David Collenette

[Auditor General's Report, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the government estimated the net worth of the air navigation system as did those negotiating on behalf of Nav Canada.

In any deal no one expects to get their own financial adviser's top dollar. This was a good deal that reflected a negotiated compromise.

[Via Rail, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, the Department of Transport is very vigorous in applying safety standards. Safety is the number one priority for the government in whatever mode of transport.

It appears that VIA did not undertake to make certain changes throughout its system. It did on some services and we are trying to find out why. We have asked VIA to come back and let us know what other actions it is going to take to comply with the board's request.

[Via Rail, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to say how grateful we are that the Transportation Safety Board has given a preliminary report on the unfortunate crash at Biggar.

This is an incident that we are all concerned about. We are also concerned that some of the original recommendations for safety were not followed. Immediately the Department of Transport took regulatory action against VIA and VIA is complying.

We will do the best to ensure that all the recommendations made by the board will be adhered to very quickly.

[Canada Marine Act, October 2nd, 1997]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

I wish to inform the House that this bill is exactly the same as the one passed by the House in the last Parliament. It is my intention to propose that it be referred to committee before second reading pursuant to Standing Order 73(1).

[Canada Marine Act, October 2nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-9, an act for making the system of Canadian ports competitive, efficient and commercially oriented, providing for the establishing of port authorities and the divesting of certain harbours and ports, for the commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and ferry services and other matters related to maritime trade and transport and amending the Pilotage Act and amending and repealing other acts as a consequence.

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

[Policing Of Airports, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question two or three times.

We made a certain evaluation. It is in our power to make that kind of evaluation and assessment. We believe it is in the interest of the people at Dorval and Mirabel to keep the RCMP at the airport during this period of change.

[Mirabel Airport, September 30th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot understand why the hon. member is so angry. What we are saying is there is an operational need to keep the RCMP at Mirabel and Dorval. I have given the reasons.

We on this side of the House are most concerned about security at Canada's airports. We feel this can be best served in this instance by keeping the RCMP at the two airports.

[Mirabel Airport, September 30th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I explained to the hon. member that, given the changes taking place at Montreal's airports, that is to say Dorval and Mirabel, and the major renovations under way at Dorval, the federal government had decided to leave the RCMP in charge.

I believe it is a decision that makes sense.

[Ports Canada Police, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member, for whom I have great respect, is being very irresponsible to suggest that there will be an increase in crime.

This is about the devolution of authority to local organizations, councils and communities. It is a policy that the former Conservative government talked about quite a bit but never did anything about it. We put this regime in place.

I can assure the member that the quality of policing will not suffer and crime will not increase. It is going quite well across the country, including the Atlantic and the port of Vancouver.

[Policing Of Airports, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I believe I answered this question in full earlier. Because of the renovations, because of the change and because of the unique situation of having two international airports at Montreal, the government feels that the RCMP should stay there during this period of change.