The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ethier):

Order, please. Perhaps the Eiouse will show equal courtesy to all hon. members, and allow the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare (Mr. McRae) to make his remarks.

Mr. McRae:

Mr. Speaker, I tried to deal with this industry from a national standpoint, since I think there are national implications to the question. I do not doubt that.

For a few minutes I should like to deal with the area of health. As the hon. member for Scarborough West (Mr. Martin) indicated, we believe there is a serious problem to be considered, but that the proposed mining act does not provide the answer. Action would take too long and we could run into constitutional difficulties. We think our approach is probably best, given the present situation with respect to the constitution and the federal government's present difficulty in dealing with the provinces. Therefore, like the hon. member for Scarborough West, I wish to deal with this matter from the standpoint of occupational safety.

Mr. Rodriguez:

We are talking about the territories. Why do you not talk about them?

Mr. McRae:

Matters related to the occupational safety and health of miners and workers engaged in associated surface operations are subject to existing legislation and regulations, federal, provincial, and territorial. The content and administration of these statutory requirements are reviewed from time to time by the regulatory authorities concerned, and are revised as required. Federal jurisdiction for these purposes in the mining industry is, by acts of parliament, confined to the mining and processing of uranium, coal mining carried out by the Cape Breton Development Corporation, and the mining of base metals in the Flin Flon mineral area by the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company.

Part IV of the Canada Labour Code, safety of employees, and the safety and health regulations made pursuant to it, apply to all aspects of occupational safety and health in federal works, undertakings and businesses except where such application is preempted, as for example by the Atomic Energy Control Act. Workers under federal jurisdiction in occupations directly involved in the mining of coal, uranium, and base metals are under the general regulations of Part IV of the Canada Labour Code, regulations made under the Atomic Energy Control Act and, by arrangement, the mining regulations of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

To take a portion of workers and work places under federal jurisdiction, for example, miners and mines, and make them subject to a new act of parliament and regulations resulting therefrom would in effect duplicate the existing provisions of

Mine Workers' Health

Part IV of the Canada Labour Code and of the Atomic Energy Control Act and might result in delaying the development and implementation of higher standards through revision of existing enactments and mandatory standards.

A federal presence in the field of occupational safety and health of miners already exists through the implementation of the regulations made under Part IV of the Canada Labour Code in coal mines and regulations made under the Atomic Energy Control Act in uranium mining operations.

Assistance to and co-operation with provincial departments and agencies that have a responsibility for mine safety and occupational health is considered to be an important and ongoing function of the federal government, and there are established means for consultation and sharing of information among the several interests and authorities. As the hon. member for Scarborough West indicated, active consideration is being given to the creation of a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health which, as its name implies, would be a technically competent and authoritative body for the identification and evaluation of hazards to the safety and health of workers, and to develop standards and other means for their control. Such a centre would be governed by a board representing federal and provincial authorities, labour, management, scientific and other professional interests. Through the work and efforts of an institute of this kind it is confidently expected that higher standards of occupational safety and health would be developed and implemented for all places of work-I emphasize all places of work-including mining which has its own special problems in this field.

Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

I suppose they will be developed by the year 2000.

Mr. McRae:

Since the purposes or objects of the motion we are considering are capable of being achieved through existing enactments, and in fact are already being dealt with to some extent, supplementary means of accomplishing these desirable ends are being planned. Therefore motion No. 27 is not supportable. Further, because of the limited extent of direct federal concern in this industry the provinces are very likely to view-

Mr. Gillies:

This has nothing to do with the provinces.

Mr. McRae:

-an initiative of this kind, especially at this time, as an unwelcome intrusion into a field clearly and almost entirely in provincial jurisdiction.

Mr. Rodriguez:

What about the provisions of Bills C-16, C-2, and other similar bills?

Mr. McRae:

Actually, both opposition parties have many times said that the government has no business being involved in the resource field. For these reasons it would make most sense if we were to develop an institute, and work with the provinces in developing standards. And we could do this under existing legislation.

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March 11, 1977

Mine Workers' Health

Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Will the hon. member permit a question?

Mr. McRae:

Certainly, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, has the hon. member read the motion?

Mr. McRae:

Mr. Speaker, not only have I read the motion on three different occasions; I included part of the motion in my speech.

Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton):

Did you understand the motion?

Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Did you understand it?

Mr. McRae:

The motion is of broad import, but is not likely to be accepted by the provinces.

Mr. Gillies:

It has nothing to do with the provinces.

Mr. McRae:

I suggest that we could act in this area quickly and effectively by creating the kind of institute which has been mentioned, and working with the provinces on health matters.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ethier):

Order, please. It being five o'clock and the hour appointed for the consideration of private members' business having expired, this House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. next Monday, pursuant to Standing Order 2(1).

At 5 p.m. the House adjourned, without question put, pursuant to Standing Order.

Monday, March 14, 1977