VOLUME 133 NUMBER 090 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, June 21, 1994 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, June 21, 1994 The House met at 10 a.m. under some control and guarantee the fisheries in both coun- tries. _______________ In conclusion, the Canadian and American delegations agreed to follow up on the durum wheat issue, cross–border matters and Prayers other issues as they relate to Canada and I have the pleasure of presenting this report to the House of Commons. _______________ * * * ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES [English] Mr. Robert D. Nault (Kenora—Rainy River): Mr. Speaker, CANADA–UNITED STATES INTERPARLIAMENTARY I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the GROUP second report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources on forestry practices in Canada entitled ‘‘Canada: A Model Mr. Joe Comuzzi (Thunder Bay—Nipigon): Mr. Speaker, Forest Nation in the Making’’. pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation (1005 ) to the 35th annual meeting of the Canada–United States Inter- I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members parliamentary Group which was held in Santa Fe on May 19 to of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources for all their 23, 1994. hard work in the last three months in putting together a very The agenda at these meetings is always extensive and wide comprehensive report on the state of our forests. ranging. The meetings in this case were no exception and we Some 17 recommendations are made on how we can continue dealt with the economic issues as they relate to both countries, to be a model forest nation and what we as a nation must do to the international concerns we both feel and transborder matters. have sustainable forest practices in order to continue to lead the Other sessions dealt with a comparison between Canada’s health world as a forestry nation. care system and what the Americans are trying to implement, as well as the political situation in both countries. Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on The range and depth of the discussions that took place went a Natural Resources on Bill C–25, an act to amend the Canada long way in allowing the United States and Canadian parlia- Petroleum Resources Act, without amendment. mentarians to better understand the issues that come between [Translation] both our countries. Whether the issue was softwood lumber or durum wheat, which is so prevalent today, the opportunity to put Mr. René Canuel (Matapédia—Matane): Mr. Speaker, in forward the Canadian position was afforded to us. I was very my capacity as the Opposition critic for natural resources, I proud of the delegation being able to put our position forward in attended the standing committee meetings along with my col- the strongest terms. leagues from the ridings of Abitibi and Anjou—Rivière–des– Prairies. After hearing from a number of witnesses, we quickly As a point of fact, one of the main issues discussed—the realized that the problem raised in committee was caused minister of fisheries reported on it yesterday—was the lamprey primarily by the bad publicity in Europe about forestry products infestation in the Great Lakes. We all know that the lamprey from British Columbia. situation is reaching epidemic proportions. It is as a direct result of these meetings held in the month of May that the increased We were sensitive to the forestry sector’s significant con- funding for lamprey control in the United States and Canada has tribution to Canada and to Quebec, to the problem of marketing been increased. We should be able to bring this parasitic animal forestry products on the international scene, and to the impor– 5617 COMMONS DEBATES June 21, 1994 Routine Proceedings tance of sustainable development as a touchstone to guide (1010) action by all parties in the forestry sector. [Translation] The Bloc Quebecois has tabled a dissenting opinion for the Mrs. Pauline Picard (Drummond): Mr. Speaker, I would following reasons. First, because the federal government in- like to inform the House that the Bloc Quebecois, the Official tends to adopt a centralist approach in order to mediate a Opposition, has tabled a dissenting minority report that the problem concentrated in one province. Second, since the Consti- Standing Committee on Health has agreed to attach to the tution Act, 1982 recognizes the provinces’ jurisdiction over the majority report tabled by my colleague from Burin—St. development, conservation and management of forestry re- George’s. sources, any action by the federal government would require a prior mandate from the provinces. It is important to recall that the members of the Bloc Quebe- cois are in favour of implementing true measures designed to Bloc Quebecois MPs nevertheless consider that it is their protect public health and improve the health of Quebecers and responsibility to promote the interests of Quebec and the Canadians. We feel that the Standing Committee on Health, provinces in certain areas, particularly federal–provincial despite its best efforts, does not have the tools required to argue agreements, the rights of aboriginal peoples, the national certifi- conclusively for plain packaging of tobacco products. cation process, and Canada’s international forest strategy. While the federal health department’s own study is ongoing and will not be completed before the end of the year, introducing PUBLIC ACCOUNTS plain tobacco packaging is not justified by any testimony that was given before the Standing Committee on Health. What is Mr. Richard Bélisle (La Prairie): Mr. Speaker, I have the more, serious concerns were raised about violations of Canada’s honour to present the fifth report of the Standing Committee on international trade obligations under the free trade agreement Public Accounts. The committee held two meetings to examine and NAFTA, about substantial losses of direct and indirect jobs chapter 5 of the 1993 Annual Report of the Auditor General with and finally about counterfeiting, smuggling and marketing. regard to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, specifically the Northern Cod Adjustment and Recovery Program. The report presented by the members of the Bloc Quebecois sets out our concerns over plain packaging of tobacco products The committee is concerned that all government programs and the issues involved in a true public health policy. We are include proper financial controls. It is also of the belief that full favourable to any measure that is effective, efficient, sustain- scrutiny and approval, by Parliament, of the programs for which able and consistent with the government’s obligations with it allocates funds, is a vital component of financial management respect to the industry, workers and domestic and international and control. In the case of the Northern Cod Adjustment and trade. Neutral packaging simply does not meet these require- Recovery Program, these needs were not met fully. ments, as far as we can tell. [English] Now that the program has ended, the committee strongly believes that some valuable lessons have been learned from it. Mr. Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca): Mr. Speaker, on a These lessons have considerable relevance for the development point of order, if there is unanimous consent, I would like to and implementation of future programs, and ultimately for the spend a minute addressing this if I may. way in which Parliament conducts its affairs. The Deputy Speaker: Is there unanimous consent to have the It is out of concern that the kinds of problems experienced by spokesman of the Reform Party speak with respect to this NCARP be either averted or diminished in the future that the committee report? committee makes its report and recommendations. Pursuant to Some hon. members: Agreed. Standing Order 109, the committee asks that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. Some hon. members: No. [English] The Deputy Speaker: There is no unanimous consent. * * * HEALTH [Translation] Hon. Roger Simmons (Burin—St. George’s): Mr. Speaker, I COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled ‘‘Towards HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT Zero Consumption, Generic Packaging of Tobacco Products’’. Mr. Francis G. LeBlanc (Cape Breton Highlands—Canso): Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to lay upon the table the 6th the government table a comprehensive response within 150 report of the standing committee on human resources, concern- days. ing the date the committee’s report on the review of social 5618 June 21, 1994 COMMONS DEBATES Routine Proceedings security is to be tabled and a request for permission to travel. If He said: Mr. Speaker, in an effort to further the good manage- the House agrees, I intend to move that the 6th report be ment of all government departments, agencies and corporations, concurred in later today. the bill I am proposing at this time seeks to improve account- ability by moving certain crown corporations currently ex- * * * empted from the provisions of the Financial Administration Act into the accountability framework suggested by the Auditor [English] General. CORRECTIONS AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE ACT Auditors General have on several occasions in their annual reports made recommendations to introduce this change. Their Hon. Herb Gray (Leader of the Government in the House concern focuses on the fact that these exempt corporations do of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada) moved for not face as rigorous an examination as do all other government leave to introduce Bill C–45, an act to amend the Corrections departments, agencies and corporations.