John Manley

[Research And Development, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows very well how important research and development in Canada are for science and technology, which benefit all Canadians.

It is not possible to say that this is exactly how all federal research money should be allocated, given the fact that much of the existing research money spent by the federal government is in support of carrying out the mandates of federal departments. It is obviously going to result in a disproportionate amount of the total spending occurring close to the seat of government.

When he takes that number out of the calculation the member will discover that in fact Quebec has more than its proportionate share.

[Tourism, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, this is really a rather silly question because the way the Prime Minister has announced the formation of the commission is that it is going to be on a co-operative basis. We expect and hope to have the co-operation both of provincial governments as well as the private sector in the establishment of the Canadian tourism commission.

Decisions on the expenditures of the promotion account-because this is entirely intended to encourage demand for tourism-are going to be collective decisions. If people in the Government of Quebec do not wish to participate that is up to them. However I suspect that representatives of the Quebec tourism industry will see the promotion of tourism in the province of Quebec as a real asset for their industry and for their province in creating jobs in the province of Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.

[Tourism, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to explain to the hon. member that in addition to the obvious benefits of tourism in the job creation front, one of the key components of this strategy is to address the very significant part that the tourism account deficit plays in our current account deficit which is about $30 billion a year and represents in effect the amount we have to borrow from foreigners every year.

To displace Canadians going offshore is as valuable to our current account deficit as it is to attract foreigners to Canada. Therefore by promoting Canada to Canadians we are also solving our fundamental issue.

It is not a duplication. It is an opportunity for us to ensure that all Canadians understand what a wonderful and rich country they share.

[Copyright, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to this question because it is based on a fundamentally incorrect premise, which is that the Minister of Canadian Heritage and I have some kind of disagreement over this issue.

The reality is that we have been working very closely together. We are ad idem on this. We intend to bring forward proposals to our cabinet colleagues in the very near future with respect to phase two of the copyright laws and we expect to see it enacted into law in the very near future.

[Tourism, October 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we in the House focus not just on the importance of tourism but on the effect it has on job creation throughout Canada.

This announcement means that the federal government is back in the business of selling Canada as the world's best tourism destination. It means jobs for Canadians. It means improvement in our current account balance and even the editorial writers at the Financial Post today said: ``The federal government needs not only to spend less, it needs to spend smarter. An example of smarter spending is Ottawa's decision this week to bolster its support for the tourism industry''.

[Privacy, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it may well be that there are legislative responses that would be appropriate to this issue. Fundamentally we will want to hear what the advisory council has to say and what Canadians generally have to say.

The hon. member will understand that in this area technology has developed very rapidly over the last number of years. We expect the revolution in information technology to accelerate rather than decelerate. In responding to the changing environment that technology brings all Canadians-not just government but Canadians who provide information to users of that information-we must take caution to protect their own privacy as we try to protect the privacy of others.

[Privacy, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. He raises a very important question of concern to us.

He may know that the government recently released a discussion paper on privacy and the information highway. The Information Highway Advisory Council is charged with discussing this important issue and with determining what measures are appropriate to take as all Canadians, particularly those who have personal information encased in the databanks of the world, are concerned about protecting their privacy with respect to that information.

[Small Businesses, October 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first I thank the hon. member and his colleagues in the Reform Party as well as in the Bloc Quebecois for their work together with members of the government on producing a report which is virtually unanimous in all of its recommendations. It makes a real contribution.

I agree with many of the recommendations in the report. I hope to be able to act on some of them very quickly. We will of course respond to the report in the normal course within the timeframes required. Some will require more study; some will require discussion with the Minister of Finance. But some, as I said, I hope to implement very soon.

[Ultramar Canada, October 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first let me say that I share the member's concern for the employees and their families at this Ultramar facility, concerns that he and his colleagues from the Halifax area have raised repeatedly with me over the last few months.

As he is aware, the undertakings to the director of investigation and research by Ultramar are a contractual matter to be dealt with by the director. Under the Competition Act the director is an independent law enforcement officer and I cannot interfere with that role.

The legal action initiated by the Attorney General of Nova Scotia against the director and Ultramar has had the unfortunate effect of preventing the director from carrying out his responsibilities to deal with the issues of material adverse change and the sale process relating to the refinery.

Given that the matter is before the courts and despite my real concern for the employees involved, it is inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

[Questions On The Order Paper, October 17th, 1994]

A search of the department's corporate database has indicated that there is no record of financial assistance having been provided to "Para-Ordnance Mfg Inc." located in Scarborough, Ontario under programs administered by Industry Canada.