Douglas Young

[Privilege, March 15th, 1995]

You did nothing when you were there.

[Privilege, March 15th, 1995]

But in any case, you did nothing.

[Taxation, March 15th, 1995]

Undenounced?

[Air Transportation, March 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the entire question of providing Canadian travellers, business people and tourists with access to and from Hong Kong is one which this government has worked on since the time it came to office.

It is extremely important that Canadian Airlines International have access to Frankfurt, that we open the routes that have been awarded to the Philippines, to Malaysia, to Vietnam. We have signed a bilateral agreement with the United States.

It is a priority of this government to negotiate arrangements to give access to Air Canada at Hong Kong.

If the member were the least bit fair about this he would look over the last 14 months at what has occurred in the aviation industry in Canada and he would probably recognize that more progress has been made in 14 months than in the previous 15 years.

[Air Transportation, March 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it took years of negotiations to provide Air Canada with an opportunity to fly to Asia. As you know, in January of last year, Air Canada was granted access to Kansai airport, in Japan.

This year, we managed to obtain landing rights in New York and in Chicago. We also made the decision to give Air Canada access to Hong Kong.

I realize that this is painful for opposition members, but I do accept the praises of Hollis Harris, who says that this decision is fair.

[Canadian National, March 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the hon. member's frustration because we have all read of his experience at a meeting he attended to discuss financial matters in the west not very long ago. He only lasted, I am told, some five or ten minutes when they asked him to leave. It is obvious why one would do that.

With respect to the commercialisation of Canadian National, we understand the concerns of the pensioners of CN, the concerns of the employees. We also understand how important it is to taxpayers and to people across the country to have a viable enterprise, operating a coast to coast railroad.

The difference between what the government will do and what the hon. member and his party usually do is that they talk about doing things, we get them done to protect those interests which he considers important.

[Canadian National, March 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in dealing with the commercialisation of CN obviously we are going to take into account everything important to Canadians and the employees of CN. I want to reassure my hon. friend that as the process unfolds the interests of everyone involved will be protected to the extent that we can.

[Coast Guard College In Sydney, March 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the coast guard academy at Sydney, Nova Scotia, produces people who are highly skilled and world recognized. We understand the role played by the various provincial institutions referred to by the hon. member.

I would hope the hon. member would understand that the presence of a coast guard academy such as the one at Sydney is absolutely essential to maintain the level and the standards that are well known around the world which have been maintained by the coast guard for a century now in Canada.

[Coast Guard College In Sydney, March 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, every institution my hon. colleague mentioned makes a significant contribution to the Coast Guard and other services within Transport Canada. We have no intention of changing the status of the Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

[National Ports, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I indeed received a letter signed by several stakeholders in the industry asking me to replace the gentleman in question. However, as far as I know, the allegations are based on

comments which so far are not supported by any evidence of criminal or fraudulent activities.

I wish to emphasize that we are, of course, reviewing the situation because it is important. Unless the hon. member has specific evidence to submit to us which would point to unacceptable behaviour on the part of Mr. Masters involving criminal or fraudulent activities, I would appreciate it if the hon. member exercised his right to make these accusations outside this Chamber instead of staying here where he is protected.