Debates of March 8th, 2005

Agriculture

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy, NB]

Mr. Speaker, much of the money that the government is talking about has been soaked up in administrative costs and is not reaching the people who need it. Aid is only effective if it reaches the farm gate. We also know that the CAIS program is not effective in dealing with a disaster of this magnitude. Farmers need this government's help right now if they are to continue farming.

Will the government immediately take steps to take money from the contingency reserve and help our producers?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, members of the House will know that last year we dedicated very close to $1 billion for purposes aimed at assisting agricultural producers in this country. That money was drawn from the contingency reserve. We will do what is necessary to defend the farmers of this country.

Coast Guard

[Michael John Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Supporters of the Coast Guard in my riding and across Canada are delighted with the budget, providing a $276 million capital investment. John Adams, head of the Coast Guard, said that 10 new ships and the government's commitment is “a watershed moment for the Coast Guard”. I congratulate the minister for his leadership on this issue.

Will the minister indicate that this good news will become even better by having these new ships built in Canada by Canadian workers?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for his strong support of the Canadian Coast Guard.

Dartmouth of course is home to a major Coast Guard base. Our shipyard workers in Canada can provide top-notch work, and top quality competitive work. I have confidence that they can provide competitive bids and save taxpayers' dollars. I want these ships built in Canada and I am going to work with my cabinet colleagues to ensure that happens.

Employment Insurance

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, in the Gaspé, the Minister of Transport confirmed newspaper reports that employment insurance reform was over. Contrary to what he would have us believe, workers in the Gaspé did not applaud him.

Can the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development confirm that her colleague, the Minister of Transport, was speaking on behalf of the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development and that the reform announced by the department and long awaited by seasonal workers has now been concluded?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, first, my colleague, the Minister of Transport, was in Chicoutimi in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and not in the Gaspé. Second, we said we would make adjustments to the employment insurance program. We made $300 million in adjustments and seasonal workers in New Brunswick are quite pleased.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, while the Minister of Transport was in Chicoutimi saying that the reform was over, at the Liberal convention this past weekend Liberal members from New Brunswick and Quebec, and the president of the Acadie—Bathurst Liberal Association, Marc Duguay, voted in favour of a resolution to relax EI rules.

In light of the adoption of the resolution, does the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development agree with her Liberal colleagues and Marc Duguay that the latest reform did not go far enough to eliminate the gap and will she accept the 28 recommendations of the parliamentary committee?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is incredible how popular a topic the Liberal Party of Canada convention is with the opposition parties. I can see that it was closely watched.

[An hon. member]

It was a very good convention.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

It was a very good convention. All the resolutions we considered had been tabled. Hon. members may not be familiar with our party's constitution, but all these resolutions had been tabled long before. Accordingly, party supporters from New Brunswick and across Canada were very pleased with the improvements to the EI system.

Softwood Lumber

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last week the government floated a proposal on the softwood lumber dispute to the provinces, leaked it to the U.S. department of commerce, and kept the Canadian industry in the dark. The government's proposal admits guilt when it has won every case at NAFTA and the WTO.

Why is the government waving the white flag before the threat of injury decision is finally announced at NAFTA?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we have always said that we will pursue our three track approach to softwood lumber. First, we will continue the litigation before the NAFTA and the WTO; second, we are prepared to sit down and talk about a possible resolution of it; and third, we are going to continue our efforts at retaliation in respect of Byrd and the illegal measures with respect to softwood lumber.

I am very pleased that yesterday I was able, in concert with all of the provinces and the three territories, to reach a pan-Canadian view on what a potential settlement might--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Vancouver Island North.

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the proposal repudiates NAFTA by creating an alternative arrangement for dispute resolution. The trade minister's proposal is abdicating Canada's rights under chapter 19 of NAFTA. Why has the minister given up on NAFTA and what kind of signal is this sending to other Canadian industries?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

That is absolute nonsense, Mr. Speaker. We have put in that proposal a way of resolving disputes that is fast and efficacious. Let me go back to the member's earlier remarks. We have not capitulated. We are asking in that proposal, supported by 3 territories and 10 provinces, for return of 100% of the deposits.

Sponsorship Program

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard some strange fishing tales over the years, but this one is a whopper. Jean Lafleur takes Liberal buddies fishing and buys them expensive equipment, but then forgets who he is in the boat with. We might expect a little exaggeration about the size of the catch, but Canadians are on the hook for these trips.

We know that former Liberal cabinet minister Martin Cauchon received gifts from Lafleur. Will the Prime Minister tell us how many other Liberal cabinet ministers benefited from Lafleur's generosity with taxpayers' money?

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

Mr. Speaker--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

It is clear that the Minister of Public Works and Government Services is becoming increasingly popular in the House, but we must be able to hear his answer, all the cheers notwithstanding.

The Minister of Public Works and Government Services has the floor and we will have a little order so we can hear his answer. Order, please.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, what is obvious is that without Gomery testimony the hon. member opposite and many of his colleagues are incapable of asking any real questions that are important to the future of the country.

I would urge them to stop in fact commenting on the daily testimony at the Gomery commission and to hire some really good researchers to write better questions for them so that they can stand in the House of Commons, address the issues that are of real importance to Canadians, and let Justice Gomery do his work.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Jean Lafleur received contracts worth $30 million. Today we learn that he contributed $47,000 to the Liberal Party fund. Add to that the numerous gifts he gave his Liberal friends courtesy of the taxpayer.

When is the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party going to return the tens of thousands of dollars improperly received by his party from Jean Lafleur?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again we have been completely clear that if funds have been received by the party through means that are inappropriate, those funds will be returned to the government.

The fact is that we will not be able to address these issues in a thorough manner and an appropriate way until Justice Gomery has completed his work. I would urge the hon. member to have some patience and ask him to respect the independence of a judicial inquiry, and allow Justice Gomery to do the very important work on behalf of all of us and all Canadians as he continues in that process.

Aboriginal Affairs

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Quebec Native Women's Association are calling for the establishment of a $5 million education and research fund in order to document the number and circumstances surrounding the disappearance and violent deaths of native women.

Is the minister going to respond to the request by the Sisters in Spirit campaign and spend $5 million to fight violence against aboriginal women?

[Liza Frulla, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, we want to reaffirm our commitment to the Sisters in Spirit campaign. The government is trying to respond to this request as quickly as possible.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a promise made is not always a promise kept.

Knowing that aboriginal women are victims of violence more often than other women in our society, what is the government waiting for to keep its promise at last and hand over the money?