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National Drinking Water Standards

Friday May 24, 2002

    Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister whether the government was considering changes not just to disclosure with respect to political donations but changes with respect to the acceptability of certain political donations. For instance, changes have been made in Manitoba recently. Are they looking at that kind of change?

    I intended to also ask him about another matter having to do with a different kind of pollution, not the pollution of money but water. What does the Deputy Prime Minister, as the minister in charge of infrastructure, intend to do about the recommendations of the second Walkerton inquiry report which calls on the federal government to play an expanded role in setting national standards and bringing in a national safe drinking water act.

    Hon. John Manley (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, with respect to propriety of political donations, I think it will be important for members of not just the government but of all political parties to look carefully at all of the rules to consider whether they meet the current standards that are expected by the public. In reviewing that, the Prime Minister has undertaken to do so.

    With respect to water, clearly the Walkerton report is something that we will have to take into account. However, I can assure the hon. member that water and water management is part of the--