Douglas Young

[Conversion Of Defence Industry, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity in the last few months, as late as this week in Montreal, of meeting with representatives of SNC Lavalin.

The effort being made to convert from military production activities into the private and civilian sector is a phenomenon that we are all faced with in free countries around the world.

It is not going to be easy in Quebec. It is not going to be easy in Canada. We are looking forward to recommendations from members of the House, like my hon. colleague, to tell us exactly what they think can be done.

Whether it is SNC Lavalin or the consortium to which the hon. member was just referring, when they come forward with solutions to this very complex problem, obviously the Government of Canada and provincial governments across the country will look forward to trying to implement those solutions where they are feasible.

[Conversion Of Defence Industry, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the minister responsible for this issue, the Minister of Science and Technology, has always said very clearly that the transition to the private sector, which will happen given all the changes in military activities around the world, will be very complex. We are confident that any consultation in Quebec that may help us find solutions will certainly be taken into full consideration.

It will not be easy either in Canada or in other places where the same kind of activity is taking place, but we are very interested in seeing what kind of solutions this group can offer us.

[Excise Tax Act, June 21st, 1994]

Shame.

[Questions On The Order Paper, June 20th, 1994]

a

) and ( c ) The Canadian Coast Guard has established levels of service, as well as comprehensive operating and performance standards. In 1992, the national search and rescue program concept was approved by the lead minister for search and rescue, the Minister of National Defence. The Coast Guard continues to look for ways to improve the effectiveness of the national search and rescue program in order to save as many lives as possible. Figures for 1992 indicate that primary Coast Guard search and rescue vessels responded to over 41 per cent of all marine search and rescue taskings in Canada and saved the lives of 1,200 persons in distress.

(b) The Canadian Marine Rescue Auxiliary provides invaluable assistance to mariners in distress. Expansion of the membership and capability of the auxiliary is a goal of both the Coast Guard and the auxiliary.

Question No. 53-

[Lobbyists, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the Pearson deal and the cancellation of the agreement, the investigation and the judgment that was brought to that deal by the people of Canada speaks for itself. There are

33 members of Parliament who understand very well as the people of the greater Toronto area understand very well whatPearson was all about. We did not need an ethics counsellor to tell us that.

[Air Transportation, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat for my hon. colleague's information that 99 per cent of flights in Quebec airspace can be guided in the pilot's language of choice. I know how much the hon. member and his opposition colleagues are interested in Moncton and in the French fact outside Quebec. I know how much they are really interested in ensuring that services are provided in both languages outside Quebec. We know what kind of support they have given us on this issue historically.

[Air Transportation, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague wanted to be frank with the House of Commons, he would know that 99 per cent of all flights in Quebec airspace are served in the pilot's language of choice. However, when airplanes are flying at an altitude of more than 29,000 feet, there may be, at a certain point, a lack of communications in French.

In general, these airplanes are flying to destinations outside Quebec where they will have to operate in English on arrival. It is the Department of Transport's fiduciary and primary responsibility to ensure the safety of the people using Canada's transportation system, and if the hon. member wants to fight for bilingualism, I would ask him not to do so on the backs of the people who use Canada's transportation system.

[Radar Control, June 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we will keep on doing our utmost to provide adequate services to ensure the safety of the people who use the air navigation system in Quebec and in the rest of Canada.

[Radar Control, June 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in any air navigation system, there are always areas where communication in one official language or the other, or both, is difficult. What we are saying, and I want to reassure my hon. colleague, is that anybody who uses air navigation services in Canada knows that they are exceptional and that they compare well with any other system in the world. If, as my hon. colleague is claiming, there are gaps here or there, we will try to see to them. But I do not like the fact that he is trying to create a red

herring. New Brunswick, including Moncton, is bilingual. We are very proud of it. We recognize our obligations to those who use the air navigation services and we will try to take all the necessary steps to ensure their safety.

[Pearson International Airport, June 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it must be Friday to hear such pitiful statements from the opposition.

I said at the committee, where the hon. member had every opportunity to pursue this further, that Mr. Wright had been given a very specific mandate. He was not to negotiate any payments to any lobbyists who were involved in the Pearson deal. He was not to negotiate any arrangements that provided for lost profits. He was to negotiate on the basis of appropriate out of pocket expenses.

With all due respect to the hon. member, this person has been chairman of the Ontario Securities Commission. A person operating in the legal profession in Ontario with the reputation and ability of Mr. Wright regularly charges fees to his personal clients, corporate clients and the Government of Canada at least twice and three times what is being charged to the Government of Canada as he carries out his responsibilities in this matter.