Lynn Myers

[Supply, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, in speaking against the motion I note that the federal government has accomplished what many said could not be done. The federal government has transformed the economic, political and social reality and environment over the past four years.

The federal government with astonishing speed has taken the country from a $42 billion deficit in 1993 to a zero deficit in the next fiscal year. Something considered undoable has been done. Canadians understand and know that sacrifices had to be made to get our fiscal house in proper balance. Canadians were prepared for some pain to ensure long term viability and gain for future generations, and this has happened.

The strong economic foundation which has been laid and expanded upon is now paying off for Canadians. Canadians are seeing real economy advances not seen since the boom years of the 1950s and the 1960s. With this strong foundation comes a confidence needed by people to propel the economy into the 21st century. It is confidence built on hope and expectation. It is confidence built on solid performance and optimism.

Canadians have waited a long time. While we can and will continue to work hard to ensure prosperity for all sectors of the economy, especially for people who might otherwise be left behind, we have seen remarkable achievements over the past four years.

Let us consider the evidence. Interest rates are at their lowest in historic terms. Housing starts and resales have rebounded. Consumer goods enjoy strong sales throughout the land. Inflation remains low. Business investments are surging. Jobs are being created at an accelerating pace and growth as measured in gross domestic product is outstanding even by international standards. People are starting to feel good about the economy and what is happening in Canada.

The negative psychology of even a few years ago is dissipating. In short, our economy is in remarkable shape. That is why the international consulting firm of KPMG, which did a comparative study of the costs of doing business in Canada, the United States and Europe, found that Canada is on top. This means that Canada is not only the best place in the world to live, as the United Nations has so designated for a number of years, but Canada is one of the best places in the world in which to invest.

Canada is poised on the cusp of a prolonged economic expansion, all of which spells good news for the country and good news for Canadians. This enables the federal government as both a facilitator and provider to focus on what Canadians want and what they need.

The debate should go beyond what has been noted as a fiscal dividend formula, that being 50% for programs and the other 50% for debt reduction and tax reduction. The debate should be about national priorities. It should be about the vision for Canada in the next millennium. It should be about how best to build a strong, lasting economy and in the process a strong society which offers both opportunity and security. The debate must be about ensuring the quality and quantity of growth needed to contribute to the quality of life which Canadians deserve and rightfully expect.

Now more than ever Canadians expect the federal government to preserve, to enhance, to protect and to improve upon the valued programs which have made us the envy of the world.

Canadians care about a quality health care with a standard of health care second to none.

Canadians care about a good education system with lifelong learning, training and retraining opportunities.

Canadians care about an infrastructure which enables Canada to remain competitive both internally and internationally.

Canadians care about creating an environment which will enable Canada to remain highly productive and make Canada a leader in the global knowledge based economy.

Canadians care about ensuring that our young are well taken care of because they represent our investment in the future. We need to ensure they will have the best opportunities available.

Canada has such a huge potential, such a great future.

Canada is now poised to cash in on an unparalleled future, the likes of which we have not seen in a long time. Canadians with the help of the federal government will rise to this occasion and focus on the well-being of citizens able to get the job done.

Making good use of taxpayers' dollars, we will march confidently into the 21st century. Arm in arm we will move forward together. We will do so, not by leaving some behind but by all marching together forward into the new millennium.

[Supply, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester. It seems to me that the government has turned the corner with respect to what it has done over the past number of years in getting its fiscal house in order.

I would simply ask him to consider the evidence. Low interest rates and accelerating job opportunities. Housing starts and resales are up. Business investment is surging. Consumers are spending again and growth is taking off. Yes, while there have been sacrifices, we have now turned the corner and are on our way to an economic renewal which we have not seen since the 1950s and 1960s.

Will the hon. member agree that it was his government between 1984 and 1993 which caused the mess that our government has now had to clean up?

[Oktoberfest, October 9th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario is an annual event which this year is from October 10 to 19.

This festival underscores the German heritage of our area in Ontario and in Canada. The Oktoberfest parade on October 13 is a nationally televised event which enables families everywhere to enjoy the spirit of “Gemutlichkeit” which means good cheer and good will which is so much part of this celebration.

I encourage all Canadians to join Kitchener-Waterloo in this great celebration.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech correctly outlined that a country that has decided to invest in its children is a country that is confident in its future. A country that invests in its children successfully will have a better future. I believe this to be true.

We as a government have made tremendous strides in our attack on child poverty. For example the government has demonstrated its commitment by increasing its contribution to the Canada child tax benefit by $850 million a year, with higher payments to families beginning July 1, 1998. We need to do more. We need to focus on child hunger.

As a teacher, I am well aware that a hungry child does not do well in school, has behaviourial problems and can become a dropout.

As the former chairman of the Waterloo regional police, I know firsthand that these children often start down the path of delinquency and end up as young offenders or worse. In a country as wealthy as Canada, it is unacceptable that 20 per cent of our children live in poverty and an estimated three million children arrive at school hungry. People in our communities and schools are ready, willing and able to assist to ensure that nutrition programs are in place for all Canadian schools that need one.

I believe that investing today in our vulnerable children will yield major dividends tomorrow.

I believe that the federal government has both a role and an obligation to assist hungry children. I ask the government to examine this issue and explore ways and means available to ensure that child hunger is no more by the 21st century.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health commit to explore such ways to eradicate child hunger by the new millennium?

[Children, September 30th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the seventh anniversary of the United Nations summit on children. At that summit the heads of government promised an all-out effort to improve the quality of life for children.

My question is for the Minister of Health. What steps has the government taken to reduce child poverty and to lower the infant death rate?

[Arts And Culture, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Fergus, Ontario is located in my riding. Fergus among other things is noted for its architectural beauty which is surpassed only by its natural beauty located as it is on the Grand River watershed. Fergus is also famous as the home of the Fergus Scottish Highland Games.

Recently an opportunity has arisen for the purchase and renovation of the Fergus building that houses the Grand Theatre, which a number of theatre groups call home. A fundraising campaign has started and is called “the crowning touch to restore the downtown jewel”. Needless to say, I support this very worthwhile effort.

The initiative in Fergus underscores the necessity for Canadians wherever they live to support cultural and community endeavours such as this. The preservation, promotion and expansion of Canadian culture in all its many forms is both necessary and desirable.

I applaud all of those who, like the residents in Fergus, are doing something to support our culture.

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member opposite, I would simply say that any rate of unemployment is not normal. We will have to, as will people from all parts of Canada and members on all sides of the House, work to ensure that the kind of unemployment which we have now is brought down to an effective and appropriate level.

I would say to him that we need to continue to work very hard to ensure that is the case. We will press not only government but also caucus members to do that to ensure that the best kinds of jobs will be in place for Canadians.

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, to the hon. member opposite, I would not presuppose and begin to answer for the finance minister. I would however say that it seems to me that the Reform Party just does not get it.

There is importance in getting our fiscal house in order. We as a government have been able to do that over the past number of years not only effectively but efficiently. That speaks volumes about the ability of the government to take a terrible financial situation and put in place the kinds of safeguards that will ensure prosperity not only for this generation but for generations to come.

It seems to me that that groundwork now having been laid will ensure that prosperity will flow and we can then all share fully in that surplus position.

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment as a Speaker of this great House. It is an honour for you and deserving of both you and this great institution.

I represent the riding of Waterloo—Wellington, one of the four new ridings in Ontario and one of four new ridings in all of Canada. I am exceedingly proud, honoured and humbled to represent this great riding. I am immensely grateful to my constituents for electing me to this 36th Parliament. I will undertake to serve my constituents to the very best of my ability and talent.

Waterloo—Wellington captures the essence of Canada. It contains a large city, the city of Kitchener. It contains small town Ontario: Elora, Fergus, Jacobs, Elmira, Baden, New Hamburg, Harrison and Palmerston. It contains a number of smaller towns and villages including St. Agatha, New Dundee, Wellesley, Drayton, Clifford, Belwood, Conestogo, Maryhill and Breslau. It contains that famous place called Punky Doodle's Corner.

Waterloo—Wellington is a rich and diverse riding of urban, rural and suburban people. It contains people from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. Approximately 30 percent of the wealth of the riding is generated as a result of agriculture and agribusiness. Farming is important to our part of Ontario.

I was born, raised and still live on the family farm. My great great grandparents first settled in the area in 1828, arriving via Pennsylvania with the many Mennonites whose descendants still inhabit the area. In fact the highest number and concentration of old order Mennonites and Amish people in all of Canada reside in my riding.

While the histories of my constituents are rich, varied and diverse, they are united in their love of and loyalty to Canada and all that we as Canadians stand for. We as Canadians are respectful of our institutions. We as Canadians are respectful of our symbols. We as Canadians are respectful of our values.

Each of these helps to define us as Canadians. The Speech from the Throne delivered on Tuesday by the Governor General will also contribute to our definition as Canadians. I want at this time to thank the mover and seconder of that speech.

Canada will march confidently into the 21st century and the new millennium. We have a plan and a vision which will enable Canada to be the very best in every way for its citizens. The foundation of that plan is to balance the books. It is gratifying to hear that the deficit will effectively be eliminated in the next fiscal year.

The trouble with doing something right the first time in over 30 years is that no one really appreciates how difficult it was to get there, but I believe Canadians do appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice to bring the deficit from $42 billion in 1993 down to zero in the next fiscal year. I believe Canadians appreciate that the many years of sacrifice will pay off in the end, and that end is soon.

Once we are in the surplus situation, the formula as has been noted is an easy one to understand. One-half will support the programs Canadians want and deserve and the other half will go toward debt reduction and tax reduction. With this game plan Canada is poised to lead the industrialized world in economic growth this year and next and beyond. Our plan provides us with the fiscal stability necessary to allow change to be accommodated effectively and efficiently.

Jobs are being created at a remarkable pace but we need to do more. Unemployment, especially youth unemployment, is at an unacceptable level. We need to look at establishing a national apprenticeship style program for our young people, recognizing there are provincial implications, but co-operation would be the key here. It would be an apprenticeship program that would marry the needs of society with the aspirations of our young people. It would assist the private sector to meet its labour requirements and ensure that young people would have the opportunity to acquire that important first job.

Even before we turn our eyes to youth unemployment we need to reach out to the youth of our nation. Some of the very most vulnerable Canadians go to school each day hungry. As a former teacher I can say that a hungry child is much more likely to be a problem learner with poor school performance. A hungry child is much more likely to be a behavioural problem. Children with learning and behavioural problems are much more likely to become drop-outs from school and from society. As the former chairman of the Waterloo regional police I can also say that drop-outs from school and society often fall into the trap of crime and become young offenders.

The social and economic impacts of youth crime are unacceptable to Canadians. They are demanding that we act proactively to attack the roots of crime. In a country as wealthy as Canada with its physical and human resources, I find it unacceptable that even one child would go hungry. I believe that we as a caring society and a caring nation need to put in place a program to eradicate child hunger. Investments in that regard made today will pay enormous dividends tomorrow.

We owe our children regardless of the status of their families the opportunity to learn, to grow and to become valued citizens without the burden of hunger. Attacking child hunger and the roots of youth crime must therefore be a priority of this government in its attack on child poverty. I am pleased to see the progress made and the initiatives outlined in the Speech from the Throne. We owe this investment to our children, to ourselves and to the future of Canada.

I personally look forward to voicing the views of my constituents in this great Parliament, and like all good parliamentarians I will listen more and judge less. I look forward to working together with my colleagues for the betterment of Canada. Finally I look forward to helping to continue to build the strong foundation upon which this great country of ours stands, a foundation which will confer prosperity, safety and a sense of community for all Canadians into the 21st century.