House of Commons Hansard #9 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was process.
Ken Epp Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is now 20 years since the devastating Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Last week, there was another report on the continuing dangers to health caused by the radiation from this event. All reports so far have consistently indicated ongoing uncertainty about the long term health effects due to this disaster.
My question is for the minister. On the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, what is Canada doing to mitigate the long term effects of radiation?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague and his constituents, particularly the Ukrainian community of Canada, have great concerns about this. I am pleased to announce today that the Government of Canada will continue its long term commitment to the people affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
In fact, we will be providing an additional $8 million toward construction of a concrete shelter to contain the radiation at Chernobyl. This is to be used to cover the damaged reactor and it will have a very positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of radiation that is released. It will bring the total of Canada's contributions to Chernobyl related projects to $66.2 million.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, in 1993 the Liberals promised a child care program, but they had no plan. The Conservative government has promised to create child care spaces, but the Conservatives have no plan either. Working families face the prospect of--
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order, please. The hon. member for Trinity—Spadina has the floor.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, working families face the prospect of seeing their kids booted out of child care next year if the funding is ripped out after 2006.
Will the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development commit to at least $1.2 billion in annual funding in 2006 and in 2007 to create child care spaces?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, our commitment to Canadians is to create 125,000 new child care spaces and we will do that.
We will do it in partnership with businesses, both large and small, because when they see--and many of them already know this--how much more productive their employees are when they know where their children are and know they are being well taken care of, when they see that employees' productivity goes up and their absenteeism goes down, that is good for business.
This is why we are putting $1.25 billion into the creation of new spaces.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, for a party that talks a lot about lowering the tax burden on working families, I cannot understand why the minister will not make this $1,200 promise tax free. After taxes and clawbacks of federal GST credits, the child tax benefit, the federal young child supplement, there is hardly any money left of that $1,200.
Will the minister protect the allowance from all federal taxes and federal clawbacks for the families that need it most?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, as I announced yesterday, five of the provinces have already agreed to not hold clawbacks on the child care allowance. This is great progress. As for the federal government, I am afraid we will have to wait until we see the budget.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will know that Canadian citizen Huseyincan Celil is facing extradition from Uzbekistan to China, where he has been sentenced to death for defending human rights.
Tomorrow, Mrs. Celil and Amnesty International will visit Parliament, but the government has refused to meet with her. Even worse, after 30 days of incarceration, the government still has not even told Uzbekistan that we want Mr. Celil returned to Canada.
Will the Prime Minister please stand up for all Canadians and immediately intervene at the highest diplomatic levels before it is too late for Mr. Celil?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, we actually have been in contact with the family. We have made representations on behalf of the family. I know that the wife of the individual involved will be coming to Ottawa. I understand that she has appointments here with members of this party. I would be pleased to meet with her as well should my schedule permit.
I can assure the member that this is a consular case in which we have been involved from the very moment it was brought to our attention. The member will also know that privacy concerns do not allow us to discuss these matters in such a public way.
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Speaker, unlike the past government, this government will keep its promise to salmon farmers in New Brunswick. The Liberals talked about it, but just like they did on other promises to New Brunswick, they failed to deliver the funding promised to salmon farmers.
Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans tell the House about the package being delivered to salmon farmers in New Brunswick?
Loyola Hearn ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, some years ago, the stocks in New Brunswick were practically eradicated because of disease. The former government promised to help. It did not deliver on its promise.
Even though the industry right now has self-rationalized, it still needs to be put on a steadier footing. We will be providing immediately $10 million to the industry so it can continue to progress in the great province of New Brunswick.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order, please. In commemoration of national Holocaust Remembrance Day, I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the following Holocaust survivors: Hank Rosenbaum, Helen Rosenbaum, Saul Feldberg, Toby Feldberg, Morris Greenbaum, Norma Dimitry, David Smuschkowitz and Luba Smuschkowitz.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I believe there is consent for a moment of silence to commemorate the Holocaust. I would invite hon. members to rise.
[A moment of silence observed]
The Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Parliament Buildings. All members are welcome to join the ceremony.
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order.
Earlier this day I read a letter that had been sent to the Prime Minister by the father of the late Corporal Dinning, one of our fallen soldiers. While he wrote the letter prior to the recent tragic death of his own son, his words are certainly poignant and I believe warrant action in the House.
Accordingly, I am seeking unanimous consent for the following motion: “That this House direct, in order to show respect and honour to Canadian Forces and other Canadian government personnel who are killed while serving in overseas peacekeeping, peacemaking or humanitarian missions, that the flag on the Peace Tower be lowered to half-staff for one day as a remembrance of their important service to Canada and Canadians”.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, An Act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Before oral question period, the hon. member for Lévis-Bellechasse had the floor. He had five minutes left for questions and comments.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, in his address, the hon. member made several points that referenced Quebec. I would like to ask him if the people of Quebec and the people in his riding openly welcome the changes made in the accountability act so that the kind of embarrassing things that happened under the previous Liberal administration will not happen again and the people of Quebec will not have to wear that type of humiliation again in their province?
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
The sponsorship scandal damaged Canadian unity and affected Quebeckers' perception of the Canadian federation.
Now, with a new Conservative government, we have the chance to turn a new leaf and restore Quebeckers' and Canadians' trust in their government with the adoption of the Federal Accountability Act and all the measures it contains.
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, I have just two quick questions. One is that the other three parties have suggested concerns about making payments of $1,000 to whistleblowers. I wonder if he could comment on the concerns that a majority of members in the House have on that.
Quebeckers have been very supportive of aboriginal people in general. I asked a question of the parliamentary secretary earlier today about whether there was any consultation with aboriginal people relating to the part of the bill that suggests the Auditor General be able to audit aboriginal organizations. The parliamentary secretary could not answer at all and did not suggest there was any consultation. I wonder if the member could respond to that.
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his questions. The first was about whistleblowing and public servants who sometimes find that things are not working properly in the machinery of government. Public servants must be protected and supported.
I myself was a public servant for four years. Public servants do a very fine job and deserve our trust and respect. The Accountability Act contains measures to support them, including the provisions on disclosure.
The bill does provide for a small financial award. This will be studied at the committee stage. I invite my colleague to share his comments at that time.
As for his second question, I would invite him to propose the changes he would like to see as the bill is reviewed.