Carolyn Parrish

[Royal Canadian Mint Act, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have a comment to make. I would like to congratulate the member opposite. It is not often that someone gets to make their mark in this place. The member has made his mark today as well as at committee. I think he has done a very reasonable job.

As the member just explained, there are parts in the bill he does not like, but he got in there and negotiated rather than just being negative. I really appreciated it and I would like to express the appreciation of the minister on his co-operation. Congratulations.

[Royal Canadian Mint Act, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to Bill C-41, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint Act and the Currency Act.

It was over 10 years ago that the legislation governing the mint was amended to allow it to become a fully commercial crown corporation. Bill C-41 is designed to improve the mint's operations and to improve its potential in markets that have changed considerably since 1987.

I do not intend to go into great detail about the content of the bill. However, I would like to briefly reiterate to the House the basic purpose of the bill which is threefold: to streamline the approval process for issuing coins and coin designs; to provide flexibility in the governance structure of the mint; and to increase the powers of the mint within its existing accountability structure which will allow it to achieve its vision of global leadership in minting. The passage of this legislation is crucial to the mint's future.

One thing that struck me during previous debate and subsequent further examination at the committee stage is how intense the competition is within the international coin market. This global business, that accounts for 70% of the mint's revenue, also works to reduce the overall cost to Canadians for the circulation of their own coinage. Last year alone the mint produced one billion coins for 16 different countries. By the end of this year that total will rise to an amazing 2.5 billion coins.

We are, through the provisions of Bill C-41, proposing that the mint be given the powers of a natural person to provide it with sufficient flexibility to meet its long term strategic direction and achieve its vision of global leadership in minting. The powers of a natural person will allow the mint to support its public policy role of producing domestic coinage and operating at a profit.

The mint will continue to be able to exercise all of the same specific powers that exist in current legislation while enabling it to acquire more general powers in support of its mandate. However, it is still subject to the existing accountability framework found in the Financial Administrative Act. It would still involve review by the Treasury Board and the approval of the Minister of Finance and the governor in council. In addition, the auditor general will continue to conduct an annual audit of the Royal Canadian Mint as well as a special examination every five years.

With the powers of a natural person, the mint will be more proactive and able to react more quickly to new business opportunities. These powers will provide the mint with the flexibility to enter into alternate business structures, such as alliances, partnerships, and subsidiaries. With these powers the mint will be in a more advantageous position in relation to all challengers within an extremely competitive international market.

The mint currently operates extremely well in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment. These new powers will give the mint the increased flexibility it needs to be market sensitive, seize new business opportunities and be a more profitable enterprise for the benefit of all Canadian taxpayers.

Another key provision of the act is to increase the mint's borrowing authority which will allow the mint to foresee financial needs and the ability to respond quickly to any market opportunity that is commercially attractive and advantageous. This increase was seen by independent third party experts as prudent and realistic in keeping with current market conditions and practices.

The mint borrows for short and long term purposes. Long term borrowing is required for investment in capital and technology. Short term borrowing allows the mint to finance more competitive bids and expand its markets. It is important to note that the mint's borrowing limits will still be subject to approval by the Minister of Finance and the governor in council.

These powers will put the mint on the same legislative footing as other successful commercial crown corporations. Just as important, it will place the mint on an equal footing with its main competitors, other government mints, such as those of the United Kingdom, Austria and Germany.

This legislation will therefore improve the mint's competitive edge immeasurably and will ensure the Royal Canadian Mint achieves its vision of global leadership in minting. However, as stated previously throughout debate on this bill, the mint will still be subject to the same rigorous accountability framework that exists now.

Members will note that the bill has been amended at committee in order to maintain the role of parliament regarding the addition of new circulation coins and the deletion of existing circulation coins.

Bill C-41 does allow the mint to make changes in the characteristics of circulation coins by regulation rather than by time-consuming debate in the House. This allows the government to react quickly to changes in production costs and availability of metals while ensuring there is full opportunity for consultation and participation by Canadians at the occasion of adding new coins or deleting old coins from circulation. In fact, the amendment acts to improve the bill even more.

In closing, I would like to also note that Canadians should be proud of the true success story of the Royal Canadian Mint. Our mint is one of the finest in the world. Canadian coins are world renowned for their high quality and beautiful artistry.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the mint. It is a truly world class competitor operating on solid business principles in an increasingly competitive market. In recognition of this, I would submit that passage of this bill would be our way of providing the Royal Canadian Mint with the best means of achieving its goals. Canadians should expect nothing less.

[Canada Post, November 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the budget of Canada Post has been viable since 1988.

It provides quality service and it does it fairly and without cheating. If there are any such activities going on I am sure the minister for Canada Post will take care of it immediately upon his return.

[Points Of Order, November 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this seems to be a day for apologies.

Unknown to me, on May 19 there appears to have been some misuse of letterhead and possibly envelopes from my riding office.

Immediate repayment will be made for any costs incurred and I thank the member opposite for bringing it to my attention.

[Marriage Act, 1997, October 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the mint's mandate is to supply Canadians with coins that are of high quality, cost effective and delivered on time.

As a commercial entity, the mint generates a financial return to the Government of Canada by successfully marketing its minting services and coinage products worldwide.

In early April the mint began construction of a new coin plating facility in Winnipeg which will fulfil three objectives. It will guarantee a cost effective supply of plated domestic coinage; produce annual savings of approximately $10 million; and generate additional profits of $3 million annually from the production of foreign plated coinage.

The mint obtained the funds to build the plating facility from a private commercial institution, not from the government. The mint does not receive any government subsidies.

Under the current Royal Canadian Mint Act, the mint may borrow up to $50 million from the consolidated revenue fund or any other source. Members may recall that in May the government introduced Bill C-41, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint Act and the Currency Act.

One of the amendments proposes increasing the mint's borrowing limit to $75 million. This is not because the mint needs additional money to finance the plating facility. It has already obtained the financing it requires. The proposed increase will allow the mint to maintain a borrowing cushion or margin of safety as growth occurs in the years ahead.

The mint's competition is not with Westaim, not with private industry, but rather with foreign government mints. Some countries will only contract from government mint to government mint.

The mint's investments in its plating plant, its workforce and its new technology will ensure that it is well placed to be a leader in the global market.

I would hope that this clarifies once and for all the mint's mandate, its operations and the financing for its new plating facility.

[Royal Canadian Mint, October 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my apologies.

I found the machinations the member for Elk Island went through interesting. He knew we were going to vote for his motion. I guess it gave him an opportunity to rent his clothing and rail against the winds for his constituents.

Motion P-16 requests that the Royal Canadian Mint produce documents concerning the construction of a new coin plating facility at the Royal Canadian Mint location in Winnipeg.

As the hon. member for Elk Island already knows, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations asked for these documents last June. The Royal Canadian Mint complied and sent the documents to the clerk of the committee. The committee will soon reconvene and the documents requested will be available for review. We are on division going to vote for this today. We are going through the exercise, but it must be completed.

I ask the House why we are using our valuable time and resources to debate a motion when its goal has already been achieved, except for the opportunity for Elk Island to get up once again and state his position.

Let me address the benefits of the new plating facility to all Canadians. The initial guarantee is that it is a secure cost effective supply of plated coinage. Plated coinage is the technology of the future. Plated coins are less costly to produce and are just as durable and attractive as the coinage used in the past.

By building this facility, the government will achieve quite a large saving. The mint will pass on savings to the government of approximately $10 million per year. This is extremely important to a government that is counting each one of its pennies very carefully.

The mint is the only corporation mandated for the production, sale and distribution of coins in Canada. It supplies Canadians with coins that are of high quality, are cost effective and are delivered on time. The mint must also generate a profit for its shareholder, the Government of Canada, by successfully marketing its minting services in coinage products worldwide.

The Royal Canadian Mint is not an appendage of the government as was the implication of the member opposite. It competes in a global environment. Business fundamentals such a market analysis, sales, competitive positioning, leading edge technology and investment in human resource development are daily essentials, as they are with any corporation.

The mint does not receive government subsidies. All its operating costs are paid through its revenues or by securing financing from private financial institutions. The member opposite knows this. Making coins for other nations keeps the mint presses running at high speed and around the clock, which is the most cost effective production technique available. In 1997 the mint produced over one billion coins for 16 foreign countries. This year it will have upped that number to two billion.

It is expected that the mint's new plating technology will continue to be in high demand around the world. The mint estimates the new facility will enable it to generate an additional $300 million in annual profits. Construction of the plating facility began in April. Construction is on schedule and on budget.

It is also important to note that the entire project has been financed by the mint through commercial financial institutions. One hundred to one hundred and thirty construction jobs were created over the three years of the construction period. On completion it will add 25 to 30 new permanent full time staff to its Winnipeg workforce.

The hon. member for Elk Island is understandably concerned about the well-being of a company in his riding, Westaim Corporation. Let me assure the House that the Royal Canadian Mint does not compete with Westaim. Westaim has been a supplier of the Royal Canadian Mint for many years and will continue to be one of several suppliers that provide the Royal Canadian Mint with the materials it needs. Westaim is the sole supplier for the 1$ coin blank because it holds the patent for this project. Suppliers from Canada, the United States and Europe provide the mint with metal strip and coin blanks for the other coins.

Throughout the world there is a growing demand for lower cost circulation coinage. There will be many opportunities for both Westaim and the mint to work together to compete against foreign mints which are also expanding to meet the growing demand for lower cost coinage, in particular plated coinage.

As early as 1991 Westaim informed the mint that it wanted to get out of the coin business and we had to make other plans. Westaim wanted out of the business and it is not considered to be a secure supplier for the mint.

The mint's coins are preferred by vendors who require two years to retool their machines, so let us look at what the cost would be to private enterprise. The mint's process is environmentally safe and produces high integrity coins. The mint needs the plating facility to fulfil its mandate and to meet the expectations of its customers at home and around the world. The mint is a totally independent crown corporation charged with the task of making money, both coins and profit. The plating facility is an essential tool that will enable the mint to fulfil its mandate to produce secure top quality but cost effective coins for Canada and profits for Canada through marketing its coinage expertise around the world.

The plating facility is essential for the mint to succeed in the international coinage business in which it is an active and extremely successful player. It is a dynamic and innovative organization in a highly competitive international market. For now and in the future it will continue striving to be the world leader in minting.

I remind the House that the Royal Canadian Mint has already produced the documents requested by Motion P-16 in response to a similar request made by the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations last June. These documents will be available for review as soon as the committee reconvenes. Any member of the House may obtain a copy of those documents from the clerk of the committee.

[Royal Canadian Mint, October 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I consider it poetic justice that Mr. Epp and I face off once again. We are no longer on private members' together selecting—

[1999 March 21 Anti-Racism Campaign, September 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women is launching the 1999 March 21 anti-racism campaign at the “Mandela and the Children” event today at the SkyDome in Toronto.

This will be the 11th annual public education campaign to raise awareness of racism in Canada and encourage Canadians to act forcefully to end racial discrimination.

President Nelson Mandela of the Republic of South Africa is the honoured guest at the launch.

As members will remember, March 21 commemorates the massacre in 1960 of peaceful demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa. President Mandela has many times expressed his appreciation to Canada for supporting the United Nations in the proclamation of March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The 1999 March 21 campaign is direct and hard hitting. It encourages all Canadians to join the fight against racism and racial discrimination. A key element of the campaign has become the “Stop Racism” national video competition which involves—

[Interparliamentary Delegations, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), in both official languages, the third and fourth reports of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association which represented Canada at the joint committee meetings of the North Atlantic Assembly of the NATO Parliamentary Association.

The North Atlantic Assembly held its first defence and security, economic and political committees in Brussels, Belgium, February 15 and 16, 1998. The second meetings were held in Madeira, Portugal, March 27 to 29, 1998.

As vice-chair of this committee it is a real honour and pleasure for me to present these reports. It is my last official act, as I will have to resign as vice-chair of the NATO committee.

I think it is important to note that members of all parties who serve on the NATO committee have done their part to assist the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister in passing the anti-personnel land mine proposal into law and getting countries to sign on. We almost got the United States to agree.

It is my pleasure to present this report and my official duty to do so.

[Supply, June 8th, 1998]

No, Mr. Speaker.