Val Meredith

[Human Resources Development, March 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, another new day and another new audit at HRDC that shows the extent of the problems in that department.

The minister says that she wants the best system possible. I would like to ask her how that is possible when the 1998 audit shows that only 30% of the employees in that department believe they can raise concerns about ethical breaches without repercussion.

Could the minister explain to the House and to Canadians why 70% of the employees in HRDC are afraid to bring up ethical breaches in her department?

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the minister actually read the audit. The auditor general has pointed out that problems in HRDC have been going on for a quarter of a century and that there is no indication that the programs have delivered the desired results.

Now we learn of similar problems with the Department of Industry. How long has the Department of Industry been mismanaging taxpayer dollars?

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, last week the auditor general reported that the lax controls at HRDC had made it “difficult to know whether the funds were used as intended, spent wisely and produced the desired result”.

HRDC is not alone. Three years ago a Canadian Economic Development Quebec region audit showed mismanagement of public funds by the Department of Industry. Two subsequent audits showed that little was done to correct these problems. Why does the government wait until the official opposition reveals a scandal before it does anything?

[Export Development Corporation, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, Amtrak has access to over $2 billion of American taxpayer money to run its operations and make capital purchases. It does not need additional capital.

Eighteen months ago, in response to a Canadian transportation committee recommendation, the Minister of Transport refused to restructure VIA Rail, denying it access to more capital.

Why is the priority of the government to improve the American transportation system rather than the Canadian transportation system?

[Export Development Corporation, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in its first annual report released two months ago, the Amtrak Reform Council reported that Amtrak has not yet used a significant portion of the $2.2 billion subsidy from American taxpayers. Why should it? It is using its $1 billion subsidy from Canadian taxpayers. I am not sure whether it is from the corporate account or the humanitarian account.

Can the government please explain to the Canadian people why the single largest transportation investment that it has made has gone to the American, government owned Amtrak?

[Supply, March 22nd, 2000]

Madam Speaker, it was with great interest that I listened to my hon. colleague from Wetaskiwin give us some of the details of a national highway system.

What does the hon. member think about extending the national highway system to include trade corridors to our southern neighbours with whom we trade? I believe 80% of our trade goes to the United States. Does he think the federal government should extend a national highway program to consider some of the trade corridors going north-south?

[Supply, March 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the hon. member for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre blaming the government, which I do not disagree with, for trying to put off the reason for the high fuel taxes and the high cost of transportation, but I take exception to him saying that the Reform Party was equally responsible.

I would like to ask the hon. member for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre why the Saskatchewan NDP government charges the highest fuel taxes for rail than any other province, and not only the fuel tax, but it charges the highest property tax for the rail companies than any other province in the country. All of these costs add up to higher transportation costs for the farmers and any other companies that use rail to distribute their products. Does the hon. member agree with the province of Saskatchewan's high tax policy on the rail industry?

[Supply, March 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will follow up on the Minister of National Revenue's comments about trade corridors, which happens to be a pet project of mine.

Canada has accommodated preclearance to ease the traffic flow of people to the United States and through Canada to the United States. What commitment is his department prepared to make to ensure that there is the ease of flow of people who come to Canada through preclearance in the United States, not only by air but by rail and road as well?

[Supply, March 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the comments of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport. I must admit I am a bit confused as to the concern of the government that transportation is strictly an environmental issue.

I suggest to the government representative that transportation is much more than worrying about the environment. That is a component. That is a concern, but there is much more to an integrated, seamless transportation system than how it affects the environment. How much of the $2.6 billion over four years will be going for highway infrastructure?

[Supply, March 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is quite right, there are all kinds of issues, such as small regional airports, remote airports, roads. The MacKenzie highway was promised by the government in 1972 under the Right Hon. Prime Minister Trudeau, but the government never followed through. We still do not have that highway. People in those communities are still looking for some way to get out of that remote northern area, other than by ice road in the wintertime.

That is why I think it is extremely important for the government to develop a transportation strategy which would take into consideration all modes of transportation. The government should sit down with all shareholders to come up with a plan that will work.

How will we make sure that the small airports have the facilities they need? How will we make sure that the communities are able to support them? How will we make sure that municipalities and provinces take on their responsibilities as well as the federal government? It can only be done by planning and by addressing all of the issues together. We must understand how they interrelate and how they work together to create a transportation system that will be very competitive for Canada in the 21st century.