Gilles Bernier

[Small Business, February 11th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, SMBs are the biggest employers in almost all communities in Canada, accounting for over half of all this country's jobs in the private sector.

When it comes to job creation, SMBs are responsible for 80 per cent of all net new employment. In addition, SMBs generate over one quarter of all sales, one third of all profits, one fifth of all goods, and approximately 40 per cent of the GDP.

Unfortunately, SMBs are spending too much time, money and energy complying with government requirements. The smaller a business, the higher its basic costs.

With the largest concentration of SMBs in Canada, the Beauce region is in a position to comment. I urge the government to do something to reduce the paper burden so that our SMBs can spend more time doing what they were intended to do, which is to produce goods and service effectively and not to waste time on often pointless paperwork.

[Excise Tax Act, February 10th, 1997]

No, Mr. Speaker.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[Excise Tax Act, February 10th, 1997]

No, Mr. Speaker.

(The House divided on Motion No. 3, which was negatived on the following division:)

[Excise Tax Act, February 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I vote no.

(The House divided on Motion No. 2, which was negatived on the following division:)

[Excise Tax Act, December 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, yes.

[Softwood Lumber, December 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, a number of sawmills in Quebec are unhappy with the softwood lumber quotas they were assigned in late October under the agreement negotiated with the United States in the spring of 1996.

They are questioning the way in which the quotas were arrived at by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. How is it that, according to the Financial Post , BC sawmills were given quotas representing between 75 and 85 per cent of their 1995 production, while Quebec's were between 60 and 65 per cent?

While many sawmills were going to reduce their production by 10 to 15 per cent, many are now thinking about shutting their doors. The whole quota assignment process must be reviewed. Otherwise, there will be more loss of employment in Quebec. Or better yet, I suggest that there be a review of this agreement, which has left people unhappy on both sides of the border, both in the United States and in Canada.

[Petitions, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition signed by 1,810 residents of the riding of Beauce, Quebec, Canada, all of whom are Canadians but are receiving a U.S. pension. Their U.S. pension has been reduced by 25.5 per cent since the amendments to the Canada-U.S. income tax treaty came into effect. These pensioners are being penalized, and this reduction represents a major drop in their income. Furthermore, some of these people are already receiving social assistance.

I table this petition before Parliament in the hope that a solution will be found to compensate for the loss of income of these 1,810 residents of the riding of Beauce and others as well.

[Copyright, December 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in the matter of copyright reform, I would encourage the Minister of Canadian Heritage to ensure that broadcasters will obtain justly and permanently the time-shifting and ephemeral recording rights they are after.

It is essential these rights be included in Bill C-32 to avoid unduly complicating the operations of small regional radio stations on a small budget. This is often the only way to provide good service to their evening and weekend listeners.

Furthermore, time-shifting rights do not deprive artists of their royalties, and broadcasters are prepared to accept measures to protect against the abuse of these rights. I hope that common sense will prevail throughout the legislative process of Bill C-32.

[Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act, December 2nd, 1996]

I will vote yes, Mr. Speaker.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act, December 2nd, 1996]

No, Mr. Speaker.

(The House divided on the amendment to the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)