Karen Kraft Sloan

[Petitions, March 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from my constituents. They request that Parliament consider their plea to enact such amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada or such other legislation as necessary to permit local municipal councils to define their own community standards and thereby to permit municipal councils to pass bylaws to prohibit the establishment of adult entertainment parlours within their municipalities.

[Members Of Parliament Pensions, February 7th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I urge the government to move on its promise of MP pension reform.

The Minister of Finance will deliver a tough budget at the end of this month. Canadians understand the difficult financial challenges facing our country.

Canadians want a budget that is fair and equitable, that ensures that those who do not pay their fair share do so and the things Canadians value the post are protected, our health, our children and our natural environment.

However, to be fair and equitable we must put our own House in order first. I campaigned on pension reform. I urge the government to act now.

[Petitions, December 12th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I have petitions from constituents who express concern regarding the inclusion of sexual orientation as a grounds of discrimination within the Canadian Human Rights Code.

I would like to clearly state for the record that I do not share their point of view but feel that I must present their petition to fulfil my obligation as a member of Parliament.

I have another petition which requests that Parliament amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

I would like to clearly and unequivocally state for the record that I strongly support this petition. The fundamental principle underlying the petition is to ensure that people are treated equally in Canada regardless of their sexual orientation. We should not tolerate discrimination in any form in Canadian society.

[Greening Of The Hill, December 12th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this House to pay tribute to the Greening of the Hill office. Its extraordinary efforts have been recognized with the Canadian Environmental Achievement Award.

The Greening of the Hill office has proved that environmental initiatives can have economic benefits. The Greening of the Hill office has saved the Canadian taxpayer over $1 million. If we expect business and industry to move toward sustainability then

the Government of Canada must show leadership and put its federal House in order.

Once again, I applaud the efforts of the Greening of the Hill office and encourage it to continue its exceptional work.

[Environment, December 7th, 1994]

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

A Russian pipeline oil spill into the Arctic river system is rapidly becoming a major international ecological disaster. The region of the spill has no fish population to speak of and the deer population has declined by 30 to 50 per cent.

What is the government doing to protect the Arctic from the devastating results of the oil spill?

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very clear that in Sally's letter she has outlined a number of situations of institutional abuse.

It is very difficult when women are placed in this situation and they go to those people they feel should be protecting them, for example the police, and their charges are dismissed. They are told they are troublemakers. Part of the problem with this has to do with overall societal attitude.

The Minister of Justice is very sensitive to these issues. I have heard members opposite say that we should be concerned about violence against all people. I totally agree with that but somehow violence against women is a special category and they are being made a special interest group.

We have to understand that until we address the issue of violence against women as a particular kind of violence and the kinds of intimidation it creates for an entire group within this society, namely women, we will never be able to address the problems of institutional abuse. No matter how good our laws are unless the attitudes, the understanding and the sensitivities that are related to this very complex and devastating issue are understood these matters will not be addressed.

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a letter from a woman in my riding by the name of Sally. Sally has given me permission to make her letter public. Sally's letter speaks to the impact of violence on women and the resulting poverty they face. The letter was prepared for our Campaign 2000 meeting. Campaign 2000 is an umbrella organization comprised of many drawn together to fight child poverty.

"My name is Sally and I am the independent parent of two little girls. I am also a financially challenged recipient of family benefits. While I am grateful for the assistance I receive, I will say that I have become discouraged by the system's lack of insight and insensitivity to the roadblocks faced by myself and others on the road to financial independence.

"When I first became aware of Campaign 2000, the word poverty was a difficult one to envision in relation to my situation. Visions of starving children in third world countries leapt to mind. However, over time it has become increasingly difficult for me to meet my children's needs and systems and bureaucrats turn deaf ears in a country such as Canada. I have come to the brutal realization that I do indeed fall far below the poverty line.

"In making the decision to leave an extremely abusive situation and needing to enter a woman's shelter, my life and that of my children changed abruptly two years ago, now reduced to relying on a system where $1,028 per month is to cover living expenses being accommodation, phone and utilities. Clothing and feeding myself and my two daughters becomes a hard lesson in the realities of life for far too many children in Canada. Food bank? I can only go once a month if I

can get transportation. So, why not get a job? I have tried, but unfortunately I live in a rural area where one opening at a local store gets over 300 applications. Tough competition for a stay at home mom out of the workforce for seven years.

"Add in the problems of transportation and day care of an affordable nature and the picture becomes bleaker. So why not get some upgrading? Better your education. Again the obstacles of transportation, day care and waiting lists loom large.

"Support? For two years now I have struggled with a system of lawyers, legal aid and the family support person in trying to get some financial relief for my daughters. After this period I have succeeded in having $22,000 in legal aid liens placed against my home and an agreement from my husband to pay $100 a month support, that is $50 per child. Since this agreement in June of this year has been in effect and in spite of the fact that he makes $50,000 per year, I have not received any support from him.

"This person is also on probation for uttering death threats. Two provisions of his probation are (1) he must maintain his dependents. He has failed to do this. I have spoken with lawyers and his probation officer to try and enlist their help but my words fall on deaf ears.

"A second provision of his probation order is that he must seek and maintain employment. I'm now told he was laid off when he requested help from his probation officer in getting some relief. Despite that fact he still is seen at his work daily and despite that if he is in fact unemployed, that is the second breach of his probation. Still nothing is done.

"A third provision of his probation is that he remain 300 metres away from myself and my residence. He repeatedly breaks this provision. I have been again to his probation officer. I have been to her supervisor. I was told by a police officer that I was fabricating lies and thrown out of the police station by this officer. The police have been to my home repeatedly. One of the officer's comment was that until someone shows up with a bullet hole there's nothing that we can do.

"If you are wondering what the third provision has to do with poverty and the plight of my children, I'll tell you. The financial strain of repairing busted doors, windows, plumbing that's been drilled and cut, slashed tires, having a crowbar taken to the side of my vehicle and numerous other acts of vandalism begins to take its toll.

"The police have recommended doorbolts and deadlocks, expensive outdoor sensor lights. Well, for that you need money and hydro. A year ago in April after being unable to meet a payment deadline, the hydro to my home had been disconnected. It still remains so. Hydro tax-rolled my bill after running an original $800 bill up to over $1,700 with service charges and late payment charges. They also charged me for having their line and a hot water heater even though they cut their service off. They still come every three months to read a meter I no longer have and then service charge me.

"It was also explained to me that if I ever wanted Ontario Hydro back, I would pay for the lines to be reconnected plus they would require a $1,600 deposit. I would have phoned their head office, but in July of that same year Bell disconnected my phone for a $50 bill, despite the fact that they had required a $200 deposit from me, despite the fact that at that time I was in a women's shelter while the trial was going on against my husband. While he was out on bail he left his probation officer's office and came to my home to once again threaten my children and myself.

"In June of this year I received a call from the bank. Due to my husband's refusal to sign the mortgage renewal despite the court order that allowed me to reside in my home and add the fact that I'm on family benefits, I was told I had 30 days to vacate, despite the fact that I have faithfully paid the mortgage, taxes and now the hydro arrears. Another lawyer, another bill. I have one year to get this straightened out. Time is running out.

"I rely on your imagination and empathy to realize what effect all this has had on my two little girls. I say those magic words social assistance and watch human decency and respect fly out the window. Buy a car? Home improvement loan? Start a business? I can hear the bank manager's laughter still ringing in my ears. I almost gave up there and then.

"But I am here tonight because I owe it to my children to keep trying and hopefully one day someone will listen and changes will be made so my two daughters and all the other children in this nation of plenty will have a bright future.

"Thank you for listening".

It is my understanding that Sally is now in hiding away from her abusive and very violent husband. I hope that somehow someone will be able to get these words to her so she will know that her story has been told on the floor of the House of Commons.

[Child Poverty, November 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Campaign 2000 released disturbing statistics today. The number of poor children in Canada has increased to almost 1.3 million, an increase of 35 per cent since 1989. Campaign 2000 is a partnership of 51 organizations across Canada dedicated to promoting support for the all-party House of Commons resolution to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000.

Campaign 2000 reports that Canadian children today are more likely to be poor, to be dependent on social assistance, to use a food bank and to live in families where parents are unemployed.

As a society we must no longer tolerate this horrible plight faced by many Canadian children. As members of Parliament we must tackle the problem of child poverty.

I urge the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Human Resources Development to allocate more resources toward improving the dismal situation of child poverty. We must not sacrifice future generations in our attempts to reduce the debts of current generations.

[Deficit Bonds, November 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to put forward a proposal to help the Minister of Finance combat the deficit. This idea evolved from a town hall meeting at the Green Briar Senior Citizen Community Centre in Alliston.

These constituents suggested the issuance of a deficit bond which would enable the government to buy back foreign owned debt. This would be similar to the war bond concept used during World War II.

These senior citizens expressed their concern for the deficit and the impact it will have on future generations. They have also expressed their willingness to help the government in deficit reduction.

I urge the Minister of Finance to seriously consider this constructive suggestion as a means to curtail the deficit.

[Credentials, November 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great regret that I follow the member for St. Boniface. I would have preferred to speak before him. He has certainly given a very passionate and powerful articulation of support for my colleague for Winnipeg North.

In my own modest way I would also like to stand and give my own support to this member's motion. I have two personal situations I would like to put before the House with regard to this particular issue.

I worked previously in the field of employment equity with the Ontario universities before coming to the House as a parliamentarian. I would like to congratulate the member on this motion because he addresses something of real concern to the academic communities in this country. By addressing these concerns we will realize more equitable employment practices in our universities.

Often foreign credentials are rejected not on the basis of real difference in academic standards but have more to do with the perceptions that are based on stereotypes and lack of information.

The member for Winnipeg North has truly recognized an opportunity to provide all Canadians, those who have been here for a long time or those who are new to this country, the ability to fully contribute all of their skills to Canadian society.

The member has also identified another serious problem which is portability within this country. I draw an example from my own family to the attention of the House. My sister was a dental hygienist in Ontario. She moved to Alberta and had to go through a recertification and testing process. If the member opposite were concerned about bureaucracy and all of this I would suggest this is a real case of bureaucracy and wasted resources for my sister to have to go through this. As well, there was a considerable level of stress.

I would also like to point out, as my hon. colleague on this side of the House has already done, there were a number of things ignored by the member opposite in terms of some of his remarks. A lot of professions and trades have standard practices and there are no problems with portability across this country for accreditation.

With new Canadians coming to this country, particularly in the medical profession, he said they have to pass stringent medical tests. I agree with him. We want to ensure that we have capable and skilled individuals practising medicine in this country. However, in many cases newcomers to this country are denied the opportunity to even take these exams.

If the member opposite has read any newspapers in recent months he would realize that the federal and provincial governments are moving to harmonization on many different fronts. This is just one example of how we can work together co-operatively in this country.

I mentioned bureaucracy. Let us talk about 11 kinds of bureaucracy in this country. We have to challenge those kinds of overlap and duplication.

The costs. There is a cost to our society and to human talent in that they have to continually go through these things if they choose to move to another province.

We had an idea in the red book which I hope this government will continue to act on called the national apprenticeship program. This was lauded by industry and a number of people in my riding. I campaigned on this. If we take a look at a country like Germany, one of the reasons it is so strong industrially is because it has a very strong national apprenticeship program.

The process this government had proposed was to have these standards co-developed by industry, government and the educational sector. Again I would like to say that I fully support this member's motion. I thank him for bringing this very important issue to the attention of the House.