Lost her last election, in 2008, with 33% of the vote.
The Budget March 14th, 1995
Madam Speaker, certainly the impact of my words have lost some of their oomph, as the hon. colleague says, given the delay.
I did want to say to the member opposite who is no longer in the Chamber that paranoia will destroy you, and I am not paranoid.
The Budget March 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the budget handed down by the Minister of Finance.
The main basis for my support is this was a unique process. This was terrific way all Canadians could participate in the budget. Volumes and volumes of material and input from Canadians across the country were received and distributed among parliamentarians and among the general public. The information came in a variety of forms and forums. There were letters, organized mailings, budget workshops, radio call-ins and town hall meetings.
People put forward their ideas, their personal views, their fears and their projections for the future. Canadians took part in the prebudget consultation process and had their voices heard. No rebellion was necessary. True democracy worked and the budget is a result of that.
In Burlington we had a terrific prebudget consultation meeting. It was a great example of public participation, discussion and debate. We had incredible input and ideas from people of all ages, backgrounds and various work experiences. We provided information to them beforehand so they could make an informed contribution. They could weigh the options. They could think about the issues, unlike the Reform Party which asked people to simply check off which percentage and which columns they would like to have done.
Through discussion we reached consensus on many issues and we had good debate and the debate continues on some others. My constituents thought long and hard about the issues. They offered their considered input.
They did not want to have tax increases without government showing leadership and taking responsible action. They indicated, and I certainly support them, constituents give us their precious tax dollars and it is our job to make it work. We must bring some accountability to the process.
There was clear support among participants that spending cuts were inevitable. They asked us to take a good look at our existing programs and the funding mechanisms for them.
In other areas there was no consensus reached. These are complex issues and Canadians are thinking hard about them. The budget addressed my constituents' concerns.
There are some false perceptions out there and perhaps they serve some people's purposes. There is a false perception Canadians are excessively burdened by taxes compared with citizens of other countries. This is wrong.
The hon. member for Beaver River is on record as saying we are among the highest taxed people in the world. This is wrong. Canadian taxes as a percentage of economic activity fall below the average for the 24 industrialized nations of the OECD. However, that kind of statement does not take into account the services Canadians get in return for their hard earned tax dollars.
We must deliver value for money. One great example is our entire medicare program. Even so, Canadians and Burlington residents agreed personal income tax rates should not be raised. The government listened and there were no tax increases.
We are achieving our goals for deficit and debt reduction, but not on the backs of individual Canadians. Our solutions are focused. They are good, efficient government instead of increased taxation.
Canadians recognized difficult decisions had to be made while at the same time it was critical we make strategic investments, that we be smart about where we are going to spend money for the future and to balance our budget.
The Reform Party is quoted in the Calgary Herald , February 7: ``Reform for its part would rapidly slash government spending as to create a fiscal balance while creating a huge social deficit in the form of greater unemployment and social polarization''. This is not the Canada we want.
Our approach is to cut in a fair manner, to lead by example by looking at where to cut in government first. By reducing government spending and undertaking a full program review we have taken the responsible approach. The budget has a 7:1 ratio of spending cuts to revenue increases. These steps will lead the country into a brighter economic future. We are redefining the role of government.
In the area of unemployment Burlington residents are concerned about their neighbours, both in our community and in the broader Canadian context. People must get back to work. The budget continues with our Liberal four-point agenda for jobs and growth. New programs are being developed to ensure people acquire more skills, the youth internship program, the youth service corps. We must address youth unemployment particularly and the school to work transition. We must invest in our future generations now.
Burlington residents suggested the best way to improve job creation is to implement apprenticeship programs, keep pace with innovation and with changes in technology, encourage education and training, encourage free enterprise, eliminate bureaucratic paper work, especially for small businesses. The budget is connected to all our initiatives as a government and to our policies like the social security review.
The area of technology is important. We must be innovative. We must be ready for the future. We must spend wisely and work within our fiscal means. R and D is encouraged through the research and experimental tax incentive, one of the most generous tax incentives in the world. However, it is important it is not abused, and so we have moved to change that.
In the area of small business we must continue to invest in people and in growth. The 1994 budget undertook a small business policy review, realizing entrepreneurs are responsible for creating the majority of new jobs in Canada and for moving our economy forward. With consultation and the release of the report "Building a More Innovative Economy" we have received input from Canadians about how to proceed. The challenge of access to capital remains.
The 1995 budget encourages banks to do a better job of lending to small businesses by encouraging government to work with the banks to develop appropriate benchmarks. These must be achieved.
In my riding of Burlington our local economy is vital and continues to grow. We have many diverse, successful small and medium size businesses such as Colette's Café and Toshiba Office Product Centre, employing a small number of people but growing.
There are many more people, young and old, experienced and inexperienced, who have excellent ideas, great initiative and full support from their friends and families. All they need is financial backing. These are the people who are creating jobs in Canada. These are the people whose entrepreneurial spirit we must foster. They are creating the environment and the jobs for future generations. The government is committed to ensuring they do that.
We are committed to ensuring Burlington and all Canadian businesses are able to succeed, to grow and to add to their employee base. We have fine examples like the companies that started small, Zenon Environmental, Gennum, Thompson-Gordon and Laidlaw. They are leaders in the world in their own fields.
The 1995 budget also put some things in context for Canadians. Our inflation was the lowest of the G-7 nations and our economy grew at a rate of 4.25 per cent, the fastest of the G-7 nations.
Our export growth is strong; 433,000 full time jobs have been created since January 1994. The unemployment rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points. Our cost competitiveness is the highest in 40 years and yet we remain burdened by high national debt and continue to pay off our interest.
There is optimism. Canadians know we have a rational plan for deficit reduction. We are taking the right steps. We will achieve our deficit targets. In the last year we not only achieved them, we surpassed them by $4.2 billion. We aspired confidence.
Now is the time for hard decisions. We must make forward thinking investments for the future. Our aim is sustainable jobs and growth, with sensitive cuts and responsible spending.
The budget shows our commitment to future generations. We cannot stand idle by the impact of our decisions or past actions. We must not squander limited resources, but use them in an intelligent and effective manner.
Precious Canadian taxpayers' dollars must be put to work effectively. This budget is a terrific step in that plan of action. Canadians are the winners in this budget. They made their voices heard and this budget is there because of them.
I thank the many residents of Burlington who participated in this process. We are all winners. We will have a stronger nation. We will all have better lives.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation March 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my objection to today's court hearing of the CBC's application to televise the trial of Paul Bernardo.
As the member of Parliament for Burlington, a riding that has been greatly affected by the crimes Mr. Bernardo is accused of committing, I believe that justice would be better served without the glare of television cameras.
I question why the CBC would apply to televise this case. Is it possible the corporation believes that Canadians wish to emulate the U.S. system with its phantasmagoric coverage of trials like that of O. J. Simpson? I say it is wrong.
Canadian courts are open and accessible. Individual Canadians interested in knowing more about our court system can attend all the various levels and can watch televised Supreme Court of Canada trials where witnesses are not heard.
It is not worth experimenting in this case. We cannot afford to take risks, intimidate witnesses and exacerbate the Mahaffey and French families' pain. Justice must be served. The trial must run smoothly. The trial should not be televised.
Members Of Parliament Pensions February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, in 1993 Liberals campaigned on the promise to reform MPs' pensions. We committed in the red book to end double-dipping and the Prime Minister has effectively done that for all appointments he has made; witness Romeo LeBlanc and Ed Broadbent.
We told Canadians we would change the age at which MPs could collect their pensions. No more Perrin Beattys should leave this House.
All Canadians are going to be asked to share the pain equally in the next budget. Members of Parliament must show leadership. Let us join with men and women, our constituents of all parties. Now is the time for pension reform.
Party Affiliation February 8th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I have here a letter written by the member of Parliament for New Westminster-Burnaby dated January 9, 1995 in which he writes:
There is only one kind of event that will motivate the government to take notice of what mainstream Canada wants-soaring Reform Party memberships.
A burgeoning "card carrying membership" is far more effective than protests, letter writing, petitions, or other traditional types of lobbying.
I know you will understand why this is true.
I do not know why it is true. It is a flagrant misuse of taxpayer supplied stationery and franking privileges. It totally misrepresents the impact of petitions, letters and our work here in this House. It certainly makes me wonder why the member stands up to present petitions.
To all Canadians, especially to my constituents, I will listen to their opinions, whether they have a party affiliation or not. All Canadians have the right to be heard. They should continue to sign petitions, write letters and call their members of Parliament. They have a right to provide input to our work in this House.
The Environment December 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, congratulations are in order for the Ontario Fibricare Association and the Korean Dry Cleaners Association that have taken their cleaning one step further.
Recently they signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ontario and federal Ministers of the Environment to establish a Green Clean project, a voluntary pollution prevention initiative which promotes water based technologies and processes as an alternative to the use of chemicals in the dry cleaning industry.
The Toronto Green Clean depot is the first of seven such cleaners to be outfitted by Environment Canada for January 1995. The depot's objectives are to educate consumers on green cleaning and to promote wet technology to industry members.
Governments, corporations, environmental groups, industry associations and individual Canadians must work together to improve the environment for all of us. This initiative will work to eliminate the paradox that getting our cleaning done means polluting our environment.
It is another step toward achieving our goal of a green clean Canada.
Trade December 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Minister for International Trade has pushed very hard for Chile to join NAFTA. He visited Chile last January and he has made numerous speeches on the subject.
Can the minister explain why he believes it is in Canada's interests to have Chile join a free trade agreement?
Petitions November 30th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition with well over 1,000 names from residents right across Ontario who support Mrs. Mahaffy's efforts to have serial killer cards seized at the border.
The petitions were started well before the justice committee tabled its report to have the obscenity code amended to reflect these changes.
Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group November 30th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present in both official languages the report of the Canadian delegation to the fifth annual meeting of the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group which was held in Vancouver from October 15 to 18, 1994.
The agenda at Canada-Japan meetings is always extensive and wide ranging. The Vancouver meeting was no exception. The delegates dealt with bilateral topics such as trade and the
political situations in Japan and Canada. On the multilateral front reform of the United Nations peacekeeping operations and the environment dominated the discussions.
The range and depth of the discussions that took place in Vancouver went a long way in allowing Japanese and Canadian parliamentarians to better understand the issues. The opportunity to put forth the Canadian viewpoint was critical and the Canadian viewpoint was effectively expressed.
Osteoporosis November 29th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, November is Osteoporosis Month.
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease which causes bones to become brittle and break easily. More than one million Canadian women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and another two million are at risk of developing the disease. Further, there are 400,000 Canadian men who are suffering.
Through education and awareness this disease can be prevented and treated. For this reason Health Canada provides financial assistance to the Osteoporosis Society of Canada and its "build better bones" campaign which encourages Canadians to assess their diet, ensure adequate calcium intake and make healthier lifestyle choices.
The Canada prenatal nutrition program gives mothers to be counselling and proper nutrition so they can increase their calcium intake. Educating women on how to stay healthy before and after pregnancy improves the lives of the next generation of Canadians.
I am pleased that these initiatives have the well-being of every generation in mind and suggest that perhaps MPs should audit their own lifestyles and take action now.