House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 41% of the vote.
The Budget February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I am on the defence committee. I am the senior member of that committee. I have been on it since 1990 and if there is anything I can do to make sure we have a fleet of search and rescue helicopters and a fleet of shipborne helicopters, it is something I have been fighting for since I went on the committee and will continue to do so as long as I am part of this government.
The Budget February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I suppose what someone saying this budget would help get someone elected is something everyone has to live with. The party in my province is a different stripe from mine and I am certain it is hoping this will help it get elected. That is what politics is all about.
The great thing about this is that it shows that all the premiers, the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister of Canada and the finance ministers of the provinces got together and made this thing work and they are all very happy with it.
As far as the auditor general's comments on the way the government keeps the books, I suppose there is a difference of opinion between the auditor general, the people in the Department of Finance and people in other departments. That will go on forever. It always has and always will.
The Budget February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I am sharing my time with the member for Waterloo—Wellington.
This is a very intense debate and I am very honoured to enter into it and to offer my congratulations to the government on what I consider to be another tremendous budget.
This budget offers all Canadians a high standard of living and again makes Canada a better place in which to live.
Our obligations as members of Canada's parliament are to ensure that Canadians receive what they put into their country and to ensure that we give Canadians the support they need to build a strong and prosperous nation.
Our strategy of building a stronger and more prosperous Canada takes action on three fronts, maintaining sound economic and financial management, investing in key economic and social priorities, and providing tax relief and improving tax fairness.
These fronts mesh together to improve Canada's standard of living and quality of life. I would like to take a look at each of these three fronts to see how they affect Canada as a nation but Prince Edward Island also.
If one looks at the present fiscal situation it is apparent that we as Canadians are living in a very unique time, a time in which economic and financial management of the nation is once again a possibility, a time in which the light at the end of the tunnel is a reality.
The 1998-99 fiscal year is the second consecutive year in which the budget has been deficit free. The last time this occurred was almost half a century ago. Program spending as a share of GDP will decline from 12.6% to 12% in 2000-01. This also is the lowest in almost 50 years.
The federal government will post a financial surplus for the third consecutive year, the only G-7 country to do so.
The financial position of the territories and the provinces has also improved. The maintenance of a sound economy is something to be very proud of, something this Liberal government has done in a timely and efficient manner, in a manner of effective and responsible government.
This government has not forgotten the fundamental principle that has guided Canada through the 20th century, the fundamental principle of fairness and social responsibility. This is a government that recognizes the importance of health care, a government that recognizes the burdens that taxes place on us, a government that recognizes the importance of investing in knowledge and innovation so that we are fortified as we enter the new millennium.
This budget is proof that our government has recognized the importance of knowledge and the development of a dynamic business sector and workforce. An innovative and dynamic business sector and workforce are essential for success in today's knowledge based economy and we have recognized this through increased support to the Canadian opportunities strategy. This strategy supports employment through creation, dissemination and commercialization of Canadian knowledge.
Economic and social priorities seem to concentrate on one entity, employment. Creating permanent and prosperous jobs for Canadians is a key economic and social priority and this is no surprise. Without a strong economy we do not have a strong society and vice versa. We must invest in both sides of this relationship. That is what our government has done. We have given our economy a boost as well as giving Canadians a boost.
It does little good for us to educate Canadians, give them the life investments they need and not supply them with the proper innovative environments to put these skills to work. To stimulate the creation of jobs in our workforce through the careless allocation of money is not a solution. What good government must do is create an environment where innovation and the promotion of knowledge can flourish. Investments in knowledge and innovation are key to improving our productivity performance and increasing our standard of living.
This in turn creates a highly trained workforce that can stand the test of the new millennium. This is what our government is doing when it builds on the existing Canadian opportunities strategy.
Our government is taking measures to create knowledge, creating knowledge through increased funding for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for advanced research in graduate studies.
We have also made money available to the National Research Council to invest in leading edge equipment. This money will be available this year and for the next three years. Without cutting edge equipment, our national research will suffer and in turn affect employment. Jobs depend on research.
Not only must we take measures to create knowledge but we must also disseminate this knowledge so Canadians can use it. The Internet and its ability to transfer information to vast numbers makes it a natural choice for keeping Canadians abreast of up to the minute information.
This government plans to make information and knowledge infrastructure accessible to all Canadians by the year 2000. This will make Canada the most connected country in the world.
This budget will make for the investment of $60 million over three years to establish a smart community demonstration project in each province and territory. These projects use information and communication technology to support economic development and enrich community life. Several aspects of society will be fortified with speedy information channels for sharing and mass dissemination of valuable knowledge.
These initiatives support innovation by creating a network where industry can reach out to potential partners, where small business can network with large business and where students can learn more about business innovation in Canada.
Not only must we help stimulate ideas and innovation, we must also connect ideas with our markets. Innovation is the driving force behind increased productivity and improved standards of living. It is the commercialization of innovation and knowledge that results in the creation of new products, new markets and new processes that will lead to economic growth and the generation of job opportunities.
This budget supports the commercialization of knowledge and innovation. Our government designates money for the investment in partnerships with the private sector to help firms commercialize new technology. That is where research and investment comes to the main street of Canada, where our commitment to the creation of economic stability through innovation meets the average Canadian. This is where investment in knowledge bears its fruit.
This budget also supports the development of innovative projects that support alternate energy development. For example, in my home province of Prince Edward Island our government is continuing to provide funding for the Atlantic wind test site. This site contributes to the development of wind energy technology and illustrates this government's commitment to the diversification of the Atlantic economy.
Now to deal with health care. This is very important to Canadians and to this government. There is $11.5 billion specifically for health care over the next five years. This is a lot of money. As a matter of fact, it is the largest single new investment this government has made.
For my province of Prince Edward Island this government has committed an estimated $51 million over the next five years, an average of over $10 million a year. This amount is substantial. It will clearly have positive effects for the people of my riding and the people of my province.
This government is also investing in health information systems and health research. Information systems improvements will enable Canadians to make more informed choices about their own health, improve decision making by those in health care roles and allow for the public to hold these people more accountable. It is a win-win situation. Here is how we are doing it.
Through the Canadian health network, our government is improving health information channels by giving millions to increase public access to health information. The government is giving $95 million to the Canadian Institute for Health Information to strengthen its capacity to report on the health of Canadians and the functioning of the Canadian health care system.
The Department of Health will be given major financial support so that it may report on the performance of federal health programs in a more effective manner.
Not only are we giving considerable support to health care information systems but we have also strengthened our health related research. Over the remainder of the fiscal year and over the next three years our government will commit a half billion dollars to health related research. This is a considerable amount and I think it will clearly have a visible effect on the type of health care this country experiences in the next century.
Health care research and innovation is traditionally focused on the scientific aspect of health care. This budget provides $25 million to develop solutions to challenges facing nursing in the next decade. It is thoughtful of our government to look at the problems associated with the profession of nursing. This profession is facing some serious challenges in the next decade and this government had the foresight to fund research to prevent a potential health catastrophe, a lack of nurses.
This is where our government differs from past governments. We care about all these things and we are doing something about it. Clearly this budget is providing substantial gains for Canadians, health care, job creation through our knowledge investment and tax relief for all Canadians.
It does not get much better than this. The people of Prince Edward Island and all Canadians can celebrate this Liberal government's budget, a budget for all Canadians.
Interparliamentary Delegations December 8th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the 6th report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association which represented Canada at the 44th annual session of the North Atlantic Assembly, NATO parliamentarians, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, November 9 to 13, 1998.
Central America November 20th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in light of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by hurricane Mitch, could the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence tell the House what the contribution of the Canadian forces has been in bringing relief to the populations of Central America?
Fertilizer Industry November 19th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, one of the many Canadian industries has often overlooked is our fertilizer industry.
This industry employs nearly 12,000 people in the manufacture, wholesale and retail levels. This does not include the thousands of jobs in transportation and related sectors supported by our fertilizer industry or the function that fertilizers serve in Prince Edward Island agriculture and agriculture throughout Canada.
From our 23 million tonnes of production, $2.5 billion worth is shipped within Canada and $3 billion is exported.
Today, while we have representatives of the fertilizer industry here in the gallery, I compliment them on creating an internationally competitive Canadian industry.
Points Of Order November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I will not take long on this point of order, but I want to address the concerns raised in the point of order by the hon. minister.
I express first of all my sincere concern that this legislation will not be given the proper attention that I think it deserves in the House of Commons.
As hon. members well know, parliament evolved out of the Westminster model of parliamentary government. There are three very important actors in this model, the government, the House of Commons and the electorate.
As our brief but colourful history as a nation has progressed, two basic principles have emerged that govern the relationship between the government, the parliament and the electorate. These principles are a responsible and representative parliamentary government. Responsibility and representation is what we have known for the life of this nation. We have a responsible cabinet. We have a representative parliament.
A responsible and representative parliament performs very important functions. Parliamentarians deliberate, investigate and legislate items that come under their purview. The upper and lower chambers that compose the Parliament of Canada share these roles. Parliamentarians deliberate. We look at issues and try to decide if these issues are worthy of debate, worthy of change or whether the issues raised are worth our attention at all. We use our collective judgment to decide what work gets done
Parliamentarians investigate. We have investigated many issues that relate to smoking. We investigate many issues that often result in the creation of laws. We legislate. We have been given the honour to create laws, to be the ones who make decisions that affect the welfare of all Canadians, our youth included.
Mr. Speaker, I am not here to tell you whether this bill or should not be passed. I am here simply to say to you that this bill deserves to be fully scrutinized by the traditional mechanisms of our parliamentary system.
I believe Bill S-13 deserves the attention and the process that it and many other bills in the history of this nation have received. Let us give this bill the attention it deserves and let the members of this Chamber do their jobs and decide whether it deserves second reading.
Unemployment Insurance November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, for months now we have been hearing opposition members complain that the government does not care about seasonal workers, that the employment insurance system does meet the needs of Canadians and that the government is only interested in balancing its books on the backs of the poor.
Can the minister tell us what he has done recently to prove the opposition wrong? What has he done to fix the unemployment insurance system?
Kosovo October 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been following the recent crisis in Kosovo with great concern. It is important to remember the tremendous human costs caused by such conflicts. There are currently 200,000 refugees who have fled to avoid the conflict. What steps have been taken to provide for these people?
Search And Rescue September 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to bring to the attention of this House the outstanding bravery of two members of the Canadian forces. On November 12, 1996 an individual on a Danish trawler near Resolution Island lay critically ill. To save his life two search and rescue technicians from Greenwood made a dangerous and unprecedented night parachute jump into freezing arctic waters.
They could easily have said no but Master Corporal Keith Mitchell and Master Corporal Brian Pierce made the daring decision to jump when bad weather forced the original rescue team to land their helicopter. They battled three-metre waves and high winds that carried them away from the vessel. Struggling to stay afloat, the two men fought off the beginnings of hypothermia until a Zodiac picked them up. After the harrowing experience they stabilized the critically ill man's condition, saving his life.
For their efforts each were awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest decoration for bravery in peacetime. These two people represent the type of men and women who serve the Canadian forces and face adversity with courage. Congratulations to them both.