Debates of May 31st, 1995

World No Tobacco Day

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today marks World No Tobacco Day. I wanted to take this opportunity to offer my support to the call for reduced use of tobacco products.

When I was in the riding last week I had the opportunity to take part in a special event to acknowledge World No Tobacco Day. I helped launch the Muskoka-Parry Sound health unit's anti-smoking campaign to highlight the importance of maintaining the momentum toward smoking reduction in Canadian society.

The federal government initiated its own tobacco demand reduction strategy not long ago as a major component of its anti-tobacco smuggling action plan. This strategy includes legislation, enforcement and public education.

A recent survey conducted by the health unit in my riding indicates two of the high schools in our riding have over 30 per cent usage of tobacco on a regular basis. This is much higher than the provincial average and is a trend I would like to see reversed.

I ask my colleagues to join with me today to encourage young people to stop smoking.

Persons With Disabilities

[Maurice Bernier, Bloc, Mégantic—Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in response to a question from the hon. member for Berthier-Montcalm, the Prime Minister referred to Lise Thibault, who is currently president of the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec, as the president of an association for cripples-he used the French word "infirme"-right in the middle of National Access Awareness Week.

The use of the French word "infirme" by the Prime Minister of Canada is a disgrace and an insult to all persons with disabilities. This word perpetuates a stubborn prejudice suggesting that a handicapped person is ill and must be taken care of.

Although all persons with disabilities do have limitations, the vast majority of them are not ill. The Prime Minister should have the decency not to use disabled people for partisan purposes, let alone refer to them in a patronizing way.

Missing Children

[Sharon Hayes, Reform, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the month of May has been the month of the green ribbon of hope campaign for our missing children. May 25 was Missing Children's Day sponsored by Child Find Canada.

Every year over 55,000 Canadian children under the age of 18 are reported to the RCMP's missing children registry. Many of these children leave their homes voluntarily because of harsh and unbearable conditions. Others are abducted and disappear, often becoming the victims of heinous criminal acts.

Child Find Canada is a charitable non-government funded organization dedicated to the elimination of this problem through its education and awareness programs such as its all about me ID program. This is a program that works with parents and local community organizations to document information about a child's basic identity.

The problem of missing children is all too real. It reinforces a need to pursue policies that strengthen our criminal justice system and strengthen and protect the Canadian family.

Bovine Somatotropin

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the seven person working group appointed by the Government of Canada to study the safety of recombinant bovine somatotropin for animal and human health should release its report very soon, that is, before the moratorium

imposed by the government on manufacturers expires on July 1st.

At present, this hormone provides only financial and economic benefits and may be prejudicial to the health of all Canadians.

I am therefore asking the authorities concerned, and especially the Minister of Health, to ensure that all necessary studies, including the one on insulin growth factor-1, a hormone that may in some cases be linked to excessive limb and chin development, are conducted.

If these studies do not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that BST is safe, the Minister of Health should seek an indefinite extension of the moratorium.

Cystic Fibrosis

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to inform the members of the House and all Canadians that May has been Cystic Fibrosis Month.

Although significant scientific discoveries such as the identification of the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis have been made in recent years, the challenges of developing better treatments and a cure remain.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Canada is a national voluntary health organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who suffer from this disorder. It supports a Canada-wide network of specialized clinics providing diagnostic treatment and care as well as information to patients and health care providers.

Please join me in congratulating the dedicated scientists and volunteers who contribute to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Canada for their excellent work and in wishing the foundation and its volunteers a very successful future.

Port Of Saint John

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, records fell as the port of Saint John reached new levels of throughput in many of the major commodities handled at the port, such as petroleum, potash, salt and sugar. Cruise ship passenger volumes increased dramatically in 1994 due to calls by Carnival and Princess cruise lines. Significant traffic gains and expanded shipping services were realized at the port by shipping lines like Star, Kent and National Shipping of Saudi Arabia.

Two million dollars has been spent on facilities development at the port of Saint John. Its strengthened financial performance has resulted in improved revenues.

The men and women who work at the port of Saint John look forward to challenges and opportunities ahead. Working with its stakeholders the port of Saint John has confidence in its collective ability to take advantage of new opportunities.

As we celebrate Transportation Week, let us remember that the port of Saint John continues to play a major role in supporting Canada's international trade and making a significant-

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for La Prairie.

World No Tobacco Day

[Richard Bélisle, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today is World No Tobacco Day, and I would like to take this opportunity to make parliamentarians as well as the people of Quebec and Canada aware of the importance of this day. This year, the theme of this annual event sponsored by the World Health Organization is "The cost of tobacco is higher than we think".

It is worthwhile reminding people that smoking is one of the main causes of potentially fatal respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. And what about the effect of second-hand smoke, not to mention the miscarriages suffered by mothers who smoke and the low birth weight of children born to these women? The need to educate the young and the not so young about the health hazards associated with tobacco use is unquestionable.

Today more than ever, we must make everyone, old and young, aware of the hazards of tobacco use. This campaign should have significant and lasting results.

Expo 2005

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have yet another example of the Liberals shafting the west and rigging a decision to favour Ottawa.

Last year the Minister of Canadian Heritage decided that Canada would support a bid for Expo 2005. He appointed an independent committee to recommend to him which city, either Calgary or Ottawa, would represent Canada in the bidding process. The process was completed and Calgary was the unanimous choice recommended to the minister.

The minister promised to follow the recommendation of the committee and he has failed to do so. He has tainted the process

by allowing Ottawa to continue lobbying. It appears that the minister is rigging the bid so that Ottawa gets the Expo. It appears that the fix is in.

Calgary has the strongest of the bids. It has the financial backing of the city of Calgary and the province of Alberta. Calgary has a volunteer network which is the best in Canada and which will make the Expo a tremendous success showcasing Canada to the world.

The minister promised to make a hasty decision but has failed to act for more than two months. I urge the minister to immediately follow the recommendation of the committee and give the Expo bid to Calgary.

Adult Only Films

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, many constituents of mine are outraged at a recent mailing that every home in the riding received advertising a package of so-called erotic adult only films. The increased availability of such films called original, uninhibited and sexually explicit in the advertising brochure is openly attributed to the benefits of free trade which, according to the same brochure, has led to such films now not only being permitted but also encouraged.

The wonders of free trade never cease to astound me. Good Canadian films still have a problem making it to market but American porn is given new opportunities.

I share my constituents' feelings that this kind of junk mail should not be handled by Canada Post. So-called erotica may have its place but its availability should not be imposed on people whether they like it or not through such universal mailings.

I call on the minister responsible to speak to Canada Post about this with a view to seeing what can be done to prevent further such mailings.

Small Business

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give another example of what this government is doing to promote business development and, thus, the economic development of this country.

The minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development in Quebec told the Standing Committee on Industry that he will intensify efforts to make small business aware of how crucial innovation, design as well as research and development are.

He is mainly concerned with identifying new technologies and integrating them into the daily operations of this industry. FORD-Q will pay special attention to ensuring that knowledge is shared and that the products and techniques developed in high-tech projects are marketed.

In Canada, job creation has been spurred on by the vitality of our small business industry since 1992. That is why FORD-Q is committed to creating the conditions required for this industry to remain the driving force of economic growth. In a word, we can say-

[The Speaker]

I am sorry but I must interrupt the hon. member. The hon. member for Beaches-Woodbine has the floor.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—Woodbine, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to remind members of the House that May was Multiple Sclerosis Carnation Month.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. An estimated 50,000 Canadians suffer from this disease, one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. There is presently no known cure.

Research into finding a cure and better treatments for patients with MS is ongoing. Health Canada has contributed research dollars to help improve the lives of MS sufferers. However, there is still much work to be done.

During the month of May, volunteers from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada were out in our communities selling fresh carnations to raise money for research and support services for those affected by MS. As in previous years, the Multiple Sclerosis Society hopes to raise $2 million throughout the carnation campaign.

Of course the success of this campaign depends greatly on the involvement of volunteers. To recognize their contribution this year's campaign slogan was "volunteers can work wonders". I salute the many Canadians who contributed their time.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Outremont.

Human Development Index

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec minister responsible for restructuring just released a fifth study, this time on the human development index, its concept and its use.

The author of the study tends to show that a sovereign Quebec would have the required potential to develop further and that its quality of life could even be better than that of Canada.

We really wonder how the minister can attach any value to a study whose main conclusions, as the author himself admits,

were reached by deliberately changing the criteria used internationally to determine the human development index.

The PQ minister can release all the studies he wants; Quebecers will never forget that Canada is still the best country in the world.

The minister should stop wasting taxpayers' money on studies which do not serve their interests at all.

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the harassment campaign conducted by CSIS against Pierre Laberge and his wife since Mr. Laberge declared his support for Quebec's sovereignty is scandalous. Worse still is the fact that the government and the Prime Minister condone this witch hunt.

The reason the government is letting the situation with the SIRC deteriorate is now clear. Indeed, the Security Intelligence Review Committee currently has only two active members, instead of the five provided for in the legislation.

The basic freedoms of Quebec sovereignists are jeopardized by the actions of CSIS and the laxness of this government. The Bloc Quebecois demands that the next SIRC appointment be made in close co-operation with the official opposition, so as to protect the freedom of speech of every citizen.

Government Legislation

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today we are talking about broken promises and one of them is on page 92 of the red book which says: "In the House of Commons, a Liberal government will give MPs a greater role in drafting legislation through House of Commons committees". Is it true? Well, let us have a look.

On Bill C-68, the government invoked closure at second reading, limited the number of witnesses and refused to give time for legislative counsel to draft amendments.

On Bill C-64, only four witnesses out of the 50 who gave testimony came from a list submitted by Reform. Reform MPs were not allowed to submit amendments in the language of their choice. They were refused the right to speak to some clauses due to a time allocation of five minutes per clause.

On the MP pension bill, only expert witnesses are allowed to testify. MPs and ordinary Canadians are shut out.

These arrogant actions by the Liberals make a sham of an MP's role in drafting legislation. This is another example of how the red book promises are being broken, one after the other.

Ontario Election

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as the people of Ontario prepare to vote next Thursday they are discovering where their provincial leaders stand on the issues.

Recently on employment equity and disabled persons Conservative leader Mike Harris is quoted as saying:

Now here is a disabled person only 50 per cent as good as an able bodied worker, but you must hire them and you must pay them as much as an able bodied person.

To make such uninformed statements of the disabled person's ability to compete is totally unacceptable.

Liberals have always brought out the best in every Canadian. We have always celebrated and encouraged what every member can contribute to society. People with disabilities deserve better than this. The common sense revolution only appears to be for the strong, the powerful and the fit, but above all it lacks common sense.

Bosnia

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, although he claims he will redefine the mandate of our peacekeepers in Bosnia, the Prime Minister has clearly indicated that his government does not intend to send additional support in terms of logistics and equipment. Meanwhile, the situation is deteriorating following a refusal by Bosnian Serbs to allow the Red Cross to visit the hostages and now that the Canadian government has no direct contact with Captain Ryan Lapalm, who is being held in Sarajevo.

My question is directed to the Minister of National Defence. How can the government expect to be taken seriously when it says it wants to redefine the mandate of our peacekeepers in Bosnia but at the same time refuses to send adequate equipment like France and Great Britain?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, first on the question of Captain Lapalm, it is true that we have had no

direct contact with him for the last number of days. We have heard indirectly from our sources in Sarajevo that he is okay. We are trying to confirm this and we are trying to work through third parties such as the Red Cross to ascertain his true condition.

With respect to Captain Rechner, I dealt with that yesterday. There has been no change. There has been no change with the other people who have been detained and held hostage in Ilijas.

With respect to the question of the hon. Leader of the Opposition, I think we have made our position quite clear. There is no requirement at this time to send additional Canadian forces. None have been sought by the United Nations.

I should point out that the secretary-general of the UN a few moments ago called for the gradual reduction or scaling down of the UNPROFOR mandate so that it could be reprofiled in a way to carry out those tasks that it could best be suited to carry out. This mirrors the position that has been taken not only by Canada but by many of our allies.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister just referred to an important statement from UN headquarters. We know that Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has proposed scaling down the number of troops while at the same time redeploying on site resources.

I want to ask the minister what the Canadian government's position is, and perhaps he could tell us, not about what other countries think and do and the meetings that will take place but about what the Canadian government thinks and what it intends to do.

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the secretary-general flatly rejected a withdrawal from Bosnia, as has been advocated by some. He flatly rejected the status quo. He is talking about a redefinition of the UNPROFOR mandate in that country, and that is the position of Canada.

As to how we do it, that will become evident in the next few days. As the House will know, my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is meeting today with his counterparts. A meeting has been called by the Prime Minister of France for defence ministers on Saturday. I shall represent Canada there with the chief of defence staff. We will try to see how we can adapt our positions into a common front to deal with what I think is the emerging consensus, one that we enunciated in the House in the last few days, that the UNPROFOR mandate is still valid. It can still work, but there has to be some reshaping or redefining of the mandate to lessen the exposure for the troops that are concerned.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, there is of course the very delicate matter of deciding whether to send more troops. I realize the government wishes to tread very carefully in this respect. However, there is also the matter of adequate equipment. We know that on a number of occasions, Canadian soldiers have mentioned the problems they had due to inadequate equipment.

I want to ask the minister whether he would agree that any delay by the government in sending our troops adequate equipment will expose them to further hostage taking?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, a lot of the charges about equipment are simply charges that no longer bear reality. Whether it is helmets, reinforced flak jackets for the very difficult situations, reinforced turrets of our M-113 armoured personnel carriers and other equipment including very modern machine guns, we believe the troops in the last number of months have been given additional resources that give them better protection for more dangerous situations.

That does not mean to say that we cannot improve that equipment. However, with respect to sending heavy armour, artillery and all of the rest of the paraphernalia of a greater entwining in a conflict over there, that is something that is not part of the government's agenda at this time. It may very well be part of the government's agenda should there be an eventual withdrawal, but that withdrawal would have to be all-encompassing, requested by the UN and discharged by NATO. At that time we will be prepared to add additional resources to effect the evacuation of Bosnia.

Care Canada

[Philippe Paré, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

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

A CBC program reported that, in addition to spending donations from the public extravagantly, the $300,000 that Care Canada raised in its campaign to relieve hunger in Somalia never made it to its destination. Given the seriousness of the allegations and Ottawa's financial support of Care Canada, the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa has announced the government's intention to investigate this agency.

Ottawa funded Care Canada to the tune of $28 million in 1993. Therefore, will the Deputy Prime Minister tell us whether the federal government's grants to Care Canada, especially its

contribution to the campaign for Somalia, were really used for their intended purpose?