Hon. Don Mazankowski (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance):

Madam Speaker, the hon. member will just have to wait and see. I think he recognizes, as he alluded to it, that all provinces recognize the serious national debt problem we face.

.(1155)

I noted this morning the provincial treasurer of Ontario brought out an expenditure control plan which affects all the sectors of government spending in Ontario. I noted that he said: "We must deal aggressively with the debt problem so that it does not overwhelm the economy". I think that is a view shared by all governments in Canada.

It is also noted that Ontario has cut transfer payments to the municipalities. It has cut its payments in lieu to education and social services-

Mr. McKnight:

As has Saskatchewan.

Mr. Mazankowski:

-as has Saskatchewan. This is in recognition of the tight fiscal situation in which we all find ourselves.

Bearing those things in mind, we will always ensure that the interests of Canada are taken into account. We hope we will be able to bring forward a budget that has balance and is achievable.

Mr. Milliken:

You have not done anything for nine years. Why the conversion?

Mr. Mazankowski:

For nine years members opposite voted against every restraint measure that we brought forward.

Hon. Lorne Nystrom (Yorkton-Melville):

Madam Speaker, the reason I asked the question is that in the past the government has been offloading its debt problems on to the backs of the provinces.

Saskatchewan for example is $500 million short of where we would have been without the changes in the formulas for transfers to the provinces.

As a supplementary question I want to ask whether this minister, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and who has a lot of clout across the way, can give us an assurance that in the future as long as this government is in office there will not be unilateral changes to the formula for transfer payments at all.

Oral Questions

If there are any changes, will there be consultation with the provinces ahead of time?

Hon. Don Mazankowski (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance):

Madam Speaker, the hon. member referred to the province of Saskatchewan.

Transfers to the province of Saskatchewan have grown at a rate of 7.4 per cent per year since 1984-85. It is the largest rate of increase of probably any of the provinces, amounting to something like $1,450 per person.

That is 7.4 per cent per year when over-all program expenditures of the government were growing at 4 per cent or less.

Mr. Bill Casey (Cumberland-Colchester):

Madam Speaker, my question is for the parliamentary secretary to the minister of fisheries, clams and lobsters.

Oh, oh.

Mr. Casey:

The Cumberland North Fishermen's Association has unanimously asked the DFO to increase the minimum lobster size in the Northumberland Strait area. It has asked this over and over again. It is strictly as a conservation measure at its own expense.

Is there any way this area along the Northumberland Strait can be designated to have an increased minimum lobster size?

Mr. Ross Belsher (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency):

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question is being asked on behalf of the fishermen in the Northumberland Strait.

It is a very contentious issue in the total area. In the adjacent province fishermen do not want to see the carapace size raised at this time. There have been extensive consultations but they were not able to be concluded in time to make an announcement for this spring.

Consequently the minister at the end of March said there would be no increase in size in any of the areas this year. The short answer to his question is no, it will not happen this year.

April 23, 1993

Routine Proceedings

Mr. John A. MacDougall (Timiskaming-French River):

Madam Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

Earlier today I learned that the incoming president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women first is not a Canadian, and second does not have a work permit for this country.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister believe that the immigration department should review this person's work status in Canada? Does the Deputy Prime Minister believe that the taxpayers of Canada should be funding such an organization with an illegal immigrant as its head?

Hon. Mary Collins (Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Environment) and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women):

Madam Speaker, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the first part of the member's question. That question should be put to the Minister of Employment and Immigration.

I could comment on behalf of my colleague, the Secretary of State who is responsible for the women's program, about the purpose of that program. It really is not often well understood.

I know my colleague will disagree with many of the policies or statements of NAC. I do from time to time as well. Nevertheless we have a women's program in place which has been absolutely critical to the advancement of the legal, economic and social equality of women in this country.

There are many women's organizations from the Association of Women in Universities to the National Women's Council, including NAC that count on certain elements of support from that program. It enables both them and the government to work in partnership toward achieving that equality.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

We will finish with a single question. The hon. member for Haldimand-Norfolk.

Mr. Bob Speller (Haldimand-Norfolk):

Madam Speaker, my question is for the minister speaking for the minister of Indian affairs.

The minister of Indian affairs is aware that I brought to his attention the crisis surrounding the Dunnville Dam and Weir Rehabilitation Project which stems from 20 unresolved land claims presently being reviewed by the Department of Justice. The first four are related to Dunnville. Until these claims are settled, chances of an agreement to make the necessary repairs on the dam and weirs are minimal.

Will the minister instruct the Department of Justice to give the issue priority status in order to minimize any environmental damage that might be caused by the delays?

Is the minister prepared to speed up the decision on these land claims? Is he committed to fast tracking these claims in order to help remove this crisis?

Hon. Bill McKnight (Minister of Energy, Mines and

Resources): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the minister, the hon. member is fully aware that the Dunnville dam and weirs are a provincial-municipal responsibility. The Welland canal claim which impacts on that area is a high priority claim.

The hon. member and other members of the House understand the priority the government and the minister have put on settling outstanding land claims on behalf of Indian people. Since 1984 the government has settled more land claims and disputes put forward by Indian people in the last nine years than had been done in the previous quarter century.