Mr. Fernand Robichaud (Westmorland-Kent):

I wish to ask the Deputy Prime Minister a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.

I have on hand a document from the Privy Council Office dated July 21, 1988 and published in the Canada Gazette. The Government allowed a distinction to be made between the rural area of Gatineau and the urban area of Hull. According to the document, the reason for this is the much higher unemployment rate in the rural area than in the urban one. But, Mr. Speaker, it is exactly the same problem in southern New Brunswick. I therefore ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether New Brunswickers can expect to receive the same treatment from this Government and whether changes will be made and apply to the people of New Brunswick right away.

Hon. Don Mazankowski (Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Privy Council):

Mr. Speaker, I most certainly will take the Hon. Member's question and representation as notice and see that he is responded to very shortly.

Mr. Barry Turner (Ottawa-Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the President of the Treasury Board. During the last many months federal language teachers have been on rotating strikes, have been through a sit-in, have had emotional demonstrations on Parliament Hill, and have strongly lobbied the Government to resolve their contract disputes. Can the Minister confirm that a resolution has been reached through the mediation of the Chairman of the Public Service Staff Relations Board?

Hon. Pat Carney (President of the Treasury Board):

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to confirm that we have reached terms of settlement with the education group of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which of course includes the language teachers. I think at this time it would be appropriate to thank both negotiating teams, and Mr. Deans who, of course, serves as the Chairman of the Public Service Staff Relations Board. He negotiated for eight straight days to resolve this longstanding dispute.

Ms. Copps:

He's a triple dipper, he should be staying up all night.

Oh, oh!

Ms. Carney:

They have agreed to send the key issue of hours of work to binding arbitration. All other issues have been

August 10, 1988

Oral Questions

settled. I hope that this will lead to an improved climate for labour-management negotiations in terms of the rest of the contracts.

I am sorry that members of the Opposition consider that this fine achievement is a laughing matter.

Mr. Jim Manly (Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. CIDA has promised to help Thailand sell irradiated fruit and shrimp to Canada, although it is illegal in this country to import and sell such products. Why is Canada using its international aid program to sell nuclear technology and use the people of Thailand and Canada as guinea pigs?

Mr. Michel Champagne (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for External Relations):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to set the record straight, because the Canadian Government certainly has no intention of opening our borders to shrimp or any other products, other than those presently admitted under Canada's irradiation standards. I may also remind the Hon. Member that Canada did not pressure Thailand so it could export its technology. In fact, it was Thailand that asked CIDA about our technology in this respect. Canada has been acting in accordance with the regulations that exist in this country, and we intend to maintain our regulations on irradiation.

Mr. Jim Manly (Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands):

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is addressed to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. Does the Government not recognize that the Canadian people do not want their food irradiated and that they feel it is immoral to be exporting this technology to the developing world? Why does the Minister allow his Department, and why does the Government allow CIDA to become tools of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, rather than fulfilling their own mandates?

Mr. Michel Champagne (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for External Relations):

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that the Hon. Member does not seem to understand the process involved in irradiating food. I may remind him that the WHO and the FAO, to name only a few agencies, have said they were in favour of irradiated food because according to them it made the food safer to eat. The Canadian Government has

very strict standards in this respect. We are following international standards, and we will continue to do so because some very reliable agencies have said no risk was involved.

Mr. Howard Crosby (Halifax West):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of National Defence or the Associate Minister of National Defence.

Many Canadians, especially those who support the Canadian Armed Forces, were shocked by revelations of cruelty and unjustified punishment inflicted on crewmen serving on a submarine, the HMCS Onandaga.

I know the Minister must share the concern so I ask this question. First, has the Ministry investigated the incidents involving Petty Officer Farler leading to his court martial? Second, will the Minister assure the public that the Minister and naval authorities will not tolerate cruel and unjustified actions in the Canadian Forces in any circumstances, thereby preserving the high standards of the Canadian military?

Hon. Paul Dick (Associate Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Hon. Member that I have been very concerned about the reports and the information which I received regarding this incident. I can say that the incident is still appealable at this time and thus there are certain restrictions on what a person can say.

I would like to assure the Hon. Member that it is the intention of the Canadian Forces, the Minister of National Defence, myself, and this Government to maintain the very high standards that Canada has had from the Canadian Armed Forces, standards that we have been extremely proud of over the years, standards that have taken us to being the leading country in peacekeeping operations around the world, with the high regard and respect that other people and countries have for the Canadian Forces. We are going to maintain those high standards.