Debates of Oct. 9th, 2002

[The Speaker]

As is our practice on Wednesday, we will now sing O Canada, and we will be led by the hon. member for Lethbridge.

[Editor's Note: Members sang the national anthem]

Governor General's Performing Arts Awards

[Tony Tirabassi, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards recognize Canadian artists who have enriched our lives by virtue of their talent, vision and generosity of spirit. This group includes: international rock superstars The Guess Who; prima ballerina Karen Kain; Joy Coghill, for her remarkable contributions to the world of theatre; Phil Nimmons, jazz musician, educator and composer; theatre director André Brassard, for bringing to life some of the best loved plays in the canon of Québécois, Canadian and international theatre; and Jean-Pierre Perreault, an accomplished choreographer.

Father Fernand Lindsay receives the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for over 50 years of voluntarism in the performing arts.

The National Arts Centre Award is presented to pianist and virtuoso Angela Hewitt.

Congratulations to all of this year's recipients.

Ridge Meadows Youth and Justice Advocacy Association

[Chuck Cadman, Canadian Alliance, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1994 Lola Chapman led in the formation of the Ridge Meadows Youth and Justice Advocacy Association. It grew from her experience with the youth court monitoring program that made her think there must be a better way to deal with first time minor offenders. Lola asked me to speak with young people who it was felt were in danger of moving on to more violent activity. I have been involved ever since.

This volunteer based organization diverts young first time minor offenders away from the criminal courts. The process includes meeting with their victims in order to understand and to accept the impact of their actions and make restitution where applicable. Participation by parents is mandatory.

Key to the program's success are the dedicated volunteer mentors.

On September 28 Lola Chapman received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General. Ever modest, Lola will say that it is the community volunteers who make the program work. That may be so, but without her vision and her dedication, it would never have happened at all.

Well done, Lola. She is a very special lady. We thank her.

2002 Niagara Grape King

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and I were honoured to attend the crowning of Daniel Lenko of Lincoln as the 2002 Niagara Grape King of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.

To become the grape king or queen, one must be nominated by one's peers and fellow growers for having an outstanding vineyard. Mr. Lenko was chosen as grape king by a panel of distinguished judges for the exceptional quality of his vines.

Mr. Lenko is a third generation grape grower whose family farm was one of the first in the Niagara area to plant a block of Vinifera grapes in 1960 and now boasts its own cottage winery.

Mr. Lenko is also part of the second father and son team to have been named grape king, as his father Bill was honoured with the title in 1990.

I congratulate Daniel Lenko on being crowned the 2002 Niagara Grape King. He is a young grower who is making a difference in the industry. I have no doubt that he and other Niagara region growers will continue to honour the Niagara region with their hard work and exceptional grapes and wine.

Justice

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the International Association of Prosecutors has awarded its Special Achievement Award to the joint federal and provincial prosecution team that successfully prosecuted 35 members of the Manitoba Warriors street gang. This was the first significant prosecution under the anti-gang legislation.

Also, it was the first time in Canadian history that a joint team of prosecutors from both the federal and a provincial government conducted a major case together. This kind of intergovernmental teamwork and the prosecutors' success convinced the International Association of Prosecutors to offer this prestigious award to the prosecutors involved.

Organized crime is indeed a global challenge, one that requires a global response. Governments, both foreign and domestic, must cooperate closely in partnership to fight this threat. The Manitoba Warriors prosecution is an eloquent example of this type of cooperative effort that will yield beneficial and fruitful results.

Dick Hopkins

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with both a spirit of sadness and joy that I pay tribute to Dick Hopkins. A beloved teacher, Mr. Hopkins died suddenly on Sunday. As we mourn, we must also celebrate his achievements.

When he taught at Napanee District Secondary School, Dick Hopkins won the Prime Minister's Teaching Excellence Award for technological education. After moving to Sydenham High School in 1999, Mr. Hopkins was named Teacher of the Year by the Limestone District School Board.

With a $50,000 grant from the Canadian Rural Partnership, Dick Hopkins, along with his colleague Brian Rombough, successfully created the first rural online high school in Ontario.

Mr. Hopkins was an exceptional teacher who was skilled at transforming theory into practice, from online learning to robotics to video conferencing.

I am honoured to recognize the many personal and professional accomplishments of Dick Hopkins.

Please join me in extending condolences to the family, friends, students and colleagues of Mr. Hopkins, and in celebrating the life of an exceptional teacher and innovator.

Look Good, Feel Better

[Carol Skelton, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that we should not judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, many Canadians who suffer from cancer know all too well that people often judge them by their looks alone.

The Look Good, Feel Better program is now celebrating its 10th anniversary; 10 years of helping people improve their appearance and in turn, their confidence. It was an honour for me to volunteer in this program at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon which helps patients overcome these challenges. It was rewarding to see the smiles and laughs return to the faces of these courageous people.

As a person living with cancer, I know all too well how uplifting this program can be. It provides the positive focus we all need in the recovery process. Not only does it help the patients, but it also helps the families who desperately seek a sense of normalcy and reassurance during these tough times. These patients are proof that if they look good, they feel better.

Generous donations from the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association makes this program possible. On behalf of all cancer patients who have participated in this program, I wish to say thanks very much.

Suzanne Rochon Burnett

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House of Commons today to offer congratulations to Mrs. Suzanne Rochon Burnett, president of R.B. Communications Limited, who will be awarded an honorary degree from Brock University. This honour is for her outstanding contribution to Canadian cultural life and her support and encouragement of aboriginal art in Canada.

Suzanne is a Métis born in St. Adèle, Quebec. Since the age of 18 she has been involved in the field of communications. She has worked as a freelance journalist and broadcaster. In 1994 she became the first aboriginal person licensed by the CRTC to operate a private radio station. Suzanne purchased a local station which eventually became Spirit 91.7 FM. Spirit FM has enjoyed excellent ratings since going on the air in 1999. Its name honours its aboriginal heritage.

Well done, Suzanne. Suzanne serves as a symbol of what can be achieved when one strives to fulfill one's potential.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the month of October is devoted to breast cancer prevention and to increasing public awareness of this disease.

The mortality rate for this cancer has decreased 25% since 1985 among women aged 50 to 70. Every year, however, over 5,400 Canadian women still lose their lives to this disease and 20,500 are diagnosed.

It is therefore important to make women more aware that they need to take regular advantage of existing screening techniques, both personal and clinical, to protect themselves from breast cancer or ensure the best possible response to treatment. We know that early detection can boost the survival rate to 80%.

Let us spread the word so that increased awareness will mean an increased chance of a cure.

Census Records

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are about 7.5 million Canadians engaged in genealogy. This is one of our most popular hobbies. Thousands of genealogists, historians and medical researchers have asked the House to allow access to the post-1901 census records.

I was delighted last week to hear the House leader say that the government plans to introduce legislation this fall to allow researchers access to these records after 92 years. This move is very welcome. I note that 162 members of the House are now on record as supporting their release.

The census records up to and including 1901 have been a very valuable source for researchers. These are available on microfilm through archives and libraries across the country. I urge the government to ensure that later census records be just as accessible to researchers.

Grain Transportation

[Garry Breitkreuz, Canadian Alliance, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, grain handlers at the port of Vancouver have been locked out since September 3, causing the shipment of grain to come to an almost complete halt. Our grains and oilseeds producers are already facing financial hardships from years of rising foreign subsidies, continuous years of drought and poor grain prices. Now our producers are about to be hit again with another labour dispute.

We have seen this situation over and over again. It was not that long ago that grain handlers were on strike hurting the economy and innocent third parties, namely farmers.

The government goes from one crisis to another with no vision as to what the future may hold. Where is the long range planning on the government side? The Alliance has given the government an effective strategy that has been totally ignored.

When will farmers see a dispute resolution mechanism so that their products can be shipped uninterrupted to overseas customers? Will the government wait until more damage is done before it takes action?

National Rail Days

[Paul Bonwick, Liberal, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to extend an invitation to all members of the House to participate in Canada's National Rail Days on October 30 and 31.

The House realizes that our national rail industry plays an integral role in Canada's economy and well-being.

Further, as the House contends with such important issues as sustainable management of our environment and our competitiveness as a nation, few sectors within Canada have the ability to play such a positive role as the rail industry.

I must also state that in spite of these tremendous opportunities there are also some policies and other challenges that are restricting the railways' ability to deliver further benefits for Canadians, recognizing of course that these challenges can be overcome with the collective will and support of the House.

It is in this regard I would invite all members of Parliament, who have an interest in the rail industry, to participate on October 30 and 31 in addressing these challenges and seizing these opportunities.

I look forward to seeing all of my colleagues there.

Softwood Lumber

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last night, while defending his inadequate aid package for softwood lumber, a package he did not have the nerve to introduce in this House itself, the Minister of National Resources said “We want to make sure it is not countervailable”.

The minister just does not get it. What the forestry workers facing job loss and the communities facing devastation needed to hear was that their government was going to stand up and fight for them. Like so many other times, vulnerable Canadians were not supported by the government.

The minister needs to stand up for Canada and to show the Americans that he will not kowtow to their obstructions. The Canadian government needs more than short term solutions. We need long term action on this important issue.

Foreign Affairs

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Israel-Palestine conflict has been going on for what seems like forever, and is dragging the entire region into a terrifying spiral of horror. The toll in human lives since the start of the second Intafada in September 2000 has been 1,898 Palestinians and 615 Israelis.

This past October 7, this absurd escalation of violence led to another bloodbath, this time in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the south of the Gaza Strip. This particularly bloody raid by the Israeli army left no fewer than 14 dead and some 110 injured. In particular, the Israeli soldiers targeted the camp hospital, leaving one person dead and three injured, among these a teenager and a member of the nursing staff.

The international community did not hesitate to condemn this brutal agression against Palestinian civilians. The Prime Minister of Israel even issued an apology for this unfortunate error in judgment, while adding in the same breath that the State of Israel was entitled to defend itself... This butchery must absolutely stop and the belligerants must comply with the UN resolutions.

Canada Savings Bonds

[Gérard Binet, Liberal, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since last week, employees of the Quebec government are no longer able to purchase Canada savings bonds through payroll deductions because Quebec's minister of finance decided to put an end to the practice. Canada Investment and Savings denounces the Government of Quebec's decision, and so do I.

Canada savings bonds enjoy a very good reputation. Given the state of the markets, they provide a good return. By its actions, the Government of Quebec is depriving thousands of Quebeckers of a safe, risk-free investment, that will never lose its value.

My colleagues and I denounce this action that has ended a 55-year partnership and prevented close to 5,000 employees of the Government of Quebec from purchasing Canada savings bonds easily.

National Defence

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General reported yesterday that the Liberal government has wasted $65 million as part of another untendered contract, this time with Bombardier for the training of helicopter and fighter pilots. The $65 million was to graduate 216 pilots, but actually graduated only 61.

To add insult to injury, the Department of National Defence has tied us to the contract. DND must make 40 payments of $31.4 million per year for 20 years for a total of $2.8 billion, unconditional and irrevocable, regardless of whether it uses the training or not. The Auditor General has summed it up best:

“To date, this program has not been able to train enough pilots, and we're paying for services we're not receiving”.

Despite the bleeding of a few government sheep, every member of the Liberal flock is guilty of disrespect and hypocrisy toward the military.

Government Contracts

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Solicitor General has defended his actions in the past by stating he is the political minister for P.E.I. APM Group, a firm run by the P.E.I. Liberal party president Tim Banks, was handed an untendered contract for work done on the Confederation Arts Centre.

The ethics counsellor is going to P.E.I. to investigate the Solicitor General's handling of the Everett Roche affair. Will the ethics counsellor also be investigating this untendered contract to APM?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this is not a contract from the federal government. It is a contract by a private organization that has an independent board. The ethics counsellor is looking into this file and he can look at that.

However, if my information is right, I am pretty sure this organization is independent from the government. The centre has been operating since 1964, with members of the board who are very well known, like John Crosbie and Tom d'Aquino.

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, and also David Nicholson who just happened to do the work on the other untendered contract.

I will try again with the Solicitor General.

There are four exceptions for sole sourcing a contract: it must be valued at less than $25,000; there must be an emergency; only one supplier can do the work; or it is not in the public interest to solicit bids.

Can the Solicitor General tell us which of these four exceptions was cited when the contract was awarded to his friend's firm?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated many times in the House, the Treasury Board guidelines were followed. It was publicly posted. Also, Mr. Wilson is looking at the situation. Let us wait for his review.

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why we should wait for Mr. Wilson's review. We should be able to get straight answers from the man who is the top cop in the country.

The Solicitor General is supposed to be the man in this country responsible for the RCMP, so I am going to ask him something. If he will not answer these questions directly in the House, instead of being on the most wanted list, will he go out the front door today and answer questions from the media instead of sneaking out the back door?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered the question many times for my hon. colleague. I do not know what the man wants. I issued a statement, gave him the facts, got the facts to the public and indicated quite clearly that it followed Treasury Board guidelines and that it was publicly posted. What do they want?

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after admitting last week that David Nicholson was providing “advice regarding Prince Edward Island, and in particular advice regarding Confederation Centre”, and as well as we know, advice on criminal justice issues, the Solicitor General's office said that half of the moneys paid was paid through the ministerial account.

My question is for the Solicitor General. Were there then in fact two separate contracts?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding there was a contract and then the contract was renewed. My hon. colleague has asked many questions concerning the contract. I have indicated quite clearly and I have issued a statement that we followed Treasury Board guidelines. I have said it was publicly posted. I have said it here in the House and I have said it publicly in a statement.

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the contract that was renewed was the contract with the department of the Solicitor General's office. The terms of the contract, of which we are in receipt, clearly state that contractor agrees to provide advice to senior officials in the department and in the office of the Solicitor General on issues concerning the portfolio of the Solicitor General. Therefore, one can only assume that the advice on Prince Edward Island was contracted for separately.

I ask the Solicitor General again. Was there an additional contract? Yes or no. If there was an additional contract, will he provide that contract to the House today?