Debates of May 2nd, 2006

Quebec City Airport

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The honourable member for Vancouver—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I realize that there is discussion regarding the minister not having heard the question. With the list I have, it is difficult. If a minister or another member does not hear what is said, that is not a reason to allow more questions.

The hon. member for Vancouver East.

Norad

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the already signed Norad agreement allows the United States to monitor Canadian internal waterways. It also reaffirms the Liberal commitment to allow aerospace surveillance to be transmitted to the Americans for the purposes of missile defence.

Why did the government not insist on sovereignty over our internal waterways and ensure that there will be no participation in Bush's missile defence scheme. Why did it not insist on that?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I reject entirely that categorization of the Norad agreement which, by the way, for the first time ever, will be submitted to the House for debate and a vote.

The position of the government is that we are outside missile defence, but otherwise we work cooperatively with our American allies in defence of this continent. Until the NDP members understand the importance of that relationship, they will never be the government of this country.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knows that Norad has already been signed and he knows that the motion coming before the House is a sham. It is unamendable and it is being done after the fact. It makes a joke of the Conservative election promise. It is heavy handed and anti-democratic.

Will the government allow Parliament to do the work Canadians sent us here to do, or are we simply to be a rubber stamp when the Conservatives have already given away our sovereignty?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the debate that will take place tomorrow night on the subject of Norad, which has been expanded to include maritime defence and, as the Prime Minister has referenced, will take place for the very first time, allowing both a vote and the participation of Parliament, is not after the fact.

In fact, we will be signing letters of intent after the debate takes place, so there is no suggestion whatsoever that it preempts the debate. The hon. member is fully capable of putting her very well known objections on the record then and we are very anxious to receive them.

Softwood Lumber

[John Maloney, Liberal, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the trade minister defended leaving $1.5 billion of Canadian softwood money in Washington and the fact that Canadian softwood producers will have a full year delay before they get a penny back. He also defended the inclusion of a clause that allows the U.S. to veto Canadian forestry management practices or to help our industry in difficult market conditions.

With our dollar at a 30 year high, will the minister admit that this deal has left producers worse off than they were last Tuesday?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member is getting his facts. We did not leave $1.5 billion down there. The deal will ensure stability, certainty, more investment, and more jobs. It will ensure a healthier and more competitive forest products industry and softwood lumber industry in Canada going forward.

Every small community in this country, and there are thousands of them that depend on softwood lumber, will benefit from this agreement.

[John Maloney, Liberal, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, NAFTA's dispute settlement mechanism and Canada's sovereignty over industry practices are both undermined by this deal. It includes an exit clause that workers say is code for the Americanization of Canadian forest policies. A spokesperson for 40% of the industry says this deal is the worst he has seen in 35 years.

I know the minister's pension is more secure now since Canfor is set to receive a nice cheque, but why did he sign a seven year sell-out that could permanently hobble Canadian producers?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member's comments are actually quite disgusting. They are quite disgusting, and in fact, if the hon. member were an honest man, he would admit that carrying on with litigation is going to mean more duties, more fights and more problems, and the forest industry in this country is going to be in very serious trouble.

Agriculture

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian live cattle over 30 months were expected to move into the United States in June. However, with the Prime Minister's soft approach to the United States, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has now made it clear that cattle over 30 months will not be permitted until some time in 2007, a year from now.

If the United States will not keep its word on cattle imports, what hope is there for the softwood lumber deal? Why has the government accepted this treatment from the United States administration? Will the Prime Minister not stand up for Canadian cattle farmers and fight in their interests?

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate, of course, that we have had a couple of cases of BSE-related problems in Canada this calendar year. I have met with Secretary Johanns and he is very eager to get the border open as soon as we get the scientific rigmarole out of the way. He is eager to get it open. I am still hopeful that it can happen in 2006. We are working closely with our American counterparts to make that happen.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, there is no scientific rigmarole here. This is pure protectionism on the part of the United States administration. The minister has a responsibility to act. How can the government be so callous when it comes to dealing with Canadian producers? What action is this minister or the Minister of International Trade going to take in the interests of Canadian farmers?

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we will not do is use the Liberals' approach on softwood lumber. That is what we will not do. If we follow their approach, we will be waiting for the next seven years to get the border open.

We are working closely with our American counterparts. CFIA and the American officials are working closely. We hope to get this border open as quickly as possible.

Infrastructure

[Louise Thibault, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal ports divestiture program has just ended, but the Trois-Pistoles wharf still has not been transferred or restored.

Given the importance to the regional economy of restoring this wharf and reinstating the Trois-Pistoles—Les Escoumins ferry service, can the Minister of Transport guarantee the continuation of the port transfer program as soon as possible?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question.

I had the opportunity to meet with her a few weeks ago. We had a chance to discuss this issue.

We will have to wait and see what happens. It is clear that when the Liberals were in power they were unable to resolve the issue of full divestiture of the harbours.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some $13 million are needed to restore the Trois-Pistoles and Escoumins wharves. This federal involvement is essential for restoring the wharves and reinstating the ferry service.

I want to remind hon. members that this is the second year of suspension of the ferry service and it has a negative impact on tourism on both sides of the river.

The minister must act quickly. Could he promise to give the go-ahead for construction as early as this spring?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I also had the opportunity to meet with the hon. member's representatives. During that meeting we agreed that the work should be done this year and that in meantime the link joining both shores of the St. Lawrence would unfortunately be compromised for this year.

We will continue to have discussions with our colleagues opposite on expediting matters on this issue for the well-being of all our fellow citizens.

Canada Post Corporation

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Post Corporation plans to close the postal sorting station in Quebec City. The decision was apparently made in order to streamline staffing. We want to see the plan before the closure because we are wondering why one centre in two is being closed in Quebec, when Canada Post is keeping six of them open in Ontario.

My question is simple: why?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is asking the question to discover what direction we are headed. It is already known and no secret to anyone in this House. Canada Post is affirming its independence from the government.

However, in the latest election campaign, we made a commitment on this side to review this decision. A decision in this respect will be imminent. I ask the hon. member to bide her time.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for the Quebec City region. She said in a press release of September 29, 2005, and I quote, “There is no doubt that this closure represents a hardship for the hundreds of families affected but it also indicates the current Liberal government's lack of interest in the old capital”.

If the minister is so interested in the fate of the old capital, why is she not resolving the matter of the Quebec City postal sorting centre closure? I put this to the minister responsible for the Quebec City region. Let her rise and answer.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say of course that the minister responsible for the Quebec City region, despite what our friends opposite are saying, assumes her obligations and responsibilities and also cares deeply about the interests of the Quebec region.

The Environment

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been sounding off about a Canadian greenhouse gas reduction plan as an alternative to Kyoto, yet the minister--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!