Robert Bertrand

[Petitions, November 2nd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my pleasure today to present a petition signed by 111 residents of Labelle County in my riding.

The petition is about an issue that concerns many Canadians. It asks Parliament to amend the Divorce Act by including a provision identical to section 611 of the Quebec Civil Code, which provides that parents cannot, without serious grounds, interfere with a child's personal relationship with its grandparents and that if no agreement can be reached by the parties, the terms of this relationship shall be determined by the court.

[Dairy Industry, October 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the separatists seem more interested in winning the referendum at any cost than in dealing with the real problems of Quebec farmers.

My question is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. Could he explain how being part of Canada benefits dairy farmers in Quebec?

[Referendum Campaign, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the PQ premier made a great effort to minimize and make a mockery of the significance the public attaches to what the leader of the Bloc had to say about the low birth rate of the white race in Quebec.

When questioned as to the meaning of what his separatist colleague had said, the leader of the Parti Québécois found nothing better to reply than "So what would you have me say? The pale-faced race?"

Whether white or coloured, Quebec women are, just like Quebec men, persons who will be called upon shortly to decide the future of Quebec.

The tendency of the yes side to pigeonhole people according to sex, language or race does not correspond in the least to the values of our society.

This coming October 30, the women and men of Quebec will be saying no to a project that seeks to divide them.

[Leader Of Action Démocratique Du Québec, October 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the separatist leader of the ADQ has added to the rumours about the PQ Premier's leadership that have been circulating for several days among Quebec separatists.

In his conversation with reporters yesterday, the leader of the ADQ warned that, should the No side win the October 30 referendum, we must expect "a redeployment of Quebec's nationalist forces".

Although tour organizers tried to minimize the importance of that statement and urged reporters not to publish it, the leader of the ADQ nonetheless allowed himself to speculate publicly on the political future of the PQ Premier.

The political ambitions of some separatist leaders must not derail the debate in which Quebecers have been invited to participate.

The only true question is Quebec's separation, to which our answer is No.

[Mining Exploration And Development, October 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to speak on the motion put forward by my colleague, the hon. member for Timiskaming-French River, which urges the government to consider implementing incentives to promote mining exploration and development in Canada.

Canada extends over some 10 million square kilometres and is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources. Its mining industry was ranked amongst the best in the world in many areas of mineral production. Mining has always played a major role in the Canadian economy, which is hardly surprising, since Canada is one of the biggest producers and exporters of non-fuel mineral resources.

Statistics for 1992 show that the non-fuel mineral resources industry accounted for a little over 4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and almost 3 per cent of employment. Also, these statistics indicate that the total value of the non-fuel mineral resources production for 1992 reach $14.6 billion, which is 41 per cent of overall mineral production in Canada. It is important, also, to remember that Canada produces a little over 60 minerals. Except for phosphorus, manganese, bauxite and chrome, our country can meet its own needs in terms of minerals.

Statistics on exploration also speak volumes. Non-fuel mineral resources exports reached $23 billion, a little over 15 per cent of total exports for Canada. During the same period, the value of our non-fuel mineral resources imports was estimated at $13.2 billion, for a trade surplus of over $9.8 billion. All these statistics reflect the outstanding progress made by the Canadian mining industry.

Technological innovation also has something to do with the boom enjoyed by this industry. However, the industry did not escape from the upheaval caused by the recession during the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Mining was hard hit during this period. But since 1993, it is recovering nicely. All of us in this House recognize that several irritants are still preventing Canada's mining industry from hitting its stride.

This is why I wholeheartedly support the motion put forward by the hon. member for Timiskaming-French River, whom I wish to congratulate for this excellent initiative, especially since my hon. colleague showed, in the eloquent speech he made when he introduced his motion, that he is very much aware of the current codition of federal finances.

This motion has nothing to do with tax breaks, grants, or subsidies. Its only goal is to bring the government to consider measures that would not cost a lot of money to the Canadian taxpayer but will go a long way to ensure a brighter future to the Canadian mining industry and to the mining communities across Canada.

In its report of December 1994 entitled "Lifting Canadian Mining Off the Rocks", the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources proposed nine recommendations. Some of those recommendations would cost money if implemented, while others would emphasize collaboration and partnership that would alleviate some problems for the industry. Here are some of the recommendations.

Recommendation number three: "That the federal government introduce a mineral exploration incentive by modifying the Income Tax Act to incorporate a change in the adjusted cost base of flow through shares from a value of zero to the actual cost of the shares, that this new fiscal measure incorporate a cap on a given company's take-up of the tax benefit, and that the new incentive vehicle be in place for a maximum duration of five years".

Recommendation number four: "That in order to enhance the effectiveness of exploration work financed by means of flow through shares, the federal government enable the exploration activity funded through such shares to be carried out over a period of one full year after financing".

Recommendation number seven: "That once initial steps have been taken to improve the investment climate in Canadian mining, the federal government, its provincial and territorial counterparts, and the domestic mining industry develop through consultation an integrated approach to communicate the positive features of the Canadian mining sector to potential investors".

In May 1995 the Minister of Natural Resources responded very favourably to the report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources on mining. She stated: "The Government of Canada remains committed to fostering a modern environmentally respon-

sible mining industry that contributes significantly to Canada's economic growth and job creation. We are committed to ensuring in conjunction with provincial governments and the Canadian mining industry that there is a positive environment for investment in mineral exploration in Canada".

A month earlier, in Miami, Florida, at the Investing in the Americas Conference, the Minister of Natural Resources stated in her speech to the conference: "The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the mining industry, its contribution to economic growth and jobs, and the challenges it faces".

During the last Canadian federal election the Liberal Party of Canada was the only political party to release a detailed policy outlining its commitment to the mining industry. This commitment has not wavered. We are proud of our mining industry and we believe its present and future prospects are excellent.

From the statements made by the Minister of Natural Resources, one can only conclude that the federal government is acting in good faith in this matter and, particularly, that it is prepared to help the mining industry, in co-operation with all the other stakeholders.

It even seems fairly clear that our government is already responding to the request made in today's motion, with the intention of keeping government initiatives in the mining industry in line with the present fiscal situation.

This approach was clearly expressed in the response the government gave to the fifth report of the Standing Committe on Natural Resources entitled "Lifting Canadian Mining off the Rocks", which was tabled in the House by the hon. Anne McLellan, Minister of Natural Resources, on May 8, and I quote: "While mining remains a priority of this government, budgetary conditions also require that new ways be sought to deliver quality programs and services at a lower cost. To this end, the federal approach will be to exercise a role that complements that of the provinces and provides a national co-ordination capacity, where required, so that government policies and strategies have the most favourable impact on mining in Canada".

Heads of the mining industry in Canada are quite aware that the federal government cannot do it all on its own and offer a miracle cure for the ills of the mining industry. However, they can count on the federal government's cooperation and total support.

Already in 1994, in its action plan entitled Building a More Innovative Economy , the federal government had announced its intention to implement a number of measures concerning the regulations governing the climate for investors. Improvements are being considered in the following areas: decisions regarding land use; definition of garbage and recycling; regulatory systems north of the 60th parallel; better evaluation of environmental and economic factors in the review of the impact of new regulations-

[Leader Of The Action Démocratique Du Québec, October 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec was in the Outaouais region yesterday. He tried to convince people that the partnership between an independent Quebec and Canada would be guaranteed the day after Quebec's separation.

The separatist leader of the ADQ justified his confidence in such an agreement by stressing that it was simply good common sense.

Earlier in the day, the separatist leader touched on the future of federal public servants in an independent Quebec and said that nobody would be dropped for a period of two years.

The people in the Outaouais have good common sense and know very well that separatist promises will bring them nothing. This is why they will vote no on October 30.

[Referendum Campaign, October 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the separatist leaders spent much of last week frightening seniors by claiming that, the day after a no vote in the referendum, their pensions would be cut.

The federal government is being financially responsible by reviewing all its programs to see how they may be made more efficient and less costly. The PQ government and its separatist allies, on the other hand, continue to promise the world ignoring the fact that an independent Quebec will face a deficit of between $7 billion and $15 billion in the first year.

Seniors, like the rest of the people in this country, prefer a government that states its intentions clearly over one that irresponsibly wastes money it does not have just to win its referendum. Seniors will say no on October 30 to the campaign of fear by the PQ and the Bloc.

[Division Of The Federal Debt, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the PQ Minister of Finance has just sent a troubling message to the people of Quebec regarding the debt load an independent Quebec would have to carry.

Instead of coming across as and acting like a serious and responsible administrator, the PQ government's finance minister has decided to add to the uncertainty surrounding statements made by the Bloc leader by asking: "When Mr. Martin says that negotiations will be impossible, does it mean that he will shoulder full responsibility for the debt?"

Are we to understand from what the minister said that a PQ government might decide to stop paying its debts, while at the same time expecting its taxpayers to continue paying all their taxes? Is that the new concept of tax fairness that would be applied in an independent Quebec?

[Canada-Quebec Economic Union, September 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have just heard for the first time a separatist spokesperson speak in favour of tabling the partnership deal Quebec would offer Canada should it achieve independence.

Victor Lévy-Beaulieu, the author and co-chairman of the Yes campaign in the Lower St. Lawrence region, told Radiomédia Rimouski listeners: "Of course, for the purpose of the referendum and perhaps also to make people feel secure, it might not be a bad idea after all to finally define this new society referred to in the proposed agreement".

In his statement, Victor Lévy-Beaulieu concurs with 75 per cent of the people of Quebec who demand that the partnership offer be made public before the referendum. The people are entitled to know what is this partnership offer that an independent Quebec would extend to the rest of Canada, and it is the separatist leaders' duty to disclose its content. That is how democracy works.

[NORTH AMERiCAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, September 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, would it be as easy for an independent Quebec to become a signatory to the North American Free trade Agreement, also known as NAFTA, as the separatists claim?

The federal finance minister said yesterday it would not. He even warned that reopening negotiations with our American and Mexican partners would put a number of sectors of the Quebec economy in a vulnerable position.

I would also like to quote James Blanchard, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, and Sandra Fuentes-Berain, the Mexican ambassador to Canada, each of whom indicated that there were no guarantees an independent Quebec would automatically become a member of NAFTA.

They expected to keep Professor Ivan Bernier quiet by keeping his study on NAFTA under wraps, but they will not be able to do the same with everyone. As the finance minister said yesterday, it is time to get rid of this myth cultivated by the separatists.