Ralph Goodale

[Nisga'A Land Claims, March 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, I would say that after 100 years this is hardly a fast track.

In the process leading up to the agreement in principle, very sincere efforts were made at consultations in over 200 public meetings, open houses and other consultative mechanisms. Now that the process has moved to and through the next stage of actually signing the agreement in principle, the effort to keep all parties informed and to make sure that consultations are sincere and genuine will continue. I would certainly welcome the support of the hon. member and his party in helping to encourage this process toward a historic and successful conclusion.

[Agriculture, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, this is an extremely important question.

With respect to prairie grain producers, their former transportation subsidy under the WGTA was cancelled in one fell swoop on August 1 of last year. To help them adjust to a totally non-subsidized environment, we put certain WGTA adjustment measures into place. In the case of the dairy subsidy, it is not being terminated all at once. It is being phased out gradually over what is effectively a seven year period.

When we compare the federal money being provided for the so-called one time buyout of the WGTA versus the federal money being provided for the phase out of the dairy subsidy, the values are very much comparable, equitable and fair.

[Nisga'A Land Claims, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, again on behalf of my colleague, the minister of Indian affairs, the hon. member will know that in this process of dealing with this settlement we have been negotiating with representatives of the Nisga'a who are democratically elected under their own processes every year.

Given the very broad scope and importance of the negotiations, some disagreement within the Nisga'a community is naturally to be expected. The agreement in principle ratification by the Nisga'a was an internal process which the Nisga'a have designed for themselves to inform and seek the support of their constituents.

After the final steps are taken in the development of a final agreement on the land settlement, that final agreement must be formally ratified according to a formula that calls for 50 per cent plus 1 of eligible Nisga'a voters.

[Nisga'A Land Claims, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the hon. gentleman knows this is an ongoing process. What is being signed today is the agreement in principle.

There have been consultations and public information processes conducted up to this point. That process will continue. In the public interest of the country it is vital that this major initiative be carried through to a successful conclusion. Obviously further consultation which is a part of the process is necessary to ensure that successful conclusion.

[Nisga'A Land Claims, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the signing will proceed as scheduled today.

Prior to this agreement in principle, over 200 public meetings were held, a number of open houses, a number of consultations to keep all of the interested parties totally posted on the process involved.

As I am sure the hon. member knows, the negotiators will continue to ensure that public information is available and that the consultations will continue right through to the signing of the final agreement.

I am sure the hon. gentleman would want to agree with me that this is a major move forward in the history of the country, one I am sure the Reform Party would want to support.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

moved that Bill C-10 be concurred in.

[Dairy Industry, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. gentleman knows, the western grain transportation subsidy in western Canada was cancelled all at once in the decision taken in the budget of 1995. The subsidy terminated completely on August 1 last year.

To assist farmers in the transition process away from what had been a subsidized regime to what in the future, and is now, is a totally unsubsidized regime, a transition program was put in place temporarily. It is being implemented quite literally as we speak.

With respect to the dairy subsidy there is not a termination of the subsidy all at once. The phasing out process began in the 1995 budget with a first reduction of 15 per cent in the current year and another 15 per cent next year. As we announced in the 1996 budget there will be a gradual phase out of 20 per cent per year over the following five years. There is a gradual phase out period.

[Food Inspection, March 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. gentleman for his question about what is really a very good news story for Canadians.

We will be consolidating and strengthening all food safety standards setting functions within the Department of Health and we will consolidate and strengthen all inspection and quarantine functions within a new food inspection agency at the federal level that will draw together activities presently spread among three different departments.

This will maintain absolutely the Canadian reputation for food safety. It will improve efficiency and effectiveness, saving something in the order of $44 million annually, and it will set the stage for a truly national Canadian food inspection system with collaboration among all levels of government, a good example of how Canadians work well together.

[Canadian Wheat Board, March 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman knows the major purpose of the western grain marketing panel, which has been conducting its work over the last several months and which is meeting in the city of Winnipeg as we speak. The major purpose of the whole initiative is to provide complete, full, accurate information about the Canadian grain marketing system. It is significant that in all of this effort to the largest extent, members of the Reform Party have not bothered to show up.