David Pratt

[Points Of Order, March 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I was the acting chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs today when this issue was raised. This is what occurred at the committee: The member for Okanagan—Coquihalla was attempting to deal with a document obtained through access to information that was only in one of the official languages.

The member for Joliette had some difficulty with that because it was the first time he had seen the document in English. He had no previous knowledge that it was coming forward. As a courtesy to the member for Joliette, as the parliamentary secretary has indicated, in terms of the previous practice of the committee which has been dealt with by motion in the committee, we agreed as a committee that this matter would be deferred until the document could be translated.

The member indicated that he tried to table the document and that the chair refused to table the document. That is not the case. The document was tabled with the committee and will be dealt with presumably at a later date.

As I indicated, it was solely a matter of courtesy to the member for Joliette, who is not as functional in English as are the other members of the committee. It was done as a courtesy.

[The Budget, March 3rd, 1999]

Madam Speaker, it is clear that when the government took office in 1993 we were facing some very daunting challenges. Part of those challenges was the $42 billion deficit that had been left by the previous government and it was absolutely essential that we get our program spending down which also meant reducing the transfers to provinces.

In some provinces, as in my home province of Ontario, we face a situation where there were cutbacks in transfer payments but the situation was significantly aggravated by a premature tax cut, something the party across the aisle seems to espouse as the be all and end all of what is good for Canada.

The situation in Ontario has pointed out fairly graphically how much in error that approach is and was. I think the government, in terms of increasing the amount of money for health care, the $11.5 billion, is taking steps in the right direction. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.

I am in touch with people in the medical community on a fairly regular basis. Just last Saturday night I was talking to a nurse who was complaining about the situation at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital which is just outside my riding but which serves a good portion of my riding. This nurse was very concerned about people lined up in the hallways of the hospital because there are not enough beds in the emergency department. This is something that obviously has to be corrected.

What is important not just in terms of the infusion of health care dollars is the future oriented spending in terms of medical health research. In that regard I should tell members that I have a sister who is a cancer researcher here in the Ottawa-Carleton region who is absolutely delighted with the foresight the government has shown in terms of investing more in medical research and the money going into it. It will have great benefits for the future.

[The Budget, March 3rd, 1999]

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to speak on the budget and what I would describe as a fiscal prescription for a healthy Canada as we enter the new millennium.

When the Liberal Party came to power in 1993, Canada's fiscal house was crumbling at its very foundation. The previous government had let the debt skyrocket out of control for years and was operating with a $42 billion deficit.

This party, unlike others in this chamber, learned the lessons of history. This Liberal Party understood that if Canada was to be an economic force to be reckoned with in the new millennium, we absolutely had to get the country back on track.

Canadians wanted a government that would actually take a leadership role and devise a new economic plan for this country, one that actually worked. Sustained by our political courage and armed with the knowledge that Canadians supported our policies, we eliminated the deficit in four years and recorded a budgetary surplus in 1998 of $3.5 billion, the first such surplus in 28 years.

We have put Canada's fiscal house in order. We delivered on our promise. However, we do not hear the opposition members recognizing the major strides this government has made over the last five or six years. No, they are much too busy trying to draft catchy sound bytes while we are developing sound economic policy.

The facts speak for themselves. Our record has shown that we have delivered the goods when it comes to fiscal responsibility. When the history of Canada is written in the years and decades ahead, I have absolutely no doubt that the historians and economists of the future will say that the last half decade of the 20th century was absolutely critical in terms of rebuilding Canada's economic foundation.

I am also supremely confident that history will record the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance as being the people responsible for what the Economist magazine called Canada's economic miracle.

This budget is part of an overall plan, one which did not begin last year and one which will not end next year. It is part of a building process which eliminated the deficit and began producing surpluses which have allowed us to make major investments, last year in education and this year in health.

As the Minister of Finance has so eloquently said on several occasions, budgets are more than entries in the books of a government, they are chapters in the progress of a people. So true, so true.

Yes, budget '99 focuses on health. Over the next five years this government will inject $11.5 billion into health into this country so that the provinces have the proper tools to address concerns about hospital waiting lists, crowded emergency rooms and shortages of diagnostic services. This will ultimately result in a stronger health care system that reflects and meets the changing needs of Canadians. I believe that this is good news for every Canadian and I am not alone.

My riding of Nepean—Carleton is located in the national capital region. This is an area that has felt the sharp edge of the Harris Tory cutting sword. The premature Tory tax cut put us face to face with the Ontario government's vision of better health care which was less hospitals, longer waiting lists and poorer service.

With the additional federal dollars, the health care situation in Ontario is starting to move in the right direction. This is recognized by people who are close to the issue. For instance, hospital and municipal officials in Ottawa-Carleton are labelling our commitment to health care as good medicine.

Local heart surgeon and Conservative senator Dr. Wilbert Keon said that the infusion of money into health care is “very good news”. The mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, was even more optimistic. He said, “We could learn a lesson from this budget, that you can have more money to invest in social programs when you rein in your spending”.

Hopefully the Ontario government learns from this budget, learns that our government's commitment to health care is just what the doctor ordered. However, there is much more good news in the budget than an investment in health care.

Whether one lives in Nanaimo or Nepean, the budget provides tax relief without borrowing money to pay for it. This is something that Canadians have not enjoyed since 1965. Building upon the initiatives in last year's budget, budget '99 prescribes $16.5 billion in tax relief over the next three years for the 15.7 million taxpayers in the nation.

The government understands the tax burden on lower income Canadians. That is why we have removed 200,000 taxpayers from the tax roll this year. Over the past two years our initiatives have resulted in a total of 600,000 Canadians escaping the usual financial pain that comes with a T-4 slip.

Together the 1998 and 1999 budgets provide the largest income tax reductions to the lowest income levels. This translates into a 10% reduction for single taxpayers earning $20,000 or less, and a 10% reduction for families with annual incomes of $45,000 or less. Families with two children and an annual income of $30,000 or less will pay no net federal income tax.

This year we have also removed the 3% surtax for all taxpayers. That is good news again for every Canadian.

One very important issue this budget addresses is that of productivity, the key to achieving sustained increases in our standard of living. Over the past few months the media has focused on what it calls Canada's decreasing level of productivity. Budget '99 has a plan to promote productivity growth to improve the standard of living and the quality of life for all Canadians.

We have already taken steps to foster this important initiative, including the elimination of the deficit as has already been mentioned, putting the debt to GDP ratio on a strong downward track, and the tax cuts that have already been mentioned.

However, knowledge and innovation are the real keys for advancing productivity growth. That is why we have decided to invest in creating, disseminating and commercializing knowledge. We are building on the 1999 Canadian opportunities strategy with an additional $1.8 billion for various programs.

As members will know, my riding contains part of the city of Nepean and borders the city of Kanata. Both these west end municipalities in the Ottawa-Carleton region are the home of what has been referred to as Silicon Valley north. In fact, they are probably the most vibrant concentration of high tech companies anywhere in Canada. To say that they are enjoying explosive growth is almost an understatement.

Over the past couple of years and with the help of farsighted policies like the SR and ED tax credit and the Technology Partnerships Canada program, our high technology industry has blossomed. The TPC program alone is a $250 million per year program aimed at keeping Canada at the forefront of technological innovation.

Historically there have been more applications, unfortunately, than there have been resources available. Budget '99 adds another $50 million per year for this initiative and that is good news. It is also the catalyst to give businesses a competitive edge in terms of getting their products to market faster.

Programs like the two I have just mentioned are making Canadian high tech companies world beaters. That is why when we travel abroad we hear more and more of companies like Nortel, Newbridge and JDS Fitel. These companies are showing our flag and making sales in places as diverse as Munich, Sao Paulo, Taipei, San Francisco and Johannesburg.

The allocation of $550 million as well in another area, medical research, is extremely important, as is the creation of the Canadian institutes for health research. It marks a new and important federal commitment to medical research for scientists and researchers across Canada.

In the past our researchers have spent much of their time chasing grants and wondering where their next research dollar is coming from. This new initiative will enable these scientists and researchers to spend more time in the labs doing research extending the frontiers of human knowledge and increasing business opportunities related to scientific discovery.

Once again this budget is good for Canada. It is also providing more fuel for the growth of our local economy here in Ottawa-Carleton. This is what the regional chair of Ottawa-Carleton had to say about budget '99: “It will help create jobs and new spinoff companies that will continue to make this region the success story that it already is”.

Locally this funding will help benefit some major players in the medical research industry, including the Ottawa General Hospital Research Institute, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, the Heart Institute, the Loeb Institute and the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa.

I should also mention a few comments about what budget '99 does in terms of the national defence budget. As vice-chair of the SCONDVA committee I am very pleased that the government has provided additional dollars to help implement some of the 89 recommendations contained in our report.

We are now past the era when governments promise more than they can deliver and, as the Minister of Finance has said, delivered more than they could afford. This is responsible budget making, future oriented budget making and affordable budget making.

From improved health care to tax relief, investing in technology to improving the quality of life for our Canadian forces personnel, this budget has all the right ingredients for a recipe to build a better Canada. This is the type of leadership that the Liberal Party of Canada was known for throughout the 20th century and the type of leadership that we will continue to provide into the 21st. This is the leadership that has made Canada a leader among nations.

[Kristin Willemsen, March 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it has often been said that Canada's future is only as bright as its youth. With teenagers like Stittsville's Kristin Willemsen in our communities it makes the nation's outlook for the new millennium that much better.

Ms. Willemsen was recently honoured with the 1998 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award by the Ontario Community Newspaper Association for her outstanding contribution to her community.

Kristin is not your average teen. At just 15 she is an inspiration to us all. She maintains an amazing 94.5% average in her grade 10 studies at St. Paul's High School while being an active member in a number of varsity sports and doubling as a peer helper. She also volunteers at the local library, with the community choir and she enjoys precision skating.

In short, Kristin's efforts enhance her school, her home and of course our community. In the words of her nominator, “Kristin is committed to the community and an excellent role model for all youngsters”. That is one very good reason to be optimistic about our future.

[Foreign Affairs, February 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The minister recently announced $1 million in support of the West African intervention force to help re-establish stability in Sierra Leone.

Could the minister tell the House what further actions he is taking to move this item forward on the United Nations agenda?

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that when this government took office back in 1993 a number of very difficult decisions had to be made. There were cuts to transfer payments. There were across the board cuts in many government departments. And yes, there were cuts to the military.

We saw in the budget an increase in funds for health care, a rejuvenation of many programs of departments of the government, including national defence. We are going to see in the years to come continued reinvestment in Canadian programs and services.

In terms of the ability of the military to do the job in both Bosnia and Kosovo, I have the greatest of respect for our commanders in the field both in Canada and overseas. I had the opportunity to see them in action during the ice storm and with my colleagues on the national defence committee when we visited Bosnia last May.

I say to the hon. member across the way that they are well equipped in Bosnia. They are fully able to do the job and they are doing a tremendous job over there. If Canadians had the opportunity to see what our troops face from day to day they would be extremely proud as I was to see that maple leaf flag flying over the camp at Velika Kladusa, in Zgon and in other camps where the Canadians soldiers are based. They are doing a tremendous job. They have the equipment and they are getting better equipment.

Over the years I think the Canadian forces can look forward to even greater triumphs in terms of peacekeeping and contributing to world peace and security.

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to respond to the hon. member's question. First of all, with respect to the issue of how many troops would be provided by other European countries, I think it is safe to say that still is part of the negotiating process within the NATO member countries. Unfortunately we have not yet got an agreement at Rambouillet although there are increasing signs that the Americans, the French and the British are putting significant pressure on the negotiating parties to come up with an agreement.

Clearly when there was discussion about the number of troops that would be involved, the numbers were somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 troops. It is obvious that the Europeans would be required to shoulder a significant amount of that burden.

A number of my colleagues and I on the defence committee had the opportunity to visit Germany recently to get briefings on what was happening with the German armed forces and their views along with the foreign ministry officials' views of what was going on in Kosovo. They understand fully the need for more European participation in a Kosovo operation. They understand as well as we do that if the situation in Kosovo is allowed to deteriorate, then the stability of the Balkans itself comes into question. That is something that no members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would want to have happen.

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, renewed fighting in Kosovo has once again fixed the eyes of the world on the Balkans and as we debate this issue in the House tonight we do so with a real hope that a solution can be found.

I direct my remarks to this aspect of the motion we have before us. The contact group sponsored talks between the Serbs and the Kosovar Albanians in Rambouillet, France offer for the first time the possibility of a solution to this struggle. We earnestly hope the parties can come to an agreement and that the differences between them can be resolved.

Canada must be prepared to participate in any potential peace agreement emerging from the Rambouillet process.

Just as we were ready to participate in NATO's implementation force upon confirmation of success at the Dayton peace process, we must be prepared to react should these talks also succeed.

As a member of the international community, as a member of the NATO alliance and as a nation that values peace and democracy, we have a moral obligation to participate in a NATO led peace operation in Kosovo should such action be deemed necessary.

Peace and security in the Balkans have been under threat for nearly a decade now and Canada has joined the international community from the beginning to respond to those threats.

As I conceive it there are four key reasons why we should favourably consider a role in any NATO led operation in Kosovo. First, let me remind members that Canada has a proud multilateral history. As a major trading nation, this country thrives in a stable, international system where we protect our interests by working with others. While Canada faces no immediate direct military threat, we are directly affected by instability elsewhere. Our security and prosperity depend on global peace and stability.

Our willingness to play a meaningful role in international relations is a Canadian tradition. We went to Europe to fight for peace in 1914 and returned to do so again in 1939. After the end of the second world war we fought for those same ideals in Korea. In addition, we have done so for many years through our commitments to peacekeeping. Over the last 50 years over 100,000 Canadian men and women have served in peacekeeping missions around the world. We must continue this tradition.

Canadians are internationalists and not isolationists by nature. We are proud of our heritage of service abroad. Our multilateralism is an expression of Canadian values at work in the world. We care about the course of events abroad and so we are willing to work with other countries to maintain peace and stability.

Second, our desire to contribute to international security has made us active partners in the North Atlantic treaty alliance. The North Atlantic community is one of Canada's most important and enduring international links. We are fully committed to collective defence and see the alliance as a force for stability, deterrence and rapid reaction to emergency.

Canadians have kept faith with NATO and these ideals for five decades now. We have always been ready to join our allies in opposing threats to stability and peace.

Today we face another such situation. If NATO becomes involved in a peace support mission in Kosovo then we should be there to play our part. Canadian participation in a NATO peace mission to Kosovo is in every way consistent with our commitment to peace and security in the transatlantic region and our commitment to the North Atlantic alliance.

Third, the Balkan region is highly volatile and represents a serious threat to international peace and security. Should the situation in Kosovo worsen, the risk of neighbouring states getting drawn into the conflict would also rise. Albania, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, as well as Greece, Turkey or even more distant powers such as Russia and Iran could conceivably become involved.

Twice in this century brush fires in the Balkans have resulted in war in Europe. Canadians are not blind to the lessons of history. While the chance of another major war seems remote, in the Balkans and elsewhere we must persevere with our efforts to maintain international peace and security through the reinforcement of regional stability.

This brings me to my fourth reason for continuing a Canadian presence in this troubled region. We have been an active player in the Balkans since war first broke out in 1991. So long as we can make a meaningful contribution to improving the situation there we should continue to do so.

When the warring factions agreed to a ceasefire in the former republic of Yugoslavia in September 1991 we were among the first participants in the European community monitoring mission that was set up to verify the settlement, contributing up to 15 of the mission's 350 civilian and military observers.

In 1992 the UN security council established the United Nations protection force in Yugoslavia, UNPROFOR, as an arrangement to facilitate a negotiated settlement in an atmosphere of peace and security. Canada contributed two major units, a logistics battalion and personnel for various headquarters positions.

UNPROFOR's mandate included the protection and demilitarization of the three UN protected areas, deimplementation of various ceasefire agreements in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection and monitoring of the no fly zones and the UN safe areas.

NATO's implementation force or IFOR was the next significant step to establishing peace and stability in the Balkan region. The purpose of IFOR was to enforce compliance by the warring parties in the former Yugoslavia with the Dayton peace accord. Canada contributed more than 1,000 personnel, including a brigade headquarters, an infantry company, an armoured squadron, an engineer squadron, a military police platoon and support personnel.

Building on IFOR successes was NATO's stabilization force or SFOR. Responding to a UN security council resolution, the North Atlantic council authorized in late 1996 a NATO operation to support the further implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. SFOR's mission, still being carried out today, is to provide a continued military presence to deter renewed hostilities and to stabilize and consolidate peace in Bosnia-Hercegovina. There are currently about 1,300 Canadian troops deployed with SFOR. Our contingent, deployed throughout an area roughly the size of Prince Edward Island, includes a mechanized infantry battalion group, national support and command elements and an engineer design and works team. Canada also provides personnel to various multinational staff positions in SFOR headquarters.

Our other operations in the Balkans that Canadian forces personnel have or are participating in include a NATO led operation enforcing compliance of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Hercegovina, the enforcement of a United Nations embargo of the former Yugoslavia, the United Nations mission of observers in Prevlaka and the UN preventive deployment force in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. We have also been contributing to a variety of multinational operations in Kosovo.

We currently have 23 troops deployed with the OSCE Kosovo verification mission, established to verify compliance by all parties to the October 1998 Holbrooke-Milosevic agreement.

Our contributions to current NATO operations in Kosovo include 60 personnel with the extraction force ready to remove OSCE verifiers and other designated persons from Kosovo should it prove necessary, eight Canadian forces personnel deployed as headquarters staff with the Kosovo air verification mission, and 130 personnel and 6 CF-18s with operation echo, ready to participate in any NATO operations.

The many operations and missions I have just outlined are illustrative of Canada's strong and continued commitment to maintaining peace in the Balkan region. More than 20,000 Canadian forces personnel have rotated in and out of that theatre. We clearly have invested significant personnel and resources in order to promote peace and security there and have made a genuine and meaningful difference.

We should maintain that investment because more remains to be done, as events of the past few weeks have clearly shown. Large refugee flows, political struggles between various ethnic groups, continued human rights abuses and the ever present danger of widespread war are all illustrative of just how much more work the international community needs to do. With the right kind of agreement out of the negotiations in Rambouillet, we can and should once again shoulder our share of the international efforts in the region.

[Foreign Affairs, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The civil war in Sierra Leone has escalated recently with widespread killings, mutilations and hundreds of thousands of refugees. In short, it is a humanitarian crisis.

Can the minister tell the House what the government is doing at the UN Security Council to focus attention on this terrible human tragedy?

[Property Tax, February 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

Recent municipal tax changes by the Ontario government have created property tax chaos, especially for those municipalities that depend on payments in lieu of taxes from the federal government.

What is the government doing to ease the tax burden on local property taxpayers such as those in Ottawa-Carleton?