Ted McWhinney

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I have a question for either the hon. member for Beaver River or the hon. member for Calgary West.

Accept for argument's sake that in juridical terms what we are dealing with is not a constitutional right, because unlike the United States constitution the Canadian Constitution has no contract clause. We are dealing with a constitutional privilege.

Is it the thrust and intent of the motion not merely to cover presently operating privileges as to pensions but those that might be said to be in a private law sense to have already vested, that is to say, contracts already entered into? The argument as presented would seem to suggest that this should apply both retrospectively and prospectively in the full sense. I wonder if that is in fact the intent and purpose of the amendment.

[Senior Citizens, November 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, among Canada's senior citizens there is a strong desire to remain autonomous and stay in their homes as long as possible.

Home adaptations and safer consumer products can play an important role. Increasing the level of awareness among health, housing and support service professionals and seniors themselves about home adaptation resources and opportunities, as well as information about safety in the home can help seniors maintain their independence and remain in their homes with greater comfort and security.

Health Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists all support the Canada Safety Council's 1994 National Seniors Safety Week campaign, November 12 to 18. Together we can work to meet the safety and housing needs of this important segment of our Canadian population.

[Petitions, November 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting a petition signed by 1,279 Canadians of Greek ancestry who reside in the greater Vancouver region. They congratulate the Canadian government for its principled stand under international law of continuing full respect to the integrity of Greek territorial frontiers, including Macedonia, as established under the treaties ending the two Balkan wars and under the World War I peace treaties.

[Psoriasis Awareness Month, October 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, October has been proclaimed Psoriasis Awareness Month.

One to three per cent of the Canadian population suffer from this chronic and recurrent skin disorder. Although not contagious, the impact can be disruptive physically emotionally, socially and economically. Health care costs are enormous. In addition, sufferers pay out thousands of dollars for over the counter and prescription drugs.

During this month chapters of the Canadian Psoriasis Foundation are hosting public information activities across the country explaining the disease, its treatment and recent advances. We commend the many volunteers of the Canadian foundation for their diligent attention and for their caring help to fellow Canadians.

[Law Of The Sea Convention, October 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and concerns the Canadian government's initiatives over the last year for modernizing the law of the sea and for fisheries conservation.

Will the minister assure the House of continuing Canadian support for the establishment of the new international tribunal on the law of the sea authorized under the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention?

[The Environment, September 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister of the Environment.

As reported in the media, 40 fuel pipeline containers of DDT have been found at the former U.S. army pumping station in Rainy Hollow in the province of British Columbia.

Could the Minister of the Environment tell the House the present status of the cleanup of the site?

[Mrs. Lisette Barsallo-Ward, September 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, one week after she had been held by airport security officials under Peru's special emergency decrees, Mrs. Lisette Barsallo-Ward, a well respected Vancouver teacher, was able to return safely to her family in Canada. Her speedy release represented a classical exercise in quiet diplomacy by our foreign ministry in Ottawa and our diplomats in Lima in the best tradition of the Canadian foreign service.

We extend our congratulations to all of them.

[Petitions, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition with 179 signatories from Vancouver Quadra, my constituency, and from Vancouver generally, including many senior citizens.

The petition asks that the House refuse the repeal or amendment of section 241 of the Criminal Code and expresses at the same time approval of the Supreme Court decision of September 30, 1993 refusing assisted suicide or euthanasia.

[Bosnia, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the joint declaration by the religious leaders of different faiths, Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch, Pavle, Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch, Alexei, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia, Cardinal Kuharic, calling for an immediate peace in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

This ecumenical initiative could fill the tragic vacuum in political leadership and at last end the bloodshed in the region.

[Fisheries, June 10th, 1994]

This has the support of virtually every sector of the B.C. fishing industry. The minister stated that this was but the first step toward resolving the issue.

Could he tell the House what additional measures he has in mind to bring the Americans back to the negotiating table and to resolve the issue without further destruction of this precious Canadian natural resource?