House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was problem.
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am not in a position to ensure the outcome of any matter before the court and, precisely because the matter is before the court and to be decided within the next 24 hours, all the more reason why it would be inappropriate to comment.
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance suggested that he was considering increasing the accelerated capital cost allowance period for machinery purchases from two to five years, in accordance with one of the 22 recommendations in the unanimous report issued in February by the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Two years is not enough time for rigorous, long-term planning.
Will the minister send a clear message to companies that have been waiting a long time for this news by announcing immediately that he is increasing the accelerated capital cost allowance period from two to five years? Will he finally give manufacturing companies in Quebec and Canada a chance?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process now of lowering taxes for corporations to historically low levels in Canada, down to 15% federally by 2012. That move has been welcomed by the Quebec Manufacturers & Exporters in Quebec, as well as by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters association. The member is correct. There are lots of people in those associations who would like to extend the period of the accelerated capital cost allowance and that is something I assure the member that we will consider during the course of the ongoing pre-budget consultations.
Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, manufacturing is not the only sector in crisis. The forestry sector is hurting as well. The accelerated capital cost allowance is only one of the 22 recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. The forestry sector, which is short on ready cash, needs something else. Tax cuts are completely useless when you do not turn a profit. The forestry sector needs refundable tax credits for research and development.
Will the Minister of Industry talk to his colleague, the Minister of Finance, and ask him to put these measures in place as soon as possible?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is, of course, right. The rising Canadian dollar vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar has a significant effect on a couple of industries, including the forestry industry and the auto industry.
However, I remind the member of the comments by the manufacturers and exporters in Quebec following the announcement of our substantial reduction in corporate taxes and how welcome it is. Yes, the accelerated capital cost allowance is also welcome, and, yes, we will consider doing more because these are sectors in the Canadian economy that are suffering disproportionately.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, in a householder, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services boasted that the electoral representation bill, which is to be introduced this afternoon, will result in Quebec having less representation and Alberta and British Columbia having more. In light of such a statement, Quebeckers are entitled to ask whether recognizing our nation was nothing but an electoral ploy.
Is that not the real goal of this bill: to further dilute Quebec's presence in this House?
Electoral RepresentationOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Mr. Speaker, the document my Bloc Québécois colleague mentioned, the bill that our Conservative government will introduce today, will protect every one of Quebec's 75 seats in this House.
I hope that my Bloc Québécois colleague will not oppose our plan to protect Quebec's seats and its interests in this House.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, that has nothing to do with the Conservatives. It is in the Canadian Constitution. He is not giving us anything at all.
If recognizing the Quebec nation truly means something to the government, it should not introduce this bill. The National Assembly unanimously agreed to a motion introduced by Premier Jean Charest—a federalist—to demand that this bill be withdrawn.
Does the Prime Minister realize that his bill conflicts with genuine recognition of the Quebec nation? Will he withdraw this bill and not introduce it?
Electoral RepresentationOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Mr. Speaker, my colleague does not understand. The bill protects Quebec's interests. The bill will protect Quebec's 75 seats in this House. The Bloc Québécois is making a lot of noise, but it is our Conservative government—the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and our new colleague from Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean—that is protecting the interests of all Canadians and all Quebeckers.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister was a parliamentary secretary in the Mulroney government.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order. We are finished with that question. We have started over.
The member for Kings—Hants.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister was a parliamentary secretary in the Mulroney government. Now evidence suggests that he or his office tried to avoid responsibility by selectively receiving and evading information on the Schreiber affair.
Will the minister do the right thing and recuse himself from the file to avoid the perception that his personal connections are interfering with his ministerial responsibilities?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may be a bit of an expert on that administration. I think he was the head of the young PCs of Nova Scotia at the time. Was it called youth for Mulroney? I forget.
I am very pleased and proud to have served under three justice ministers, three distinguished Canadians, as a member of the House of Commons. I am seized with the responsibility now as justice minister and I take that responsibility very seriously. I will exercise those responsibilities carefully.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve the truth and Mr. Mulroney deserves a process that is impugnable. Briefing notes were prepared for the minister. His office evaded them. Wilful ignorance is no excuse. A justice minister should seek the truth. He should not seek to avoid the truth.
When will the minister do the right thing and recuse himself from the Schreiber affair?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, it is a bit much to be getting lectured by the Liberal Party on moral matters.
Just yesterday, the House will remember that the Liberals were advising us to release the tax information of a Canadian citizen. Did that bother anybody on that side of the House? Did anybody have a problem with advice to do something illegal? I ask that of the hon. member.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister should not be overseeing the Schreiber file and here is another reason why.
The minister said, and I quote, “I've always wanted a career in politics and Brian Mulroney made it possible for me”.
Since the minister's new boss has been forced to call a public inquiry into his old boss, will the minister step aside and put someone on this file who is not so obviously conflicted?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have put into place, what I think most reasonable Canadians would agree with, with respect to the allegations made in the civil lawsuit, the appointment of Dr. Johnston and the promise of a public inquiry.
With respect to the extradition matter, I have the support of the best legal team in Canada. I take those responsibilities very carefully.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister clearly is in a conflict when it comes to the Schreiber file. The minister must have an impartial person review Mr. Schreiber's extradition, so the most crucial witness will be able to testify in person at the public inquiry.
Will the minister step aside and allow justice to be done?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, again, it is a bit rich to be getting lectured by the Liberal Party and getting advice.
I still have not heard any answer to my question to those members. Was there anybody in the Liberal Party bothered by advice they were giving yesterday for us to commit illegal activity with respect to the tax files of an individual Canadian? It was clearly illegal, but it does not seem to bother anybody on that side of the House. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Mr. Speaker, in May of this year, our government signed an agreement with Afghanistan regarding the transfer of detained Taliban prisoners and insurgents. This arrangement improved on that of our Liberal predecessors and since its signing, there has been real progress in Canada's monitoring and tracking of detainees.
Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs comment on the results of recent visits to detention facilities in Afghanistan?
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we are visiting and interviewing Taliban prisoners on a regular basis. Officials have conducted 32 interviews. As a NATO spokesman said yesterday, “We have no evidence of systematic torture of detainees”.
During a recent visit, Canada's officials did see a Taliban prisoner with conditions that concerned them. Our officials are following up on media reports that the Afghan government has announced an investigation. The allegation has come to light because we have a good agreement with the Afghan government.
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Speaker, there is not one Canadian who does not understand the significance of Karlheinz Schreiber staying in this country. He has an extradition hearing tomorrow. The minister has both the discretion and the responsibility to go into court, seek an adjournment tomorrow and keep Mr. Schreiber in this country so we can get to the bottom of this scandal. It encompasses the Liberal previous administration and this administration.
Will he do that?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, there is a process in place that was started by the previous Liberal justice minister of this country, and again the matter is before the Court of Appeal. There will be a decision handed down tomorrow and I think we should wait for that decision.
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious he is not going to exercise his discretion or his responsibility.
Will he try this? Will he seek from the German government authority that it will see to it that Mr. Schreiber will return here at any time that we require him to appear in front of the public inquiry? Will he do at least that much to protect the interests of Canadians?