Quebec.

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for this question. Obviously, many issues will be discussed in Washington. It is also an opportunity for the two leaders to get to know one another.

Health

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, National Immunization Awareness Week and the Pan American Health Organization's Vaccination Week begin in the Americas today. Immunization, as the member for Crowfoot knows, is a very important public health issue.

I wonder if the Minister of State for Public Health could tell us what the government is doing to ensure that Canadian children are adequately immunized.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of State (Public Health)]

Mr. Speaker, in the most recent budget the Government of Canada provided $300 million to the provinces and territories for the new vaccines as was recommended by the national advisory committee on immunization.

During this National Immunization Awareness Week, and as a family physician and Minister of State for Public Health, I add the voice of the Government of Canada to encourage all Canadians to ensure that their children receive the immunizations they need against these truly preventable diseases.

Industry Canada

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

The Competition Bureau charges a flat fee of $50,000 to review a merger. It is the same $50,000 fee for reviewing a big bank merger worth billions of dollars in assets or two small credit unions that might be worth only a few million dollars.

Would the minister now review this unfair practice of a flat fee that discriminates against small credit unions, such as Dysart in my riding, and come up with a progressive fee scaled on ability to pay?