Tuesday, December 17, 1996
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CANADA 2nd SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT VOLUME 136 NUMBER 64 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 17, 1996 THE HONOURABLE GILDAS L. MOLGAT SPEAKER CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue.) Debates: Victoria Building, Room 407, Tel. 996-0397 Published by the Senate Available from Canada Communication Group — Publishing, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa K1A 0S9, at $1.75 per copy or $158 per year. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1395 THE SENATE Tuesday, December 17, 1996 The Senate met at 2:00 p.m., the Speaker in the Chair. aware of this, but then again, perhaps she is too busy reading the newspaper. Prayers. I fear that this sort of reckless disregard may be typical of the manner in which the Liberal government plans to manage all of SENATORS’ STATEMENTS our cultural affairs. We have no long-term strategy, no blueprint for the future. That lends even more credibility to my call for a study in the Senate of our cultural situation. I know senators HERITAGE CANADA across the way are very supportive of that idea, as are my own colleagues. BUDGET CUTS TO CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION—ADVERSE EFFECT ON CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS (1410) Hon. Janis Johnson: Honourable senators, I am very The Liberals have already demonstrated that the policies concerned about the Liberal government’s stewardship of this outlined in the Red Book are no longer operative. My concern is nation’s cultural institutions. When elected, the Liberals above and beyond partisan politics. What is the long-term plan promised stable, long-term financing for the CBC. Despite that for the CBC? If we have no long-term strategy for our largest and promise, which was spelled out quite clearly in the Red Book, most important institutions, can we believe that our smaller the federal government has once again misled Canadians by institutions are in any less jeopardy? slashing the CBC’s budget by $414 million. Does the federal government have a comprehensive, long-term plan for the CBC? Honourable senators, I believe 1997 would be an appropriate Evidently not. time to examine a long-term strategy for Canada’s cultural institutions. The CBC, the Canada Council, the National Film In the last few days, we listened to the Minister of National Board and dozens of smaller cultural agencies are the very fabric Defence, Doug Young, announce that he would like to see CBC that holds our nation together. We owe it to Canadians to manage television dismantled and privatized. Shortly afterwards, the those cultural resources in a serious and thoughtful manner. Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, made the statement that, by her reckoning, her government’s budget cut would result [Translation] in 19 lost jobs. Nineteen jobs! Was the minister misleading us, or is she truly ignorant of the effect of her own government’s policies? In either case, that is a remarkable statement. LA FRANCOPHONIE Broadcasting industry experts pointed out that the number of lay-offs is closer to 1,000. To that news, the minister responsible BID OF CITY OF MONCTON TO HOST SUMMIT IN 1999 for culture responded by saying that she obtained her facts from the newspaper. She said that she did not create statistics, and did Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool: Honourable senators, today I not have any. Perhaps she should get her hands on some. wish to support the efforts of the governments of Canada and New Brunswick to promote the candidature of the city of It is truly astounding that the federal Minister of Canadian Moncton, New Brunswick, as the site of the next Sommet de la Heritage is so ignorant of the impact of her own policies. The francophonie in 1999. Holding the summit in Moncton would CBC is one of the most important unifying forces in this nation. afford an opportunity to the francophone community of Canada, It is difficult to go home to enjoy a Christmas holiday knowing including Quebec, to distinguish itself on the international scene. that the pride of Canada, our CBC, is being mismanaged in such For the francophone and Acadian communities of the country, a cavalier fashion. holding the Sommet de la francophonie in New Brunswick would enhance the visibility of the Canadian francophonie and When I return home, I will be obliged to explain why showcase its vitality. Manitoba and the other have-not regions were hit so disproportionately by these cuts. In Winnipeg, our CBC regional I would ask you, honourable senators, to do your utmost to director announced last week that 74 positions will be lost. It convince the various governments of the merits of holding such does not seem unreasonable to expect that Ms Copps would be an event in New Brunswick. 1396 SENATE DEBATES December 17, 1996 [English] That, notwithstanding Rule 98, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural THE ECONOMY Resources present an interim report, before submitting its final report on Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLE OF SMALL BUSINESS trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances, relating to its findings Hon. Richard J. Stanbury: Honourable senators, yesterday, on the following questions: the winners of an annual contest to identify the 50 best-managed private companies in Canada were announced in the Financial (1) Is MMT-based petroleum the cause of OBD Post. There were 854 companies considered. Preliminary screening reduced the number to 209 and each of them was malfunctioning? visited and interviewed by management consultant professionals. A panel of eminent judges made the call and found that the (2) Does MMT in gas cause a health hazard to growth of these 50 young companies was astounding. They Canadians? employed 14,026 people, up 62 per cent from 1994; sold $2.3 billion worth of products and services, up two-thirds from (3) Does MMT in gas cause direct damage to the 1994; and had 37 per cent of their sales in exports. One of the environment? judges said, “Innovation is alive and well in Canada. Being part of the judging panel, one can see what an engine of growth these companies are.” [English] Small businesses are leading the way to job creation. There are over 2.3 million small businesses which account for about 50 per cent of all private sector employment, and almost QUESTION PERIOD 43 per cent of Canada’s private sector economic output. Low interest rates, low inflation and a healthy Canadian reputation in INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM international financial markets have provided the basis upon which entrepreneurship can perform miracles. Nearly EFFICACY OF LIST OF PROJECTS CONSTRUCTED—PROPRIETY OF 500 companies are planning the next Canadian invasion of CERTAIN GRANTS—GOVERNMENT POSITION foreign markets by Team Canada. The year 1996 has been a great one for Canadian entrepreneurs and particularly for the Hon. Gerry St. Germain: Honourable senators, I have a 50 best-managed companies in the land. question for the Leader of the Government in the Senate with regard to a list of approved projects. My question is: Has the Minister of Industry’s department ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS actually given loans or gifts or handouts to build golf courses in Ontario, establish dressing rooms somewhere in Canada ADJOURNMENT and $20,000 to develop the martial arts? A litany of items is listed. Is this media article correct? Could the Leader of Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate so verify? Government): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 58(1)(h), I move: Honourable senators, there is mentioned something about a $73,200 grant to establish a billiard club in British Columbia. That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand In view of the fact that I represent that region, I would be adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, December 18, 1996, interested to know where this billiard club is located and whether at 1:30 p.m. these loans or grants have actually been made. Are they grants, loans, handouts or give-aways? Is this what the Liberal The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators? government means when it asks people to tighten their belts and act responsibly? I would like to know whether this list is correct. Hon. Senators: Agreed. Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Motion agreed to. Honourable senators, if the honourable senator could provide a copy of the article to which he is referring, I will send it over to [Translation] my colleague this afternoon and see what I can find out. ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL Senator St. Germain: Honourable senators, I will definitely RESOURCES make the list available. If there is any truth to this list, this matter should be of great concern to the Leader of the Government in NOTICE OF MOTION TO AUTHORIZE COMMITTEE TO STUDY the Senate and to the rest of us, given the cynicism that exists in QUESTIONS ON MANGANESE-BASED FUEL ADDITIVES BILL the eyes of the public toward the way the government is administrating funds. That is not to say that such things have not Hon. Noël A. Kinsella: Honourable senators, I give notice happened in the past. However, I thought the Liberals wanted to that tomorrow, Wednesday, December 18, 1996, I will move: establish a new way of governing. December 17, 1996 SENATE DEBATES 1397 Is this type of action synonymous with the demeanour and Such a practice raises serious questions, Madam Minister. It civility the Liberals wanted to bring to the House of Commons? also casts a shadow on the entire cabinet inasmuch as this writer How does this action relate to the non-partisan aspects of making says that Mr.