Ralph Goodale

[The Environment, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, again I point out to the hon. member that the 1998 budget added $150 million to the process. That brings this government's investment in climate change solutions on an annual basis to over $200 million per year.

In addition, there were a number of technical measures in this budget having to do with gas flaring, having to do with support to municipalities, and having to do with wind experiments in the Atlantic provinces which will continue to move the momentum along.

The government is moving on the file and we intend to meet our targets.

[The Environment, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, that work is already under way in two important respects.

First, in the budget of 1998 we introduced the climate change action fund. This is $150 million in new money to support the ongoing process with the provinces, to support the work on science, to support the work on technology transfer and on engaging the Canadian public. We have a very open and transparent process with 450 Canadian experts working together to develop a long term strategy. The process is very well along in its development.

[Commodity Prices, March 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP has awakened to the intensely competitive global marketplace.

In a news release today she said the only answer is for Canadians to work together to find solutions. That is exactly what we have been doing as a government since 1993. We are fighting for fair access in markets around the world.

Team Canada trade missions take advantage of that access. We have more research and development, more diversification, more value added economic growth. Canadian dependency on raw commodities has been cut from over 60% in 1980 to about 35% today.

The nation has been rid of its deficit and we already—

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that some of the conditions facing off reserve aboriginal people are very distressing and deserve the attention of all governments in this country that have jurisdiction and responsibility.

The Government of Canada is working on its side of that responsibility as we would expect all other levels of government to do as well. We are anxious to work in partnership to find the solutions that work. And yes indeed, my door is always open to meet with any aboriginal group that wants to talk to me.

[Natural Resources, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this initiative is about Canada's geomatics industry, one of the country's fastest growing high tech sectors with more than 1,500 companies, 20,000 employees and a global market growing at a rate of 20% a year. Canada is a big player in that market.

GeoConnexions is a unique intergovernmental, private sector, academic sector partnership to build an ultra modern information highway for the delivery of vital integrated comprehensive geographic information all across Canada. That means urban, rural, aboriginal, northern and remote areas. All Canadians will benefit.

[Justice, February 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has an obligation obviously to uphold the law, not in a selective manner but broadly and even handedly across the board. That is in fact what we do.

In terms of individual prosecutions, of course the hon. gentleman will also know the appropriate role of the provincial departments of justice. The hon. gentleman refers to specific cases where he thinks there is some discrepancy in the administration of justice. Obviously all of those cases are looked at very closely to ensure that justice is even handed.

[Export Of Candu Reactors, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, obviously with respect to future transactions, no one can predict what might happen in terms of future business relationships.

On the scientific point, the hon. member does this Canadian technology a grave disservice by implying that it is somehow inherently unsafe. In fact, the Candu has the safest track record in the world.

[Devco, February 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, when I was in Sydney for the announcement I indicated that the management of the corporation would indeed want to review the human resources package that was included as part of our announcement with union representatives. Some of those discussions have already been held. Obviously, if there are ways to tailor that package in a way that is more beneficial to the employees within the financial parameters that have been set out, every creative idea would be considered. Some of those discussions have already started.

[Devco, February 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the union proposition was put to me informally when I met with the union on January 11. I was provided with a written description of what it had in mind.

I subsequently had that proposal very carefully analysed. The information revealed that under any of the various scenarios, which I am sure were put forward with the best of intentions, but under any of the various scenarios proposed by the unions, Devco unfortunately would continue to be a losing proposition because the arrangement was simply not economical.

[Privilege, February 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I want to address the complaint that was raised by the member for Sydney—Victoria after question period on Monday last week. It had to do with two separate events associated with the announcement of the government's plans with respect to Cape Breton Development Corporation.

In commenting, I am at a bit of a disadvantage because I was not personally involved in either event. However, I have been assured by those with direct knowledge that the following is an accurate recounting.

The first issue raised by the member dealt with the scheduling of the announcement. On January 27 at about 9 o'clock in the morning the member for Sydney—Victoria and the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton were in the waiting room of my office in the Confederation Building. At that time the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton indicated that she had heard that an announcement with respect to Devco was coming in the next two or three weeks. The members were told by a member of my staff that an announcement was imminent and that it would take place sooner rather than later.

In fact later that day, January 27 at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, we received confirmation from the Privy Council Office authorizing me to make an announcement on the future direction of Devco.

So there can be no confusion, allow me to once again emphasize the chronology of that day. On January 27 at about nine o'clock in the morning my staff informed the two MPs that an announcement was imminent and that it would take place sooner rather than later. At about five o'clock in the afternoon on that same day, that is about eight hours after the conversation between my staff and the two MPs, my office received a call from the PCO informing us that we were authorized to make an announcement. Given our desire to end the uncertainty faced by the people of Cape Breton, the decision was made to announce the next day.

The second issue pertains to a media briefing by officials which took place on the day of the announcement. My office advised a staff member in the office of the member for Sydney—Victoria that the media briefing was, as the words themselves imply, for the media. In addition his office was also told that it would be receiving a copy of the information package prior to a media conference at which the announcement would be made. Copies of that information package were hand delivered to both the Parliament Hill and riding offices of both the member for Sydney—Victoria and the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton. As promised by my office, these packages did arrive prior to the beginning of that media conference.

However the key point is that the media and the members for Sydney—Victoria and Bras d'Or—Cape Breton were not the only people to receive the information prior to the media conference. While officials briefed the media, I met personally with union leaders and others and most important with miners and their families to describe the impending announcement and to answer their questions. I can confirm that the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton was in the room for that discussion with the miners and others and the member for Sydney—Victoria and/or his staff could well have been there too. Both members of parliament were present at the subsequent media conference for the announcement itself.

It is clear that we tried very hard to treat everyone fairly and appropriately in what were very difficult and emotional circumstances. It was certainly no one's intention to cause any offence.