Debates of June 9th, 2005

Audiotaped Conversations

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, what I find really unfortunate is that the member gets up every day and smears members' reputations in the House and does a disservice to this institution itself.

I find it unbelievable that the member, along with the leader of the official opposition, continues to make assertions based on tapes that have been proven by numerous audio experts to have been manipulated, and not only supports the member, but according to reports, actually condones the taping by the member for Newton—North Delta.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that member stepped aside from his parliamentary responsibilities until this matter is clarified. Why have Liberals not taken similar responsibility?

What we want to know is this: Is it not profoundly irresponsible of the immigration minister to publicly speculate about deporting an elected member of the House of Commons for the crime of not being buyable by the Liberal Party of Canada?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what type of tea the hon. member has been drinking.

I have already said in scrums that I have removed myself from any consideration of that member's case, in part because it has now become a specific case and in part because, as you know, Mr. Speaker, I have already submitted something to the Ethics Commissioner on another related matter. I have, in the process, said I will remove myself from any consideration.

Most people went to lunch an hour ago; the hon. member is obviously still there.

Transfer Payments

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, the Subcommittee on Fiscal Imbalance tabled its report confirming, based on the opinion of experts and many witnesses heard from coast to coast, that there is indeed a fiscal imbalance in Canada.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit what everyone recognizes, namely that there is indeed a fiscal imbalance favouring the federal government, and that this fiscal imbalance must be corrected to ensure a better balance in the distribution of financial resources?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the subcommittee report demonstrates more dissent than agreement.

The facts are these: The federal transfers from the Government of Canada to the provinces are now at an all-time record high. Plus, those transfers combined will increase by more than $100 billion over the coming decade to help with health care, education, social programs, municipalities, child care and much more. The revenue flows to the provinces have been higher, are higher and will continue to be higher than the revenue flows to the Government of Canada.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, even with his explanations, the Minister of Finance cannot convince any provincial premier or finance minister. So much for those explanations.

Will the Minister of Finance face the facts, recognize the fiscal imbalance and agree to increase his cash transfers for post-secondary education and social programs to 25%, over four years, as he agreed to do for health and as recommended by the subcommittee in its report?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, transfers are increasing already.

The inconsistency in the hon. gentleman's question is just breathtaking. He asks for a larger transfer for post-secondary education. That is in fact included through assistance to students in Bill C-48 which he opposes.

Member for Newton—North Delta

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Charlevoix—Montmorency, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, during the Watergate scandal, former President Richard Nixon had to answer two questions: what did he know and when did he know it. Today, in the tape affair, the Prime Minister has to answer the same two questions. He has said an offer was solicited, but he has yet to say when he was informed.

So, I ask the Prime Minister once again when did he know—not his parliamentary leader, but he himself—that the Conservative member was soliciting an offer from his chief of staff? Was it during or after the negotiations?

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said that he was informed that the member for Newton—North Delta wanted to cross the floor. The Prime Minister was very clear. He said that no offer was to be made. None was.

I understand that the Bloc leader himself was out scrumming yesterday, indicating that he had contacted the RCMP regarding this matter.

The RCMP itself will determine whether there is anything to investigate. I would suggest that if the hon. member does have any information to provide, he provide it to the RCMP.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Charlevoix—Montmorency, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister had known after the negotiations that the Conservative member was trying to sell his vote, we are sure he would have told us, because he would have washed his hands of it.

Why is the Prime Minister still refusing to tell us when he learned of it? Could he have learned during the course of the negotiations and, despite the Criminal Code, have instructed his chief of staff to continue them?

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it sounds as though the hon. member across the way is conducting his own investigation. I do not understand why they sent a letter to the RCMP to ask for an investigation.

If the Bloc and the hon. member have information that they feel would assist the RCMP in an investigation, and would in fact assist the RCMP in determining whether there should be an investigation or that there is anything to investigate, then I would suggest that the hon. member provide that information to the RCMP.

Automobile Industry

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last November the Minister of Industry stood in this House and promised me that no auto jobs would be lost, despite the failure of the government to develop a national auto strategy.

As today's Globe and Mail points out, the recent federal investment in the auto industry allows for a reduction of up to 4,000 jobs at GM, meaning 28,000 spinoff jobs would also be at risk, taxpayer funding in exchange for job losses.

When will the minister admit that the lack of a Liberal auto strategy is killing auto jobs in Ontario?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member is full of hot air.

The reality is that the GM plants in Oshawa are among the most productive, the most efficient and the highest quality plants in North America and South America. They are benefiting from major strategic investments by the Government of Canada.

We are working with the auto sector. I talked with the president of General Motors just before question period. He is committed to the Oshawa plants. That member does not know what he is talking about.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the only hot air is coming from that minister's commitment to the auto industry.

I would say that the government is asleep at the wheel, but it is clear that it is not even in the driver's seat. The Liberal-NDP budget will put Canadian auto jobs at risk. The fact that the government is reneging on its promise to provide tax relief for corporations will have a devastating effect on the industry that drives our economy.

Will the minister commit to reinstating corporate tax breaks and finally make auto jobs in Canada a priority?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, words like that coming from the party that is always complaining about the technology partnerships program which is being used to support the automotive industry boggles the mind.

The Minister of Finance has said over and over again that we will continue to go through with those corporate tax cuts. The Oshawa investment by General Motors will be the largest investment ever made in the Canadian automotive industry.

Federal-Provincial Relations

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have a Prime Minister who has no national vision and we have a government that has abandoned fiscal imbalance.

In a rush to buy votes, the Prime Minister is willing to sign deals with anyone, anywhere, on anything. By signing ad hoc deals with--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I am sure the hon. member for Edmonton--Spruce Grove appreciates the assistance she is getting with her question but we have to be able to hear the question because somebody is going to have to answer it. I cannot hear it. I do not know how the minister who is going to answer it can possibly hear it. We will listen to the question from the hon. member for Edmonton--Spruce Grove.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

Mr. Speaker, by signing these ad hoc side deals with no consideration for a national framework, the Prime Minister has widened the fiscal imbalance between the provinces.

When will the Prime Minister stop practising patchwork federalism and stop pitting province against province and Canadian against Canadian?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the government have worked very hard to build strong partnerships with the provinces. That was demonstrated last summer when we achieved the unanimous health care accord that directed $41 billion into the health care system over the next 10 years. That was followed by an agreement on equalization that brought another $33 billion into the equation.

All together, over the course of the next 10 years, the Government of Canada will be investing another $100 billion in the well-being of Canadian provinces and municipalities, and that is good federalism.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has sold off the social and economic fabric of Canada in exchange for votes and undermined federalism.

The leader of the Conservative Party is the only leader with a national vision and he will defend a strong and united Canada.

The Prime Minister is refusing to admit the facts: the fiscal imbalance is real, the imbalance is continuing, and the Liberal tax regime is sick.

Why is the Prime Minister continuing to hide billions of dollars in his mattress and not resolutely attacking the primary source of discord in Canada?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, amidst the hon. member's criticism I wish she could be specific about what exactly it is she opposes. Does she oppose the health care agreement for $41 billion? Does she oppose the equalization agreement for $33 billion? Does she oppose the arrangements for the Atlantic accord? Does she oppose the $710 million that Saskatchewan has gained in the last 18 months? Does she oppose child care? Does she oppose the money for municipalities?

Rather than the broad brush, she should be specific. What is she against? She cannot tell us what--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Winnipeg South Centre.

Public Health Agency

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Public Health.

In light of the marburg virus outbreak in Angola, could the minister explain what assistance the Public Health Agency located in Winnipeg is providing in the fight against this deadly disease?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member joins with us in our pride at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg and the leadership it has taken with the WHO. The four scientists from there have gone to Angola with this fancy, fabulous portable lab.

In this past week, two scientists, Dr. Heinz Feldmann and Dr. Steven Jones, together with their U.S. collaborators, have developed a vaccine, 100% effective in primates, that will lead to a human vaccine. We are absolutely thrilled that this is furthering the leadership that Canada has in global public health and fighting bioterrorism.