Charles Caccia

[The Environment, March 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

Presently representatives from 150 countries are meeting in Bonn to draft an accord aimed at reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide. Apparently Canada has said that it will not meet the target of stabilizing carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2000.

Can the minister say what she plans to do to meet both the carbon dioxide reduction commitment made by Canada under the climate change convention and the further reductions promised in the red book in view of the fact that voluntary efforts are proving to be insufficient?

[The Environment, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Quebec government introduced a plan to cut $246 million from its environment budget, partly through allowing polluting industries to police themselves.

The Alberta government is also in the process of reducing the budget of its environment department by $164 million and 1,360 jobs by the year 1999.

Not to be outdone, the Ontario government has cut its ministry of the environment and energy budget by one-third, eliminating 752 staff and has also reduced the staff of the ministry of natural resources by 2,150 people.

In light of these actions, Canadians are more than ever looking to the federal government to ensure high standards of protection for their water quality, their air quality and their soil quality.

[Export Development Act, February 7th, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-368, an act to amend the Export Development Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill flows directly from a chapter in the red book which is dedicated to sustainable development. It is intended to encourage the Export Development Corporation, ministers of the crown, and the governor in council to exercise powers under the Export Development Act and when they do so to promote sustainable development in the exercise of their respective powers.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Ontario Building Code, February 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Ontario government is currently examining changes to the Ontario building code whereby the amount of insulation required in new homes would be reduced by one-third. This ill-conceived proposal will increase heating and cooling costs for homeowners and subsequently result in more carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere compounding the problem posed by climate change.

This shortsighted proposal to reduce insulation in new homes is advocated by the Ontario Home Builders' Association. Instead of yielding to this lobby, the Ontario government should act in the interests of future homeowners and the environment to ensure that the building code becomes more energy efficient and respectful of environmental concerns and consumers.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 3rd, 1997]

What are the reasons the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Act, passed by both Houses of Parliament in the early 1980's, was not proclaimed into law?

[Questions On The Order Paper, November 29th, 1996]

What are the financing terms and conditions for the proposed sale of two CANDU nuclear reactors to China, what proportion of the cost is based on loans and/or grants secured through the Export Development Corporation and/or other Government departments or agencies, what are the terms and conditions of these loans, and how do the loans and/or grants to China compare to the grants and/or loans given to other CANDU purchasers in the past, namely Argentina, Romania and Korea?

[Canadian Census, November 26th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, last week I asked the President of the Treasury Board whether in view of the 10 per cent unemployment rate in Canada the government intends to launch a new infrastructure program this winter.

In 1993 the Canada infrastructure works program was a rightful promise kept by the government within weeks of taking office. The result of this joint federal-provincial-municipal program has been the creation of over 110,000 jobs for Canadians, all for the purpose of improving Canada's infrastructure and enhancing the skills and technological expertise of Canadians.

Before the infrastructure program, unemployment stood at 11.4 per cent. Today it is at 10 per cent with youth unemployment around 14 per cent. We need more job creation by government if we are to cope with almost jobless growth.

Today about 97 per cent of the $6 billion in federal, provincial and municipal funding has been committed. Consequently we need to prime the pump. Again, we need a new infrastructure program with the same funding formula as the first but with new goals. For instance, we could target new infrastructure funds for energy efficient investments, to make buildings more efficient, to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This would create jobs for Canadians in the construction trades and environmental technology fields.

The Canadian Home Builders Association estimates that for every $10,000 spent on a renovation, half a person year of direct employment is created. Increased funding for the residential rehabilitation assistance program would be a good vehicle both for creating jobs and increasing energy efficiency because it aims at improving the safety, health and energy efficiency of older buildings, structures and homes across the country.

A new infrastructure program would help stimulate private sector job creation and community initiatives. Again I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board: Does the government intend to launch a new infrastructure program this winter?

[Credit Card Interest Calculation Act, November 21st, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-351, an act to provide for the limitation of interest rates, of the application of interest and of fees in relation to credit card accounts.

Madam Speaker, in presenting this bill today, I would like to pay homage to the member for Simcoe North who is the father of this bill and its author. He is presently a parliamentary secretary and therefore is prevented from pursuing the aim of this bill, which has a threefold purpose.

First, it will limit the amount of interest that financial institutions and retailers can charge on outstanding credit card balances.

Second, it sets out a method for calculating interest charges based on the Bank of Canada rate of the previous month.

Third, it provides a mandatory grace period for partial payments on all types of credit cards.

Today banks in Canada continue to set record profits. Interest rates are the lowest in 30 years with the prime rate at 4.75 per cent, yet Canadian consumers are paying exorbitant rates ranging up to 20 per cent on some retail cards.

On behalf of the public, the government has a responsibility to regulate when unfair actions damage the public's interest. In addressing interest rates on credit and charge cards, this bill asks the government to intervene on behalf of the public interest.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Constitution Act, 1867, November 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, last month I asked the Minister of Health when he would introduce legislation amending the Pesticide Products Control Act. He replied that he would table it in due course.

The proposed amendments to this act have a long history. The consultations began in 1989 and culminated in 1990 with a publication of the pesticides regulatory review team's report. The report recommended modernizing the pesticide registration system in order to further enhance the protection of human health, safety and the ecosystem. This would be achieved by minimizing risks associated with pesticides while still allowing the controlled use of pest control products. It is worth noting that health, environment, agriculture and the chemical industry representatives unanimously supported the report's recommendations.

In 1994 the government began to implement the recommendations put forward by this review team. First, the government transferred the responsibility for the Pest Control Products Act from the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food to the Department of Health.

Then a Pest Management Regulatory Agency was created within the health department. This agency is charged with administering pesticide regulation as well as other pesticide related methods. The agency contains a pesticide alternatives office for advising on the availability of possible alternatives during the pesticide registration process.

Eight years after the start of the consultation process, the 1969 Pest Products Control Act is still waiting to be amended. Our dependence on pesticides in agriculture, urban settings, forestry, aquaculture, you name it, is still considerable. Such dependence can negatively affect human health. It can lead to water pollution and damage to the ecosystem.

It is now most desirable that the government move quickly with amendments that would accelerate the reduction of this dependence on toxic substances. Therefore, eight years later speed is of the essence and new legislation is due within the life of this Parliament.

Again tonight I ask the minister through his parliamentary secretary, when will the legislation to amend the 1969 Pest Control Products Act be introduced in the House?

[Infrastructure Program, November 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

In view of the recently announced unemployment rate of 10 per cent, can the President of the Treasury Board inform this House whether the government intends to launch a new infrastructure program this winter?