Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
The Economy November 6th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, an experimental index of social health developed by Human Resources Development Canada suggests there is a growing gap between the health of the economy and the well-being of Canadians.
My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Does he concur with the findings in the report, and if so, what does he suggest be done to narrow the gap?
Lest We Forget November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, on November 6, 1997 a resident of my riding, Margaret McKenna, will make a trip to Belgium for what is truly a sober reminder of the sacrifice made for us during World War II.
Margaret McKenna's eldest brother, Jack Summerhayes, was a gunner on a 426 squadron Halifax bomber, which was shot down on the night of May 12, 1944 over Belgium.
Thanks in part to the efforts of the Canadian and Belgian governments and the Belgium Aviation History Association, on September 6 of this year Pilot Officer Jack Summerhayes was found in a Belgian swamp still at his post. Jack Summerhayes and two other crew members also trapped in the bomber will be buried alongside the five other other crew members who perished that night in 1944.
As we approach Remembrance Day, may the pilgrimage of Margaret McKenna and the other Canadians travelling to Belgium to bury their loved ones some 53 years after their deaths serve as a statement that we as Canadians will never forget the supreme sacrifice they made.
Newfoundland Unemployment October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my riding of Waterloo—Wellington is a mix of urban, rural and suburban areas. Approximately 30% of the wealth of my riding is generated as a result of agriculture and agribusiness. Needless to say, farming is very important to the economic well-being of Waterloo—Wellington.
Farmers throughout Canada are very concerned about our supply management system and what might happen to it. Over the years farmers have come to rely upon the supply management system to ensure the viability of the family farm.
It is a system which has brought stability to agriculture throughout Canada and it is a system which has ensured a reasonable rate of return for farmers as a result.
There are always those who would strip away the supply management system, so it is important for the federal government to take a lead role in protecting the interests of farmers by protecting the supply management system wherever and whenever possible.
This protection often is reactive. For example, the government will have to defend our system before a tribunal as a result of the American challenge. Government also needs to be proactive. Therefore the next meeting of the World Trade Organization will be crucial in this matter.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food outline exactly what steps the government will be taking at this meeting to maintain a viable and strong supply management system?
Supply October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the speaker opposite. This is a very serious and important problem as it affects Canadians.
As former chairman of Waterloo Regional Police we took very seriously the whole issue of drunk driving and the results that would occur for people in that position. We ensured we had good programs in place, for example RIDE and other methods to ensure enforcement was there.
Does the hon. member believe additional enforcement on the part of police services across Canada would be useful to help ameliorate this devastating problem?
Royal Canadian Legion October 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to rise and advise you of a special occasion which occurred on October 25 and October 26 in New Hamburg, Ontario. The New Hamburg Branch 532 of the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated its 45th anniversary.
The members of this branch are widely recognized for the many hours of community service which they perform each year. In particular their support of minor sports programs is truly exemplary of the important role they play in the development of the community.
On behalf of all constituents of Waterloo—Wellington I wish to commend the New Hamburg Royal Canadian Legion on its record of public service. In particular the 10 continuous and charter members from 1952 to 1997 should be acknowledged for their dedication.
Agriculture October 23rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, farmers in my area of Ontario are very concerned about the issue of supply management.
My question is for the minister of agriculture. I want to know exactly what the government plans to do to protect supply management in preparation for the impeding talks at the next World Trade Organization meeting.
Supply October 23rd, 1997
It is called democracy.
Canada Co-Operatives Act October 22nd, 1997
Madam Speaker, I listened with some interest to the member opposite with respect to what he was saying and, of course, in typical Reform fashion, preaching the politics of fear and the politics of doom and gloom. It struck me, that wonderful picture we saw in the paper today of Frederik Eaton with the Leader of the Opposition, whether or not that was the kind of thing they were discussing last night at the fund-raising dinner held in Toronto.
In reality, the government has created over the course of the past four years a climate of economic growth unparalleled since the 1950s and 1960s.
All we have to do, which the hon. member should do sometime, is look at the evidence. The evidence indicates that we have the lowest interest rates that we have had for 30 years, housing starts are up, growth is up and consumer sales are up. The government has done a very good job, unlike what the member opposite would lead Canadians to believe.
I was most intrigued by his statement with respect to how he reflects his constituents. I wonder if he could lay out precisely for the House how he goes about scientifically taking the pulse of what his constituents tell him to say on any given issue. I would be interested in hearing whether he polls, whether he has town hall meetings, what he does to ensure that all the people in his riding have their voices heard.
Week Without Violence October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the week of October 19 to October 25 marks YWCA Canada's second annual Week Without Violence. For these seven days the YWCA is challenging all Canadians to live without perpetrating, participating in or observing violence.
This universally significant initiative should be supported year round. A society with less violence is a desirable goal. We as parliamentarians should take a visible role in supporting initiatives such as this one. May our support stand as a statement to all Canadians that any violence is unacceptable in society.
In particular we need to encourage and teach our youth that there are alternatives to violence. To that end I am proud to advise that in our gallery today are students and teachers from Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School in Bayden, Ontario. This high school is located in my riding of Waterloo—Wellington. I am proud that we are able to afford these students greater insight into the Canadian federal system.
It is my hope that these students will leave Ottawa with a new and expanded—
Supply October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the member opposite for the question. I found it of particular interest that he would make reference to the chamber of commerce. Certainly those people in the chamber of commerce in my area of Canada and indeed those members of the board of trade in various places across this great land have cheered the government in terms of what it has been able to do.
I am very glad that he would make that point on my behalf. I very much appreciate that because business, as members know, have been able to see the merits of what the federal government has been able to accomplish over these past numbers of years. In fact, they are very grateful for the kind of things that have been done to secure the kind of climate that is necessary for people to live and work and secure the quality of life that is necessary.
I was particularly interested in the question with respect to the infrastructure program. As a former mayor of a municipality in the region of Waterloo we very much value the infrastructure program that was put into place not only in 1993 but also in 1996-97. For example as a municipality we spent enormous amounts of money in partnership with the province and the federal government to ensure that sewage treatment plants were in place, to ensure that highways were built and roads were secure and in doing all kinds of things in the best interests of the people we represented.
For the hon. member to make reference to the infrastructure program I can certainly say that it was a wonderful program which benefited Canadians not only in my part of Ontario and Canada but people across this great land.