Gary Pillitteri

[Crispin Bottomley, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Crispin Bottomley, a young constituent of Niagara Falls, was one of the students of my riding who attended the Forum for Young Canadians last June.

Later he was honoured by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce as Young Citizen for the Year 1998.

Crispin has now been chosen as one of the Canadian representatives at the Presidential Classroom: World Future Leaders Summit to be held in Washington in March. The summit brings outstanding leaders from around the world to Washington to study international relations and to debate important issues facing our planet. This gives brilliant young people like Crispin the opportunity to expand their Forum for Young Canadians experience on an international level.

Crispin feels very honoured to be representing Canada and the Niagara area. Today I would like to salute him and recognize his achievements and wish him Godspeed.

Young people like Crispin Bottomley are the hope and future for Canada.

[Privilege, December 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, no I was not aware of what was said yesterday, but if it is concerning an article which was in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday I could make a comment.

Reading part of the article, I made the remark that I cannot tie the hands of business. As a representative of the consumers I cannot tie the hands of the banks. This does not clearly state that I leaked any parts of the report of the finance committee. There is no way that I leaked any report.

The article also says that there will be a minority report coming from the Conservatives and the NDP.

I did speak to the reporter, but I did not divulge any parts of the report.

[Financial Institutions, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as one of the 54 MPs and senators who signed the recent report of the national Liberal caucus task force, “A Balance of Interests”, I find it appalling now to be the focus of intimidating correspondence sent by people in managerial positions within the banks.

They allege that by my doing so, as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance, I am now in a conflict of interest and should resign.

I do not want to justify my actions in any way. I would, however, say that I, like my colleagues, signed the report because, in our view, it reflected quite accurately the views of men and women, ordinary Canadians, the main shareholders of the banks and of Canada.

That does not mean in any way that we are not open to other suggestions or will not listen to other arguments that will be made in the best interests of all Canadians.

[Hamed Saloojewe, November 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today I am bringing to this House's attention the good work carried out by the general manager of the Niagara Citizens Advisory Committee, a non-profit organization that runs programs for ex-offenders and youths at risks.

Hamed Saloojewe came to Canada with his family 22 years ago from his native South Africa where as a boy of 10 he started to work against apartheid in the offices of Nelson Mandela. Hamed believes that by living in a segregated society he learned to appreciate Canada's freedom more than the average citizen.

Today Hamed is continuing his work within our community with actual results. Individuals are being reinstated as productive members of our society. Youths that may otherwise not have had a chance are steered in the right direction.

The work carried out by Hamed shows us that by working within our communities, we can prevent crime and render our streets and homes safe while providing new beginnings for people who need it.

[Petitions, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today under Standing Order 36 to present a certified petition that was handed to me at the 53rd Serbian Day held in my riding of Niagara Falls.

The petitioners, a large number from Niagara Falls, are calling upon this House to consider very carefully the situation that is developing presently in Kosovo.

[Canpass, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday my riding of Niagara Falls saw the launching of CANPASS, the whirlpool bridge dedicated commuter crossing.

The new smart border, on which Revenue Canada has been working for some time, will benefit the residents of Canada, all the travellers using the Niagara border crossings and Niagara Falls as a whole.

The CANPASS program expedites the clearance of preapproved low risk travellers into Canada and has been made possible by a fruitful partnership between the federal government and the public sector.

I thank the local customs officers who have played such a major role in the development of the operating procedure specific to the CANPASS whirpool initiative. Canada Customs has a long history of providing an effective and professional customs service, another example of how the Liberal government is helping to ensure that Canada has safe streets and safe communities.

[Lucien Bouchard, May 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my first impulse in commenting on Premier Bouchard's one person attempt to manipulate history was to shrug and say “What is new?”

On more thought, however, I realized what a horrible insult he had made to Quebeckers.

The rest of Canada may dismiss it as one more of the premier's childish tantrums, but when one recalls the blood and sacrifice of thousands of Quebeckers in World War II one sees how his actions approach sacrilege.

How can he dismiss the record of the Vandoos, the Maisonneuve, the Black Watch and others and their fallen comrades who left their blood, their dreams, their youth on the soil of Europe so that people like Premier Bouchard would have freedom of speech?

How can he forget General and Mrs. Vanier, one of Quebec's, and indeed Canada's, most famous families and their record of service to Canada?

Mr. Bouchard should hang down his head in shame.

[The Economy, May 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Canada in general, Ontario in particular, and my own constituency of Niagara Falls are experiencing good economic times.

What I find fascinating, if not bizarre, is that the Ontario premier is trying to claim credit for most of the good news. I am quite sure he is fooling no one.

The Standing Committee on Finance, of which I am a proud member, set things in motion with recommendations it gathered from across Canada. This, combined with the determination of the finance minister in holding inflation down, keeping interest rates low and balancing the budget for the first time in years, is the real reason for our recovery. All of this was accomplished in a caring way. There was no slashing or burning.

Ontario is a great place in which to live and do business, not because of Mike Harris but in spite of him.

[Niagara River, April 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, recently the Niagara River remedial action plan received a sizeable grant under Environment Canada action 21. The grant will serve in the restoration of the Baden Powell park to its natural state as a carolinian forest and enhance the quality of our environment.

In itself this is wonderful news. However, it is important to note that more than 20 community organizations including the city, Niagara College, our park commission and many environmental and naturalist groups were instrumental in the realization of this project.

The Boy Scouts were the largest volunteer group and to date they have contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours, a wonderful example of how communities working together are an inspiration to all.

Our youth with their enthusiasm and hard work are showing that we can make a difference and be part of the solution toward healthier communities and a better environment.

[Literacy, February 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today is literacy action day. This gives us all a chance to discover the importance of literacy issues in our communities.

I would like to ask the minister responsible how serious the problem of illiteracy is across Canada and what steps are being taken to overcome this serious problem.