House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Ice Breaking In Ports October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the rate scale, the scale was established by a committee of 10 people. Seven were from the Laurentians region, that is, Ontario and Quebec.
If the member really thinks this is not fair to ships using the ports in the maritime region, it is surprising that the committee members from this region set up such a scale.
Canadian Coast Guard October 26th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the question of the hon. member is whether we intend to privatize the coast guard.
I can assure him that is not the intention of the government. I can also assure him that we have made certain reductions in expenditures which are necessary.
Nevertheless we have put safety, in particular search and rescue, first. We will not have any reduction of safety levels because we regard that as our most critical role.
Icebreaking On St. Lawrence October 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I told the member that we want the people and businesses using the services and the shipping industry to pay only 17.5% of the cost.
The Bloc Quebecois' suggestion of an increase in rates for ships using the St. Lawrence River will mean that those travelling to the Port of Quebec City will pay dearly indeed.
Icebreaking On St. Lawrence October 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, what we are attempting to do is to have those using icebreaking services pay 17.5% of the cost. That is not a lot to ask.
Let us not forget that transport ships must travel through the waters off Newfoundland to reach the St. Lawrence River. Obviously, it is fair that the ships themselves must pay the fees, up to a maximum of 17.5%.
Fisheries October 22nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as is usual with members of the Reform Party, they again have their facts wrong. There is a hunt taking place in the United States by the Makah tribe which has a permit for five animals.
If an animal wounded in that hunt in the United States moves into Canadian waters, I have said that I will permit them to follow that whale for humane purposes so that it can be dispatched in a humane way and will not continue to die an agonizing death.
In addition, I have made it clear—
Questions On The Order Paper October 21st, 1998
The attached tables list the licences issued under the coastal fisheries protection regulations allowing foreign vessels into Canadian waters and ports on the west coast of Canada:
Table I—Foreign vessels licences issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, DFO, Pacific region, during the period 1993 to 1997. The licences issued to joint venture processing and transport vessels for participation in the Pacific hake over-the-side fishery were under section 5(1)(a) of the coastal fisheries protection regulations. The licences issued for port privileges were under section 5(1)(a) of the coastal fisheries protection regulations primarily to obtain fuel and supplies. The three licences issued to New Zealand in 1997 were under force majeure.
Table II—Import landing licences issued to U.S. fishing vessels during the period 1996 to 1998. These licences are issued under section 5(1.5)(a) of the coastal fisheries protection regulations.
DFO Pacific region maintains records only of the licences issued. None of these were revoked. Records of telephone inquiries by agents of non-qualified countries under the coastal fisheries protection regulations are not kept; most of these were on behalf of U.S. fishing vessels seeking entry into Canadian waters for the Pacific hake fishery or to deliver groundfish to Canadian ports; callers were informed that formal requests for entry would be denied.
Table I
Foreign Vessel Licences Issued*
1997
Joint Venture Processing Vessels
Poland 7
Joint Venture Transport Vessels
Poland 3 Russia 4 Latvia 3 Bahamas 1
Port Privileges
Russia 2 Poland 2 New Zealand 3
1996
Joint Venture Processing Vessels
Poland 10
Joint Venture Transport Vessels
Poland 5 Russia 6 Cyprus 1 Ukraine 1
Port Privileges
Russia 1
1995
Joint Venture Processing Vessels
Nil
Joint Venture Transport Vessels
Nil
Port Privileges
Nil
1994
Joint Venture Processing Vessels
Poland 7 Chinese 7
Joint Venture Transport Vessels
Poland 4 Latvia 2 Japanese 1
Port Privileges
Nil
1993
Joint Venture Processing Vessels
Poland 6
Joint Venture Transport Vessels
Poland 4 Japanese 2 Bahamas 1 Russia 2
Port Privileges
Nil
The Late Donald Munro October 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to pay tribute to a former member who died recently at the age of 82.
Mr. Donald Munro was a very distinguished Canadian who served his country both in the diplomatic service and in the House. I knew Don well as he was the candidate who was successful in the election which followed my resignation from my seat in Esquimalt—Saanich back in 1972 when I took on the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party.
Born in Regina, Don was always a very proud westerner. He moved to Vancouver to finish his education and became a teacher before he was granted a scholarship to the Sorbonne in Paris by the French government.
As was common for young men of the day, he quickly signed up with the armed forces at the outbreak of war, joining the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 and serving as a navigator and later as an instructor.
After the war he finished his education by completing his masters in political science at the University of Toronto before joining the external affairs department in 1946.
His postings included Paris, Ankara, Dublin, Brussels and Beirut. His postings were as numerous as his interests. He served as head of the Canadian delegation in Vientiane, Laos. Following a year with the National Defence College in Kingston, Don was named ambassador to Costa Rica in 1967. He was responsible for the neighbouring countries of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama. He served with distinguishment, retiring from diplomatic service in 1972.
Never one to sidestep a challenge, Don sought and won the Progressive Conservative candidacy in the Esquimalt—Saanich riding and won in the election of 1972 by a wide margin. The voters of that constituency obviously thought highly of him and regarded him as an effective representative because he was elected three more times in 1974, 1979 and 1980 before retiring from politics in 1984.
Don Munro was an outstanding Canadian who always acted as a great spokesman for the people he represented. We extend our condolences to his wife Lynn and his two stepchildren.
Fisheries October 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
In fact on September 17 the Halifax Chronicle Herald reported that an operation with 45 officers and one dog seized 1,000 pounds of lobster, $10,000, arrested seven people and seized five vehicles. We are continuing with that type of enforcement throughout.
I should add for his information that we are hiring 48 new enforcement officers this year, another 48 next year and we are beefing up enforcement of fisheries infractions in his own area.
Forestry October 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the government naturally wants to have thorough environmental examinations. We want to make sure public involvement is at the appropriate level and we want to make sure we improve the management of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. It is for these reasons that I have decided to appeal the Sunpine decision. If left unappealed, the decision would undermine the discretion of federal departments to determine the scope of environmental assessments which is a very important part of CEAA.
Canadian Coast Guard October 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have been setting this particular proposal for the last four years. We have had intense consultations with the industry. We have re-examined this in every possible way.
The very suggestion that the member makes makes clear that the Bloc Quebecois simply does not understand the importance of making sure that those who use services pay at least some measure of the services provided by the general taxpayer of Canada.
In this case they will pay approximately 17%. We think that is a good start.