Previous Sittings

Order Paper and Notice Paper

Previous Sittings

Journals of the Senate

Previous Sittings

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

Download as PDF

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

2nd Session, 35th Parliament,
Volume 135, Issue 35

Tuesday, September 24, 1996
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

THE SENATE
SENATOR'S STATEMENTS
- Women's Health Forum
  - First Canadian-United States Conference
- Rules of The Senate
  - Timing of Votes
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
QUESTION PERIOD
ORDERS OF THE DAY
- The Honourable Allan J. MacEachen
  - His Life and Times-Inquiry

THE SENAT)

Tuesday, September 24, 1996

The Senate met at 2:00 p.m., the Speaker in the Chair.

Prayers.

New Senators

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that the Clerk has received certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that the following persons, respectively, have been summoned to the Senate:

The Honourable Eugene Francis Whelan, P.C., Léonce Mercier

Introduction

The Hon. the Speaker having informed the Senate that there were senators without, waiting to be introduced:

The following honourable senators were introduced; presented Her Majesty's writ of summons; took the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk; and were seated:

Hon. Eugene Francis Whelan, P.C., of Western Ontario, introduced between Hon. Joyce Fairbairn and Hon. Lorna Milne;

Hon. Léonce Mercier, of Saint-Élie d'Orford, Quebec, introduced between Hon. Joyce Fairbairn and Hon. Lise Bacon.

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that the honourable senators named above had made and subscribed the declaration of qualification required by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness the said declaration.

Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I am delighted today to introduce to you the newest members of our chamber: Senators Eugene Whelan and Léonce Mercier.

As one of Canada's outstanding agriculture ministers, Eugene Whelan and his green stetson became a familiar symbol of encouragement and understanding throughout rural Canada. That is not surprising, since Eugene Whelan was born in a small log cabin in Ontario's Essex County. He left school at the age of 17 in order to earn enough money to buy a tractor and start farming with his brother.

Politics was, and still is, truly a part of Whelan family life. His father was a Conservative and his brother was a Saskatchewan cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party administration. Senator Whelan is now part of the first father-daughter team in our Parliament, since Susan Whelan represents his former riding in the House of Commons. Eugene Whelan was first elected to that house in 1962. He was returned seven times by the constituents of Essex-Windsor until his retirement in 1984.

As Minister of Agriculture for 12 years, he never forgot his roots. He introduced a wide scope of legislation to develop new crop varieties and to improve the quality and efficiency of food production. He was a strong supporter of organized marketing boards, and in 1983, as honourable senators will recall, he introduced Canagrex, a Crown corporation designed to promote the export of farm produce, which regrettably had an extremely short lifetime due to the change in government the following year.

Senator Whelan was also involved in famine relief around the world as president of the United Nations World Food Council. He also received recognition as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in 1984. Since then, he has led his own food production consulting company, sharing knowledge and farming methods with less developed countries around the world.

Honourable senators, Senator Whelan always campaigned on the slogan, "democracy and the rights of people," which will guide him in his contribution to this place. We know that our new colleague has had a few doubts about the Senate over the years, but they will pass. There is no one more zealous than a true convert, and I sense that that spirit is already moving him. We welcome him back to public life.

[Translation]

From the province of Quebec, we are joined by Senator Léonce Mercier. I am very pleased to welcome him here as a new member.

Senator Mercier was born in Kénogami, and was in business in the Chicoutimi region for 30 years. His life, however, has been dominated by volunteer work throughout the province of Quebec. He has devoted a great many hours to the Ville-Marie Lions Club, and was the driving force behind the recruiting of new members for the Chamber of Commerce throughout Quebec.

[English]

The foundation of his volunteer work has been to improve the lives of individual citizens in his province - whether it was through a road-safety program in Chicoutimi, or by helping to develop the tourism industry along the rivière Éternité, the parc de l'Anse Saint-Jean or the Mount Valin ski centre, where great numbers of visitors as well as Quebecers are attracted all year round. His love of music has made him a strong supporter of l'Ensemble vocal de Sherbrooke and the inspiration behind the emergence of several fall festivals in his home province.

Honourable senators, Senator Mercier is a person who cares about young people. He has always tried to encourage them to develop the skills they would need in today's society as they inherit the responsibility to build this country.

[Translation]

For most of his life, Senator Mercier has contributed to the democratic system, thanks to his political commitment to his province and his country. Senator Mercier was director general of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1978 to 1985 and director of the Quebec Liberal Party in the eastern region of the province, comprising Chicoutimi and Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean, where he ardently defended the federalist cause.

[English]

Honourable senators, our system simply could not function and grow without the active support of the many thousands of volunteers and superb organizers such as Senator Mercier and others on both sides of this house who bring their expertise and energy to all the political parties in this country.

[Translation]

Passionate about every aspect of life, Senator Mercier is known for his intellectual honesty, his great humanism and his modesty. All those who have shared his causes admire him and speak of him with great affection.

[English]

Again, honourable senators, we offer our congratulations to Senators Mercier and Whelan and to their families and friends. I do not think we have ever seen the gallery as filled as it is today with so many family members and friends for this type of occasion. We hope that all of you will enjoy the celebration later today for two very honourable gentlemen.

[Translation]

Hon. John Lynch-Staunton (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, Senator Léonce Mercier, the gentleman called upon to replace Senator Roux, comes from a completely different field of endeavour, having distinguished himself over the years as one of the principal organizers of his party in Quebec. As might be expected, certain purists do not see such activity as deserving of a seat in the Senate. I say to them that indeed it is, for there can never be too many of those who recognize that political activity, at whatever level, is a valuable contribution to the preservation of our democratic system: the more citizens that take part, the more the system is strengthened.

It is my pleasure, on behalf of the Conservative senators, to wish Senator Mercier every success in his new responsibilities.

[English]

It is not often that we are asked to welcome persons who are famous, not only for their contributions to their country and community, but celebrated in many hardcover books.

Let me reassure you, colleagues, that I have no intention of quoting from a whole generation of political memoirs in which Senator Whelan's adventures are catalogued. We read of his role as a good companion of Gorbachev on the eve of the thaw that was to melt the Cold War. We read of his presidency of the World Food Council. His championing of the charms of southwestern Ontario, including the quality of its wines, is legendary.

No, colleagues, I shall confine myself on this welcoming day largely to one of those hardcover books - the one entitled The Man in the Green Stetson. That one was written by Senator Eugene Whelan himself, and a veritable handbook it is for anyone intending a career in agriculture, the country's most admired way of life. If Author Whelan wrote on some of the pages of that book just what he thought of the way in which some of the rest of us earn our keep, let's just say: it is a free country after all, is it not?

Let me quote from page 101:

If you look at Keith Davey's overall batting average, you'd have to say he was a big-league player. But, I never agreed with his decision to go to the Senate...I wrote to him to say I didn't think he should. I didn't have any use for the Senate, and I don't today. I don't recall whether he ever wrote back but, like most of them, Keith got to love the Senate. It's a wonderful club. And they pay you well.

Honourable senators, I ask you; How was Eugene Whelan to know that when his fortune cookie crunched, not only would he wind up in this place, but he would do so as Keith Davey's successor?

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Senator Lynch-Staunton: Honourable senators, I suppose it can be argued that Keith did take Senator Whelan's advice, although it took 30 years, as the industrious and influential senator from Toronto did resign before his time.

On page 123 our hero is at it again:

I ribbed Paul Martin mercilessly upon his appointment to the Senate because I knew he didn't like the Senate any more than I did. I had fun teasing him - and I knew he didn't like it much either. He told me one time: "I just can't stand this place, it was kind of like going to sleep." He probably would deny he said that today.

Former government leader in the Senate Paul Martin not being available today for comment, let us turn to the first volume of his memoirs - that is the one in which Senator Whelan does not make the index.

In the very first chapter of Oom Paul's book, there is a telling anecdote about the Senate. On page 17 of A Very Public Life we find these words:

The $200-a-year cost of my tuition, room and board... was paid by Bishop Ryan, but I did not know at the time that the money came to him from M.J. O'Brien, a lumber baron from Renfrew. When I was at the university, my unknown benefactor, who had been appointed to the Senate in 1919, was quoted as making a rather platitudinous address. In one of my regular letters to the Bishop, I remarked on this, telling him of my low opinion of the Upper House. Bishop Ryan thought my comments a disgrace, and replied that I ought to respect my country's institutions and those who served in them. He ended his letter, "Well, you should know that some of the funds which have made possible your education were provided by this man on whom, as you say, chloroform would not have much effect." I have never forgotten the Bishop's admonitions; it taught me to be better informed and more prudent.

In the second volume of his memoirs, where Eugene Whelan's electoral wins are noted, Paul Martin reminds the Senate of its duty to stand on guard against any executive which abused its aptitude and strength, and praised it for its successes in effecting beneficial changes in public legislation. He adds this plaintive comment:

If the Senate has not made an impression, one of the reasons is that the media have not presented regular reports of its work.

The book ends on a sentimental note:

Somehow, I envisage myself years hence, walking along Wellington Street when the snow has completely engulfed the ground. Through the iron fence, I see our stately Centre Block all lighted up - the two houses are in session... and I am saying to myself, with pride and with a feeling of ennui, "I used to work there."

Meanwhile, back in Senator Whelan's book, we have reached page 250, the point where the man in the green stetson is having his longest conversation ever with a departing prime minister.

The first thing Trudeau said was, "I don't suppose you want to go to the Senate?" And I said, "You guessed right." And he just laughed...I wasn't going to behave like some broken-down work horse that's put out to pasture.

Honourable senators, if I may be so bold as to venture a reply to that kind of remark, let me rescue you, senator, from any distress that recollection may impose. This, sir, is a grand place for grazing, if that is your thing. However, you are well back in the list of appointees who have assumed before they got here that Sir John. A Macdonald and his team built, at taxpayers' expense, a playground for shallow second-guessing instead of a rigorous think tank for sober second thought. One of those doubting Thomases, before he was summoned here - and he sits not far from where I speak - even went so far as to suggest publicly that a better lot of senators could be chosen by the editors of a skin magazine.

Senator Doody: Names, names!

Senator Lynch-Staunton: However, today, sir, that senator is much too busy with Senate duties to be bothered with an apology for prejudgment.

Look around you: The chamber is crowded with people anxious for me to finish so that they can get on to the Orders of the Day and their committee responsibilities. Some are trying to fortify Parliament's ethical standards. Some are trying to divine a better approach to agricultural prosperity than the country has devised at the century's close. Some are comparing notes on Senate business that took them to far parts of the country and abroad this summer. Some are rubbing their hands as they anticipate legislation that will come from the other place. Some are even hoping that you, with all your experience in the House of Commons, will be willing to help them restore Senate pre-study of complex bills of every description. A Liberal senator invented pre-study; why shouldn't a Liberal senator reclaim it?

Others among your new colleagues are drafting bills of their own to assist a Parliament burdened with mounting workloads in a time of shrinking financial resources. Paul Martin urged such an initiative.

I am sure that when Senators Mercier and Whelan entered this building, they noticed all of the signs of change. Let me hasten to point out that not all of the change is structural. I can assure you both that the Senate is not the sleepy place its critics talk about, nor is it always comfortable. Congratulations to you both on your appointments, and welcome to the workload.

[Translation]

Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, as is our custom, speaking on behalf of the independent senators, I would like to add a few words to all the nice things that have been said about our two new senators.

I know Senator Mercier very well. I can say that honourable senators who will have occasion to work with him in the years to come will find that he brings to the proceedings of this house something that is so often lacking in politics: good common sense.

When you get into an argument with Senator Mercier and he says, "that does not make sense," the discussion usually stops right there.

The Senate is being attacked on all sides, especially last week in the House of Commons. I hope for your sake that you did not hear, as I did, between 3:15 p.m. and 11 p.m., all those outlandish comments on the Senate, especially by the Bloc Québécois. In a fit of envy, they tried to give a description of the Senate which, if you read it, does not at all correspond to what people think of us.

I wish Senator Léonce Mercier a cordial welcome. I want to join his wife, Micheline, his five children: Pierre, Jean, Danielle, Louise and Andrée, and his five grandchildren in wishing him a pleasant stay in our midst. Keep that smile we can see now, to relieve the tension of the heated discussions that take place from time to time. Join the parliamentary committee of your choice, since you will have the privilege of sitting on a parliamentary committee - a privilege I have yet to enjoy after three years. Perhaps you will be able to help me. At any rate, select the one that suits your way of doing things.

[English]

As for Senator Whelan, we have been colleagues since 1964. I think he has developed a new approach to promotion. No one was tougher on the cabinet than Mr. Whelan, until he joined the cabinet. No one has been tougher on the Senate than Mr. Whelan, and perhaps that stance, too, will change now that he has joined us.

Senator Whelan, I am pleased you are here because we need, in this country, senators with good antennae. I have wonderful remembrances of your time as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In May 1983, against everybody's advice, Senator van Roggen and I arranged a meeting of the Senate and House committees to receive Mr. Gorbachev. A vigorous exchange in front of over 100 members of Parliament ensued. Then we gave him to you to take across Canada for a week, and look what happened to the Soviet Union after that.

I say to you, Senator Whelan: Keep doing your good work. Please become close friends with Senator Mercier. I believe the two of you, with your humour and your great knowledge of le vrai Québec, could do great damage to the cause of those in the province of Quebec who would destroy Canada.

Senator Mercier to me represents what I call -

[Translation]

- the real Quebec, because, as far as I am concerned, Senator Mercier represents what I would call Quebec through and through, the real Quebec as loved and esteemed by Canada. Those are the voices that need to be heard at this time. Both of you are therefore both most welcome.

[English]

Hon. John Buchanan: Honourable senators, for seven of my 13 years as Premier of Nova Scotia, Senator Whelan, in his green stetson, was the Minister of Agriculture of Canada. That famous green stetson became a most familiar sight throughout Nova Scotia, particularly during our Annapolis Valley Festival parades.

As a Conservative, I was always pleased to ride in the parade car with our newest senator when he was the head of the Apple Blossom Festival. He was so gracious to Roger Bacon and me. In fact, I am sure that as we drove through those festival crowds, we swayed many Liberal votes to Conservative ones for the elections of 1981 and 1984.

Senator Whelan was well liked in Nova Scotia. He was probably the best Minister of Agriculture this country has ever had insofar as Nova Scotia was concerned. He understands the farmers. He understands those who have been involved in agriculture for many years. Over our years together, I was pleased to work with Senator Whelan in the interests of the farmers of my province and of agriculture in general.

For over 18 years, I have been pleased to say that I am a friend of Eugene Whelan's. Every time we meet in Ottawa, we discuss events in Nova Scotia, past and present, and how much better things would be if he and I were still back there looking after that province.

Roger Bacon was my provincial Minister of Agriculture and, of course, a very good friend of Senator Whelan's. Roger told me once that while he had worked with many people on the federal level, he worked best with the Honourable Eugene Whelan. I know Senator Whelan would agree that he and Roger became not only colleagues in the interests of the farmers and the agriculture of Nova Scotia but true friends, and they remain so to this day.

During my 13 years of attending federal-provincial conferences, I, like Senator Whelen, was not a supporter of the Senate. However, time changes everything. However, I am sure that after he has been here for a few years, he will agree that this institution helps to serve the interests of Canada and Canadians. He will change his mind as I have changed mine.

May I say to you, Senators Whelan and Mercier, welcome and bienvenue au Senate du Canada.

The Honourable Jean-Louis Roux

Tributes on Appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before I call for Senators' Statements, I would welcome all of you back to this new session which has started off in this fine spirit of friendliness and good humour. I am sure it will continue in that way.

[Translation]

I look forward to a session that will certainly be filled with good humour, cooperation and mutual understanding. I welcome all of you back.

Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, it is with mixed feelings that I rise to pay tribute to our former colleague and friend, the Honourable Jean-Louis Roux, who is leaving us to serve the Province of Quebec as Lieutenant-Governor.

[English]

Mr. Roux relished his short career in the Senate. He quickly established a strong commitment to the important work of Senate committees - Aboriginal Peoples, Transport and Communications, and as co-chair of the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages, where he was an eloquent defender of the Canadian official languages policy.

He was a passionate supporter of Canadian culture and the arts. I remember particularly his speech in this house on the future of the Canada Council, when he used the words of Shakespeare to remind us that humanity is cut from the same cloth as the culture which surrounds it.

As honorary president of Artists for Peace, Mr. Roux was dedicated in his support for human rights. He voiced his outrage in this house at the execution by the Nigerian military government of writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and nine other activists, and he paid a moving tribute to the late Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, and the cause for peace in the Middle East for which Rabin lost his life.

[Translation]

Jean-Louis Roux is one of the most respected figures on the cultural scene, both in Quebec and Canada.

[English]

For over six decades, Jean-Louis Roux has played more than 100 roles on stage, in film and in television and, indeed, he has carried on his acting career while performing his duties as senator, and I believe he is still treading the boards at the National Arts Centre as he begins his new role as Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec.

Jean-Louis Roux's contribution has not been restricted to acting. He founded the Théatre d'Essai de Montreal and he cofounded Montreal's venerable Théatre du Nouveau-Monde, where he was artistic director for 16 years. He was also the director general of the National Theatre School of Canada.

Jean-Louis Roux has been widely honoured throughout his career, with the Societé St. Jean Baptiste Victor Morin Prize in 1969, and the World Theatre Award, in 1985. He has been a member of the Order of Canada since 1971, first as an Officer and then as a Companion, and he received the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Québec in 1989.

Jean-Louis Roux is a strong, sensitive Canadian, rooted in his deep love for his province and his country. He is also a humble man who, with gentle humour, has observed, "I never take myself too seriously while doing seriously everything that I can." Honourable senators have been proud to have him as a colleague, and I am sure that I speak for all senators in wishing him well in his new role.

Hon. John Lynch-Staunton (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I must begin by congratulating our former colleague, the Honourable Jean-Louis Roux, on his appointment as the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec. For many years now, his province has admired and applauded his work as one of its great artists, while we here have had the privilege of appreciating him as a conscientious and hard-working public figure. His experience in the Senate will, without a doubt, serve him well in his new duties, and all of my colleagues join with me in wishing him the greatest success in his new position.

Hon. Jacques Hébert: Honourable senators, I subscribe to all of the nice things that have been said about our two new colleagues, but at this time I shall limit myself to a modest, and very brief, tribute to Jean-Louis Roux.

Quebec has just acquired an extraordinary Lieutenant-Governor, who will give his all to this position. Despite what people have mistakenly said, this is not an honourary position. Unfortunately, Quebec's gain has meant our loss, for the Senate has lost an extraordinary senator who brought with him a humanist approach to his work, very lively concerns about culture, freedoms, individual rights, world peace and many more issues. Senator Roux often served as the conscience of the Senate in those areas, and he will be sorely missed.

I very seldom pay tribute to senators who leave us, even in the case of colleagues for whom I have the greatest respect. The senators who speak before it is my turn usually say everything I wanted to say and say it better.

My reason for making an exception today is quite simple: Of all the senators here present, I am the only one who can say that he played in Le Malade Imaginaire by our beloved Molière with a former colleague who is the greatest actor in Quebec and probably in Canada.

We were both 13 and students at the Collège Sainte-Marie in Montreal, which explains why we played Molière on the very prestigious stage of the théâtre du Gesu.

There is one detail which my proverbial modesty obliges me to point out: Jean-Louis Roux, at the age of 13, played the principal role in the Malade Imaginaire while I was a small, silent but nevertheless handsome figure in the background. I appeared in the final scene when I was supposed to hand over the pointed hat that would turn Argan into a physician.

However, without the pointed hat, in other words, without me, the whole point of the play would have been lost and perhaps the career of Jean-Louis Roux would have been doomed. He would have become a doctor himself, like his father and like Le Malade Imaginaire, which is not so far fetched when you consider that he studied medicine for two years at the University of Montreal.

Therefore, my admiration for Jean-Louis Roux goes back to the day we appeared on stage together at the Gesu. My admiration concerns first of all, the man of courage and conviction, his chivalry and absolute fearlessness, and also of course the great actor who entranced, moved and amused so many of us so many times.

Gradually, over the 60 years that have elapsed since our youthful interpretation of Le Malade Imaginaire at 13, we have become friends, the sort of friends that one is proud to have two or three of at the end of one's life.

This has not altered in the slightest my admiration for the man - and, in any event, it is hard to be fond of someone unless you admire them a bit - but this admiration sometimes threw me into acute embarrassment when, after a performance in which he had starred, I went to pay my respects to him in his dressing room - as he was expecting, of course!

He often played historical characters, the grand and lofty roles of kings, princes and knights. During the production, I ended up forgetting that this magnificent king was my old friend, Jean-Louis, so spellbound was I by his superb dramatic talent. When the curtain fell, I would have to make a serious effort to overcome my reticence and look him up in his dressing room. Of course, he was no longer wearing his sword and gold cardboard crown, but in his eyes there remained something of the prince whose presence had permeated the theatre just five minutes earlier. I stood there in his doorway, able only to stammer out some nondescript compliments, and probably a few nice platitudes, much as I am doing today.

Good old Jean-Louis, after 60 years, it is time I told you that on some of those evenings in your dressing room at the theatre, with your face still covered in cold cream, you impressed me to death!

[English]

Senators' STATEMENTS

Women's Health Forum

First Canadian-United States Conference

Hon. Erminie Cohen: Honourable senators, before I make my statement, may I welcome our two new colleagues to the Senate and express my hope that your tenure will be a challenging one. We all look forward to working with you.

Honourable senators, I rise today to speak about the first Canada-U.S.A. Women's Health Forum which took place in Ottawa last month. I would like to commend the Minister of Health, David Dingwall, and the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, for cosponsoring this event.

The Women's Health Forum marked a milestone in the evolution of how we deal with the critical issues of women's health. I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister of Health when he said:

I strongly believe we must give a new emphasis to women's health and recognize that the health concerns of women are different from those of men.

As a member of the Canadian delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing last year, I was pleased to see our two countries implement such a concrete action following the platform for action of that conference, which recommended a broad approach to women's health.

I was also pleased that a Program of Cooperation on Women's Health was signed by our two countries, providing a framework for joint initiatives by our governments and non-governmental organizations. I welcomed the launch, during the forum, of the Canadian health network's home page, with Ottawa opening a women's health information website on the Internet.

However, honourable senators, I was surprised and saddened that I and other Progressive Conservative women parliamentarians were not given the opportunity to participate as delegates to the Canada-U.S.A. Women's Health Forum. I am gravely concerned that our exclusion might reflect a certain partisanship on the part of the current government.

I would remind the government that partisanship has absolutely no place amongst the important issues of women's health. As Ms Shalala observed, this forum is about sharing ideas and sharing strength. It is about bringing together not just different countries but different communities, as non-profit groups, doctors, government officials and other leaders join hands in reaching our common goal. The exclusion of myself and my colleagues from the forum meant that an additional wealth of talen and insight into women's health issues was overlooked.

For example, my colleagues, Senator Thérèse Lavoie-Roux of Quebec and Senator Brenda Robertson of New Brunswick could draw on their invaluable experience as former provincial ministers of health. As for myself, in addition to being part of the Beijing delegation, I served on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Honourable senators, it is time to depoliticize the important issue of women's health. I urge the government to ensure that we can all work together so that all women will benefit.

Rules of The Senate

Timing of Votes

Hon. Donald H. Oliver: Honourable senators, I rise today to call your attention to a practice which has developed recently in this chamber. It is one that concerns me deeply, the most flagrant examples of which came with the Employment Insurance bill and the Pearson Airport legislation.

The practice I wish to talk about relates to the fact that it seems virtually impossible for us to set specific times for standing votes in the Senate and to stick to those times. After the GST debate, we made significant attempts to modify our rules to allow discussion and debate to take place and to allow the government the opportunity to allocate specific time limits for debate.

Having accomplished these changes, I believe that we should be able to set a time for a vote to be taken and stick with it. Senate rule 67 allows for the deferral of a vote once the vote has been requested. However, rule 67(3) allows for the further deferral of that vote. We should be able to choose a time of day and a day of the week for holding votes that accommodate all senators, be they from British Columbia or from Newfoundland.

A perusal of the rules for the holding of votes at Westminster indicates that the time of day for a vote is agreed upon and the vote may not be deferred. This is also the case in the House of Lords. While this may be too strict a rule for this chamber to adopt given our geography, which makes it difficult for all senators to be here on short notice, particularly those coming from the East Coast and the West Coast, having no deferral of votes would bring certainty to our rules.

In the other place, the Standing Orders are quite explicit regarding the deferral of the time and date upon which a vote may be taken. For example, members know that no votes will be taken on a Friday. It would be helpful for senators if our rules indicated that no votes would be held on a Tuesday or a Thursday and if the Rules Committee could come up with a time that is fixed. Senators should be afforded an opportunity to plan their own lives, in addition to planning for their Senate duties and Senate votes.

I ask that the Standing Senate Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders review this situation at the earliest possible time.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Newfoundland

Changes to Term 17 of Constitution-Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee-motion for consideration tabled

Hon. Sharon Carstairs: Honourable senators, I wish to inform the Senate that, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 13, 1996, I deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 17, 1996, the thirteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding the resolution to amend the Constitution of Canada, Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this report be taken into consideration?

On motion of Senator Carstairs, pursuant to rule 97(3), report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

Foreign Affairs

Interim Report of Committee on Study of Canada-European Union Relations-Motion for Consideration tabled

Hon. Jerahmiel S. Grafstein: Honourable senators, on behalf of the Honourable John B. Stewart, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I wish to inform the Senate that pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, February 28, 1996, and the motion of June 19, 1996, the second report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, entitled "European Integration: The Implications for Canada" was deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 18, 1996.

Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 97 (3), I move that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

On motion of Senator Grafstein, for Senator Stewart, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

Banking, Trade and Commerce

Interim Report of Committee on Study of Canadian Financial System-Motion for Consideration tabled

Hon. Michael Kirby: I wish to inform the Senate that pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on March 21, 1996, and March 28, 1996, I deposited the seventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce entitled "Corporate Governance" with the Clerk of the Senate on August 29, 1996.

I move, pursuant to rule 97(3), that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

On motion of Senator Kirby, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

Standards Council of Canada Act

Bill to Amend-Report of Committee

Hon. Michael Kirby, Chairman of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, presented the following report:

Tuesday, September 24, 1996

The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your Committee, to which was referred the Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Standards Council of Canada, has examined the said Bill in obedience to its Order of Reference dated Thursday, June 20, 1996, and now reports the same without amendment.
Respectfully submitted,

MICHAEL KIRBY
Chairman

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the third time?

On motion of Senator Kirby, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting of the Senate.

Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Tenth Report of Committee Presented

Hon. Colin Kenny, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the following report:

Tuesday, September 24, 1996

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its

TENTH REPORT

Your Committee recommends that Mr. Mark Audcent be appointed to the position of Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the Senate.
Respectfully submitted,

COLIN KENNY
Chairman

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this report be taken into consideration?

On motion of Senator Kenny, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

Adjournment

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 58(1)(h), I move:

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at one thirty o'clock in the afternoon.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, is leave granted?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Motion agreed to.

Yegor Stroyev, Chairman, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Invitation to Address Members of the Senate

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 58(1)(j), I move:

That Mr. Yegor Stroyev, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, be invited to address the Senate of Canada tomorrow, Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 3:00 p.m.; and
That video and still cameras be permitted to record the proceedings pursuant to the principles and practices governing the broadcasting of the proceedings of the House of Commons.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Finlay MacDonald: Honourable senators, I am puzzled. I have only been here 14 years. This is a little unprecedented, is it not? Could we have an explanation as to why we are inviting this distinguished gentleman? Is he speaking to the House of Commons?

Is there a reason he is to speak only to this chamber?

Senator Graham: Honourable senators, I welcome Senator MacDonald's inquiry. Some months ago, a delegation from this chamber led by Speaker Molgat visited Russia. The delegation included the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Senator Berntson, as well as Senator Stanbury. Prior to their visit to Russia, Speaker Molgat was invited by the Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to address that assembly, which he did.

A request has come from the same group for their Speaker to address this assembly. Their assembly in the Russian bicameral system is comparable to ours. The gentleman in question will not be speaking to the House of Commons.

There was discussion among the leadership on both sides, and it was agreed that on this occasion we would extend the courtesy, and we have done so.

[Translation]

Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I must admit that there was indeed consultation. The unanimous consent of all parties is required, and that is why I was a little more informed than some others. In response to the question from Senator MacDonald, it seems quite clear that, in a situation of such precedent, this has perhaps simply been a case of insufficient communication within the parties. I know that there were consultations among the three components of the Senate, if I may call them that; the party in power, the opposition and the independent senators. I was asked if I had any objections and I answered that I had absolutely none.

[English]

I will tell you why I have absolutely no objection. I think that this is an extraordinarily good precedent to set in the Senate, regardless of the valid point raised by my honourable friend Senator MacDonald.

Every one seems to be surprised. I would have thought that each caucus would have been informed, so I am surprised that we are having a debate at this time.

Honourable senators, I am fully in agreement with the decision of our honourable chamber. We have our own rules. We can do what we feel is best for the Senate and for the glory of Canada.

I support this initiative. I believe in international relations between parliamentarians from Canada and the rest of the world. I believe as well that we have international responsibilities. I have been responsible for creating parliamentary organizations between Canada and certain Arab states, Canada and Armenia, Canada and Greece, Canada and China, and many others. However, where there is a vacuum we should fill it.

I had the pleasure recently of chairing the election of the Canada-Romania Parliamentary Group, and I insisted that two Conservative senators sit on the board so that the Senate would be represented.

Honourable senators, I have asked five colleagues from both Houses to come together to create a Canada-Russia parliamentary group because Russia needs contact with the West. That is one of the best ways to have exchanges with parliamentarians who do not have an official parliamentary association.

To the best of my knowledge, when I was a member of the House of Commons, we did not consult senators to see if we should listen to parliamentarians from this or that country; we just invited senators to join in. I would hope that tomorrow a discrete invitation will be sent to members of the House of Commons, but not for consultation. We make our own decisions. I believe that most likely there will be total agreement because we have a very important country to the north of us. I am very proud, as a senator, that we are taking this initiative.

Honourable senators, this is a good initiative; this is the new Senate in action, the affirmative Senate.

The address tomorrow will be televised. I travelled all over Quebec this summer, and the only thing I heard regarding the Senate is that when we had the opening, some senators seemed a bit tired and there were some empty seats. Therefore, I kindly request that each caucus inform their members to be present for this very important initiative that will take place at three o'clock. It would be sad if less than half the Senate were present for such an initiative.

Hon. Norman K. Atkins: Honourable senators, last spring, Speaker Molgat asked representatives of the Liberal and Conservative caucuses to his office to discuss a number of matters, and this was one of them. We were to go back and consult with our caucuses to find out whether they agreed with the suggestion of visiting parliamentarians or dignitaries making a presentation and speaking to the Senate.

The recommendation we received from our caucus, which was transmitted to the Speaker, was that any notable person wishing to speak to the Senate should speak to the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and not to the Senate as a whole. That was the consensus in our caucus, and I wish to make that point as a matter of record.

Senator MacDonald: Honourable senators, I appreciate the explanation given by Senator Graham and the supporting remarks made by Senator Prud'homme. I do not know of that which Senator Atkins spoke, but come on!

That was not the purpose of my question, but my heavens above, there must be some kind of explanation as to why we are doing this. Something in writing should have come to us before this motion stating, "You all be here tomorrow afternoon," and requesting permission for televising. This is something new. It may be valuable, and if it is, let us prepare for it and give an explanation in advance so we all have some idea of what we are approving.

Incidentally, I look forward with delight to hearing from the honourable gentleman tomorrow. I will certainly be here.

Motion agreed to.

Appropriation Bill No. 2, 1996-97

First Reading

The Hon. the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-56, granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997.

Bill read first time.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

On motion of Senator Graham, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading on Thursday next, September 26, 1996.

Broadcasting Act

Bill to Amend-First Reading

The Hon. the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-216, to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy).

Bill read first time.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

On motion of Senator Whelan, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading on Thursday next, September 26, 1996.

Parliamentary Delegation to Russia and Romania

Report Tabled

Hon. Lise Bacon: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table the report of the Senate parliamentary delegation to Romania and Russia in October, 1995.

Administration of Justice

Notice of Motion to Set Up Special Senate Committee to Consider Removal of Mr. Justice Jean Bienvenue

Hon. Anne C. Cools: Honourable senators, pursuant to rules 56(1) and 58(1), I give notice that Tuesday, October 1, 1996, I shall move that:

Whereas the Constitution Act 1867 s. 99(1) enacts that:
`... the Judges of the Superior Courts shall hold office during good behaviour, but shall be removable by the Governor-General on Address of the Senate and House of Commons.'

and provides for the Senate of Canada's role in the removal of judges from the Bench and from judicial office, which constitutional role should be asserted by the Senate of Canada;
Whereas the Constitution of Canada and the doctrine of responsible government intend that Ministers of the Crown be responsible to Parliament, and intend that the Parliament of Canada has a superintendence over the courts and over the Ministers of the Crown in respect of judicial misbehaviour; and further, the Senate, being mindful that many Ministers of the Crown make it known publicly that the Senate's opinion on important questions can be dispensed with; and further, owing a duty to the three principles and constitutional conventions of parliamentary sovereignty, ministerial responsibility, and judicial independence, the Senate affirms and upholds these three principles of parliamentary government;
Whereas the Senate, being mindful of internal politics, organizational self-interests, and their potentials for mischief within human organizations, and being mindful of the Canadian Judicial Council's very public posture on the alleged wrongdoing of Mr. Justice Jean Bienvenue, and being mindful of the hurtful consequences to Mr. Justice, the Senate considers that a result of this very public exercise may be to compel, by embarrassment and by pressure, the judge's resignation, which compulsion would circumvent the Senate and its interests and thereby deny to the Senate the Senate's constitutional rights in the matter of Mr. Justice Jean Bienvenue of the Quebec Superior Court;
And Whereas the Constitution and the Parliament of Canada do not intend that individual judges of the Superior Court be at the mercy of the Chief Justices of the Courts or of Ministers of the Crown;
Now Therefore the Senate Resolves that the Senate not receive nor consider any motion for an address for the removal of Mr. Justice Bienvenue save such motion that follows the Senate's adoption of a Senate committee report recommending such motion, which committee report was the conclusion of the Senate's own investigation into Mr. Justice Bienvenue's words and actions and also the activities and the procedures of the Canadian Judicial Council's inquiry into Mr. Justice Bienvenue's alleged judicial misbehaviour.

Banking, Trade and Commerce

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Meet During Sittings of the Senate

Hon. Michael Kirby: Honourable senators, I give notice that on Wednesday next, September 25, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce have the power to sit at two o'clock, Tuesday, October 1, 1996, at two o'clock, Wednesday, October 2, 1996, and at two o'clock Thursday, October 3, 1996, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that Rule 95(4) be suspended in relation thereto.

QUESTION PERIOD

Literacy

Removal of Goods and Services Tax on Books-Request for Details in Support of Government Stance

Hon. Consiglio Di Nino: Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Last week, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Paul Martin, stated his opposition to the removal of the GST on books. To my knowledge, the position of the Leader of the Government has not been expressed.

What is the position of the Minister With Special Responsibility For Literacy on the matter of removing the GST on books?

Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I am a little surprised at this statement. My views on the GST on books have been on the public record for some time. Indeed, I would still very much like to see that tax on books removed.

The Minister of Finance has indicated that he has a very difficult job to do. He is still involved in the process of negotiating with three Atlantic provinces on the question of harmonization of the GST as a first step towards his goal of reaching a national harmonized sales tax. He has raised questions concerning not only the amount of revenue involved but also the best methods of dealing with the whole question of literacy. This subject is open for discussion, and he has said that he is open to further discussion. As a person who, for many years, has had her views on the public record, I am very much part of that discussion process.

I also understand the responsibilities of my colleague the Minister of Finance. This matter is under active discussion.

Senator Di Nino: Honourable senators, I am delighted to hear that the minister's commitment to this issue is as strong as ever. However, the removal of the GST on books, which is supported by Premier McKenna and his minister of literacy, Georgie Day, involves a Liberal party policy resolution which was confirmed in 1990, 1992 and 1994. Our own minister's strong dedication to this matter is now, in 1996, especially needed and expected more than ever.

Will the Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy fight for the removal of the GST on reading material at the Liberal policy conference to be held next week?

Senator Fairbairn: Our Liberal policy conference will be held later next month. Resolutions that are being drafted by members of the party from across the country will be placed before that conference. However, at this point I cannot tell my honourable friend exactly what is contained in all those resolutions.

I reiterate that obviously this is a subject which is of great concern to many people, including the premiers of the three provinces who are currently in negotiation with the Minister of Finance. I should tell my honourable friend that the Minister of Finance is a strong supporter of the literacy cause. He also has broad and fundamental responsibility for the economic health of the country. Part of his responsibilities includes the discussions that he has been having not just with the three provinces who have agreed to harmonize but with others as well. I am conscious of that. I can only say to my honourable friend that I continue to press the case as vigorously as I can.

Hon. Donald H. Oliver: Honourable senators, I have some further questions arising from the same subject matter raised by my colleague Senator Di Nino.

Within the past month, the Liberal government of Canada has managed to put together more than $140 million to finance the return of the Honourable Sheila Copps to public life. Coincidentally, the Honourable Paul Martin said that it would cost $140 million to remove the GST on books and that "there are better ways to combat illiteracy".

Will the Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy list a few of the better ways that the Minister of Finance and the Liberal government have for fighting illiteracy?

Senator Fairbairn: Honourable senators, in the discussions that the Minister of Finance has had on this issue over recent weeks, he has asked the question, "Are there better ways to fight this difficulty?" "Illiteracy" is a word I do not use normally since my fight is for improving the literacy skills of all Canadians.

I am sure there are people in this country, as well as in this government and this house, who have many suggestions on the best possible ways to deal with this issue. I know that as a member of the government who has been given the opportunity to take on this responsibility, there have been many gains on this issue as a result of the efforts undertaken by the federal government in becoming involved over the last few years. I give full marks to the previous administration for initiating efforts in 1988 to establish the National Literacy Secretariat, and the other commitments made at that time, commitments which we have maintained and advanced since we came to power.

I simply say to my honourable friend that, at the moment, the Minister of Finance is trying to juggle two very important issues. He is concerned about and conscious of the issue. I will do anything in my power to help him with his concerns. However, he was asking a question; he was not making a pronouncement.

Senator Oliver: Honourable senators, I read that the Minister of Finance had said that there are better ways, and not that there "may be" better ways to deal with this issue. That is what I was trying to find out in my question.

Some eight months ago, an editorial in The Ottawa Citizen expressed a view shared by many. It stated that Canada needs to do better in encouraging adult literacy. Surely, the Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy would agree that it is unacceptable that her Minister of Human Resources Development has produced an entire new employment strategy without mentioning the word "literacy".

What is the Minister with Special Responsibility for Literacy doing about the terrible rate of illiteracy in Canada today? Who appeals on behalf of those in need of literacy assistance? Is it the Minister of Finance?

Senator Fairbairn: Honourable senators, the honourable senator will know that the issue of literacy is so deep and so broad in this country that no one level of government - no one sector of our society - has a magic answer to this question. The only way to make progress on this issue is through working together, in particular in partnership with the private sector. Certainly, the federal and provincial governments are working together very well indeed on this matter.

The honourable senator asks me what we are doing, I will tell him: Around the time of International Literacy Day, I spent several days in Prince Edward Island. The place to find out what our efforts are achieving is on the ground in the projects which are taking place in the communities of this country where people are using the combined efforts of the federal and provincial governments, for whom education is a major responsibility. These efforts include the efforts of an army of volunteers across this country, an army which Bill Clinton would do well to take a look at as he sets his course on this issue for the United States.

There is an enormous amount of work being done on the ground in this country with the participation of the federal government. As my honourable friend knows, we are in no position to deliver services in terms of the literacy issue. Therefore, we are in a supportive role, in terms of resources, materials and research.

My honourable friend mentioned the Minister of Human Resources Development. That minister, the Honourable Doug Young, is a strong supporter of this issue. He has given me a great deal of support. Indeed, only last week, he was talking about not just the problems but the potential that the federal government has in the literacy field. He talked about the role the government has to maintain as the conscience of literacy in this nation. That is what we are trying to do.

Employment Insurance.

Changes to System by way of Regulation-Effects on Fishing Industry-Government Position

Hon. Gerald J. Comeau: Honourable senators, my question is also directed to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. It is with respect to the new regulations that her government has tried to slip quietly through. These regulations will see the employment insurance benefits of fishers reduced by $33 million. The new regulations could lower maximum benefits from $448 to $375. In addition, these changes will mean a reduction in the number of weeks a fisher can receive benefits.

Given that the fishing industry is a seasonal industry, it seems ludicrous that the intensity rule would apply. The number of weeks a fisher works is determined by government, not by the individual.

Can the minister explain to honourable senators why her government chose to introduce these massive changes by way of regulation rather than by way of legislation? What is her government trying to hide?

Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I am certain the government is not trying to hide anything in this regard. I should like to take the honourable senator's question, read it and obtain for him a detailed answer.

Senator Comeau: Honourable senators, this illustrates very clearly what I am trying to get at. These changes were not brought in along with the massive changes to legislation which were brought in recently. Their effects on the fishing industry were therefore postponed. They are now being brought in as regulations rather than having been brought in through legislation. Having slipped quietly through in the form of regulations, people are not aware - nor are they given the opportunity - to look at the consequences of such massive changes. I referred to the figure of $33 million. This change by cabinet slipped through quietly in the past few days. As I understand it, its effects will become regulation within the next few days.

The point of my question is that these types of changes should not be brought in by regulation but, rather, by legislation.

Put it out in the open and we will have a fair discussion on the matter, rather than it being done by regulation. I would ask the minister to agree to that. If she needs further information, I can provide her with a copy of the regulation notice.

Senator Fairbairn: I hear my honourable friend's concerns, and I will transmit them. I will also do my best to get some comment on the process which he has drawn to the attention of the house today.

Women's Health Forum.

First Canada-United States Conference-Exclusion of Progressive Conservative Senators-Government Position

Hon. Finlay MacDonald: Honourable senators, having heard the statement made this afternoon by Senator Cohen, I feel that the matter should not be left there. I can assure you that this is not a coordinated statement and question. I have spoken to Senator Cohen only since I heard the statement.

I feel compelled to ask the Leader of the Government the simple question posed by Senator Cohen with regard to the women's health organization. There must be a simple explanation, and I ask that the Leader obtain it for us, preferably at the earliest possible time.

The best face that can be put on this matter is that it is a callous and excessively partisan activity orchestrated to refuse participation by women on this side of the house. That just cannot be. We cannot believe that that it the case. Surely, the leader can give us an explanation as soon as she has had a chance to read the statement of Senator Cohen.

Hon. Joyce Fairbairn (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I will first read Senator Cohen's statement. I will ensure that it gets to the places it ought to, and I will come back as quickly as I can with a response to both senators.

Delayed Answers to Oral Questions

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I have 29 delayed answers to oral questions. I have the response to a question raised by the Honourable Senator Nolin on November 8, 1995 concerning the infrastructure program; the effect on the construction industry. I have the response to a question raised on December 12, 1995 by the Honourable Senator MacEachen concerning the proposed national elections in Sierra Leone. I have the response to a question raised on December 13, 1995 by the Honourable Senator Di Nino regarding the visit of the federal commissioner to China.

I have the response to a question raised on December 13, 1995 by the Honourable Senator Kinsella and on December 14, 1995 by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk regarding the further incarceration of Chinese dissidents. I have the response to a question raised on December 13, 1995 and June 5, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk regarding the sale of Airbus aircraft to Air Canada. I have the response to a question raised on April 25, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Murray regarding GST harmonization with provincial sales taxes; the source of transitional funds. I have the response to a question raised on May 1, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Comeau regarding national revenue; eligibility of community development funds for investment of RRSP contributions.

I have the response to a question raised on May 9, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Simard regarding national revenue; implementation of changes to Income Tax Act; report of Auditor General. I have the response to a question raised on May 14, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Forrestall regarding payments in lieu of municipal taxes. I have the response to a question raised on May 14, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Phillips regarding GST harmonization with provincial sales taxes. I have the response to a question raised on May 15, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Forrestall regarding the search and rescue helicopter replacement program. I have the response to a question raised on May 16, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Phillips and by the Honourable Senator Bonnell regarding the availability of emergency funds to aid lobster fishermen.

I have the response to a question raised on May 27, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Lynch-Staunton regarding GST harmonization with Quebec sales tax; benefits to consumers. I have the response to a question raised on May 28, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Oliver regarding the environmental impact of actions of Shell Oil Company in Nigeria. I have the response to a question raised on May 30, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk regarding the investigation into the sale of Airbus aircraft to Air Canada. I have the response to a question raised on June 4, 1996, by the Honourable Senator Di Nino regarding Canada-China relations; human rights and commercial relations.

I have the response to a question raised on June 4, 1996 by the Honourable Senator LeBreton regarding the investigation into the sale of Airbus aircraft to Air Canada. I have the response to a question raised on June 5, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Comeau regarding the failure to establish a militia training centre at Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia. I have the response to a question raised on June 5, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Bolduc regarding the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. I have the response to a question raised on June 5, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Di Nino regarding international aid.

I have the response to a question raised on June 6, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Di Nino regarding Hong Kong; 1997 transfer of government to China. I have the response to a question raised on June 6, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Comeau regarding the minting of the Canadian penny. I have the response to a question raised on June 6, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Kinsella regarding the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. I have the response to a question raised on June 7, 1995 and June 18, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Robertson regarding fisheries, aid for laid-off workers under TAGS and comments of consultant.

I have the response to a question raised on June 10, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk regarding the granting of entry permits to applicants with criminal records. I have the response to a question raised on June 10, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Forrestall regarding user fees at ports. I have the response to a question raised on June 13, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Johnson regarding Employment Equity Act amendments promised by minister. I have the response to a question raised on June 18, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Phillips and the Honourable Senator Forrestall regarding the recovery of maritime fishing ports. I have the response to a question raised on June 18, 1996 by the Honourable Senator Austin regarding the limitation on election advertising decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Effect on Construction Industry-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Pierre Claude Nolin on November 8, 1995)

The government is pleased to respond to concerns regarding the benefits of the Canada Infrastructure Works program on the construction sector of this country.
According to Statistics Canada, the construction sector has lost more than 100,000 jobs over the last five years and is in the midst of severe economic conditions with an unemployment rate hovering around 19 per cent.
From July 1994 to July 1996, Statistics Canada estimates that 79,000 construction jobs were lost and says that the critical downturn in this industry has persisted since 1990.
This is one of the very reasons why a national Infrastructure program was a top priority of this government. Negotiations with each of the provinces and territories began within weeks of the election of this government in 1993 and led to the creation of many jobs shortly after.
In fact, since its inception in December 1993, the Infrastructure Works program has been a great success. In two and a half years, the program has already created 80,000 jobs nationally and is well on its way to reaching its 100,000-job target.
Many of the jobs created have been in the construction sector, an industry which badly needed this stimulus coming out of the last recession.
Furthermore, the federal government's estimate of 100,000 jobs to be created over the course of this program only includes direct on- and off-site jobs and does not take into account spin-off jobs created as a result of these infrastructure investments. Therefore, this government believes the 100,000 jobs estimate is particularly defensible and perhaps even modest.
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA), which represents the construction sector, has been a very vocal and public supporter of the Infrastructure Works program in light of the many benefits the program has had on its industry.
Like the CCA, the federal government is proud of the Infrastructure Works program. We believe it was the right program at the right time.

Foreign Affairs

Sierra Leone-Proposed national Elections-Contributions To Support Fund-Government Position

(Response to question raised by the Hon. Allan J. MacEachen on December 12, 1995)

The Government of Canada has contributed US$50,000 through the United Nations to support the electoral process in Sierra Leone. In addition, Canada provided Cdn.$100,000 directly to the Sierra Leone Interim National Electoral Commission and Cdn.$10,000 to the National Constitution Commission of Sierra Leone.
Support being provided by eleven other countries and organizations through the United Nations is as follows (in US$):

(a) United Kingdom

$ 4,283,213

(b) European Union

$ 1,394,000

(c) Sierra Leone

$ 1,129,000

(d) UNDP

$ 273,755

(e) The Commonwealth

$ 165,000

(f) Norway

$ 77,000

(g) Sweden

$ 68,500

(h) United States

$ 63,000

(i) Hong Kong

$ 50,000

(j) New Zealand

$ 32,635

(k) Greece
$20,000

The United Nations reports that there is a shortfall of approximately US$1,345,000 for the United Nations election fund.

Human Rights

Visit of Federal Commissioner to China-Remarks Reported in Media-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Consiglio Di Nino on December 13, 1995)

Mr. Yalden's visit to China was undertaken to demonstrate Canada's commitment to improving human rights throughout the world. During his one week visit, Mr. Yalden made it quite clear to his Chinese hosts that his office was independent of the Government of Canada. Mr. Yalden did remark on the concerns common to all Canadians regarding human rights in China.
Mr. Yalden's visit must be seen in the overall picture of discussing human rights questions with the Chinese. The Chief Commissioner had a specific agenda to discuss with his hosts, placing emphasis on equality rights and anti-discrimination. These discussions were quite successful and as a result have furthered Canada's goal of engaging the Chinese on a wide range of topics, including human rights.

Further Incarceration of Chinese Dissident-Government Position

(Response to questions raised by Hon. Noël A. Kinsella on December 13, 1995, and by Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk on December 14, 1995)

The Government of Canada deplores the sentencing of any individual, including Wei Jingsheng, for the peaceful expression of political views. The government has made its views known to the Chinese, both here in Ottawa and through its embassy in Beijing. It has not forgotten Wei Jingsheng's case and others like it in China. The government recently held bilateral discussions with the Chinese on questions of human rights, making specific mention on many occasions of abuses in general, and cases like Wei Jingsheng's in particular.
Canada's policy is to discuss the issues with the Chinese on a regular basis, to bring about incremental change in the views of the Chinese authorities towards its own citizens.

Justice

Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Alleged Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Government-Approach to Swiss Government for Information-Authority for Procedure Followed-Government Position

(Response to questions raised by Hon. David Tkachuk on December 13, 1995 and June 5, 1996)

When the RCMP or other Canadian police force approaches the Department of Justice concerning a letter of request, the International Assistance Group reviews the police request and determines whether there is a reasonable basis for taking the next step in the investigation, which is to ask a foreign authority for assistance.
This involves an assessment of the following:

- whether there is a police investigation in Canada involving offences which could be prosecuted in Canada;
- whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that there is evidence relating to the police investigation in the foreign state;
- whether the information available to the police can satisfy the requirements of the foreign state for providing assistance.

The foreign state decides, in accordance with its law, whether it will provide assistance to the police investigation.
The International Assistance Group does not investigate or verify the police investigation.

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Source of Transitional Funds-Government Position

(Response to questions raised by Hon. Lowell Murray on April 25, 1996)

In response to the question on what amounts of adjustment assistance are available to other provinces, in addition to the three harmonizing provinces, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Saskatchewan also qualify for adjustment assistance.
It is difficult to provide an exact amount of adjustment assistance for these provinces, since the effect on revenues will depend on the sales tax rate of harmonizing provinces.
When all qualifying provinces are included, the amount of adjustment assistance could total between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion over four years.
In response to the question on which year would the contingency liability appear for adjustment assistance for other provinces, the year in which the contingency liability for adjustment assistance appears would depend upon when the federal government reaches agreement on sales tax harmonization with the other provinces.

National Revenue

Eligibility of Community Development Funds for Investment of RRSP Contributions-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Gerald J. Comeau on May 1, 1996)

The Income Tax Regulations contain a list of investments that may be held by RRSPs, registered retirement income funds and deferred profit sharing plans. The main criteria for inclusion on the list is that such investments be of a fully arm's length nature. The list of eligible investments has been expanded over the last few years to allow small businesses greater access to capital. One of the ways in which this has been achieved is to allow securities issued by community development corporations in New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan to be included in the list of eligible investments. Community development corporations, in turn, invest in small businesses.
The government of Nova Scotia has recently passed amendments which ensure that shares issued by Community Economic Development Corporations, registered under the Equity Tax Credit Act (Nova Scotia), are held on an arm's length basis. Such corporations are similar to community development corporations in New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Accordingly, after discussions between officials of the Nova Scotia and federal governments, a change to the Income Tax Regulations is being processed that would allow shares issued by these Nova Scotia corporations to qualify as an investment for RRSPs, registered retirement income funds and deferred profit sharing plans.

Implementation of Changes to Income Tax Act-Report of Auditor General-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Jean-Maurice Simard on May 9, 1996)

The legislation implementing the February 1995 budget received Royal Assent on June 20, 1996.
This legislation included modifications implemented in response to consultations on the budget proposals, which consultations and modifications significantly increased the time required to produce the Bill.
The government is making every effort to ensure that tax legislation is implemented as quickly as possible while also recognizing the benefits of full consultation and full access to the Parliamentary process.

Public Works and Government Services

Proposed Elimination of Grants Payable by Federal Government In Lieu of Municipal Taxes-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. J. Michael Forrestall on May 14, 1996)

The payments in lieu of taxes made by the Government of Canada under the Municipal Grants Act allow the Government to pay a fair share of the cost of municipal government in communities in which it owns property. The principles which govern this program are fairness to local governments and equity with other property owners. The Government is committed to these principles, and there is no initiative underway to reduce the cost of government by cutting payments to municipalities unfairly or arbitrarily.
In fact, for more than a year, there have been ongoing discussions between federal officials and representatives of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, aimed at improving the efficiency of program delivery to Canadian municipalities.
There are sometimes differences of opinion between federal and local officials as to the value of some federal assets. Federal properties like defence establishments, penitentiaries and national parks do not exist in the private sector, and are not easy to assess.
In the few cases in which officials are unable to come to an agreement, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services (who is responsible for the Municipal Grants Act) has access to a panel of private sector experts, the Municipal Grants Review Committee, to help ensure that the grant amount is fair and respects the provisions of the Act.
Another factor which affects grant payments to some taxing authorities is the Government's effort to divest itself of surplus real property. Since federal payments in lieu of taxes are based on the value of the Government's holdings in each municipality, these divestitures have an impact on the level of payments.

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Powers of Proposed Canada Revenue Commission-Request for Particulars

(Response to question raised by Hon. Orville H. Phillips on May 14, 1996)

No. The Memorandum of Understanding on sales tax harmonization does not affect provincial governments' taxation powers.
Clause 21 of the Memorandum of Understanding notes that neither the federal government nor the provinces have surrendered or abandoned any of its constitutional powers, rights, etc. as a result of the harmonization agreement.
The federal government and the three harmonizing provinces have agreed that the Canada Border and Revenue Service (formerly the Canada Revenue Commission) will be responsible for the administration of the harmonized sales tax.
A proposed Tax Review Committee, which will include senior officials from the provinces and Canada, will address policy issues with respect to the harmonized sales tax.

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Situation of Contract Employees at Summerside Centre-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Orville H. Phillips on May 14, 1996)

It is too early in the process to identify what impact sales tax harmonization will have on provincial employees. This will only be clear once the details of the final harmonization agreement have been concluded.
It is worth noting, however, that Prince Edward Island is not a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding and consequently, no employment arrangements are being discussed with that province.

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Studies Conducted on Adverse Effects-Request for Answer

(Response to question raised by Hon. Orville H. Phillips on May 14, 1996)

There have been no studies carried out by the federal and provincial governments specifically on the impact of sales tax harmonization.
However, the Nova Scotia Department of Finance released a report on provincial tax reform (including sales tax harmonization) in May 1996.
In addition, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants published a paper on merits of a national sales tax in December 1995.
The federal government will be releasing additional information on sales tax harmonization when the negotiations on the detailed harmonization agreements have been completed.

National Defence

Search and Rescue Helicopter Replacement Program-Efficacy of Model Chosen

(Response to question raised by Hon. J. Michael Forrestall on May 15, 1996)

To date, no decision has been made regarding the selection of suitable search and rescue helicopters for Canada; consequently, no announcement has been made. A decision regarding a search and rescue helicopter will be made subsequent to a competitive process, which is expected to begin this fall.

Fisheries

Malpeque, P.E.I.-Availability of Emergency Funds to Aid Lobster Fishermen-Government Position

(Response to questions raised by Hon. Orville H. Phillips and Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell on May 16, 1996)

The department identified a source of unallocated funds in its Small Craft Harbours program permitting the dredging project at Malpeque to proceed. Both Environment Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) treated this project as an emergency case.
Environment Canada streamlined the ocean dumping permitting process considerably for this project by minimizing the administrative and environmental requirements usually associated with the process.
PWGSC entered into negotiations with Maritime Dredging Ltd. on May 30, 1996, and a contract and start date for dredging operations were agreed upon.
The ocean dumping permit was obtained, and dredging operations were approved to start the beginning of June, 1996.
Maritime Dredging Ltd. arrived at the Malpeque site on June 5 and began installation of the dredging equipment. Dredging operations began on June 10 and were completed on June 26.
While it is possible for fishers to take care of their own dredging, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is not authorized to accept invoices under circumstances where fishers determine themselves what work is required, when it is required, and then proceed on the assumption that government will pay. It should also be emphasized that environmental regulations concerning dredging and ocean dumping apply to any party doing the dredging, even the lobster fishers.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is making greater use of local harbour users in performing many of the tasks associated with operating and maintaining a fishing harbour. Dredging is not yet included in this group of tasks. This will be explored in the near future.

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Quebec Sales Tax-Benefits to Consumers-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. John Lynch-Staunton on May 27, 1996)

The minister is not aware of any studies concerning the impact of sales tax harmonization on prices in Quebec. It is difficult to assess the impact of sales tax harmonization on prices in Quebec as a result of the decision by the Quebec government to harmonize its sales tax in steps over the course of several years.
It is important to note that the GST Consumer Information Office studied the impact of the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on consumer prices and found that there was a broad pass-through of business savings to consumers when the GST replaced the old federal manufacturers sales tax.

Foreign Affairs

Environmental Impact of Actions of Shell Oil Company in Nigeria

(Response to question raised by Hon. Donald H. Oliver on May 28, 1996)

Shell Canada does not have investment in Nigeria nor does the company import any oil from Nigeria. The Canadian government has held a number of consultations with Shell Canada, as well as with Shell International and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.
On June 18, 1996, representatives from these three firms appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and were closely questioned by members of the Committee. The Committee subsequently passed a resolution calling for an international oil embargo.
On June 19, 1996, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa, met with Shell representatives and made clear the views of the Government of Canada on Nigeria. The Shell representatives outlined their corporate efforts to improve conditions in Nigeria, including the environment and workers' rights.
At the third Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in London, June 24-25, 1996, Canada played a leading role in calling for further sanctions to press the Nigerian government to restore democracy, human rights and the rule of law. When Commonwealth ministers delayed further collective measures until after a possible autumn meeting with the Nigerians, Canada acted alone. Foreign Affairs Minister Axworthy announced June 25 that Canada would complete action on a package of eight measures endorsed by CMAG in April. The new measures for Canada are (1) a visa based sport boycott of all Nigerian teams and individuals wishing to enter Canada to compete in officially sponsored sporting events, and (2) visa restrictions on members of the regime and their families, and senior officials travelling to Canada. These groups will also be denied access to study at Canadian educational facilities.

Justice

Investigation into Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Factors Involved in Minister's Decision to Seek Delay in Lawsuit-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk on May 30, 1996)

The Minister of Justice's role in the decision to seek an extension of time for filing the Statement of Defence is detailed in the attached press release of May 13th.

News Release

Extension of Time for Filing of Defence Sought
in Mr. Mulroney's Claim Against the Government of Canada

OTTAWA, May 13, 1996 - Lawyers for the RCMP and the Government of Canada filed a motion in the Superior Court of Quebec today, seeking an extension in the time for the filing of a Defence in the claim by Mr. Mulroney against the Government of Canada and others.
The Commissioner of the RCMP has determined that providing information about the investigation at this point would cause irreparable harm to the investigation and could well result in its termination. The Commissioner has advised the Attorney General and the Solicitor General that continuing the litigation would:

- reveal the steps that the RCMP are taking in the investigation;
- seriously impair the RCMP's efforts to investigate further leads;
- disclose RCMP sources or informants who wish their identities to remain confidential; and
- affect the ability of the RCMP to seek the cooperation of potential witnesses.

The Solicitor General agrees with the principle that the Commissioner of the RCMP has a duty to recommend an extension in the time permitted for filing a Defence in a civil matter, when the Commissioner is concerned that failure to do so would result in public disclosure of the contents of an ongoing investigation and would jeopardise the investigation.
Given the above, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General accept the Commissioner's advice, and agree that it is necessary for the Crown to seek an extension in the time permitted for the filing of a Defence, in order to allow the RCMP additional time to complete their investigation.
Copies of court documents are available at Heenan Blaikie, 1250 René Lévesque Boulevard West, Suite 2500, Montreal, Quebec H3B 4Y1, telephone (514) 846-1212 and Robinson Sheppard Shapiro, 800 Place Victoria, Suite 4700, Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1H6, telephone (514) 878-2631.
Ref.: Jean Potvin
Heenan Blaikie
(514) 846-2230

Canada-China Relations

Human Rights and Commercial Relations-Government Policy

(Response to question raised by Hon. Consiglio Di Nino on June 4, 1996)

On assuming office, the Government gave immediate priority to its commitment to conduct a review of all aspects of Canadian foreign policy, taking into account views of all interested Canadians. The role of human rights in foreign policy was among the central issues considered carefully by the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons; and the Government's response strongly supported the various Committee views and proposals on this question.
The Government affirmed that human rights, good governance and democratic development will find central expression in Canadian foreign policy and that efforts in this regard will rely on a variety of means. The Government will continue to work with a broad range of partners, including other governments, Parliamentarians, NGOs and multilateral organizations. The Department of Foreign Affairs works closely to this end with other agencies of government, including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). In late 1995, the Government issued a new Policy for CIDA on Human Rights, Democratization and Good Governance.
Regular and systematic reporting on human rights and democratic development is an integral part of the work of Canadian diplomatic missions. Based on such reporting, the Department of Foreign Affairs prepares briefing notes for annual consultations with Canadian human rights NGOs on situations of particular concern to them.
During the foreign policy review, the view was widely expressed that such government-prepared material should be regarded, at most, as a supplement for relevant information and analysis from other independent sources; it could not and should not seek to compete with or substitute for material produced by NGOs and other organizations.
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, which reports to Parliament annually, will continue to play an important role in the advancement of Canadian objectives. The Centre does this through its international work and through its publications focusing on international human rights situations and issues.
The Immigration and Refugee Board prepares extensive human rights information packages on countries of concern to the work of the Board. These are available to the public, as well as to non-governmental organizations, Parliamentarians and government officials.
Every year, the United Nations Centre for Human Rights in Geneva publishes a comprehensive series of reports on a wide range of human rights issues. The reports are prepared by internationally-recognized human rights experts for consideration by the Commission on Human Rights as well as the UN General Assembly. The Department of Foreign Affairs and interested Canadian NGOs have been encouraging the United Nations to strengthen the presentation of this reporting by its human rights monitors. Assessments by such authoritative international bodies should be at the heart of Canadian deliberations on international human rights questions.
To this end, during the past year Canada has been a strong supporter of the efforts of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to restructure the Center for Human Rights in Geneva. A key objective of this exercise is to provide more effective management of the information services of the human rights programme, including the documentation centre and library, inquiry services and management of the human rights database.
Considering the wealth of valuable information and analyses available from both Canadian and international sources, and the finite resources government is able to dedicate to its priorities, the Government has concluded that use of an extensive range of available documentation, including from sources outlined above, represents the most effective and efficient approach to the human rights information needs of Canadian foreign policy.
Finally, the mandate of the recently-struck Subcommittee on Sustainable Human Development includes consideration of issues concerning the promotion of respect for fundamental human rights. In the course of its work, this subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the other House will have occasion to review the range of human rights information and analysis outlined above.

Justice

Investigation into Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Civil Action for Libel-Change of Venue from Quebec Superior Court-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Marjory LeBreton on June 4, 1996)

No such request is contemplated at the present time.

National Defence

Failure to Establish Militia Training Centre at Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Gerald J. Comeau on June 5, 1996)

The Militia Training Support Centre (MTSC) Detachment in Camp Aldershot is a detachment of MTSC Gagetown. The construction of new infrastructure at Camp Aldershot to house the MTSC Detachment is replacement construction, rather than an expansion of the current Camp. Four new buildings, specifically designed to minimize administrative time and maximize training time for militia weekend collective training, will replace 17 buildings, thereby reducing future operating and maintenance costs. The buildings to be replaced have become uneconomical to maintain and cannot support the concept of operations for an MTSC.
The selection of Aldershot as the site for the MTSC Detachment was in accordance with the recommendations of Land Forces Atlantic Area and the militia units in the region, and is the optimal location for the Detachment due to its location, training area and facilities. CFB Cornwallis was considered as a potential MTSC site or detachment, but was not selected primarily because the training area is not suitable for the collective training requirements for the Militia. However, even if CFB Cornwallis had a suitable training area and had been selected as the site for the MTSC Detachment, new construction would still have been required. The facilities in Cornwallis were not designed for the MTSC concept of intensive and time sensitive weekend collective militia training.

Foreign Affairs

International Centre for human Rights and Democratic Development-Travel Pattern of President-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Roch Bolduc on June 5, 1996)

The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a unique Canadian institution doing high profile work promoting human rights throughout the world. It has worked to promote important issues such as women's rights and, as an arm's-length institution, has supported many innovative programs not covered by government organizations.
The very nature of its work requires the Centre's President to travel overseas, including to developed countries where many of the initiatives to address human rights issues originate. Mr. Broadbent is often the invited guest of international organizations and developing-country governments, who may assume part of his travel costs.
Travel policies for staff are set by the Centre management, which reports to the Board of Directors. The Centre is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and tables both an annual report on its activities and operations, and a financial review by the Auditor General.
A major review of the Centre was tabled in the House in February 1994, as called for in the enabling legislation. The Review commented positively on the Centre's external programming but made several criticisms of internal management and administrative costs. Since then the Centre has made a number of improvements to address concerns. For example, it has cut administration costs (now down to 7% of the budget) and more tightly focused its thematic priorities. The Centre has also instituted a series of ongoing evaluations designed to help continually improve its operations.
The Government will be following the Centre's ongoing efforts to improve quality and accountability.

Reduction in International Aid-Government Policy

(Response to question raised by Hon. Consiglio Di Nino on June 5, 1996)

As outlined in "Canada in the World," the Government is still committed to making progress toward achieving the United Nations' target of allocating 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) to Official Development Assistance (ODA) when Canada's fiscal situation allows it.
For 1997-1998, the Government estimates that the ODA/GNP ratio will be 0.28%. Overall, there has been a trend among donor countries to reduce the level of financial support provided for ODA. If these trends continue, Canada may remain in about the mid-range for donor countries.
As the economy recovers and the fiscal situation improves, the Government will be in a position to move toward achieving the internationally recognized target of 0.7%.
The Government believes the 0.7% target is worth maintaining because it represents international agreement on an appropriate level for development assistance and is a reminder of our longer-term commitment.

Canada-China Relations

Hong Kong-1997 Transfer of Government to China-Human Rights Concerns

(Response to question raised by Hon. Consiglio Di Nino on June 6, 1996)

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has developed a consular contingency plan to prepare to assist Canadians in case of danger. These plans are developed by all Canadian missions in order to prepare for emergency situations.
The transition of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997, will take place under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the people's Republic of China, the constitution for the Territory that was promulgated by the Chinese National People's Congress in April 1990. The Basic Law grants considerable autonomy in economic, trade, cultural and political affairs, for 50 years after 1997. The Government considers that transition will proceed smoothly and that the law of Hong Kong will remain in place and the independent judiciary will continue to function. The People's Republic of China has passed the Basic Law to govern Hong Kong and the Government would expect that China will implement this law.
Canada will continue to accept immigrants from Hong Kong after the return of Hong Kong to Chinese control. While the Government has every reason to expect that the transition will continue to proceed smoothly, should there be a sudden exodus of refugees from Hong Kong, Canada will take action in accordance with our humanitarian traditions.
The issue of visa free entry for Hong Kong nationals after July 1, 1997, is currently being reviewed by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. Canada has asked the Hong Kong Immigration Department to agree to a Memorandum of Arrangement for the removal from Canada of Hong Kong residents who are inadmissible to Canada.
Once an agreement has been reached, the Government of Canada will decide whether to grant visa free access to Hong Kong residents.

Royal Canadian Mint

Contract Granted to U.S. Company to Mint Canadian Coin-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Gerald J. Comeau on June 6, 1996)

The Government is changing the metal composition of the one cent coin from bronze to copper plated metal in order to reduce production costs (it currently costs 1.4 cents to produce a one cent coin).
As the Royal Canadian Mint is subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), it is required to advertise its tenders in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Three companies submitted bids for blanks for the one cent coin. The Mint awarded the contracts to the two lowest bidders, in this case, two American firms, thereby ensuring a secure supply of copper plated zinc blanks. Significant Canadian content still remains since both companies procure 90-100% of their zinc from Canada and the Mint will continue to strike the one cent coins at its Winnipeg Plant.
The cost to produce a copper plated zinc coin would be .9 cents, as compared to 1.4 cents for the current bronze coin, resulting in savings to the Government and to Canadian taxpayers of approximately $3.4 million annually.

Foreign Affairs

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development-Replacement of Director-Maintenance of Budget-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon Noël A. Kinsella on June 6, 1996)

With regard to the replacement of Mr. Broadbent as President of International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD), the Government will be complying with the statute establishing illion this year. This budget is determined annually, and is not directly related to the funding levels of specific CIDA projects. The entire International Assistance Envelope is being reduced over the next two years.

Fisheries

Collapse of Atlantic Fishery-Longer-Term Provision for Laid-Off Workers Under the Atlantic groundfish Strategy-Government Position

Aid for Laid-Off Workers Under the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy-Request for Statistics

The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy-Comments of Consultant-Government Position

(Response to questions raised by Hon. Brenda M. Robertson on June 7, 1995 and June 18, 1996)

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) is preparing a formative evaluation of The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS). The report is being finalized in both official languages and should be made public later this year. HRDC considered the report by Dr. Savoie, of the Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development, during the preparation of the formative evaluation.
It should be noted that the focus of Dr. Savoie's report, which was partially funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, was on community economic development in coastal communities.
Under TAGS, there was a separate $50M for long-term economic development. As well, under TAGS active labour adjustment measures, Green Project initiatives had a built-in community development component. Some 1,200 clients have participated in Green Projects.

Immigration

Granting of Entry Permits to Applicants with Criminal Records-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk on June 10, 1996)

Permits are issued with great care and all decisions are taken cautiously and judiciously both abroad and in Canada. Over the last 5 years, the number of permits issued has actually gone down by approximately 73% (1990: approx. 20,000 and 1995: approx. 5,483)
Permits allow entry to people who are inadmissible, because of criminal or medical reasons, but for whom there are humanitarian and compassionate reasons to admit. Permits are never issued where there is apparent danger to the public or any other threat to Canadian society.
Typically, criminality cases involve the spouse or other dependents of Canadians or permanent residents of Canada, who have a single criminal conviction, but for whom the statutory period of 5 years from the completion of criminal penalties has not been satisfied. If there is recidivism or breach of the conditions according to which a Permit has been issued, the Minister can cancel without notice and order the individual's removal from Canada.
While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police authorities provide the criminal information to corroborate the details of a conviction, they are not normally consulted prior to the issuance of a Permit.

Transport

Monitoring of Increase in User Fees at Ports-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. J. Michael Forrestall on June 10, 1996)

Consulting and Audit Canada prepared, on behalf of Harbours and Ports, a report entitled Impact of Tariff Increases on Commodity Throughput at HPD Ports and Harbours, March 8, 1995. Based on the results of extensive analysis and interviews involving some 150 individuals, companies, organizations and associations in the commercial shipping industry, this impact study focused on each commodity, and concluded that last year's wharfage increase of 25% would have minimal impact on shipments. Accordingly, it was further concluded that this year's increases would have a similar minimal effect.
Before last year, the last substantive public harbour tariff increase was in 1986. Public harbours and ports fees are generally lower in absolute terms than charges at other port administrations, and, for the most part, will remain lower even with the increases.
Berthage fees are charged for use of berth space at a wharf, wharfage fees for loading/unloading goods at public wharves, and storage fees for storing goods at a public port facility. The services provided for harbour dues generally include: ensuring the safe and efficient movement of all traffic within a harbour by controlling navigation, directing vessels to anchorage, monitoring and controlling speed, monitoring pollution and the movement of dangerous goods, ensuring priority status for ferries, and providing navigation information.
The new tariffs will bring the cost-recovery level from one-quarter to about one-third of the total cost of administering the national public harbours and ports program. The expected additional revenues generated will also help meet Transport Canada's required revenues for 1996/97. This will shift the financial burden from the Canadian taxpayer to the user, while ensuring affordable, effective, and safe marine transportation services.
The Minister is cognizant of the fact that many marine users and service providers are concerned about the cumulative impact of Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans, and Transport Canada plans for changes in levels of service and cost recovery. A joint Fisheries and Oceans/Transport Canada study to review the cumulative impact of cost recovery and cost-cutting measures on the marine sector has, therefore, been undertaken and is expected to be completed this fall.
The fees are also being closely monitored by Harbours and Ports by way of input from Regional Directors and correspondence addressed to the Minister.
Should the potential for serious impact on ports exist, changes to the regulatory fee structure are possible, although the department does not foresee such a requirement at this time.

Employment Equity Act

Amendments Promised by Minister-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Janis Johnson on June 13, 1996)

In pursuit of the commitment made by the previous Minister of Human Resources Development, the government has consulted with Senators on the issue of amending the Employment Equity Act.
Senators have indicated that this may not be an appropriate time to introduce such an amendment to the Act.
Letters have been sent to Parliamentary employers requesting that they begin implementation of employment equity in accordance with the requirements of the new Employment Equity Act.
Parliament is presently moving ahead voluntarily to comply with the spirit of the Employment Equity Act.

Fisheries and Oceans

Recovery of Maritime Fishing Ports-Request for Particulars of Report of Consultant-Government Position

Report on Government Initiative-Impact on Atlantic Canada-Government Policy

(Response to questions raised by Hon. Orville H. Phillips and Hon. J. Michael Forrestall on June 18, 1996)

The Government is not turning its back on coastal fishing communities which play an essential and vibrant role in the Canadian fisheries. For example, the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy provides income support to all Atlantic fishing communities affected by the groundfish moratoria.
However, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has made it clear that, to ensure an economically viable and sustainable fishery, the fishery of the future will not be able to support the number of individuals in the harvesting sector who wish to participate. The recent report of the Task Force on Incomes and Adjustment in the Atlantic (Cashin Report) supports this view.
As a result of the groundfish crisis, many Atlantic Canadians will have difficult choices to make about their future in the fishery. In many cases, these decisions will also be decisions about the individual's and his/her family's future in their communities. The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS) offers choices to both fish plant workers and fishers in all communities across the Atlantic, to assist them with these decisions. HRD offers a number of adjustment measures, including training and self-employment assistance, employment bonuses and mobility assistance. In addition, both DFO and HRD have offered early retirement programs to fishers and plant workers, and DFO has offered groundfish licence retirement programs to those who wish to exit the fishery.

Elections Canada

Limitation on Election Advertising Decision of Alberta Court of Appeal-Possibility of Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada-Government Position

(Response to question raised by Hon. Jack Austin on June 18, 1996)

The federal government is presently studying the court's ruling. It will decide and announce in due course whether it will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The constitutional validity of Quebec's referendum law is already before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Libman case (leave granted May 9, 1996). The federal government is not a party to the case, but could choose to intervene once constitutional questions have been stated.
Somerville and Libman are separate cases. Each attracts its own considerations. There are, however, links between the two.
The federal government will be mindful of these links, together with all other relevant considerations, in deciding whether to pursue an appeal in Somerville.

Answers to Order Paper Questions Tabled

Health-RCMP-Tobacco Industry-Government Position

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 1 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Department of the Environment-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 9 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Department of Canadian Heritage-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 23 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 31 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Department of Canadian Heritage-Number of Vehicles and number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 35 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Department of Industry-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 41 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

United States Helms-Burton Act-Government Position

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 89 on the Order Paper-by Senator Oliver.

Canadian Race Relations Foundation-Establishment, naming of chair, composition of board of directors and funding of Foundation

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 91 on the Order Paper-by Senator Oliver.

Firearm Registration Act-Amount Spent on Implementation of Legislation-Projected Costs and Number of Person Years Required for Establishment of System

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 92 on the Order Paper-by Senator Oliver.

Fisheries and Oceans-Atlantic Fishery-Fishing Licences-Government Position

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 93 on the Order Paper-by Senator Oliver.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 94 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 95 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canadian Dairy Commission-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 96 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Farm Credit Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 97 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canadian Commercial Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 98 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Export Development Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 99 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 100 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Cape Breton Development Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 101 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuelled Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 104 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Petro-Canada Limited-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 106 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Atlantic Pilotage Authority-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 107 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Great Lakes Pilotage Authority-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 108 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Laurentian Pilotage Authority-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 109 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Pacific Pilotage Authority-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 110 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

St. Lawrence Seaway Authority-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 111 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Marine Atlantic Inc.-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 112 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Via Rail Canada Inc.-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 113 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canada Ports Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 114 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Halifax Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 115 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Montreal Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 116 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Port of Quebec Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 117 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Prince Rupert Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 118 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

Saint John Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 119 on the Order Paper--by Senator Kenny.

St. John's Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 120 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Vancouver Port Corporation-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 121 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canadian Museum of Civilization-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 122 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canadian Museum of Nature-Number of Vehicles and Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to question No. 123 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

National Gallery of Canada-Purchase of Vehicles-Percentage of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 125 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

National Museum of Science & Technology-Purchase of Vehicles-Percentage of Alternate Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 126 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canada Lands Company Limited-Purchase of Vehicles-Percentage of Alternate-Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 127 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Defence Limited (1951) Limited-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 129 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Queens Quay West Lands Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 130 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Canada Post Corporation-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 131 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Royal Canadian Mint-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 132 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 133 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

Correctional Service of Canada-Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 134 on the Order Paper-by Senator Kenny.

National Defence-MTSC Valcartier

Hon. B. Alasdair Graham (Deputy Leader of the Government) tabled the answer to Question No. 135 on the Order Paper-by Senator Comeau.

[Translation]

Private Bill

The Nipissing and James Bay Railway Company-Bill to dissolve-Message from Commons

The Hon. the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons returning Bill S-7, to dissolve the Nipissing and James Bay Railway Company, and acquainting the Senate that they had passed the bill without amendment.

[English]

Standing Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Commons

Changes in Membership-Message from Commons

The Hon. the Acting Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons, informing the Senate of changes that had been made to the membership of the following joint committees:

Library of Parliament;
Official Languages;
Scrutiny of Regulations.

Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I realize there have been changes, but I would like to be told what these changes are.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Honourable senators, the Chair does not have these names available right now. The message does not give any names. I am not in a position to tell you more right now.

Senator Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I think it is strange to be told they wish to inform the Senate of the changes in the names of the members. Are they informing us or will they inform us? His Honour is a man of French precision and of logic. If they are informing us, we should have the names. I would like to comment on these changes. I insist. More specifically, I want to comment on the name of the very competent chairman, a man who is up there with Trudeau. I think the fact that he has been set aside deserves some comment.

I always go back to my concept of the Senate as the protector of minorities, the custodian of minorities and regions. For the record, I want to express my vigorous objections. I almost bitterly regret the departure of Patrick Gagnon from the committee, a man of great talent, competence and elegance. I want the Senate to mind what I am saying.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Honourable senators, I would like to add some information to what I just said. The message I read is worded in its customary form. It is a tradition in the Senate to relay messages received from the other House in this way. I should have added that the Journals will print not only the message but also the names of members and senators, as the case may be, who are affected by these changes. Tomorrow, like all senators, the honourable senator will receive a copy of the Journals of the Senate. Otherwise, we will make sure you are sent one.

Senator Prud'homme: I knew you would give me full satisfaction.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

The Honourable Allan J. MacEachen

His Life and Times-Inquiry

Hon. Anne C. Cools rose pursuant to notice of Thursday, June 13, 1996:

That she will call the attention of the Senate to the life and times of Allan J. MacEachen, a great Liberal and an outstanding Canadian from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia; and to his parliamentary service as a member of Parliament for 43 years in both the Senate and the House of Commons; and to his exceptional contribution to the social and political life of Canada; and to his upcoming retirement from the Senate on July 6, 1996.

She said: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to my inquiry. I would begin by saying that, in this country, small communities have given to this nation some very great human beings.

Born in a small community in Nova Scotia, Allan J. MacEachen moved with terrific force on the life of this country and became one of Canada's greatest parliamentarians and politicians. His reality and spirit are best articulated in the words of St. Augustine's The Confessions, that the human "... heart is restless until it rests ..." in God. His restless spirit and mind were to be devoted to the public service of this country. "Allan J.'' became the political minister for Nova Scotia in charge of Liberal politics in that province. He became the Canadian Parliament's finest navigator of parliamentary business through the seas of the chamber floor - and these can be very rough seas.

Allan J. MacEachen was born in 1921 in Inverness on Cape Breton Island, a town of 3,000 residents, and was a child during the Great Depression. His father was a Cape Breton coal miner. Recently, in this chamber, Allan J. shared some rare insights into his childhood, saying:

My father worked in the coal mines for 46 years. When he left the mines, he left with nothing. He had no pension.

Allan J. recounted the experiences of Cape Breton coal miners and their communities. In relating the social significance of the whistle as a voice summoning, signalling, and controlling the work and lives of coals miners, their families, and their communities, he recollected:

The whistle was also the voice of tragedy, because every time the whistle blew in a certain pattern, the people would rush to the colliery to determine who had been killed or injured.

Allan J. was educated at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. First elected to the House of Commons in 1953, defeated in 1958, re-elected in 1962, he has sat as a Liberal Member of Parliament, including the Senate, for a total of 39 years.

From 1962 to 1984, he sat as the member for Cape Breton Highlands-Canso. A holder of several ministerial portfolios, he was Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's Deputy Prime Minister between 1977 and 1984.

In 1963, as Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson's Minister of Labour, his first portfolio, he politically, socially and legislatively managed the Great Lakes shipping dispute, achieving settlement. That dispute was marked by union leader Hal Banks' questionable activities, much bloodshed, and large economic losses.

In 1966, as the responsible minister, he implemented Canada's Medicare system, undoubtedly his proudest achievement.

On June 29, 1984, Allan J. was summoned to the Senate as the Senator from Highlands-Canso, and he became Leader of the Government in the Senate just weeks before the Liberal Party's overwhelming defeat in the September general election. John Turner, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and of the Opposition, appointed Allan J. as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, a Liberal opposition that was the majority numerically.

The new Conservative Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, his cabinet and the Conservative members in the House of Commons, 211 strong, faced a meagre 40 Liberals in the House of Commons. However, they soon discovered an energetic opposition in the Senate led by Senator Allan J. MacEachen and Deputy Leader Senator Royce Frith, an opposition which believed that the survival of their Liberal Party rested with them. They also believed that they were the true opposition in that Parliament.

The government supporters in the Senate, led by Government Leader Senator Duff Roblin and Deputy Leader Senator Jacques Flynn, were soon to comprehend this. The Senate political wars between 1984 and 1993 were legendary, the leadership excellent, and the stamina and commitment of the back bench Liberal senators admirable.

The October 1993 general election returned the Liberals to government, 178 members strong. The efforts of Liberal senators were soon relegated to history and forgotten, if not ignored. Liberal senators and their battles on Bill C-62, the Goods and Services Tax, and Bill C-21 on Unemployment Insurance quickly became inconsequential to the members of the House of Commons. They were forgotten as if they never existed.

Honourable senators, I now speak to Allan J. MacEachen, the man. His Scottish racial ancestry is revealed in his physical build and his stalwart features. He is a handsome man with great serenity and poise. He has the countenance of one who understands human beings and the human condition; about human nature and the human psyche. His greatest understanding of human nature is his comprehension of the psycho-social forces at work in human beings within social organizations. He is a man with a strong soul, a strong interior life, to use the language of theology and of the contemplative Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. He has a strong solitude. Such solitude is forged in suffering, contemplation, prayer and a relationship with God. He is superbly bright, with an alert, intelligent and well trained mind. His face is inscrutable when necessary. He is focused, astute and strategic, possessing the force of personality and conviction essential to leadership and social movement.

He is a complex man whose life and work have reinforced his complexity. This complexity and his strong solitude make him a difficult man to know personally. He is affable, warm and amiable. His humility is striking. He is a soldier, a great general in the battle of ideas and social actions. His battleground is human hearts and minds, which is politics, which is his life's work. His strongest armament is his mind, the most powerful instrument of all.

John Murray Gibbon, in a book called the Canadian Mosaic, informs us that Sir Walter Scott explained the immigration of many Scottish soldiers, saying that:

The contempt of commerce entertained by young men having some pretence to gentility, the poverty of the country of Scotland, the national disposition to wandering and adventure, all conduced to lead the Scots abroad ...

In 1621, Sir William Alexander, a learned Scot, won King James I's assent to the settlement of Nova Scotia, and secured a charter granting him the territory now roughly covered by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Sir William hoped to colonize New Scotland with his fellow countrymen. That same year, the register shows the first record of Abraham Martin, the Scot, after whom the Plains of Abraham were named. He was the earliest known pilot on the St. Lawrence River and his daughter was the first wife of Medard Chouart des Groseilliers, the Mr. Gooseberry who helped to make the Hudson's Bay Company possible.

A hundred years later, in 1759, when General Wolfe laid siege to Quebec City, it was the Scottish 78th Fraser Highlanders who scaled the heights to victory. That path was shown to Wolfe by a Scot, Major Stobo. On the Plains of Abraham, when the victorious Wolfe had fallen, a Franco-Scot, Major de Ramezay handed the keys of the Citadel of Quebec City to General James Murray, another Scot. History tells of Scottish soldiers in British North America, Scottish merchants in Montreal, Scottish fur traders and explorers, and Scottish poets and musicians. The literature abounds with statements like "... the adventurous spirit of the Gael, ...".

The Scottish role in Canada was profound, including Alexander Graham Bell, Simon Fraser, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, James McGill, and Robert Service. The list of Scots in Canadian politics includes Lord Elgin, Sir John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, William Lyon Mackenzie, and countless others. In addition, the universities of McGill, Queen's, Toronto, and St. Francis Xavier owe their founding to Scotsmen. The contributions of Scottish persons born both in Scotland and in Canada are great, but insufficiently known. Also insufficiently celebrated is the contribution of Scottish Nova Scotians to Canada.

I draw attention to the many fine senators of Scottish descent, noting that currently of the ten senators appointed from Nova Scotia, six are of Scottish descent, being Senators John Buchanan, Alasdair Graham, Finlay MacDonald, John Macdonald, Allan MacEachen, and John Stewart. Even Senator Murray, appointed from Ontario, is of Scottish descent. I note that Liberal Senator Stewart, one of Canada's great intellects, a scholar of Parliament and of moral and political philosophy, is the author of the masterful 1992 book on David Hume entitled Opinion and Reform in Hume's Political Philosophy.

Allan J. MacEachen is the quintessential Scottish descendent. His personality and liberalism are the products of his Scottish racial ancestry, his upbringing and closeness to the lives of the Nova Scotia coal miners and fishermen, his excellent education by Roman Catholic professors, and the important social fact of the Antigonish Movement, Father Tompkins, and Father Coady in his formative years. Father Michael Moses Coady was a priest, a teacher and director of the extension department of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish in the 1940's. In his book, Masters of Their Own Destiny, he wrote about the Antigonish Movement, the roles of the clergy and St. Francis Xavier University that:

St. F. X. cannot be properly introduced without a word about the Maritimes and the effect of the sea. We live with the sea. We have carried on the Antigonish movement in the beauty and grandeur of the natural environment of eastern Canada, the threshold of the American continent, this divinely hewn portal of inspiration, stirring men's hearts to noble and lofty ideals. Here is nature's masterpiece, and perhaps the great social laboratory.

This social laboratory was the context of Allan J. MacEachen's youth. The Antigonish Movement attempted to educate people by developing adult education programs and economic cooperation sponsored by the university, assisting them to become masters of their own economic destiny. It employed the cooperative and its result was the organization of credit unions, cooperative fish packing plants, stores, farmers' marketing associations, and other self-help, social and economic ventures. It was the local communities' attempts to take control of the unseen forces that control people's lives in the coal mining and fishing communities.

As I said, Allan J. was born in 1921, the year of an important federal general election. The Liberal Party and its then leader, William Lyon Mackenzie King, campaigned and narrowly won the election on the platform that founded the Liberal Party social policy for the next 70 years.

That in so far as may be practicable, having regard for Canada's financial position, an adequate system of insurance against unemployment, sickness, dependence in old age, and other disability, which would include old age pensions, widows' pensions, and maternity benefits, should be instituted by the Federal Government in conjunction with the Governments of the several provinces; and that on matters pertaining to industrial and social legislation an effort should be made to overcome any question of jurisdiction between the Dominion and the provinces by effective cooperation between the several Governments.

This foundation formed the opinions and positions of generations of liberals and liberal governments. Interestingly, this platform recited the exact words of a resolution written and moved by William Lyon Mackenzie King at the Liberal Party convention in 1919. About this resolution and Mackenzie King's initiative, the Honourable Jack Pickersgill, a great historian and former Liberal minister, in his 1962 book, The Liberal Party, wrote:

Much the most radical of the resolutions was the one on labour and industry, which had been drafted and moved by the new leader of the party. Mackenzie King had been the pioneer of labour and social legislation when Laurier was in office; yet the resolution of 1919 went far beyond anything contemplated by any public man in Laurier's time, and a good distance beyond the ideas of most rank-and-file Liberals in 1919. The resolution was radical in its aims but, like its author, prudent in its approach, recognizing clearly that there were many obstacles in the path of the social progress which was its ultimate goal. Still, there was no doubt about the direction in which this resolution pointed. The most important paragraph dealt with what is now called social security...

When Allan J. was 16 years old in 1937, Prime Minister Mackenzie King constituted the Royal Commission into Dominion Provincial Relations, which reported in 1940. The commissioners included John Dafoe, Newton Rowell, and Joseph Sirois, the Chairman. The watershed Rowell-Sirois report created the transfer of payments from the federal treasury to the provincial governments to provide social programs for Canadians. On July 12, 1966, days after his forty-fifth birthday, Allan J., Minister of National Health and Welfare in Prime Minister Lester Pearson's cabinet, introduced the resolution on Canada's system of Medicare, saying:

This effort springs not only from a deepening of our humanitarian concern for our fellow citizens, but from a realization that we cannot afford the social and economic consequences of our failure to do so. In an industrial country such as ours we cannot afford the loss to our economy stemming from ill health.

On October 13, 1966, at the second reading of the Medicare Bill C-227, he said that:

...this law placed on the statute books...a further milestone on the road of progress in social security in our country.

Allan J. MacEachen, in introducing the Liberal Party's proudest Canadian social program, joined a long historical line of British and Canadian liberals, including Herbert Henry Asquith, Edward Blake, George Brown, David Lloyd George, William Ewart Gladstone, Louis St. Laurent, Sir Wilfred Laurier, Alexander Mackenzie, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Lester B. Pearson, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, John Napier Turner and William Wilberforce.

Honourable senators, last July 4 to 6, 1996, a successful conference was held at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, entitled "The Public Good: Lessons for the 3rd Millennium, A Conference in Honour of Allan J. MacEachen," and it was chaired by former Liberal minister, Marc Lalonde. Guest speakers included Michael Bliss, Allan Gotleib, Sylvia Ostry, Bill Mulholland, and former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Our own Senators Atkins, Fairbairn, Graham, Hébert, MacDonald, Murray, Stewart and myself participated. Discussions focused on the issues of the public good and the government's limits to discern and to promote it. One session, "Is There a Future for National Political Parties in Canada?, Are national parties still desirable and possible in this era of regional interests and interest group politics," was timely and necessary.

Honourable senators, upon reflecting on the character and personality of those called to leadership, and those in leadership who are called to greatness, my mind travelled to the robust and eloquent hymns of the English Church and Ralph Vaughan Williams' hymn Let us now praise famous men. Vaughan Williams composed the music, the words being borrowed from the Old Testament Book of Sirach, commonly titled Ecclesiasticus, not to be confused with Solomon's Book of Ecclesiastes.

I shall end my praise of this famous man, Allen J. MacEachen, who throughout his political career has remained a devout Roman Catholic, by citing Ecclesiasticus from the New Jerusalem Version:

Next let us praise illustrious men, ...
Some wielded authority as kings
and were renowned for their strength;
others were intelligent advisers
and uttered prophetic sayings.
Others directed the people by their advice,
by their understanding of the popular mind,
and by the wise words of their teaching; ...
All these were honoured by their contemporaries
and were the glory of their day.

These words speak for those of us who have served party and country under his leadership. I wish him well in his retirement. I am proud and privileged to have served under him. For me personally, his retirement represents the passing of an era.

The Hon. the Acting Speaker: Honourable senators, if no other senator wishes to speak, the inquiry is considered debated.

The Senate adjourned until Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 1:30 p.m.

(a) United Kingdom	$ 4,283,213
(b) European Union	$ 1,394,000
(c) Sierra Leone	$ 1,129,000
(d) UNDP	$ 273,755
(e) The Commonwealth	$ 165,000
(f) Norway	$ 77,000
(g) Sweden	$ 68,500
(h) United States	$ 63,000
(i) Hong Kong	$ 50,000
(j) New Zealand	$ 32,635
(k) Greece	$20,000

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

2nd Session, 35th Parliament, Volume 135, Issue 35

Tuesday, September 24, 1996 The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

THE SENAT)

New Senators

The Honourable Eugene Francis Whelan, P.C., Léonce Mercier

Tributes on Appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec

Senators' STATEMENTS

Women's Health Forum

First Canadian-United States Conference

Rules of The Senate

Timing of Votes

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Changes to Term 17 of Constitution-Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee-motion for consideration tabled

Foreign Affairs

Interim Report of Committee on Study of Canada-European Union Relations-Motion for Consideration tabled

Banking, Trade and Commerce

Interim Report of Committee on Study of Canadian Financial System-Motion for Consideration tabled

Standards Council of Canada Act

Bill to Amend-Report of Committee

Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Tenth Report of Committee Presented

Yegor Stroyev, Chairman, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Invitation to Address Members of the Senate

Appropriation Bill No. 2, 1996-97

First Reading

Broadcasting Act

Bill to Amend-First Reading

Parliamentary Delegation to Russia and Romania

Report Tabled

Administration of Justice

Notice of Motion to Set Up Special Senate Committee to Consider Removal of Mr. Justice Jean Bienvenue

Banking, Trade and Commerce

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Meet During Sittings of the Senate

QUESTION PERIOD

Removal of Goods and Services Tax on Books-Request for Details in Support of Government Stance

Employment Insurance.

Changes to System by way of Regulation-Effects on Fishing Industry-Government Position

Women's Health Forum.

First Canada-United States Conference-Exclusion of Progressive Conservative Senators-Government Position

Delayed Answers to Oral Questions

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Effect on Construction Industry-Government Position

Foreign Affairs

Sierra Leone-Proposed national Elections-Contributions To Support Fund-Government Position

Human Rights

Visit of Federal Commissioner to China-Remarks Reported in Media-Government Position

Further Incarceration of Chinese Dissident-Government Position

Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Alleged Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Government-Approach to Swiss Government for Information-Authority for Procedure Followed-Government Position

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Source of Transitional Funds-Government Position

National Revenue

Eligibility of Community Development Funds for Investment of RRSP Contributions-Government Position

Implementation of Changes to Income Tax Act-Report of Auditor General-Government Position

Public Works and Government Services

Proposed Elimination of Grants Payable by Federal Government In Lieu of Municipal Taxes-Government Position

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Powers of Proposed Canada Revenue Commission-Request for Particulars

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Situation of Contract Employees at Summerside Centre-Government Position

Harmonization with Provincial Sales Taxes-Studies Conducted on Adverse Effects-Request for Answer

National Defence

Search and Rescue Helicopter Replacement Program-Efficacy of Model Chosen

Malpeque, P.E.I.-Availability of Emergency Funds to Aid Lobster Fishermen-Government Position

Goods and Services Tax

Harmonization with Quebec Sales Tax-Benefits to Consumers-Government Position

Foreign Affairs

Environmental Impact of Actions of Shell Oil Company in Nigeria

Investigation into Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Factors Involved in Minister's Decision to Seek Delay in Lawsuit-Government Position

News Release

Extension of Time for Filing of Defence Sought in Mr. Mulroney's Claim Against the Government of Canada

Canada-China Relations

Human Rights and Commercial Relations-Government Policy

Investigation into Sale of Airbus Aircraft to Air Canada-Civil Action for Libel-Change of Venue from Quebec Superior Court-Government Position

National Defence

Failure to Establish Militia Training Centre at Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia-Government Position

Foreign Affairs

International Centre for human Rights and Democratic Development-Travel Pattern of President-Government Position

Reduction in International Aid-Government Policy

Canada-China Relations

2nd Session, 35th Parliament,
Volume 135, Issue 35

Tuesday, September 24, 1996
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker

Extension of Time for Filing of Defence Sought
in Mr. Mulroney's Claim Against the Government of Canada