Debates of Nov. 27th, 1995

Katimivik

[John Murphy, Liberal, Annapolis Valley—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend in my riding of Annapolis Valley-Hants I met with a group of young people involved with Katimivik.

Katimivik is an Inuit word meaning meeting place. The project being funded under Youth Services Canada brings youth between the ages of 17 and 21 together to acquire work experience, become involved in their communities and discover Canada.

Through exchange programs such as Katimivik, Canada's young people have an excellent opportunity to travel and learn about all regions of our great country. By promoting this wonderful program the government is helping to bring young people together to achieve common goals, build lifelong friendships and to help break down regional barriers that often divide us.

I urge the government to continue to promote Katimivik and other similar exchange programs as a valuable means of building stronger ties among all parts of Canada.

Panacom

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Monday, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. announced that it had purchased a 12-acre site in Waterloo. Construction will begin immediately on the new plant that will be occupied by the Panacom automation division. The 75,000 square foot facility will be ready by September 1996. Panacom designs, develops, markets and manufactures network terminal devices for the worldwide market.

Since Panacom began in 1984 it has been a leader in its field. Panacom is the number one supplier worldwide of X-stations, which are network display devices that allow users to access simultaneously multiple applications running on work stations. Panacom is a genuine Canadian success story.

The people of my riding are delighted that Hewlett-Packard has decided to invest in Waterloo. The new plant adds to the growing, vibrant information technology sector in Waterloo riding. The new plant will mean more research and development in my riding and more jobs for the people of Waterloo.

To Hewlett-Packard and to the Panacom automation division we send our congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

Gala Des Masques

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Gala des Masques, a moving event underlining the richness of Quebec theatre was held last night. Today, we in the Bloc Quebecois wish to pay tribute to the Quebec theatre actors, producers, directors and technicians, whose art lights up the stages of Quebec, Canada and the world.

As Jean-Louis Millette, one of the most talented theatre actors in Quebec, pointed out, we can be very proud of Quebec theatre. We have no cause to be jealous of any other country in the world.

We are all honoured by the creativity, talent, artistic research, and mastery of both classical and modern plays shown by these artists from every region of Quebec.

All Quebec plays performed around the world are a source of pride in and recognition of our cultural strength and vitality. Congratulations to all our artists and creators.

Crime Prevention

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the holiday season is a busy time for shoppers and criminals alike.

The Peel regional police and police all across Canada have compiled lists of suggestions to help people reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. Among other things they suggest that shoppers avoid carrying large amounts of cash and lock their purchases in the trunks of their cars.

They remind people that empty cartons from high value products such as televisions, computers and stereo equipment may cause a thief to add their home to his post-Christmas shopping list. They suggest that gifts and valuables be kept away from windows to keep criminals from window shopping.

These crime prevention tips may keep thieves from stealing the joy from our holidays. I am sure all members will join me in commending the police on their fine work.

Gun Control

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Lisgar—Marquette, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal and Tory senators put a lump of coal in the Christmas stockings of legitimate gun owners when they passed a flawed gun bill last week.

Again it is obvious that the concerns of law-abiding gun owners do not count in the House or in the Senate. The Liberal government ignored these concerns and rammed through legislation which will do nothing to reduce crime but will establish an extensive bureaucracy and give the justice minister unprecedented powers.

When Liberal backbenchers voted with the wishes of their constituents, the government gave them a swift kick to keep them in line. It is the front benches that need a swift kick in their egos, one that will propel them to the back and out the door.

Liberal, Tory, same old story. Tories out in 93. Liberals next, just wait and see.

The Environment

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, A. K. Wigg Elementary School of Fonthill in my riding of Erie took the first place award out of approximately 80 entrants in the Niagara Environmental Technology Exposition.

The parents, students, staff and members of the community have embarked on a unique environmental project to transform the school property of six acres into an environmentally friendly green space.

The environmental nature area will include trails, wildlife, habitat facilities including a butterfly garden, plantings of Carolinian forest trees and shrubs, as well as woodland wildflowers and ground cover, thereby returning the area to its natural habitat.

The outdoor educational classroom and amphitheatre will have weather station features, compass, sundial, sculptures of cloud formations and windmills. Environmental education will be taught from the natural habitat right outside the classroom window.

I know, Mr. Speaker, you will appreciate A. K. Wigg's plan for enhancing the environment, increasing environmental stewardship, augmenting environmental education and positively involving the community in an excellent project. It is innovative and demonstrates the proactive approach that all Canadians should take to the environment.

The Constitution

[Bernard Deshaies, Bloc, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the constitutional changes contemplated by the Prime Minister during the referendum campaign are stirring up feelings of déjà vu.

We are still waiting for government proposals, and what is emerging is not very encouraging: a recognition of distinct society through a meaningless resolution of the Canadian Parliament that falls far short of the Meech Lake agreement, and a right of veto over any constitutional change that will be contingent on the federal government's goodwill.

The Prime Minister has clearly taken the path recommended by the Globe and Mail by giving Quebecers the impression that changes will be made when, in fact, there will be nothing meaningful for Quebec. The Prime Minister's proposal is meaningless, period.

Violence On Television

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during this period leading up to December 6 when Canadians are focusing on the issues of violence in our communities it would serve all of us well to review last June's Josephson report on "Television Violence: A Review of the Effects on Children of Different Ages".

Dr. Wendy Josephson's research produced a useful reference guide for broadcasters, producers and parents to help determine age appropriate programming for Canada's children.

All the research from Canada, Japan, Europe and the United States clearly demonstrates a correlation between television violence and aggression at very young ages. Our children are subject to positive and negative role models in the media.

We must ensure that television companies serve all Canadians well, particularly our youngest Canadians. For safe communities, safe streets and safe homes this is a critical issue.

Casino Windsor

[Shaughnessy Cohen, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, December 12 is the grand opening of Windsor's second casino location, the Northern Belle Riverboat. With this event the total number of casino jobs created in Windsor will rise by 950 to a total of 3,000. Ninety per cent of these jobs are from the Windsor-Essex county area.

The Northern Belle will entertain 2 million patrons on top of the 5.5 million that already visit the existing site. Eighty per cent of those visitors are U.S. residents. That means 80 per cent of the dollars spent are foreign dollars.

One of the major competitive advantages to Casino Windsor over its American counterparts has been the safety factor which will be further strengthened by the recent successful passage of the government's gun control legislation. The legislation will not only increase the safety of Canadians in Windsor. It also means good

economic sense in Windsor because it leads to an environment in which job creation thrives.

Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Comox—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I address some comments to Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, currently the Bloc Quebecois supported by the Liberals, with specific reference to the words loyal and opposition.

According to the Oxford dictionary loyal means faithful, trustworthy, true, steadfast in allegiance and devoted to the sovereign or government of one's country. In the House the Bloc is certainly not loyal to Her Majesty or to Canada and is openly plotting against the government to set up a separate Quebec.

Turning to the word opposition, according to Beauchesne's the official opposition is the largest minority group which is prepared in the event of the resignation of government to assume office. How can we have an opposition party that has no intention of becoming government, at least not in Canada, and is attempting to set up a separate independent state?

Clearly Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in this 35th Parliament is neither loyal to Canada nor is prepared to fulfil the role of official opposition. It is time for the Bloc to step aside to make room for the real opposition to the Liberals, the Reform Party of Canada.

The Constitution

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the time of the referendum, the Prime Minister of Canada promised Quebecers change. All solutions had to be considered, including, and I quote: "administrative and constitutional". As of October 31, the Prime Minister's reassuring words gave way to chaotic ones.

Today, the Prime Minister says the Constitution must not be changed: "I said we were going to make changes to the federation, constitutional changes, if necessary, but I never said they were going to be constitutional". The Prime Minister who said he wanted to act quickly has nothing more to offer and is now saying that he will act in due course-heaven knows when.

As Alain Dubuc put it so well in his commentary on Saturday, the moral of the story is: "Please, Mr. Prime Minister, say no more".

Atlantic Canada

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party has been calling for a much weaker federal government. Once again Reformers are listening only to the small percentage of Canadians who are their supporters. They are not listening to Atlantic Canadians.

They want decentralization in the most decentralized federation in the western world. When Reformers want federal government to withdraw from health care they are not listening. When they talk about privatizing UI they are not listening. When they want a looser federation they are not listening to Atlantic Canadians.

Atlantic Canadians believe in a strong federal government. Atlantic Canadians believe in Canada.

Employment Equity

[Judy Bethel, Liberal, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago when the Royal Commission on the Status of Women tabled its report in the House women formed roughly one-third of the labour force and on average earned 64 cents on every dollar that a man earned.

In the last 25 years we have eliminated the most blatant forms of discrimination against women through labour and employment equity initiatives. Women now represent 45 per cent of all workers. Nonetheless challenges do remain. Today, on average, women earn 72 cents for every dollar a man earns. Most women continue to work in traditionally female dominated fields.

We need to support job creation and training programs that will prepare women and girls for the jobs of today and tomorrow. We must help Canadian women prepare so they too can have good jobs and earn good incomes.

The Constitution

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the special general council of the Quebec Liberal Party revealed last week in Montreal that Daniel Johnson, the president of the No committee, not only heard the Prime Minister's promises of change, he believed them. As Ottawa has been reluctant to deliver the goods, the Quebec Liberal Party went so far as to adopt four resolutions on the promised constitutional changes.

My question is directed to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs or to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will they acknowledge that the Prime Minister has no intention at all of acting on the recommendations of the Quebec Liberal Party and reopening the Canadian Constitution, as requested, to insert a provision recognizing Quebec as a distinct society?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, my first answer is that the Prime Minister is a man who keeps his promises. He promised he would act on the issue of distinct society and the veto. I remain convinced, absolutely convinced, that he will act on those two promises very quickly and that Quebecers will see the Prime Minister is a man of integrity, a man of his word and a man who keeps his promises.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs acknowledge that what the government plans to do about recognizing Quebec as a distinct society and about the veto has no connection at all with the request made by Quebec Liberals on the weekend to include these two concepts in the Canadian Constitution, and that the government certainly has no intention of reopening the Constitution to do so?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps we should rephrase the question as follows: What is the position of the Bloc Quebecois and of the Leader of the Official Opposition? Because if I remember correctly, last week the Leader of the Official Opposition, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois and aspirant leader of the Parti Quebecois, said in no uncertain terms that he would not consider any constitutional offers before sovereignty.

Clearly, the Leader of the Official Opposition is the one who is obstructing any translation into constitutional terms of the Prime Minister's promises.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's inept excuses are not backed up by Daniel Johnson, president of the No committee in Quebec City. I have the following question for the minister. Now that even his federalist allies in Quebec are asking the Prime Minister to deliver the goods, will the government remember his pre-referendum commitments to Quebecers or will it do what the minister just did and hide behind the fact that there is a sovereignist government in Quebec City?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, the Prime Minister made promises he intends to keep and he will keep them. The only obstacle to our proceeding immediately is the members of the official opposition, because their leader made it very clear he is not prepared to proceed on any constitutional offers.

It is time the official opposition stopped trying to evade the issue and admitted that with the Parti Quebecois, it is preventing Quebecers from having the full benefit of the Prime Minister's promises.

After all, 73 per cent of Quebecers said they wanted the Quebec government to negotiate offers with the federal government, and we have the Leader of the Official Opposition who objects, who said no and who prevents us from taking a constitutional approach.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to a Gallup poll released today, fewer than 40 per cent of people living in English Canada are in favour of recognizing Quebec as a distinct society, and barely 10 per cent are in favour of reopening the Constitution to add the right of veto.

In light of these results, will the Deputy Prime Minister admit that, when the Prime Minister promised changes to Quebecers on October 24, it was only to sweeten the pot during the referendum campaign and he was well aware that these changes would be unacceptable to English Canada?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, first of all there is not one English Canada, as the future leader of the Bloc Quebecois claims. Second, if he wants to look at surveys, I would recommend the one that shows 73 per cent of Quebecers want the government of Quebec to assume its responsibilities and negotiate in good faith with the federal government, which it refuses to do, despite the support of the majority of people in Quebec.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

There is no English Canada, Mr. Speaker; everybody knows that. That is why all the newspapers are in English.

At the special general assembly of the Quebec Liberal Party, the leader of the No committee and of the Liberal Party stated as follows, with reference to the resolutions on constitutional changes adopted yesterday: "These demands represent a starting point only, and are most definitely not the last word".

Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that the major problem of the Canadian federation is that what constitutes a starting point for the federalists of Quebec represents something unacceptable for the federalists of English Canada, even with the majority they have here in this House?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, what bothers the member is to see that there are sixteen francophone members representing ridings across this country which are not in Quebec but are francophone.

It bothers the member to hear that a poll by L'Actualité shows that 86 per cent of Quebecers state that they belong to Canada. If the hon. member wants to carry out an analysis of Quebecers' sense of belonging to Canada, I am sure that the Quebecers, along with other Canadians, are aware that Canada has need of improvement, that Canada has need of change, that Canada has need of open minds, yet Canada is still the best place in the world to live.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's premier in waiting has said that he will not hold another referendum until 1997. That seems to be good news for this do nothing government.

A recent poll found that if a Quebec referendum were held today the yes side would win with almost 55 per cent. This is an outright condemnation of the Liberals' post-referendum strategy. What is more, 55 per cent of Quebecers reject the symbolic changes which the Prime Minister is offering, while a strong majority, as high as 85 per cent, want to see a transfer of powers to the provinces.

Since constitutional change is not an option and since Quebecers will reject the symbolic changes, when will the Prime Minister introduce concrete measures to transfer real power to the provinces?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians are probably as disturbed as we are to hear the underlying tone of glee in the member's voice when she talks about the possibility of a future referendum.

I point out to her that just as Quebecers do not want a referendum, Canadians do not want a referendum. They want the Canadian government to work together in a constructive way with the provinces, municipalities and Canadians to make a better Canada.

Canadians want better health care. They want a national health care plan that is respected by the province of Alberta. We will continue to fight for a better Canada for every Canadian.