Over 3 million Canadian men, women and children suffer from the pain of migraine, a debilitating neurological disorder which costs the Canadian economy an estimated half billion dollars a year.

The Migraine Association of Canada provides information and compassionate telephone support to help sufferers manage this disorder. The association is launching its third annual campaign to increase awareness of the serious nature of migraine. Volunteers across Canada will display information in workplaces, community centres and schools to foster a greater understanding of the symptoms of migraine and their effects on the sufferer.

Please join me in wishing the Migraine Association of Canada and its volunteers a very successful migraine awareness week.

Headstart ProgramsStatements By Members

November 17th, 1998 / 1:55 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, one year ago 14 year old Reena Virk was brutally beaten to death in my riding by a group of teenage girls.

The Virk family, displaying enormous courage, turned its pain into positive action supporting effective crime prevention tools such as my private member's Motion No. 261 which passed in the House of Commons in May and calls for a national headstart program.

It focuses on strengthening the bond between parents and children, particularly those between the ages of zero and eight, so that children will have their basic needs met.

Headstart programs have decreased child abuse by 99%, youth crime by 60%, teen pregnancies by 50% and saved $30,000 a child. Headstart programs have also decreased the single leading cause of preventable and irreversible brain damage, fetal alcohol syndrome which plagues one-third of the people in jail.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care and I call on the government to act on the contents of Motion No. 261 and work with the provinces to implement a national headstart program so we will not see more deaths like Reena Virk's.

Guelph—Wellington Community RadioStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Chamberlain Liberal Guelph—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, when most people want local, up to date news they tune in to their community radio station. But the community radio stations in my riding of Guelph—Wellington, CJOY and Magic 106.1, provide so much more than this. They play a crucial role in building community spirit by promoting local events and encouraging people to support local charities.

During last year's ice storm and again in the aftermath of hurricane Mitch, CJOY and Magic helped to co-ordinate our community's response, keeping us informed and telling us how we could help. These are just two examples of the important role local radio plays in my riding.

I thank CJOY and Magic for their dedication to our community and for their generosity in donating free air time to local organizations and charities. They are a big part of what makes Guelph—Wellington the best place to live in Canada.

1998 Governor General's Literary AwardsStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, the 1998 Governor General's Literary Awards were presented today. These awards are given to the best English and French language work in seven categories.

This year's winners are Diane Schoemperlen, Christiane Frenette, Stephanie Bolster, Suzanne Jacob, Djanet Sears, François Archambault, David Adams, Pierre Nepveu, Janet Lunn, Angèle Delaunois, Kady MacDonald Denton, Pierre Pratt, Sheila Fischman and Charlotte Melançon.

Our thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts which administers the awards and provides invaluable support to Canada's writers and artists all year long.

I congratulate today's winners. All Canadians should be immensely proud of the extraordinary wealth of literary achievement and promise that exists in Canada today.

Canada-France Interparliamentary AssociationStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Yvon Charbonneau Liberal Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Canadian branch of the Canada-France Inter-parliamentary Association, it is my pleasure to draw your attention to the presence in this chamber of a delegation of the French branch of our inter-parliamentary association.

The French delegation is led by French branch chairman François Loncle, the member for l'Eure, who is accompanied by fellow member François Deluga and Senator Jean-Marie Poirier.

The purpose of the meeting our association's standing committee is currently holding in Ottawa is to establish our schedule for the coming year and come to an agreement on the next steps to be taken in strengthening both the parliamentary and governmental partnership and co-operation between our two countries.

RailwaysStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Speaker, last week while on route to an evening meeting in my riding I had to stop quickly for a freight train crossing the road in front of me. I felt fortunate that I had seen it for at night trains at crossings not equipped with lights, bells or barriers tend to blend into the darkness.

If all railway cars had markings on their sides to alert drivers, many accidents could be avoided. Railways have taken the initiative and are painting reflective strips on the sides of their new cars and on cars that come in for repairs. The problem is that in today's intermodal marketplace trains may be hauling cars belonging to U.S. shippers or even the Government of Canada.

The government needs to make the safety of the motoring public a priority. The Minister of Transport has the regulatory authority to make reflective markings mandatory on all railway cars travelling in Canada, and he needs to do it now.

Harris Canada Inc.Statements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that, on November 9, 1998, Harris Canada Inc. and the Government of Canada announced a $133 million investment in the Montreal and Calgary divisions.

The Montreal project entails a $9,861,900 investment by Technology Partnerships Canada, as part of a global investment of $72 million over four years. This is a project to develop wireless point-to-multipoint broadband access systems, which will make functions like high-speed Internet access and video access accessible without wired components. This investment is expected to generate 320 jobs in Montreal by the year 2005.

I should point out that, since 1996, Technology Partnerships Canada has invested more than $300 million, which helped maintain or create 3,875 jobs in the greater Montreal area.

Human RightsStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Shaughnessy Cohen Liberal Windsor—St. Clair, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to commend the efforts of the Prime Minister and senior ministers in our government for their steadfast approach to promoting human rights at the APEC meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

I applaud the Prime Minister's direct insistence that former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim receive a fair and honest trial. On November 14 our Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the father of opposition MP Lim Guan Eng who was wrongfully jailed for disagreeing with the prime minister of Malaysia.

I am proud of our Liberal government's strong effort in championing the cause of human rights at home and internationally.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are more concerned about health care than almost any other issue. It is no wonder. While our health minister says “trust me” and “read my lips”, Canadians are saying “Let's read his record”.

Did the health minister promise to ban tobacco sponsorships forever?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he deliver?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he promise to compensate all hep C victims?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he deliver?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he promise amendments to the Patent Act that would lower drug prices?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he deliver?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he promise pharmacare?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he deliver?

HealthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

HealthStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Did he promise home care?