Alexa McDonough

[Frank McKenna, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of Premier Frank McKenna's resignation I rise today on behalf of my colleagues to wish him well. There are few Canadian politicians, in fact not one that I could name, that have to their credit having won 58 out of 58 seats in a provincial election or any election. This certainly has been an indication of the level of support the premier has had throughout his 10 years of office.

I note it is rumoured that Premier McKenna is thinking of leaving politics and perhaps going to work in Africa. The current prime minister should beware. When I stepped down as provincial leader in Nova Scotia it was my intention to go to Africa, not to go after the top job in the federal NDP. So one never knows where Frank McKenna may land when it comes to his future decisions.

During 10 of the 12 years that Frank McKenna was in the New Brunswick legislature, I had the opportunity to serve in the adjacent legislature in Nova Scotia. During that time we had differences of opinion as you might expect. There were a couple of particularly strong ones over his commitment to workfare, which I think has been proven to be something of a failure, and also over his commitment to court corporations into the province to create low wage jobs as long as they were subsidized by the public.

Despite my differences with Frank McKenna from time to time, I have never questioned his sincere commitment to serve the people of his province as he saw fit.

On this occasion I would like to wish him and his family well. Whatever he decides to pursue in the future I am sure he will undertake with the same kind of zeal and passion with which he has approached his job as premier of the province of New Brunswick.

[Employment, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I refer to a finance department report that says the very best Canadians can expect from the government until the end of the century is 7.8% unemployment.

Before the election the Liberals said their unemployment goal was 5%. Now we learn that it is really closer to 8%.

Why does the Prime Minister not make this his big millennium project and put a million and a half Canadians back to work so they can join in the celebration?

[Employment, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister is telling us that it is just too bad about the 1.4 million people who still do not have jobs. I have in my hands a paper—

[Employment, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Canadian analysts including Wood Gundy's chief economist charge that the government's endorsement of last week's interest rate hike is “like waging war on yesterday's problem”. It is predicted that as many as 500,000 jobs will be lost if the government continues on its current path.

When will the Prime Minister show some leadership, start to live up to his campaign commitment and tell his finance minister to stop killing jobs?

[Foreign Affairs, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the minister tells us that he is concerned and I am sure that he is. However, we want to know what leadership the government is taking to ensure the integrity and the security of Canadian passports.

Has the minister raised this matter at the United Nations? Has he raised it with the International Civil Aviation Organization and with Interpol? If so, can he give the House some indication of what kind of progress has been made?

[Foreign Affairs, October 6th, 1997]

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

Canadians are justifiably indignant that our Canadian passport has become the passport of preference for international terrorists.

What measure does the Minister of Foreign Affairs propose to take to ensure that the use of Canadian passports is strictly monitored and that any abuses are met with swift sanctions?

[Job Creation, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, unemployment is 9 percent, where it has been for seven lean years, and inflation is 1.8 percent. Before the election when inflation was 2.2 percent the finance minister said there were no inflationary pressures in Canada. Now the finance minister wants to choke off the bit of hope the unemployed have.

How can the minister justify a policy that condemns 1.4 million Canadians to continuing unemployment?

[Job Creation, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

During the election campaign, the Prime Minister promised job creation would be a priority. In February, the Minister of Finance said interest rates had to be lower to promote job creation, but yesterday the same minister supported the Bank of Canada's decision to increase interest rates.

How many young people will be forced into unemployment before this government realizes that the real cause of the crisis is not inflation but the lack of jobs?

[Environment, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are getting very concerned that all we hear from the government is concern but nothing in the way of solid, detailed plans. Even the prime minister has said that he supports legally binding targets, but where is the plan?

My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Could she assure us that she will take to Kyoto in two months time a specific detailed plan that lives up to Canada's promise to reduce emissions by 20 per cent from 1988 levels by the year 2005? Will the environment minister commit to this today?

[Environment, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

In 1992 at the Rio earth summit Canada agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. In 1994 the deputy prime minister and former environment minister committed to further cut CO2 emissions by 20 per cent. Yet in today Canada it is almost 10 percent above those levels.

When will the government finally show leadership and live up to its promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?