Karen Redman

[Petitions, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I also have two petitions regarding the Canadian seal hunt which I would like to present today.

The first is sponsored by Canadians for Animals Rights and the Environment. They are petitioning the government to amend the marine mammal regulation of the Fisheries Act so as to prohibit the commercial slaughter of seals and discontinue its subsidies of seal products and the Canadian Sealers Association.

The second petition was prepared by Canadians Against the Commercial Seal Hunt. They request that the Government of Canada enact legislation to stop the commercial seal hunt in Canada.

[Petitions, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present three petitions on behalf of my constituents of Kitchener Centre.

The first petition was organized by Christ Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario. The petitioners request that the Government of Canada allow tuition fees to accredited, private elementary and secondary institutions to be tax deductible in the same way as is permitted for colleges, universities and trade schools.

[Diabetes Awareness Month, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the last day of Diabetes Awareness Month. Every eight minutes a Canadian is diagnosed with this disease.

It is a major cause of premature death, blindness, kidney disease and stroke. Diabetes is a leading cause of premature heart disease in women. Twice as many women will die from diabetes as from breast cancer.

Diabetes increases with age and affects more than 10% of Canadians over the age of 65.

In Kitchener and the surrounding area it is estimated that 5% of the population has diabetes.

This disease can hit anyone. It touches my own family.

I extend my best wishes and thanks to the Kitchener-Waterloo association in reaching its target of $30,000.

There is a renewed momentum and urgency in diabetic research that a cure will be found. Breakthroughs are being made.

With the efforts of the Canadian Diabetes Association and all Canadians we will find a cure for Megan Fitzpatrick and the 1.1 million diabetics in Canada.

[Hiv-Aids, November 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, November 23 to November 30 marks the eighth annual National AIDS Awareness Week. The theme for this year's campaign is the faces of HIV-AIDS. Communities across Canada will help increase awareness about AIDS and raise funds for services and programs through red ribbon campaigns and other activities.

HIV-AIDS continues to be an international issue. Canadians have taken a proactive approach in dealing with this growing epidemic in the Canadian strategy on HIV-AIDS. Our national strategy focuses on research, treatment, care and public education. I believe it is an excellent example of how all levels of government can come together and work in the best interests of Canadian citizens. I encourage all members of the Chamber and all Canadians to support National AIDS Awareness Week activities in their ridings and their communities.

[Taxation, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue.

As a member of parliament I have often been consulted by people in my riding to address Revenue Canada issues which are perceived as unfair to my constituents.

Under the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will I still be able to assist my constituents with their concerns?

[Young Entrepreneurs, June 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurship is growing. It is flourishing among Canada's youth. During the past week there were two events involving Kitchener Centre which demonstrated this fact.

Team 5 founded by Kitchener residents Abhi Ahluwalia, Arvinder Ahluwalia and Way Tang received the Students In Free Enterprise of Canada first prize for the wholesale distribution category in the 1997-98 National Business Plan Competition for Young Entrepreneurs, as well as the Spirit of Entrepreneurship award at a ceremony here in Ottawa last Thursday.

Team 5 creates and distributes a unique line of message clothing and accessories promoting equality, justice, respect and wellness.

In addition to receiving a number of noteworthy awards, their innovative idea has also provided them with the opportunity to meet Her Majesty the Queen.

In Kitchener this past weekend I along with the hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew had the opportunity to participate—

[Petitions, May 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I present to this House a petition signed by 114 of my constituents of Serbian descent petitioning this government to take action in reaching a peaceful solution to the Kosovo crisis.

[The Economy, May 25th, 1998]

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

There has been a great deal of suffering felt by thousands in Asia as a result of the recent economic crisis. This weekend Canada hosted the Asia-Pacific finance ministers. Can the minister tell us what action will be taken to address the human and social impact of this crisis?

[Student Summer Employment, May 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this Friday I will participate in the opening of a student employment centre in Kitchener.

Each year at this time we are faced with the struggle of students looking for summer jobs. As a mother of four I know this yearly ritual very well.

This government has made great progress not only in creating youth employment programs but also in providing access to information about programs available both to students and prospective employers throughout the Internet.

Experience Canada, Young Canada Works, SchoolNet Youth Employment, Youth Internships Canada, Summer Career Placements, Youth Info Line and Youth Info Site are all programs and services targeted at assisting students in finding summer jobs and breaking the cycle of no job, no experience.

I encourage all young Canadians to look into these initiatives. I encourage all employers to hire a student this summer, providing them with valuable experience that will last them a lifetime.

[Holidays Act, May 6th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak in support of private members' Bill C-369, an act to amend the Holidays Act, introduced by my colleague the hon. member for Oak Ridges. The hon. member's bill would set aside November 20 in recognition of the contributions made to Canada by Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

Why would we commemorate Laurier? Many of us remember him from our early learning of history. He has been described as the golden tongued Laurier, the seventh prime minister, the first French speaking Canadian to hold our highest political office, a man of breadth and a man of vision, a hero even among those who disagreed with him.

Laurier travelled a vast and varied political road. However, whatever we have come to associate with his name, he was first and foremost a true Canadian. He stood for those key issues which remain close to the heart of all Canadians: tolerance, national unity, and the continuing development and growth of Canada.

In preparation for today's debate I requested a copy of Laurier's maiden speech in this House from the library. Some may be surprised to learn that it was delivered before the time of Hansard . All that is available to commemorate his remarks are the comments people made about them and the excerpts in the paper. Times certainly have changed.

Although many issues of the day have changed beyond what Laurier could have imagined, others closely mirror the challenges that he faced during his tenure here.

Some of the challenges which he met, members of this House have also met. He dealt with the question of denominational schools. This parliament has addressed that very issue. Under his government two new provinces, Saskatchewan and Alberta, were added to Confederation. We are currently working on the creation of Nunavut.

Laurier once said “I look forward to the day when Canada will have a population of 30 million inhabitants, of 40 million perhaps, and when its voice will weigh in the destinies of the world”. Over 100 years later we are there.

Canada is admired around the world for its quality of life and its international role in peacekeeping and peaceful actions, most recently through the realization of our goal for an international ban on anti-personnel land mines.

While we as a country continue to develop our strength within our national borders and across international boundaries, as we move into the next century and the next millennium, it is fitting that we pay tribute to the last prime minister to lead Canada into a new century, and to face and meet the challenges that lay before our country.

I am pleased to support the hon. member's bill. Here is to Laurier. In the words of the Prime Minister leading us into the next millennium, “here in this place that was home to Laurier, let us find inspiration for an even brighter future for us all”.