Betty Hinton

[Iran, November 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended a meeting on the state of human rights in Iran.

Under the mullah regime, 214 innocents have been publicly executed in 2002. The method of execution was stoning. The vast majority of the victims were women. Their crimes were as minor as attendance at a birthday party. These sanctioned executions take place in public where victims are buried up to their neck. Their fellow citizens are encouraged and expected to participate in their slow torturous death. The stones used are not left to chance. They are supplied by the regime. They are not big enough to inflict a single lethal blow and not small enough to be painless. The intent is to prolong the agony, preferably for hours.

Yesterday the Canadian Alliance was the only party present at the viewing of these smuggled tapes. I cannot close my eyes without seeing these atrocities replayed. I am here today to open the eyes of my fellow colleagues to these crimes against humanity. Continued silence by the Canadian government is tantamount to sanction.

[Health Care System, October 30th, 2002]

Madam Speaker, I agree with part of what my colleague just said. Exercise is an important thing, but it is not the answer to the health problem. I do not know that the minister actually thinks this is the answer.

Today the Secretary of State mentioned a program for women called “On the Move”. I realize, Madam Speaker, that you are in the Chair and cannot say anything but I think both of us could inform the minister that women have always been on the move. Women are on the move even more now because we run from one job that gives us a salary to another job that does not pay, at home. We do that because we are taxed to death and women have to work to make ends meet for their families.

As we have been told many times, the Kirby report has a price tag in it of $5 billion. Could the minister tell me how many MRI machines could have been purchased for $5 billion?

[Petitions, October 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks that Parliament focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies necessary to treat the illness and diseases of suffering Canadians.

[Petitions, October 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise for the first time to present petitions on behalf of the constituents of the Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys. I will be presenting two.

The first asks Parliament to ensure protection of our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

[Thompson River, October 10th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Thompson River system has been a major navigational waterway for over 100 years. Recently, however, the Canadian Coast Guard has decided it will no longer take responsibility for the buoy markers and therefore the safety of local and visiting boaters on this important waterway.

The federal government has crippled the B.C. softwood lumber industry, abdicated its responsibility for native land claims and now it threatens tourism and local navigation by proposing to remove 114 navigation buoys.

My message to the minister is clear: Do not do it. This government neglect is putting lives and livelihoods at risk. That is the exact opposite of what a government should do.

[National Memorial Day, October 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this last Sunday police and peace officers from across the country gathered on Parliament Hill and in local services to honour their colleagues who died in the line of duty this past year.

On behalf of the Canadian Alliance I would like to pay tribute to these brave men and women who so selflessly and honourably served their fellow citizens. As we honour these men and women, let us remember that their ultimate sacrifice was in the course of fulfilling the pledge they made to protect the lives of others.

We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these officers as well as the police and peace services and communities that have lost officers in the past year and years past.

[Government Contracts, June 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have been a mom for a long time and I, like my colleague from Souris--Moose Mountain, have seen a lot.

When we are raising a family we look for lessons that will help our kids as they go through life. What I have seen in the House of Commons for the last few weeks serves as a life lesson on how not to behave.

The government's behaviour on fundraising, spending on luxury jets, internal squabbles and, most frequently, its seemingly insatiable appetite for fat ad contracts for Liberal friendly companies is shameful.

The latest case involves a 1996 contract with Groupaction. It received $330,000 to publicize the gun registry, a job that nobody asked for and that nobody can find. The government could have done something six years ago but it did not.

I have raised enough kids to know that if we have a problem, dealing with it quickly and decisively is the best way to go. The Liberal government has yet to learn this basic life lesson. It is clear to me it never will.

[Veterans Affairs, June 10th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on August 12, 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Al Trotter was shot out of the sky on his 44th mission over enemy territory. He was captured, tortured and interned for more than 300 days.

Due to communication errors with veterans affairs, the prisoner of war was unaware for 14 years that he was entitled to compensation for his pain and suffering. Now, after 10 years of appeals, the government still refuses to honour the retroactivity of this distinguished veteran. The government has unlimited funds for the Prime Minister's Challenger jets and is embroiled in controversy over contracts paid in full for services not rendered.

This distinguished veteran did honour his contract, but Canada does not recognize his service and POW status due to bureaucratic red tape and miscommunication. Lieutenant Colonel Trotter does not mince words. He asked me to wear his medals today but I cannot. He instructed me in very unparliamentary language as to where I should place them should the government continue to be unresponsive.

Surely there is a more dignified resolution.

[Government Appointments, May 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about all of those things on this side of the House, but we are also concerned about the reputation of Canada worldwide and as a trade partner.

The Danish people must be wondering why Canada is punishing them by shipping them one of the Prime Minister's ethically damaged ministers.

One minister did something wrong and was punished. Another did something equally wrong, possibly worse, and he is being rewarded with an ambassadorship.

Do you have any standards on that side of the House, and if you do, what are they?

[Government Appointments, May 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we now learn that Portugal, like Denmark, might be receiving a disgraced Canadian minister as our ambassador. Rumours are afoot that the former Minister of National Defence may be appointed ambassador to Portugal.

Will the government assure Canadians that another disgraced minister will not be rewarded with an ambassador's position?