Gary Lunn

[Canada Pension Plan, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the residents of Saanich—Gulf Islands.

This Liberal government plans on doubling Canada pension plan premiums. It is estimated that Canadians entering the workforce will receive only 57 cents for every dollar taken from them.

Consider Aaron Fyke, a 25 year old resident in my riding, who writes: “Please explain to me that I am not simply funding someone else's retirement at the expense of my own”. Seniors are asking me what became of the money that they contributed to the Canada pension plan.

This Liberal government is implementing the single largest tax grab in the history of Canada. The scam is irresponsible and unacceptable. People are fed up.

The truth of the matter is that this government refuses to accept that taxes kill jobs. Reform's retirement plan would guarantee that contributions are for pensions and, more important, Reform's plan would ensure considerably higher pensions for Canadians.

[Pacific Salmon Fishery, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government treats the aspirations of British Columbians as grievances. The fact of the matter is that British Columbians have lost faith in Ottawa and who can blame them? British Columbians are crying out for federal leadership and this government is failing them miserably.

Nowhere is this better displayed than in the Liberals' mismanagement of the Pacific salmon dispute over the past four years. The sustainability of the Pacific salmon fishery is at stake and the minister of fisheries sits on his hands and does nothing except criticize his own citizens.

Having witnessed the Tory government destroy the Atlantic fishery a few years ago, this government seems intent on doing the same to the Pacific fishery.

It is a simple case of Liberal, Tory, same old incompetent story. This government had better wake up to the concerns of British Columbians. A good start would be to resolve the crisis in the salmon fishery before it is too late.

[Supreme Court Of Canada, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this new justice of the supreme court will be determining whether Quebec has the right to unilaterally secede. This is perhaps one of the most important issues in our country's history.

Will the justice minister allow elected members of Parliament to ratify this new supreme court justice or will she simply consult her backroom dealmakers and continue to leave the Canadian people out of the process?

[Supreme Court Of Canada, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Canada announced that he was retiring.

He publicly called on the Liberal government to select his replacement through an open review process. These comments are unheard of and ground breaking. The justices themselves are asking for reform.

My question is for the Minister of Justice. Will the Liberal government hold a public review of any new justice appointed to the supreme court? Or will it continue on making its appointments in secret and behind closed doors?

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the House the member's comments and his criticisms against the member for Calgary Southeast. He was quite critical of the member when he was referring to accountability in suggesting that he has an exclusive on accountability and suggesting that the Liberal Party can be just as accountable and its members can as well.

I would like to remind the member that it is very easy to speak of accountability but the Reform Party has an absolute exclusivity on actions when it comes to accountability. That is the only way he is going to be able to show the Canadian people accountability, through actions like giving up his pension. The Liberal Party has not come through with actions on accountability, but the Reform Party leads the way.