Mr. John Rodriguez (Nickel Belt):

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the same Minister. There are two points. First, the Nova Scotia election is over.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Rodriguez:

The applause, I presume, was for Alexa McDonough, the Leader of the New Democrats in Nova Scotia.

November 7, 1984

Oral Questions

The other point is that that is the old answer we used to get from the Liberal Party when it sat on that side. In view of the fact that Crown corporations are not the best loved by this Minister, will he be more specific and give hope to the people of Sault Ste. Marie by stating he will review it with the intent of ensuring that that order is placed with Algoma Steel and that no jobs are lost as a result of it?

Hon. Sinclair Stevens (Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion):

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the Hon. Member I would indicate that I, too, share in his jubilation with respect to the Nova Scotia election. With reference to the second part of his question, I indicated in my first answer that we are reviewing the transactions and that he has our assurance that we will do our level best to ensure there will be no adverse fallout such as he is referring to.

Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell):

Mr. Speaker, it has been reported in the media over the last few days that the Government was planning to cancel the 1986 census. I have a question for the Minister of Supply and Services who is responsible for the matter.

Since there has been a census every five years in Western Canada since 1886, and in other parts of this country since 1956, and in view of the importance of the data collected by way of that census to the business and academic communities and also to social and government affairs, not to mention of course the issue of the jobs involved in census-taking, can the Minister give us his personal assurance that the census will not be cancelled, but held in 1986 as usual?

Hon. Harvie Andre (Minister of Supply and Services):

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Member on his election and welcome him to the House of Commons.

The Government has made no announcement with regard to the 1986 census. All programs of the Government are under active review because of the very serious financial situation in which we find ourselves. When a decision is made, it will be announced. I will make sure that the Hon. Member receives the announcement as quickly as possible.

Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell):

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I asked the Minister whether he had made the announcement. We are looking for his personal assurance.

Is the Minister aware that new questions were to be included in the 1986 census pursuant to the "Obstacles Report' of this House of Commons, dealing with important matters concerning visible minorities and the handicapped? There were also to be questions in this census for the first time concerning native peoples. No affirmative action programs can be established without the data base which would be received from this census. In view of that, will the minister assure this House that this census will take place?

Hon. Harvie Andre (Minister of Supply and Services):

Mr. Simon de Jong (Regina East):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister was in Regina during the summer election campaign, there was some confusion about whether he supported a water pipeline for the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina. The Regina Conservative candidates assured everyone in Regina that he indeed did.

[DOT] (U50)

Just to clear up the confusion that might exist, will the Prime Minister now tell us if indeed his Government is committed to a water pipeline from Lake Diefenbaker to the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw?

Right Hon. Brian Mulroney (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, yes, we are examining the various options, technical and otherwise, that are available, and I will respond just as quickly as I can to the Hon. Member.

Mr. de Jong:

Mr. Speaker, again this is a bit discouraging because those are the same kinds of answers we were getting from the previous administration.

Mr. Simon de Jong (Regina East):

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that there is now a Conservative Government in the Province of Saskatchewan, and a mayor who is very sympathetic to the Conservative Party. When will they all sit down together and draw up an agreement? When, in fact, will we see some real changes so that the people of Regina and of Moose Jaw can have clean, safe water, and as well create some desperately needed jobs back home? When are we going to see some changes and some action?

November 7, 1984

Right Hon. Brian Mulroney (Prime Minister):

Soon.

Hear, hear!

Ms. Sheila Copps (Hamilton East):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. Mr. Minister, in the Throne Speech you stated that your Ministers will seek to "further define" the concept of equal pay for work of equal value. Last August, however, during the Leaders' debate on women's issues, you stated, and I quote-