Douglas Young

[Social Housing, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, clearly the minister is aware of his responsibilities regarding the funds available for social housing. I can tell my colleague that, today, the minister responsible is in the beautiful city of Bathurst, New Brunswick, negotiating with his provincial counterparts.

[Pearson International Airport, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as the member recognized implicitly in his question, Canadians know that this deal was questionable and certainly not in either the public interest or in the best interest of Canadian taxpayers.

I have no doubt that whatever decision is arrived at with respect to compensation for out of pocket expenses precluding any compensation for lobbyist fees or foregone profits, the Auditor General of Canada as well as Canadian taxpayers will want to scrutinize in a very careful way every penny if in fact any money is paid in compensation. That is why the minister who is given fairly wide discretionary powers under the legislation that is presently before the House will be very careful in making sure he recognizes his fiduciary responsibility to the Canadian taxpayers.

[Pearson International Airport, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we are trying to conclude the cancellation of the contract at Pearson with the negotiator.

The matter is before the House in terms of the legislation, so I would not want to contravene the rules of the House. The member will know that a lot of this involves companies and commercial undertakings that are not just directly related to the Pearson project. I want to say to the hon. member that when this matter is concluded, all material that is appropriate, that can be released and what can be legally provided to the public will be provided.

[Transportation Subsidies, June 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. There is no doubt that in the major changes that will have to take place in the transportation system, if it is going to be affordable in Canada we will have to maintain the notion of equity and fairness.

There is no question that the subsidies we refer to mainly deal with rail but of course the freight subsidies in Atlantic Canada that deal with a lot of truck transportation will have to be reviewed.

As we go through this process the objective will be to have an integrated affordable transportation system where all modes can compete on an equal footing.

[Cn Exploration, June 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more amusing than to watch Reform acrobatics. It is unfortunate that the question the hon. member just put was written before he listened to the original question's answer.

What I said, and what I want to repeat, is that any deal that would be made by CN with respect to the divestment of any of its assets would be scrutinized. It would have to be in the best interest of Canadian taxpayers.

To suggest that any transaction would be capable of being reviewed to determine whether anyone in the future might make a profit from it would be beyond even the scope of what Reformers are capable of doing.

[Cn Exploration, June 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, obviously with the condition that we find railroads in Canada in, with all the discussions and all the uncertainty that is out there with respect to rail activity in Canada, any divestment by CN of any of its assets would be reviewed meticulously and would have to be proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to be in the best interest of Canadian taxpayers.

[Transportation, June 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member asks a question that has a lot of people in the country concerned.

Obviously it is true everywhere in Canada that local authorities are looking for more input into decisions that directly affect their communities and their regions. I am quite surprised that a member from Quebec would not be interested in looking at a process that would provide for very significant local input.

I might add to the hon. member that most user groups and client groups in the country are absolutely convinced, in terms that they have made very clear to me, that they believe that with more input from those user and client groups we can have a system that is far more efficient, far more effective, far more affordable and I would think that is what the hon. member would have in mind as well.

[Transportation, June 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I am sure the hon. member is aware that the speech we made in Thunder Bay on Friday night was not really about privatization. That is not the route the Department of Transport intends to go.

We talked mainly about commercialization, which is an entirely different approach.

[Marine Transportation Security Act, June 7th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-38, an Act to provide for the security of marine transportation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[National Transportation Week, June 3rd, 1994]

Madam Speaker, this evening I will be attending the launching of National Transportation Week, 1994 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. As a parliamentarian and minister of the Crown, I feel it is appropriate that I present to my colleagues in this chamber the most important elements of the speech I will deliver tonight.

This year, National Transportation Week coincides with the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Transportation, and the fledgling Department of Transport, played a critical role in the war effort.

Since the beginning of our history, unique, visionary transportation policies have helped secure freedom and keep the peace. They have brought Canada prosperity and bound Canadians together.

Efficient, reliable, safe and affordable transportation systems to move people and goods are essential to maintain Canada's economic competitiveness. The current transportation system, despite many past successes and significant achievements, is becoming a handicap rather than an advantage to Canadian businesses and consumers. We must modernize quickly. That will require tough choices and difficult adjustments. The future will bring even greater challenges. Much of our system is over-built and we can no longer afford it.

That is not to criticize the past, but to recognize that we must not be held captive by it or to it.

Let me give you some examples: 94 per cent of all air passengers and cargo are handled at only 26 airports out of the 650 in this country; 84 per cent of all rail traffic is carried on only 33 per cent of our rail lines; and 80 per cent of our marine traffic passes through only 30 out of about 300 public ports.

Our system is not cost-free. Through the federal government alone, Canadian taxpayers are directly subsidizing the Canadian transportation system at a cost of more than $1.6 billion this year.

The challenge facing me as Minister of Transport is to develop policies that will foster and encourage our transportation industries to rise to the challenges of the 21st century.

Transport Canada must become the proponent of a broader national vision based on the needs of the nation from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic. We must become advocates for a modern, intermodal transportation system-one that is viable, efficient, safe, affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly.

The most realistic and viable policy thrust I believe must be based on what the 1994 federal budget referred to as commercialization. The budget called on Transport Canada to review the potential for commercialization of a number of our major activities. We intend to do that in consultation with affected parties, with the objective of improving efficiency and ensuring long term viability.

What does commercialization mean? It can be one of many approaches by which market discipline and business principles can be introduced to traditional government activity. Commercialization covers a vast continuum of options, from government agencies to not for profit organizations, to public and private sector partnerships, to employee run companies, to crown corporations, to privatization.

Commercialization means users dictate what services they want provided and users can determine in large part how costs can be controlled. Commercialization means that whatever option is selected must allow market discipline to lead to more efficient service, greater flexibility and less dependence on tax dollars.

Commercialization means the goal must be higher quality and more efficient service to the user at less cost to the Canadian taxpayer. Commercialization will not dilute Transport Canada's highest priority ensuring and where possible enhancing the safety and security of Canadians.

Transport Canada is going to look at commercializing many activities. We will consult widely on how that might best be achieved. We will be looking at airport operations, the air navigation system, activities of the Canadian Coast Guard, and operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

We believe that carefully planned commercialization will mean major savings to taxpayers and better service to clients. We also believe that the role and structure of crown corporations such as CN and VIA Rail must be reviewed. Because of the great uncertainty in the rail sector and the concern raised by proposals for a merger, I intend to convene a meeting of industry leaders to

discuss the problems railroads are facing and seek solutions together.

Let me restate our fundamental commitments as we pursue our goal of a national integrated affordable transportation system.

The Government of Canada will continue to meet its constitutional, legal and fiduciary obligations with respect to transportation. The government will continue to ensure reasonable service to Canada's remote communities and for Canadians with disabilities. Transport Canada will not abandon its responsibility to ensure safe and secure transportation standards, rules and regulations. The government will promote a national integrated transportation system that respects the environment.

I believe it is possible to promote the national interest at the same time as we protect the interests of the taxpayers of Canada and I am determined to do both.

Canada is recognized as a world-class G-7 nation; indeed, we are at the top of the class according to the United Nations. The challenge is to remain that way. Maintaining the standard of living Canadians have come to expect will require hard work and many tough choices in the years ahead. It will require co-operation and compassion on the part of those who will be called upon to make those difficult decisions.

We must take into account those displaced by change; those abandoned by the travelling public, those communities, villages, towns and cities which will experience loss.

These are some of the challenges facing the Canadian transportation industry. I also want to take this opportunity to wish the hundreds of thousands of men and women who work in the transportation field, from coast to coast to coast, every success, as we launch National Transportation Week.