Herb Gray

[Agriculture, May 31st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member ought to check with his deputy leader, the hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, who was quick to praise a federal loan to Haley Industries, a subcontractor of Bombardier, located in her riding.

At the same time, this government has provided over $500 million in additional funding for farmers in outright grants. If the member wants to praise the industry in the deputy leader of the opposition's riding, then he ought to accept the validity of support for Bombardier and for our farmers.

[Young Offenders, May 28th, 2001]

Both, Mr. Speaker.

[Banking, May 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the hon. member's question about the debacles and so on.

We have a certain number of federal lending institutions operating at arm's length from the government. They have accomplished an excellent record in serving the public interest, including the business community and the workers of Canada.

If there is any new institution of the kind that is suggested by the hon. member, I am sure it will meet all the necessary criteria and standards to keep up the excellent record achieved by other similar institutions.

[Shipbuilding, May 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised an important matter. We are currently reviewing the report and will have a response from the Minister of Industry in due course. I repeat, this is a very important matter.

[Census Records, May 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the privacy legislation will be respected and we will act according to the law. If there are questions about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the courts will be the ones to settle them.

[Census Records, May 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the form of the census is established and carried out by Statistics Canada which operates to some degree at arm's length from the government. It is a highly respected agency that has a firstclass record of protecting the privacy of its information and I am sure that will continue.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend has finally slipped into the Alliance trap of having unsuitable premises. The case in question is not one that applies across the whole spectrum of cases. It is only one case at the trial division, but we are working to move toward settlements.

We are not dithering. We are working actively with the churches. My hon. friend should work with me in expediting the issue instead of trying to politicize the issue.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the court case in question is one decision at the trial level. It stands on its own facts, but I say to the hon. member that we are moving to work out settlements in a way that will be fair, above all, to the victims, to the churches, and to Canadian taxpayers. I look forward to having my hon. friend's support for these continuing efforts.

[National Defence, May 14th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there is no contradiction. Members of the government are standing in their places in the House saying that the government has made no decision on an American proposal, which the Americans themselves have not yet quantified in detail.

It is true that officials are coming to Ottawa tomorrow to provide information to our officials. This is only at the level of officials. We have not made any decision on the matter and will not make any until we have studied all the details and have looked at it in the light of Canada's interests.

I repeat that we will seek appropriate ways of consulting with the House of Commons when the time arrives.

[Antimissile Shield, May 14th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we are going to consult the House in due course. There is, of course, the possibility of a debate at this time. It is premature to discuss a project on which we have not decided on a position.