Lost his last election, in 2004, with 39% of the vote.
Petitions February 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the third petition contains 42 signatures and calls on the government to ensure that the present provisions in the Criminal Code with regard to assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and make no changes to the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.
Petitions February 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the second petition contains 32 names and calls on the government not to amend the human rights code in relation to the recognition of same sex relations.
Petitions February 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am
presenting four petitions from my constituents from the riding of Wellington-Grey-Dufferin-Simcoe.
The first petition contains 29 signatures and calls on the government to amend the Criminal Code to extend protection to unborn children the same protection enjoyed by born human beings.
The Economy February 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to indicate my outrage that Moody's bond rating agency would place Canada's credit rating under review only two weeks before the federal budget comes down. Why did it not just place a horse's head in the Minister of Finance's bed?
We recognize that strong fiscal action is required. We are determined to meet our financial targets stated in the red book. Our deficit reduction target of 3 per cent of GDP is only an interim target while our long term goal is to eliminate the deficit in its entirety.
Canada's inflation is the lowest in the G-7. Our export growth is strong. StatsCanada's composite leading indicator grew by .6 per cent in January and wage settlements only grew by .3 per cent in 1994.
I think it is Moody's that should be watched.
Western Grain Transportation Act February 13th, 1995
-be filled up with more wheat. It is a more efficient way of doing it. If there is a cost penalty behind it, it is another incentive to make it work better.
(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time and referred to a committee.)
Western Grain Transportation Act February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I think the reason for the demurrage and the storage charges for these rail cars is the fact that they were being used before as rolling warehouses with no charge attached.
With the demurrage and storage charges now it will make the shippers much more responsible to make sure they get those cars in, get them unloaded, get them back out on the track and heading back to-
Western Grain Transportation Act February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am very heartened to hear that the Reform Party across the floor is going to support us in the speedy passage of the amendments to the WGTA. It heartens me greatly.
The member has already said, which I agree with, that it does not make sense to transport grain to Thunder Bay and back to Winnipeg and down into the United States. We have to make sure we find the most effective way to ship it down at the best price. We want to make sure that the railway companies are honest about this. Also we want to make sure that Mexico does not look on WGTA the same way it looks on the export enhancement program. I think we are going to avoid it with the amendments.
Western Grain Transportation Act February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, they are making poultry jokes here.
In all my years as a farmer, and I grew up on a farm and have been actively farming since 1973, I know the hon. member across the floor who shares the same background in agriculture that I do knows that haste makes waste. If you are going to fix it, fix it right the first time because the second time it costs you a lot of money.
Basically what we are saying right now is that the railways, the shippers and the wheat board all have to become responsive to the changes we are making.
The challenge through you, Mr. Speaker-I do not want you to feel like the Maytag repairman-is that we have to look at how wheat is hauled down into the United States and the rate that is applied to it. Is it going to cost the same to move a car of potash into the United States as what it does to move a carload of wheat into the United States? We have to watch that.
Western Grain Transportation Act February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to take part in this debate on Bill C-66, an act to amend the Western Grain Transportation Act.
As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has already indicated, this bill covers short term amendments aimed at addressing inefficiencies that have been identified in our grain transportation and handling system.
Specifically, Bill C-66 would authorize the railways to implement demurrage, car storage charges, and despatch. It would also eliminate the WGTA subsidy on grain movement to Mexico and end the practice of routing U.S. bound grain to Thunder Bay and backhauling it to Fort Frances or Winnipeg before finally sending it into the United States.
Until now the railways' inability to levy demurrage charges or car storage charges has led to the use of rail cars for storage purposes, as was just stated by the member across the floor. It obviously reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of the grain car fleet. We do not know where our cars are. They are all over the place. They could be in the United States. They could be anywhere. We end up putting more cars into the system.
As a result, we need more cars to move our grain than what we should need. The backtracking practice has evolved because it is cheaper for a shipper to send U.S. bound grain to Thunder Bay in order to qualify for the WGTA subsidy and then backhaul it to Fort Frances or Winnipeg before it is moved at commercial rates to destinations in the United States than it would be to ship it directly at commercial rates.
Using Winnipeg as a reference point, this practice increases the length of grain haul by about 450 miles over CN lines and about 860 miles over CP tracks. This practice is clearly inefficient and results in longer car cycle times and less effective use of the grain car fleet. In the 1993-94 crop year, 1.1 million tonnes of grain were shipped to the U.S. via this scenic route.
Regarding the removal of the WGTA subsidy on wheat shipments to Mexico, we expect that the amendments in this bill will resolve the current countervailing duty investigation in Mexico and ensure our continued access to an important market for Canada.
It is important to note that these proposed changes are short term amendments only. They are not intended to replace comprehensive reform of the WGTA. I should also point out that they have received widespread industry support.
In fact, these changes were suggested by and have support in principle from the subcommittees of the House standing committees on transportation and agriculture and agri-food, as well as the May 16 group which includes representatives from grain companies, the railways, labour and management.
Both of those forums have suggested a number of initiatives to reduce inefficiencies, improve the capability of the grain transportation and handling system and facilitate the movement of grain to markets. Many of their suggestions have been implemented. However, some of the proposed changes require legislation, hence the bill we are debating here today.
The government would like to proceed with these short term amendments now in order to eliminate the subsidy on wheat to Mexico as soon as possible and to ensure that demurrage and backtracking issues are dealt with before the 1995-96 crop year which begins August 1, 1995.
As I indicated earlier, there was agreement in principle to eliminate these inefficient practices. After further consultations, a consensus emerged among the May 16 group that the WGTA amendments should take effect at the beginning of the crop year. The group favoured this timing because it would allow time for grain marketers and shippers to adjust sales and supply programs accordingly.
It is important to note that although August 1 has been selected as the implementation date for some of these changes, the amendments dealing with demurrage, storage charges and despatch as well as backtracking could be implemented earlier if the government is satisfied that there is sufficient agreement
between the railways and the shippers on the commercial details of the changes.
I would like to make it clear that this proposed legislation in no way lessens this government's commitment to making decisions on broader WGTA reform in the near future. The passage of this legislation will enable the government to continue with the consultations that are so vital to the development of the long term solutions for problems in our grain handling system. At the same time, it will address the immediate problems which members of government and industry representing the grain companies, the railways, labour and management have identified.
Members of the House, I ask for your support in the rapid passage of this legislation. The measures proposed by Bill C-66 will help make Canada's grain transportation more efficient and better able to meet the needs of our customers around the world.
Agriculture And Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I listened to the hon. member for Calgary Northeast as well, in particular when he started talking about subsections 14(1) and 14(2) and the credible people who would sit on the tribunal. I listened to the hon. member across the room say many times that he would like to see credible people on the parole board. I have to agree with him; I would like to see that too.
However, what could be more credible than a person on this tribunal with extensive agricultural background and legal background? Maybe the hon. member could tell me who would be more credible than that.