House of Commons Hansard #139 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was land.
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this is a very difficult issue, as the member knows. The Minister of International Trade is at the WTO today. Canada's position is that countries should stand by their agreements, as we do.
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
Mr. Speaker, on February 23 the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Government of Canada announced a $30 million Atlantic salmon endowment fund. It has now been eight months and not one penny of this money has been delivered.
The Atlantic Salmon Federation and other organizations needed this money 10 years ago. When can they expect to receive it?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his support of the Atlantic salmon endowment. I am very pleased that the government approved this. We are working with the provinces and officials on getting this completed. Obviously it takes time to put in place the proper procedures. I expect that they will be finished very soon.
I appreciate the fact that members recognize the importance of the $30 million investment this government is making to protect Atlantic salmon.
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
Mr. Speaker, on September 6, as part of Canada's hurricane Katrina aid mission, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel the Sir William Alexander left Halifax harbour destined for the gulf coast region.
After the crew playing an important role in the disaster relief efforts and being asked to stay for another month, I ask the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, when will the crew members of the Sir William Alexander be returning home to family and loved ones?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the captain yesterday. They are about four days from Halifax. The crew is anxious to be home. They are tired, but proud of the job they have done.
Canadians are also proud of their work and their assistance is deeply appreciated by the U.S. In fact, the commander of the U.S. Navy's northern command has written a letter to thank the officers and crew for this historic operation.
I know that all members of this House will join me in expressing our pride and thanks to the crew of the Sir William Alexander for a job well done.
Garry Breitkreuz Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, the northern portion of my riding has been hit hard with 17 inches of rain since August 23, just as grain producers were preparing to harvest. The result is a disaster. This is the third year in a row that farmers have been hit hard, first by drought, then by frost and now by flooding.
Grain producers have creditors pressing them hard for payment. Government support programs are not working. Many farmers have not even received their 2000 CAIS payment, so my question is this: what is the Liberals' acceptable waiting time for CAIS payments?
Wayne Easter LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Rural Development)
Mr. Speaker, we recognize very seriously the concerns from the farm community over their income situation over the last number of years.
The CAIS program is in fact there for producers. There is the production insurance program as well. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food moved very quickly in March in conjunction with other members of the Government of Canada to put out the $1 billion program to assist farmers in getting a crop in the ground.
We will be depending on production insurance and CAIS to assist them this fall, as well as looking at other measures. We are always concerned—
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Farmers are concerned that the Canadian Wheat Board has set artificially low prices for initial payments on crops sold through the board. In fact, the current price for feed barley, after freight and elevation charges, nets the farmer 18¢ a bushel. It costs more to deliver the barley than the farmer receives as payment. Not only is this appalling, but it has to be an embarrassment to this government.
At a time when farmers are cash strapped, will the minister take the necessary steps to ensure an increase in the initial price for all grains to put some extra cash in the pockets of farmers and to do that without administration costs?
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I have been wondering for some weeks now when this question was going to come, because the farmers on the board of the Canadian Wheat Board, the farmers who run the Canadian Wheat Board, have been deeply concerned about this and are taking action as we speak to address this issue.
It is because of the Wheat Board that those farmers are getting some needed cash in their pockets in addition to the considerable assistance that this side of the House has offered them.
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, in June, the Bloc Québécois called on the government to make a commitment to afford justice before Canadian courts to victims of torture in foreign countries. At the time, the Minister of Justice said that he was studying the matter. But yesterday, Louise Arbour criticized the Canadian government for being soft on the subcontracting of torture, as did the UN Commission Against Torture and, just recently, Amnesty International.
Four months later, has the minister had enough time to think? Will he finally act now?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would suggest to the hon. member that she actually accurately reflect what former Madam Justice Arbour said yesterday in her comments. As I said earlier in relation to a question from a member of the New Democratic Party, this country intends to respect international law and domestic law. We have always done so and we will continue to do so.
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, recently, Canada was elected to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, whose mandate involves the identification, protection and conservation of natural or cultural heritage sites around the world. This is the committee that approved Quebec City for inscription on the World Heritage List in 1985.
Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell the House whether Canada intends to campaign for Quebec City to host the World Heritage Committee's annual general assembly in 2008?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of the appointment of Ms. Cameron, who will be representing Canada at the World Heritage Committee. This appointment is the result of a solid effort by Canada, and particularly by the hon. member for Madawaska—Restigouche and the Minister responsible for the Francophonie.
Ms. Cameron will indeed promote Quebec City's bid to host the World Heritage Committee's 2008 assembly, a gathering important for Quebec City, for the Government of Quebec and for the Government of Canada.
Stockwell Day Conservative Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, we should not be surprised by the government's soft approach to Canadians who go abroad to murder innocent people because at home we do not do anything about Canadians who murder innocent people.
I want answers to these questions. Why did the Prime Minister not publish a statement of congratulations to the Iraqi people for their bold democratic move last week? Why will the Prime Minister or the government not condemn the actions of Canadians who joined terrorist thugs in other countries? Why does the government continue to call them insurgents and not terrorists? Did the CBC tell the government not to use the T-word?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, in fact I am very happy to explain again to the hon. member that indeed we do condemn the actions of any Canadian who chooses to go abroad and join an insurgency on the ground in any country, including Iraq.
In fact, I think the director of CSIS and I are very clear in relation to the fact that we do view the actions of these people as terrorist activities and we condemn them. We have condemned them. We will continue to condemn those actions.
Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government has finally given in to the idea of helping individuals who are struggling with the spikes in fuel prices. The Bloc proposes reducing fuel consumption by giving public transit users a tax credit for their transportation costs.
Since the House of Commons has adopted this tax credit in principle, does the government intend to adopt this measure?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have a broad variety of energy efficiency and energy conservation measures already implemented, some of which I referred to earlier in question period. We have another broad range under review and examination.
It is our view that energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy innovation are simply the hallmarks of an intelligent society and we intend to make Canada the smartest in the world.
Andy Scott LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2003-04 annual report of the Indian Specific Claims Commission.
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, on behalf of the Minister of Industry, the annual report of Genome Canada for 2004-05.
Marc Godbout Liberal Ottawa—Orléans, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the great honour of presenting, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, April 13, 2005, our committee has considered Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act (promotion of English and French), and has agreed, on Thursday, October 20, 2005, to report it with amendment.
Hazardous Materials Information Review ActRoutine Proceedings
Edmonton Centre Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Liberalfor the Minister of Health
moved that Bill S-40, An Act to amend the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act, be read the first time.
(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)
Helena Guergis Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise today to present to the House some petitions on behalf of my constituents. In the first petition, the petitioners are asking that the Income Tax Act be changed to allow for income splitting. There are a lot of seniors who will have problems coping with rising energy costs, which this government is doing nothing about. I will continue to champion this cause.
Helena Guergis Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition that deals with the Criminal Code and the age of consent. It is from the people of Alliston and my hometown of Angus. It is legal for adults to have sex with 14-year-old children. I do not know why the government thinks that is okay.
Helena Guergis Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Finally, Mr. Speaker, from across Simcoe—Grey, I have four petitions regarding the definition of marriage. I am quite happy to present them, because I know that when our party becomes the government we will finally have a free vote on that issue.