Top immigration officials tell me that sponsoring parents and grandparents is a zero priority. They will not even look at the files. However the Liberals continue to rake in the application fees and all of the other related funds.

Why is the government misleading new Canadians and taking their money under the false promise that they can actually get their parents into this country?

Citizenship and ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Eglinton—Lawrence Ontario

Liberal

Joe Volpe LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, the short answer to that of course is that those allegations are absolutely untrue. They do not do anything like that.

In fact, we give everyone an indication of their chances of getting into the country and we give them an opportunity to have a self-assessment and counselling assessment.

I do not think it is very helpful to have a member of Parliament stand in the House and make allegations like that that are hurtful to the people who are making those applications. Shame on him.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Middlesex—Kent—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The United States closed its border to Canadian cattle and other livestock in May 2003 as a result of BSE, causing devastating economic impacts for the Canadian livestock industry.

Yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Andy Mitchell, met with the U.S. secretary of agriculture in Washington. What assurances did the minister receive from Secretary Johanns regarding the upcoming March 7 border opening and when can farmers expect full and fair resumption of trade within the industry?

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member knows she cannot refer to other hon. members by name. I would caution her in that regard.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Middlesex—Kent—Lambton, ON

I apologize, Mr. Speaker.

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Malpeque P.E.I.

Liberal

Wayne Easter LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Rural Development)

Mr. Speaker, the minister and his delegation certainly should be congratulated for their trip to Washington and for their efforts to get the border open.

We are very pleased that Secretary Johanns is committed to the March 7 opening for live cattle under 30 months. We are also pleased that he is still committed to working toward a full resumption of trade.

We as a government will continue to press aggressively in that matter for full resumption of beef trade--

AgricultureOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Peace River.

FinanceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Charlie Penson Conservative Peace River, AB

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance.

Today a motion was adopted at the Standing Committee on Finance instructing the chairman to sign the contracts for four specialists in budgetary estimates to conduct quarterly updates of the estimated fiscal balance, with the assistance of the officials of the Department of Finance, by the end of the business day.

This motion was a follow up instruction in relation to an earlier instruction from the committee and motion of the committee on December 1, 2004 that was approved.

Is it the intention of the chairman of the finance committee to comply with the instruction of the committee, or is he--

FinanceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel.

FinanceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, as discussed today in committee, we plan on keeping our commitment. The clerk has the drafts prepared. The drafts have been sent to the independent economist. We are waiting to hear if everything is fine and if the terms in the contract are agreed to, but it is in the hands of the clerk.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, history repeats itself. Secret experiments are still being conducted using Canadian soldiers as guinea pigs. Canadians are shocked to learn that soldiers used as test subjects by Defence Research and Development Canada are being denied disability pensions today as a result of health problems caused by these experiments.

Now that the minister has confirmed there is a problem, what does he intend to do on behalf of all members of the military involved in highly classified activity?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca B.C.

Liberal

Keith Martin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, there are no individuals of that nature who have come to our attention, but if there are, we created a special centre in 1999 where veterans and soldiers could go if they had any problems.

If the member has knowledge of any individual who has any pension issues or problems at all, she should bring them to the minister or myself, or the individual can go to the centre that was created in 1999 to deal with exactly these problems.

TransportationOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC

Mr. Speaker, the residents of the Magdalen Islands are facing a crisis. If Québecair Express stops operating, there would be just one flight a day operated by Air Canada. The mayor of the Magdalen Islands recently stated that he feared it would be impossible to transport the sick and those who accompany them or ensure the arrival of specialists.

Could the Minister of Transport reassure the people of the Magdalen Islands that they will not have to cancel their appointments in big city hospitals, because there is no room on Air Canada?

TransportationOral Question Period

February 10th, 2005 / 2:55 p.m.

Outremont Québec

Liberal

Jean Lapierre LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, if anyone in the House is concerned with the fate of the people of the Magdalen Islands, it is me, because I am one of them.

However, I can reassure the hon. member by telling him that I have had discussions with the president of Air Canada. Furthermore, on Friday, I will be meeting the mayor of the Magdalen Islands with the hon. member to examine all the details, air or marine transportation or any other problem he wishes to raise.

Social ProgramsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, President Bush is proposing significant changes to U.S. social security. In the wake of reports that it is not fiscally sustainable, what assurances do Canadians have that the equivalent of U.S. social security in this country is sustainable?

Social ProgramsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Scarborough—Guildwood Ontario

Liberal

John McKay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we are quite fortunate here in Canada in that our public pension system is fiscally sustainable through to the year 2075. That puts us in remarkably good shape, vis-à-vis our friends to the south. That directly flows from our commitment to fiscal discipline over the past number of years and the measures that we took in the last few years to ensure that our pension system is in fact on a fiscally sound basis.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, on Indian reserves homes with Zonolite insulation are called death houses because exposure to Zonolite kills. The government is spending millions of dollars on military bases to ensure that armed forces personnel are not exposed to Zonolite, but yet on Indian reserves it only sends a letter to the band councils saying that they have homes which are toxic.

How can this glaring contradiction be allowed to exist? Will the minister tell us today that he will help Indian reserve communities test for and pay for the removal of Zonolite wherever it is found?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Andy Scott LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question because it gives me the opportunity to reassure the member that in fact we identified every house that we could find in our records that might contain Zonolite. We advised the first nations chiefs and councils. Health Canada has made inspections in those communities and on a case by cases basis we are paying for the remedy.

National DefenceOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Bloc

Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, we learned yesterday that the Minister of National Defence was considering reorganizing operations at the Bagotville military base, in my riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord. This decision is not supposed to result in any job losses, although I have my doubts. The Minister of National Defence has to recognize the strategic nature of the Bagotville military base.

Can he assure us that this reorganization will not result in any job losses for the riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord?

National DefenceOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca B.C.

Liberal

Keith Martin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, for the member's information and for the information of his constituents, negotiations are taking place. This issue is being looked at but no decision has been made yet. It is important to note however that there will be no reduction in pilots, no reduction in jobs, and no reduction in the capabilities of the air force, which we value as an essential part of our armed forces.

Business of the HouseOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Conservative

Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader would explain to the House of Commons and to the viewing public what the government's legislative agenda is for the upcoming week and the days beyond.

I would also like to know when we can expect the judge's remuneration bill that has been promised for months now to come before the House.

Business of the HouseOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Hamilton East—Stoney Creek Ontario

Liberal

Tony Valeri LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, today and tomorrow we will continue third reading of Bill C-29, the Patent Act. This will be followed by second reading of Bill C-31 and Bill C-32, respecting international trade and foreign affairs.

We will then proceed to second reading of Bill C-28, which amends the Food and Drugs Act; report stage of Bill C-8, the public service bill; report stage of Bill C-3, the Coast Guard bill; and report stage of Bill S-17, respecting tax treaties.

On Monday we will begin with report stage and third reading of Bill C-24, the equalization bill. If this is completed, we will then return to the previous list where we left off.

Tuesday and Thursday of next week shall be allotted days.

Next Wednesday we will commence second reading of Bill C-38, the civil marriage bill.

With respect to the question on the Judges Act, that will be forthcoming in due course.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-29, an act to amend the Patent Act, be read the third time and passed.

Patent ActGovernment Orders

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, without taking all the time remaining to me, I would like to get to my conclusion.

In my speech on this important bill, I mentioned all the contributions made by the hon. member for Windsor West to the former Bill C-9. It is a very important act, which, as we know, is affected by Bill C-29.

Bill C-29, an act to amend the Patent Act does speak to pharmaceutical patents, but in addition—and that is unfortunate—it amends former the Bill C-9, to which the hon. member for Windsor West contributed so much. As we know, Bill C-9 deals with the entire question of AIDS, which is rampant in Africa and causing a crisis all across it.

What is so unfortunate about Bill C-29? It modifies former Bill C-9 and the government is, in a way, eliminating the fact that representatives of the Senate can sit on the advisory committee that will, in fact, be making decisions about which pharmaceuticals will be on the list of drugs available for export.

Because of that, we are somewhat hesitant to give our support to Bill C-29. It is unfortunate because the primary goal of the bill as it now appears, was not to make these changes to the former Bill C-9.

At the same time, it is very important to emphasize that we consider former Bill C-9 extremely useful in resolving or beginning to resolve the crisis in Africa. Since the regulations will not come into force for several years—and even though Africa cannot wait—we must wait in order to be able to help Africans to the fullest.

For this reason we will support Bill C-29 only bring about the implementation of the regulations of former Bill C-9 as quickly as possible, so that we will finally be able to help the people of Africa, who need it so much.

Patent ActGovernment Orders

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker

Is the House ready for the question?