In Abitibi.
Lost his last election, in 2004, with 43% of the vote.
Supply November 6th, 1997
In Abitibi.
Committees Of The House November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
The committee has considered Bill C-8, the Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord Implementation Act, and reports it back to the House without amendment.
Contaminated Earth November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, PCB contaminated earth from Toronto is on its way to the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean area with the permission of Lucien Bouchard's PQ government but without the permission of the people there and the people of Quebec, who were not consulted.
Fifty thousand tonnes amounts to some 2,000 trucks a year or 10 trucks arriving every work day in Saint-Ambroise with a load of contaminated earth after passing through a number of towns and villages in Quebec. The danger facing the people of Saint-Ambroise is that tomorrow it could be 100,000 tonnes of earth and 4,000 trucks a year.
It is a former minister of the environment in Ottawa who is responsible for the shipment of contaminated earth from Toronto to the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean area without complying with the Quebec regulations on holding public hearings.
Commission De Toponymie Du Québec November 3rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, controversy still rages over the naming of 101 islands in the far north of Quebec. On the one side, the Cree and Inuit communities feel that they were not consulted before the names inspired by Quebec literature were chosen, and on the other the Commission de toponymie du Québec persists in stating that, in its opinion, this was “virgin and unnamed territory”.
Matthew Coon Come, Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, and Zebedee Nungak are deeply disappointed by the geographical names commission's giving the 101 islands a name and claiming not to have known that there was already an aboriginal name for these geographical features.
This is one more example of the separatist government's preference for its own partisan agenda over consultation with its fellow citizens in northern Quebec.
Dna Identification Act November 3rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the DNA Identification Act provides for the establishment of a national DNA data bank to be maintained by the RCMP.
The new act authorizes the courts to force those convicted of certain designated offences to provide biological samples for genetic analysis. The resulting genetic profiles will be stored in the convicted offenders index of the genetic data bank.
The data bank will include a crime index containing genetic information collected at the scene of solved and unsolved crimes, and a convicted offenders index containing the genetic identification profiles of adults and teenagers convicted of specific offences under the Criminal Code.
The approach will be twofold in the case of the convicted offenders index. Designated offences will be classified under two headings: primary offences and secondary offences. The list of primary designated offences will include serious violent offences including aggravated sexual assault, which are the types of offences for which DNA evidence can be most useful. Except under exceptional circumstances, at the time of sentencing for this type of offence, the court will order that samples of bodily substances be taken for the data bank.
The person found guilty of a secondary designated offence can be ordered by the court, at the request of the crown, to provide a sample for the data bank, if the court is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the administration of justice to do so.
How can the creation of a national DNA data bank help the police and the courts? Such a bank will help police forces to conduct their investigations and will assist the authorities in identifying and arresting more quickly individuals who commit serious offences, such as sexual offenders and violent repeat offenders.
This will help police identify and arrest repeat offenders by comparing DNA information found at the crime scene with the information in the convicted offenders index. This will also help authorities determine if a series of offences has been committed by a single person or by more than one person. It will help to establish links and to resolve cases involving several jurisdictions by giving investigators access to information which otherwise would not be available. It will also help guide investigations by eliminating suspects whose DNA profile does not match what was found at the crime scene. It will also dissuade offenders from committing other crimes by increasing their chances of being arrested.
There will, however, be restrictions on access to samples and to DNA data. Strict rules will apply to the taking of samples and to the use and storage of biological specimens and DNA profiles. The bill clearly states that all samples must be used only for DNA analysis and for forensic purposes. Access to the DNA profiles in the convicted offenders index and to the samples will be limited strictly to those directly involved in the normal maintenance of the DNA data bank. Only identifying information, such as a person's name, will be communicated to appropriate agencies, those implementing the legislation for the purpose of investigations and proceedings resulting from criminal charges. There are provisions for criminal penalties in order to prevent the misuse of samples of bodily substances or DNA profiles.
Many people, in news bulletins and in the newspapers in our region of Abitibi are asking us what DNA is. DNA stands for a molecule known as deoxyribonucleic acid—quite a mouthful—which is considered to be the basic unit of life, the body's genetic fingerprint. Humans, like animals and plants, are composed of billions of cells. Each cell has a nucleus containing 46 chromosomes divided into 23 pairs. The DNA molecule is inherited from the father and the mother and is present in these chromosomes. It is identical in all the cells of all parts of the body, except in the case of identical twins, where each has his or her own particular DNA molecule.
In the forensic context, the expression DNA analysis generally means various techniques of molecular biology that can be used for identification purposes in the direct analysis of specific sites on the DNA molecule.
DNA analysis requires very little genetic material and samples of bodily substances can be taken relatively discreetly.
DNA analysis is an excellent means of comparative identification. We are particularly familiar with its use in identifying the perpetrators of violent crimes by comparing biological samples taken from suspects with bodily substances left directly or indirectly at the scene of the crime by the person who committed it, or taken away from it by that person, for example blood or saliva.
Since its introduction into the legal system in Canada in 1988-89, DNA analysis has led to the conviction of hundreds of persons who have committed violent crimes, ranging from assault to homicide. As well, it has made it possible to prove the innocence of suspects and to exonerate and release individuals who were already convicted. Genetic fingerprint analysis for forensic purposes is practiced everywhere in the world. In recent years, the U.S., Great Britain, Norway and New Zealand have adopted legislative measures to create genetic data banks for forensic purposes.
What is the government's strategy with respect to DNA? Prior to July 1995, DNA evidence had been presented before Canadian courts for some time, but there was no specific legislative framework to govern recourse to such evidence. In order to clarify the situations in which genetic samples could be taken as part of a criminal investigation, legislative amendments were adopted in July 1995, with a view to allowing the police to obtain a warrant authorizing them to take biological samples before, during or after a suspect's arrest.
As part of Phase II of the government's DNA strategy, a consultation document, “Establishing a National DNA Data Bank” was published in January 1996. The groups consulted across Canada, the law enforcement community in particular, were strongly in favour of the creation of a national DNA bank. A “summary of consultations” was released on February 28, 1997.
In closing, I must say that this is a step forward and that we must move ahead in order to help our police officers to do their job.
Supply October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I would like to divide my time with the member for Wentworth—Burlington on today's opposition motion about impaired driving. It is true that this problem has caused, and will cause, much sadness in our families. This motion is very important for all Canadians.
According to the statistics, there were over 37,000 cases of impaired driving in Canada in 1995; over 60 resulted in death and over 500 resulted in injury. These are the sad facts.
In the case of Quebec, we know that the Société d'assurance automobile du Québec is going to crack down on motorists. As of December 1, it will be bringing in the toughest measures yet. It is known that fear of the police and of reprisals has the most calming effect on motorists. That is why even tougher measures will be introduced as of this date for those driving while impaired. Drivers who take the wheel while their licence is suspended are also being targeted by the Government of Quebec.
Obviously, everyone wants the slaughter to cease. The finger is always being pointed at young drivers and, effective July 1, 1997, young Quebec drivers with probationary licences cannot drink any alcohol and drive, or their licences will be revoked.
As of December 1, the highway safety code will carry much tougher penalties. Those arrested for the first time for impaired driving will have their licence taken away immediately by the police, and revoked for one year. Repeat offenders will be given longer suspensions, from 24 to 36 months, and their vehicle will be confiscated when they are arrested. They will also be required to go for addiction treatment.
First time offenders will be required to attend the Alcofrein program. Previously, only those ordered to do so by a judge had to attend a three hour information session offered by the Department of Public Safety at minimal cost. The facilitators for Alcofrein make errant drivers aware of their actions and focus their efforts on destroying the myths surrounding alcohol:
I have recently become aware of an article by Isabelle Mathieu that appeared in Le Soleil on September 13, 1997. The headline says “Wake up before disaster strikes” and I would like to read a few excerpts:
Imagine just for one second that your last, slightly alcohol-tinged evening with the love of your life ended up in a ditch, with her dead. For the past two years, that is the horrible scene that plays out in the head of Francis Laroche.
This young man from Beauport, now aged 22, has not forgotten the tragedy, let alone accepted it. He has, nevertheless, agreed to talk about it for the shock value to all drivers who are still continuing to tempt fate.
On October 2, 1995, at 3:15 in the morning, Francis, his 18-year-old girlfriend and three other friends were coming back from partying at a bar in Sainte-Foy. Francis was driving, he had consumed three beers over the course of the evening and felt that he was in full possession of his faculties.
“Before we started out, I said to my girlfriend “Look, I'll blow into the breathalyser and if I'm over 0.08, I'll hand my keys over to you, no problem” recalls Francis. But the bar's breathalyser was out of order that night.
While the five friends were on the Autoroute de la Capitale near Pierre-Bertrand Boulevard, the vehicle in front of them changed lanes abruptly. Francis lost control—
Francis' girlfriend of a year was killed and his three friends were injured. He ended up with a cut on his head, and when he took the police breathalyser test, his level was 0.1130 over the 0.08 limit.
He did not, however, experience any difficulty whatsoever in performing the physical tests such as walking a straight line. Later, the Crown could not, therefore, prove that the accident was directly linked to drinking. In May 1996, Francis Laroche pleaded guilty to the charge of impaired driving. He got off with a $500 fine and a year's suspension. His description of this: “The fine and the rest of it are really secondary compared to the much worse punishment of causing the death of my girlfriend”.
There are stories like this every day.
The legal proceedings weighed very heavily on the young man, whose record had been clean before the accident. “When I was in the cell at the courthouse, I did not believe it. I could not believe I was there”, he recalls. “When I walked in the street, people looked at me. I felt everybody knew. I felt judged, even by someone who had been drinking and driving for 20 years”.
Can this be prevented? Since the beginning of June, alcohol has robbed over a dozen people of their lives on Quebec highways. In 1996, 412 people were killed, while 1,656 were seriously wounded and 6,250 received minor injuries. The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec has paid out $200 million in compensation.
“Delinquent drivers are a minority, but they do so much damage that we hear only about them”, points out Yvon Lapointe, head of the road safety department of CAA-Québec—
Statistics indicate that the number of young people driving while impaired is decreasing more rapidly than is the case for adults. Conclusion: prevention is really working with young people—
In imposing zero tolerance for impaired driving, the government is betting that, after three years of total abstinence when driving as part of the sentence, young drivers will have learned how to control their own consumption—
There is frequent reference to young people. And in the Quebec government's bill:
—young people are presented as irresponsible, incapable of learning caution. The message must be repeated loud and clear: it is only a small minority of young people who drive dangerously and risk causing accidents. In their case, something drastic must be done, I agree. But not in the case of the 97.4 per cent of young drivers who have not been involved in injury-causing accidents, whose only crime is being born after 1972.
We all have a driver's licence. The renewal form asks clearly: “Do you wear glasses?” It also asks if we suffer from any illnesses. But I want to go further. This motion introduced by the Reform Party member is important.
Perhaps there would be agreement on 0.03, 0.05, but I still say the Government of Canada should require zero tolerance for several years after a second offence, as is the case for young people in Quebec.
Drivers of snowmobiles, tractors, motorcycles and boats should not be left out. The police should also be allowed to do their job. When examining the driver's licence of someone they have stopped, they could see the code on it, as they now do for glasses. There would be a code for those with zero tolerance. This would perhaps be a way to reduce the number of accidents.
We will not go that far. In September, and there are accidents every week, in the municipality of Val d'Or in my riding, we lost a young leader, a man by the name of Jean Godbout, who was knocked down by someone over the age of 40 driving in the downtown area. This was a married man with two young children. His mother had already lost one son in the Balmoral mine accident in Abitibi.
This brings sorrow to all families. I understand, and we all understand, that you have just lost the people on whom you counted the most, those close to you. The hardest part about these accidents is saying goodbye to a friend. On behalf of all families, I say that there must be an end to this slaughter in Canada.
Following discussions, and with the consent of all parties in the House, I move:
That the motion be amended:
(a) by deleting the words “a legislative committee” and substituting therefor the words: “the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights”; and
(b) by changing the period at the end to a semi-colon and adding the following: “and that the said Committee, when so instructed, submit its report to the House no later than May 15, 1998.”
This amendment is a clear indication of the commitment of all members in the House.
Jacques Villeneuve October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, Jacques Villeneuve, who comes from Quebec, won the 48th edition of the world championship, becoming the 26th driver in history to do so.
The Prime Minister of Canada did not miss the opportunity to congratulate the 26-year-old driver, who has set an example for all Canadians. We are proud of him and know that this victory is the result of the hard work and determination of a driver and his entire team.
On behalf of all my colleagues, I congratulate Jacques on this great victory, which will propel him on to other feats, of which we will all be equally proud.
Réal Caouette October 23rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, those who knew Réal Caouette remember his famous phrase: “Write me in Ottawa. No need for a stamp, it will get to me”. Now he has his own stamp.
We are paying tribute not just to a politician, but to a friend. Mrs. Suzanne Curé-Caouette said that her husband would have been very pleased and honoured to know that Canada was recognizing what he had done for the country. She said that “throughout his career, he tried to bring people together and to make politics understandable”.
Réal Caouette was born in Amos in 1917. He became a national political force when he took up the leadership of the Quebec Social Credit movement in 1939 and was elected to the House of Commons in 1946. Everyone will remember his television broadcasts in which he sometimes used a blackboard to get his point across.
Thank you, Réal, and thank you, Suzanne.
Supply October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, in reply to the Bloc Quebecois member, the member for Témiscamingue, when I said the provinces could use the money as they saw fit, I was referring to an article by Claude Piché in La Presse on Saturday, October 4. It is well written, and I would like to quote from it. “The calculation of equalization is a complex matter. It is based on the fiscal capacity of each province. The idea is to ensure that all Canadians, from rich and poor provinces alike—that is what I am explaining—have access to public services of essentially equal quality. Equalization payments are therefore unconditional, that is the provinces may use them as they see fit. Equalization has not always been affected by cuts in federal transfer payments”.
One thing the member opposite has not spoken about today is job creation. He never mentions it. His riding of Témiscamingue benefits from what the federal government provides. It benefits from money from all Canadians in the CDIC and many companies—there are 40 companies in his sector—create jobs. I do not have a lot left, but this pamphlet from—
Supply October 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, these are my personal notes. He is trying to say they are props. You can start in with the same old refrain, dear colleagues. Go ahead, there is more fun ahead.
The government plays a large and critical role in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Why? Because our economy in Abitibi-Témiscamingue is always up and down like a yo-yo, depending on market prices, on the price of metals, gold, copper, or the price of softwood lumber and particle board. With people from our area and from the Province of Quebec, and the government in power, we decided that there should be a regional and local development fund, that is the public and parapublic sector, in which the Government of Canada is involved, and in which the Government of Quebec is also involved.
If we supply human resources in our region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, almost 53% of the funds are provided through partnerships.
Why those funds? Where do they come from? I will tell you. They come either from Desjardins investments, or from the FTQ. I hear the member for Témiscamingue talking about a donation, when he means a loan, and saying that a loan is a donation, that it is the same thing. I never understood the story. It is true that the donation was $1.7 million to the Bloc Quebecois before the 1993 campaign, but they never noticed that the donation was not like the one borrowers are given in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, that is, the interest was thrown in. If the interest on loans is 6%, what they got at 2% is a donation. In any event, we will come back to this.
In conclusion, our people, whether we are talking about the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, or through the Federal Office of Regional Development for Quebec and the CDIC, are partners contributing to the creation of jobs in order to lower unemployment.