Debates of Feb. 6th, 2002

Dominic LeBlanc Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB

Mr. Speaker, in the House all members are protected from harassment for their beliefs by parliamentary privilege, but judging by the personal smears that have been launched by the opposition it is clear that some of us are abusing that privilege to harass a private citizen.

I refer to the disgraceful treatment of Mr. Jean Carle and his family. I know Jean Carle.

I have worked very closely with him. Jean has a great deal of talent and I am privileged to call him a friend.

For the sin of having worked for the Prime Minister he has become the victim of an opposition witch hunt that would make Senator McCarthy proud. He has been the subject of baseless allegations of wrongdoing, allegations that have been refuted time and time again including in the National Post this morning. His every career move is fodder for snide comment and gross innuendo with no regard for fairness or for the effect on his reputation and his family.

The opposition may be doing this just for laughs but it is no joke.

Mark Eyking Sydney—Victoria, NS

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a significant community achievement in my riding. The Membertou First Nation has become the first native government in North America to become ISO certified.

The ISO rating shows customers that the reserve has achieved a high level of product quality and service which is a key requirement to do business with many multinational corporations.

Membertou is determined to be the master of its own destiny. Although it has already signed deals with four major corporations the band is still striving to better the lives of its residents. The business deals have earned the band more than $500,000 in the last year and the unemployment rate has dropped from 50% to 35%.

I would ask everyone in the House to join me in congratulating Chief Terrence Paul, CEO Bernd Christmas and all the residents of Membertou for their hard work and trailblazing attitude toward community development. Membertou is setting a fine example for all communities right across Canada.

Marlene Jennings Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday the Minister for International Cooperation announced that CIDA would continue to support the work done in Guatemala by Quebec cooperatives grouped together under the name of SOCODEVI.

CIDA has contributed up to $7 million over four years to SOCODEVI to support its work with small agricultural cooperatives in Guatemala. As a result, thousands of rural families will benefit from improved access to agricultural equipment and opportunities related to their marketing efforts.

The peace established in Guatemala in 1996 put an end to four decades of war, fuelled for the most part by the gap between the rich and the poor. This peace since 1996 is being strengthened daily with improving living conditions for all.

By supporting SOCODEVI, Canada is contributing to this peace.

Here is a meaningful example of Canada's support to less disadvantaged people in developing countries.

Rob Anders Calgary West, AB

Mr. Speaker, today Canada and the entire Commonwealth will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ascent to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

As only the second Canadian monarch to celebrate 50 years on the throne our congratulations must go out to her. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned as our monarch for half a century, a half century of tremendous change in the world and tremendous change in her dominions.

Throughout her reign Her Majesty has demonstrated the dignity and grace that the monarchy represents for Canadians. She stands for the peace, order and good government that many cherish as a strength of our nation. The stability which the monarchy brings to our nation is an effective safeguard and a welcome tradition.

We pay tribute to our great sovereign. May her reign continue for many years to come. God save the Queen.

[Editor's Note: Members rose and sang God Save the Queen]

Eugène Bellemare Ottawa—Orléans, ON

Mr. Speaker, I bring to your attention a wonderful act of generosity from a father to his son who both live in my riding of Ottawa--Orléans.

A few days ago, Roger Gauthier gave one of his kidneys to his son Marc. This act of extreme generosity shows the love and dedication that a parent shares with his child and also the trust and appreciation that the child has for his father.

Thank goodness, both are doing well. This father and his son are evidence that organ donations save lives.

I thank Roger and wish a good and healthy life to Marc.

Suzanne Tremblay Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, coastal communities and the fishing and shipping industries had been demanding the setting up of a search and rescue organization.

On January 26, 1962, Léon Balcer, the then minister of Transport, announced that the fleet of the Department of Transport would be called the Canadian Coast Guard.

Today the mandate of that fleet includes coordinating and conducting marine research and rescue operations, supporting the enforcement of the fishing regulations, providing ships or platforms for marine and fishery research, and ensuring that shipping lanes are clear and safe.

I ask hon. members to join me in congratulating the 4,400 members of the coast guard and the 5,100 volunteers, whose dedication and actions enable the coast guard to fulfill its mandate.

Hélène Scherrer Louis-Hébert, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the seven young people from the Quebec City area who will be part of Canada's delegation to the 2002 WInter Olympics.

They are: Mélanie Turgeon, Anne Marie LeFrançois and Sara-Maude Boucher, downhill ski; Guillaume Morisset, snowboard; Philippe Marois, Patrick Bouchard and Éric Brisson, speedskating. All will be members of the Canadian team taking part in the Salt Lake City Olympics, from February 8 to 24.

It takes almost superhuman effort to be chosen for this team, and we are proud of that these athletes were selected, as it reflects many long years of intensive preparation.

We wish them the greatest success in their efforts to give their best ever performances at the upcoming games.

Peter Goldring Edmonton Centre-East, AB

Mr. Speaker, today we honour our Queen of 50 years.

Royalty has shaped our rich heritage, our present culture and will continue to guide our future.

Canada's military is steeped in royal tradition. Many regiments bear royal names and have royal patrons.

Today the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry will be honoured at Edmonton city hall. Its colonel-in-chief is Countess Patricia Mountbatten of Burma. Her father, Lord Mountbatten, and son Nicholas were killed in a terrorist bombing in 1979. Today the PPCLI continues a war on terrorism.

Today Edmontonians have shown their support for the brigade in a special flag raising ceremony at city hall where their flag will fly until they return home.

Today we wish our gracious Queen a long reign, that the royal family be well and that the Princess Pat's and all who serve Canada, Godspeed.

Joe Fontana London North Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to express the absolute and unequivocal belief of this government in the integrity and the great value of all immigrants to Canada.

I was dismayed at newspaper reports today that quoted a spokesperson for a potential leader of the Ontario government as referring to immigrants arriving in Ontario as garbage.

Let me assure the House that I consider no immigrant to be garbage. This country and this province were built largely by immigrants whose hard work and love of Canada is one of those things that makes this country great.

This government has no objection to sitting down and working with the province of Ontario on a federal-provincial immigration agreement. We have concluded similar agreements with several other provinces such as the immigration accord with Quebec.

All these agreements have been successful to date in answering to the needs of the Canadian economy while welcoming those who came here by choice and by necessity to build the greatest country on earth.

I am asking that all members of the House join me in condemning such language on immigrants.

Libby Davies Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, we in the NDP stand in solidarity with the tens of thousands of students across the country and the Canadian Federation of Students in a national day of action to defend public, accessible and quality post-secondary education.

Students are being hammered with high debtloads and rising tuition caused by the erosion of federal funding to our universities and colleges.

Even so, over 90% of students pay back their student loans. Compare that to the corporate deadbeats who suck out billions of dollars in public funds from Industry Canada and have less than a 2% payback rate. There is an example of good corporate citizenship.

How many times have we heard the mantra that education is the future? Yet the government has gutted funding for education.

We have a message for the federal government today from students. It should quit shovelling out billions to its corporate buddies and start making education accessible to all students so they will have a future.

Michel Guimond Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today, Elizabeth II acceded to the British throne. Very few heads of state have been in place for so long and have been a witness to so many historical events. The Bloc Quebecois would therefore like to take the opportunity to salute the Queen and Prince Philip, who are today celebrating the golden jubilee of her accession to the throne.

Like the great majority of Quebecers, the members of the Bloc Quebecois do not feel that they come under the British crown and do not consider themselves its subjects. Certain episodes in the history of the francophones of America, such as the deportation of the Acadians, still rankle.

As for the British people, we want them to know that the Bloc Quebecois greets them in fraternal friendship and hopes they will have a wonderful and joyous celebration.

The respect and sometimes profound attachment felt by certain Canadians to the crown is owed recognition. Other peoples and other individuals throughout the world have attachments as well to the British crown and to the monarch.

To all those for whom this event holds significance, the Bloc Quebecois wishes a joyous celebration.

Judy Sgro York West, ON

Mr. Speaker, today, February 6, marks the 50th anniversary, the Golden Jubilee, of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne, a significant event for Canada.

It was 50 years ago today that Princess Elizabeth became Queen of Canada, and a relationship with our country that was already close and personal became one of mutual devotion; it is a relationship that continues.

Over the past 50 years our country has developed into the modern and cosmopolitan Canada of today, and Her Majesty has been present for many of our defining moments and has championed our most cherished Canadian values.

All Canadians have been invited, by proclamation dated February 6, 2002, to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Her Majesty's immeasurable devotion, Her dignity, Her presence and Her sense of duty, and to reflect upon the myriad of accomplishments of Canadians over the past 50 years.

Here is to many more years and a future abounding with hope and possibility.