Marcel Massé

[Bilingualism, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the study that was done by the commissioner indicated quite clearly that the advantages are much larger than the cost. In fact, even the enterprises themselves indicate that the cost is very small and is well worth the advantages.

In his study on the costs of bilingual packaging and labelling to small and medium size businesses, the Commissioner of Official Languages found that the average cost of compliance with federal laws and regulations is one-fifth of one cent per dollar of product revenue.

So those who scream against it are completely unjustified. The firms themselves find it is necessary because there are health, safety and security advantages to it and because the cost, once again, is one-fifth of one cent per dollar of revenue.

[Canada Pension Plan, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I

have already mentioned that benefits for MPs in respect of service after July 12, 1995 have been reduced by 20 per cent.

During the debate on Bill C-85, which was retirement allowances for MPs, there was an MP for the Reform Party, whom I will not name, who said: "We should get fair compensation, fair remuneration. It is a senior executive level. Pay us $150,000 a year". That is the example Reform gives us.

[Canada Pension Plan, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is mixing up two things; one has nothing to do with the other.

In making the Canada pension plan fund able to meet its future obligations, the government with the provinces is making sure that the plan is sustainable. In terms of the members of Parliament pension plan, we reduced it by 20 per cent and reduced the cost. We have introduced 55 as the age when it can be collected. Therefore, once again, we have made the plan much more in conformity with the requirements.

[Employment Equity, February 14th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Public Service of Canada agrees that it must reflect the composition of the public it serves. I regret that it may not be the same in all the governments in Canada but the Public Service of Canada does want to reflect the composition of the population.

In doing this, in the last few years we have increased by 50 per cent the relative representation of visible minority groups. Treasury Board has even put together a program called the special measures initiatives program. This program has been supporting a series of innovative activities to assist visible minorities, including recruitment programs, initiatives to upgrade skills and promote marketability, and career development training to prepare individuals for senior positions. In this area the Public Service of Canada has clearly been doing its job.

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is so overcome by the truth that it no longer considers asking questions.

But even if the hon. member did not ask a question, I think it is clear that our program spending, will have gone down from $120 billion to $103 billion next year, which means that our departments have had to absorb the majority of our spending cuts. We cut administrative spending more than we cut transfer payments. In fact, the government cut its own spending by 22 per cent, so as to restore its fiscal responsibility.

And I must say that if there had been no separatists on the other side, the results would have been even better.

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, our achievements are there for all to see. In international forums, whether we are talking about the International Monetary Fund or the OECD, all reports have indicated that Canada's economic performance was the best of any industrialized country.

Newspapers in France refer to the Canadian miracle, and Japanese investors are now prepared to invest at rates which are 5 per cent lower than before. We cleaned up our tax system; we have again become fiscally responsible; we created 700,000 jobs; we brought the inflation rate down to 1.5 per cent and in 1996, our current trade balance will show a surplus.

These are our achievements, and the opposition cannot deny this.

[Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, February 12th, 1997]

moved that Bill C-60, an act to establish the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to repeal and amend other acts as a consequence, be read the third time and passed.

[Infrastructure Program, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the first phase of the infrastructure program with Ontario was an amazing success, with 5,000 projects and 39,000 new jobs, mainly in the construction industry, where the unemployment rate was very low.

To date, all provinces and territories have given me a response on the new offer we made them to extend the infrastructure program for the period 1997-98. In principle, all have been favourable. We are going to sign a new agreement with Alberta

tomorrow, and I trust that the one with Ontario will soon follow suit.

[Atlantic Economy, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important question. I am quite aware of the impact which these fees have created. Therefore, we have put together a multi-sectoral committee of stakeholders which will be meeting next week to examine solutions. We will be developing a new policy in Treasury Board based on the results of these consultations which will be aimed at reducing the inconvenience caused by the imposition of these fees.

[Quebec Pharmacare Plan, February 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is false to say that keeping our policy unchanged adversely affects 100,000 federal public servants in Quebec because, as I just indicated, 98,000 out of those 100,000 are better protected by our policy than they would be if we made adjustments like those made by private employers in Quebec.

Under the circumstances, there is no doubt that we provide better protection of the rights of Quebecers who are or were public servants, and of their families, by keeping them under the protection provided by our policy.