House of Commons Hansard #92 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was promise.

Topics

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:40 p.m.

An hon. member

That is not true.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:40 p.m.

Reform

Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB

The hon. member across the way says that it is not true, but I ask him to check with the Canadian Real Estate Association. Those are not my numbers. They come from the Canadian Real Estate Association, which is very concerned. It will kill hundreds of jobs in Atlantic Canada. It will cost people thousands of dollars. That is the Liberal vision.

Our vision is to give people lower taxes, not different taxes, not higher taxes, lower taxes. Reformers will give more incentives to job creators through lowering the inclusion rate on capital gains. That will bring all kinds of investment into the country. That way people like the finance minister will not have to send his assets outside of the country. We would like to have those assets inside the country. I am sure it would create a lot of jobs if we could have them all here. The Reform Party speaks for ordinary Canadians. It speaks for people who have been beaten up by Liberal and Conservative governments over the last 25 years. Canadians have had a $3,000 national pay cut since the Liberals came to power. People cannot take it any more.

I urge my friends not to be quite so partisan about it and please come on board and sign up with the Reform fresh start program.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:45 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I like what the member had to say in his last remark about representing ordinary Canadians. I have not seen any aboriginal people, blacks-

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:45 p.m.

Reform

Jim Abbott Reform Kootenay East, BC

You weren't at our conference in Vancouver or you would have seen them.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:45 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

Mr. Speaker, the truth must hurt. The truth seems to hurt the member for Kootenay East. He seems to have a bit of a sore spot about aboriginal people or blacks or ordinary Canadians that this party on this side of the House represents.

All day the members across have voiced their great outrage at being singled out by the Prime Minister by being called extremists. They have a problem with that extremist label.

This is the same party that had problems with the member for Calgary Centre. They ousted the member for Calgary Southwest. These are very ordinary members but they had a problem with them. I guess those two members are not extremist enough, along with the member for Calgary West who is not running again. That party is now advertising so that they can get somebody to run in that riding in Calgary, because I think that particular member is not extremist enough.

This is the same party that has members like the member for Nanaimo-Cowichan who if he had his way would have me in the back of the room because I might be losing business for him. This is the same party that has the member for Capilano-Howe Sound who thinks that we belong on some far off island wearing shades and shorts so that we can get a tan. He thinks that is all we do.

This is the party that objects to being called extremist but has no tolerance for people other than the people who are around that particular area. This is the same party that when it was politically convenient thought that Newt Gingrich was the best thing since sliced bread. Now because New Gingrich is not so popular, all of a sudden they are sort of backing off from having any association with him.

This is the same party in which the hon. member for Swift Current-Maple Creek-Assiniboia says: "I am a red neck and I am proud to be one". That is the same party that espouses the kind of attitudes and policies which are detrimental to other people.

All of a sudden the Reform Party seems to be the champion of the needy. Reformers are the champions of the poor. It is now politically convenient to defend the poor. The government defends the poor whether it is politically convenient or not. Liberals have always defended the poor.

Let me talk about the constituency which I represent as envisioned by the hon. member for Kootenay East. That member has a problem with Nunavut, a new territory which will be incorporated when the division of the Northwest Territories occurs on April 1, 1999. The member for Kootenay East calls it the illegal new province of Nunavut. What is illegal about it? It is a very big area. It has three time zones. It is larger than the area which he represents. He has a problem with it. The population is only about 20,000, but those 20,000 people-

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:50 p.m.

Reform

Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I know you will understand what I am saying. The time will soon run out and this member is so far away from the topic that I know you would want him to be relevant.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:50 p.m.

The Speaker

Yes, and I know that all of the members this evening have been relevant and I know that member is relevant also. He is going to be relevant right now.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:50 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

Mr. Speaker, this same member thinks that Nunavut is an illegal province. Admittedly, there are about 20,000 people in Nunavut. However, those 20,000 people can record their history back thousands of years. They have occupied that land for at least 4,000 years. I would be careful if I was the hon. member for Kootenay East when calling it an illegal province.

Eighty-five per cent of the population is Inuit. However, in negotiations with the Government of Canada we have managed to convince it that we should divide the Northwest Territories in 1999. We should be celebrating. I know the Prime Minister will be with us when we celebrate the new territory of Nunavut in 1999.

The hon. member has a problem because so few people inhabit Nunavut. If the member had his way he would probably move them into apartment buildings in Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal. The difference between that member and me is that I love the north. I love the land. It is my home. There is no way that any member is going to force me to move down here or force the people of the north to move down here just because they do not agree that we have a right to our self-determination within the country of Canada.

It seems that all of a sudden the Reform Party is now the champion of the poor.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Where did you buy a house?

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB

Where do you live, Jack? Here in Ottawa? Where are your kids?.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

For the record I live in Rankin Inlet and my family is in Rankin Inlet. As a matter of fact I was talking to my children in Rankin Inlet earlier tonight before I came to the House. They are in school in Rankin Inlet.

All of a sudden Reformers are champions of the poor because it happens to be politically convenient. With help like that we do not need any enemies. As far as that party is concerned aboriginal people should not have recognition.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Reform

Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC

A party? We are not even enjoying ourselves.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

Some aboriginal people have been in Canada for 36,000 years. The Inuit are relative newcomers. We have only been here for 4,000 years.

I do not know if my other colleagues, the aboriginal leaders across the country, welcome the support of the Reform Party when it is convenient for the Reform Party to support the aboriginal people. I do not know how my other colleagues feel.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Reform

Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB

Turn around ask them. They are right behind you.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

I will depend on the people who have always championed the rights of the poor, of the aboriginal people, of minorities such as our present Prime Minister of Canada. They talk about the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister ought to have kept her promise to resign. She had the courage to resign and run again and win. She won big by the way.

To paraphrase what the Reform is doing there must be something that is bothering the Reform Party.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

10:55 p.m.

Reform

Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC

Yes, it is you. It is called Liberals.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

October 29th, 1996 / 10:55 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

They seem to be protesting a little too much. I do not know how to say it but it is along the lines of "thou doth protest too much". English being my second language sometimes I am not quite sure of the proper pronunciation. Yes, it is Shakespeare: "Thou doth protest too much".

It is an honour for me to speak in this Chamber and be able to say the kind of things I say to the Reform Party. They are protesting what I am saying but that is politics or debate. At the same time, the Reform Party has problems with the rights that were gained rightfully through treaties and they start doing certain things.

A Reform member from British Columbia was arrested for illegal fishing. What if it had been an aboriginal person doing the same thing? I did not see the Reform Party protesting the law. This is a party that considers itself a law and order party but it is condoning breaking the law. Are they protesting the fact that this member broke the law? I did not hear any of that, Mr. Speaker, but thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

The Speaker

We have run out of time. I will hear the member's point of order.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Mr. Speaker, my point of order is very short.

The hon. member has made an absolute statement saying that one of my colleagues is guilty of an offence under the law. Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable to make that comment. The hon. member in question has not been before the courts of this country to determine that one way or the other. I think it is unfair that a member in this House makes an accusation that is absolutely untrue and unfounded.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

The Speaker

I do not remember all of the words that the member said. I do not know that he said them. I will be happy to review the blues. The hon. member is here and he knows what he said. My colleague, did you say that?

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

Liberal

Jack Iyerak Anawak Liberal Nunatsiaq, NT

Mr. Speaker, I was just reading the news that a member was arrested by officers of the law. Usually one gets arrested when one breaks the law.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

The Speaker

Colleagues, if you will just leave me a little bit of time, I will review the blues. If it is necessary, I will come back to the House.

It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House. The question is on the amendment.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Committees Of The WholeGovernment Orders

11 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.