House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 60% of the vote.
Privilege October 31st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I can perhaps help shed some light on the debate, to move things ahead.
The member, on a question of privilege or a point of order, is asking that a letter sent to the minister be tabled. I am certain the minister has no objection whatsoever to the letter being made public, in the interests of transparency for all members of the House, which will help us to proceed with the debate.
Employment Insurance Fund October 31st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development, who the other night came before the Standing Committee on Finance with his colleague, the Minister of Finance.
For the first time, the Minister of Finance admitted before the committee that the government was using the EI fund to reduce the Canadian government deficit. The minister has a responsibility regarding this fund.
I would like to know why he lets his government use the employment insurance money belonging to the workers to reduce the Canadian deficit.
Fisheries October 31st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, with all respect, the minister's answer is a good indication of what is wrong with the government's position on this. It does not seem to want to give any political direction. In fact, yesterday it met with the envoys and we learned nothing as a result of that meeting. Nothing new is on the table.
I would like to know when this government is going to show some backbone for the families on the west coast of British Columbia suffering in this dispute. Will it, yes or no, ask the envoys for an interim report when they will meet the prime minister and President Clinton around the APEC meetings? When will the government show some backbone on behalf of British Columbians and not be like Reformers and not care?
Fisheries October 31st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question to the government is on the Pacific salmon dispute between Canada and the United States.
The government will know that the principle of equity in this treaty is a key principle, as is the principle of conservation. I would like to know from the government whether or not it will ask envoys Ruckelshaus and Strangway to make recommendations to governments on ways where they could include a dispute settlement mechanism and also propose options for a binding mechanism as a way of ending the impasse on the equity principle?
The Environment October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the smog has obviously not evaporated because the prime minister did not understand my question.
My question is whether or not this government is going to propose a tradable permit system between Canada, the United States and Mexico, as was recommended by the group on the environment between the three counties.
Second, will the government also propose a system that will allow us to take credit for efforts in other countries?
Finally, will there be regional variations in our position to allow Alberta to have a fair shake?
The Environment October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I will take the opportunity to correct the prime minister who said that Mr. Bouchard was the minister of the environment in Rio. It was myself. I regret to report that neither Mr. Bouchard nor myself would view that as a compliment.
There must be a lot of smog in the cabinet room these days because there is a lot of confusion on the government's position. I would like to help those members out today and ask whether or not, as they go to Kyoto, they will have a position that will encourage a tradable permit system as was recommended by the Commission for Environmental Co-operation put together by NAFTA, of which the Minister of the Environment happens to be a member.
Human Resources Development October 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I doubt I can be misinformed. One of the things they told us is that they could not get a meeting with the minister of fisheries.
Today we learned from Canada's negotiators that the Americans lacked political will to solve the problem of the Pacific salmon treaty. Envoys Ruckelshaus and Strangway are in Ottawa this week, according to the minister of external affairs.
I would like to know from the Prime Minister whether he will give a mandate to the envoys to report to him and President Clinton at the APEC conference when they will have their bilateral so that British Columbians and the coastal communities can finally see some political will exercised by the government to solve this problem.
Human Resources Development October 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Last Friday I met in British Columbia with representatives of the Community Fisheries Development Centre, Coastal Communities Network, United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, and representatives of the north and aboriginal communities.
Essentially they said that the Mifflin plan had been an unmitigated disaster that affected their communities disastrously and that the government had no plan.
When will the human resources development minister come forward with an adjustment plan for coastal communities on the west coast? When exactly will he deliver on that? What amount of money will they put to it?
The Environment October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat my question to the Minister of Finance about the use of economic instruments to help solve the problem of greenhouse gases.
A few minutes ago, the minister told me that the government was doing its job. Yet, a report released by a joint committee mandated by his government states that the committee did not receive the mandate to examine every available subsidy and instrument, and that its mandate was too narrow to review all economic instruments.
Did the government do its homework for the Kyoto summit, yes or no?
Environment October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the government was saying that three or four years ago. I find it revealing today that it is the Minister of the Environment, not the Minister of Finance who is answering the questions on economic instruments.
Maybe we can help the government today in this problem it has. Will the government confirm that it will propose joint implementation in Kyoto? Will it also confirm that it will propose the use of economic instruments, take up the offer of President Clinton and look at how we can implement some tradable permit system here in North America?