Raymonde Folco

[Bloc Quebecois, April 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, for the past few days now, the members of the Bloc Quebecois have been carrying cheques around Quebec signed by Louise Beaudoin, a minister in Lucien Bouchard's government.

We have learned that the member for Louis-Hébert presented a fine cheque for $5,000 on behalf of the Government of Quebec to the management of the Salle Diane-Bélanger in Sillery, a Liberal riding provincially.

The member for Beauharnois—Salaberry is also carrying around cheques from the Government of Quebec. He apparently gave a helping hand to two municipalities in his riding with funds from Ms. Beaudoin's budget.

The Bloc Quebecois is behaving with an indecency rarely seen in this House, so much so that Ms. Beaudoin was obliged to make a public apology for this behaviour. We are still awaiting denunciation by the leader of the Bloc Quebecois.

[Armenian People, April 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on April 24, Armenian Canadians and all Armenians will commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the genocide of 1.5 million victims perpetrated in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks.

Modern Turkey has yet to recognize this serious crime, which has already been recognized by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the European Parliament, the Permanent People's Tribunal, Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, Uruguay, Venezuela and, just a week ago, Belgium.

Closer to home, this genocide has been formally recognized by the Quebec National Assembly and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The Armenian genocide has been documented and its existence proven beyond any doubt. All unanimously agree that it should be recognized internationally.

I therefore urge the hon. members of this House to recognize the Armenian genocide and extend my most heartfelt wishes to the Armenian people, a building nation—

[Reform Party, March 31st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, here are some other inconsistencies.

The Reform Party pamphlet on immigration states that the advisory group's mandate was to provide recommendations to the minister. Later they claim “the advisory committee has made 172 recommendations to the Standing Committee on Immigration”.

Not only is this second statement false, but it also shows the continuous inconsistency of the Reform Party. Reform members also recommend that the government produce a detailed and honest report on the immigration levels, legislation and policy and table it in Parliament.

Reform members do not know what they are talking about. The Immigration Act requires the minister to table in this House, in October, a report on the levels expected for the following year and the actual levels for the current year.

Finally, this booklet is for all Canadians, but it is available only in English. Does this mean that francophones across Canada are not Canadians?

[Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, March 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member. Let us reflect together on an important question. If democracy had won in Spain, would there have been a second world war? The answer is no. These soldiers—and yes, they were soldiers—fought for freedom and democracy ahead of time.

It must be noted that we are discussing a situation where monetary compensation is not the only solution these veterans want.

To the survivors, psychological and emotional redress is even more important. I think that discussing this amounts to questioning the democratic and egalitarian foundations of our citizenship, to questioning our solidarity.

In conclusion, I would like to share with you an interesting discovery. In the course of my research on this matter, I found a photograph taken in June 1937 on the battlefield in Jarama, Spain. The photograph showed a handmade sign that said, and I quote:

“To our fallen comrades, our victory is your vengeance. June 1937”.

Today as in 1937, a positive conclusion to this matter would give that victory to the survivors and to those who fell on the battlefield. I am very proud of their courage.

They had the courage to stand up and be counted.

I support this motion.

[Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, March 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege today of participating in the debate on Motion M-75 tabled by my NDP colleague, the hon. member for Kamloops.

I rise today to speak in support of Canada recognizing the loyalty and sacrifice of members of the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion. I call today on the good will and generosity of my fellow citizens.

Three years before World War II, the Spanish civil war broke out pitting brothers against brothers, sisters against sisters. Franco and his army won the war and the fascist dictatorship lasted 40 years, in fact until the dictator died in 1976.

This conflict was not merely a civil war for the repercussions went far beyond. Claude Bowers, the American ambassador to Spain between 1936 and 1939, said at the time: “History will declare that the six months intervening between the fascist victory in Spain and the invasion of Poland were a mere armistice in one war, the second world war”.

In my view the Spanish civil became the powder keg that ignited the second world war just as an infamous assassination in Sarajevo laid the groundwork for World War I.

The Spanish republican government, democratically elected and therefore legitimate, appealed to the international community for help.

In spite of the stated neutrality of their governments, volunteers came from Argentina, Cuba, Poland, Sweden, the U.S.S.R., Great Britain, the United States, France and other countries.

Brave antifascist citizens of Italy and Germany risked their lives and that of their families to help the cause of a democratic country that Franco would transform into a dictatorship for 40 years. In Canada, close to 1,250 men and women with names like Maurice Constant, Peter Johnston, Hugo Koski and William Dent, to name but four, left their homeland for the battlefields of Spain.

These Canadians, most of whom were of European descent, had suffered from the consequences of the first world war. However, the vast majority of them were not soldiers and had never even handled a firearm. Most were blue collar workers, journeymen, students, citizens of Canada at a time when our country was still suffering from the severe economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s.

Norman Bethune was one of these brave Canadians. As head of an innovative battlefield blood transfusion service, Bethune witnessed the horrors and became rapidly conscious of the stakes of war. He is often quoted as having said “The time to stop fascism is now and the place to stop it is Spain”.

Another brave Canadian was Maurice Constant, then staff lieutenant for the 15th International Brigade and now emeritus professor at the University of Waterloo. Constant recalls living through the Great Depression. He said “People of my generation had the same feelings as young people now; the feeling of helplessness. There were no jobs to go to. We students thought the political-economic system was a failure”.

The Great Depression had a profound impact on Canadians. Therefore, it is logical to say that, for the brave soldiers of the Mackenzie-Papineau battalion, participating in the war was a way to escape marginalization, a way to relate to some absolute, to make it through the ideological undertow toward the certainty that the fight against European fascism was honourable and necessary.

Let us not forget—and this is fundamental—that General Franco overthrew an established democracy. In 1986, when he testified before the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, Walter Dent, secretary for the Mac-Paps battalion, said “General Franco decided to overthrow the government. Therefore, what is at issue is not kind of people that were fighting fascism. We were fighting to protect the country's democratic institutions. This must be pointed out very clearly, so that there can be no doubt whatsoever”.

In 1980 during a debate very similar to this one Bob Rae, then a federal member of Parliament, stated when speaking of the Mac-Paps that they were anti-fascist before it was fashionably popular to be so.

The presence and popularity of pro-fascist sentiments in the Canadian population and institutions led to the birth in 1936 of Canadian legislation which partially reflected the state of mind of a certain fascist electorate.

The Foreign Enlistment Act of 1936 made it illegal for volunteers to fight against fascism in Spain because, at the time, Canada was playing it safe and professed neutrality on the international scene.

Is it not in the Canadian nature to want to preserve democracy? Is altruism not a Canadian trait? Is it not typically Canadian to fight for peace, order and good government?

Why are we still talking about the Spanish civil war in Canada today? For the simple reason that some of our fellow Canadian citizens have not reached closure on this matter.

Religious, political and philosophical beliefs aside, these brave Canadians had the vision and courage to recognize that Franco's army not only posed a threat to Spain but also jeopardized the foundation of democratic nations in Europe and the balance in their relations with Canada.

Who are the veterans of the MacKenzie-Papineau battalion today? Following their heart-wrenching defeat, about 650 veterans returned to Canada. They were greeted as heroes in Toronto, where a crowd of over 10,000 had gathered to meet them. Groups such as the friends of the MacKenzie-Papineau battalion organized fundraising events to help survivors and the families of those fallen comrades. But soon the plight of the Mac-Paps was engulfed by the overriding priorities of World War II.

Today, there are fewer than 35 members of the battalion still alive, most of them in their 90s. They could however benefit from the federal government's financial support, because they were never recognized as veterans by our government.

These Canadian citizens are brave men and women who survived harsh fighting in the Spanish Civil War. These men and women, motivated by their love of freedom, engaged Franco's nationalist forces in Spain without the support of their government.

These once defiant individuals have lived for over 60 years as model Canadians. They came home to Canada and they went back

Youth and idealism do not excuse illegal acts. However, knowing what we know today, would it not be possible for us to find it in our hearts to forgive and honour those valuable members of our society.

Why cannot Canada at long last recognize these people's courage. Other nations have embraced their Spanish war veterans. France has given them veteran's status and has given them dignity, respect and a place of honour among its citizens.

After 60 years, the Spanish government invited the civil war veterans over and granted them honourary Spanish citizenship.

Here in Canada in the province of Ontario, after many years of government inaction, the veterans of the MacKenzie-Papineau battalion were finally honoured in 1995 with a Canadian monument. On the lawns behind the Ontario legislature at Queen's Park lies a plaque affixed to a stone from the battlefields of Gandesa in Spain.

During the unveiling ceremony on June 4, 1995, the consul general of Spain spoke eloquently of adolescents braving the world to stand on the side of the poor. He spoke of courage and innocence.

Would it not be possible for members of the House to speak that same language and come together in acknowledging the courage and innocence of the men and women of the MacKenzie-Papineau battalion?

I know that the Hon. Minister of Veterans Affairs does not support the request made by the Mac-Paps. Neither does the Royal Canadian Legion. The Legion is a national treasure with more than 500,000 members. I had the honour to meet these men and women on several occasions at the Legion's branch in my riding of Laval West. They all know how much respect and admiration I have for them, because we talk about it often whenever we meet.

Recently, the Canadian Legion made the following statement about Canada “We believe in a united Canada, where all Canadians are equal before the law and where the rights and freedoms of every Canadian are nurtured and safeguarded”.

I wholeheartedly agree with this important statement. Respecting the law is fundamental in any democracy but in a democracy we also have the right to question, criticize and re-evaluate our laws.

Canadian law is dynamic and must always reflect what Canadian society thinks. I understand their views, but I would have expected more generosity from men and women who, although they did not fight with the Mac-Paps, did fight for the ideals we all share.

[Research And Development, March 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's economic success in the next century will depend largely on a vigorous and accessible research and development infrastructure.

In its 1997 budget, the Canadian government set aside $800 million to establish the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The government also promised to increase the funds earmarked for granting councils by $400 million over the next three years.

The Canadian government is pursuing two specific goals. First, it is strengthening partnerships between universities and industry. Second, our government is increasing assistance to graduate students in the form of postdoctoral research scholarships.

The Canadian government will continue to play an active role in the field of research, which it sees as the key to the prosperity of all Canadians in the economy of tomorrow.

[Broadcasting Act, March 11th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to join in the debate on Bill C-288, an act to amend the Broadcasting Act.

With regard to this bill, we must think first and foremost about Canadian consumers. The hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton deserves our praises for bringing their concerns to our attention.

When broadcasting started only radio existed. Even then, the Parliament of Canada saw fit to pass legislation in this area to meet the needs of consumers.

Indeed, for over 60 years, as the network has been expanding, successive parliaments have used their powers to ensure that Canadians have access to quality programming produced by Canadians, as well as to the best programs from abroad.

This is a fundamental characteristic of Canadian broadcasting, which has remained the same in spite of the many technical changes we have witnessed regarding radio, and television where programs were initially in black and white, then in colour; first programs were received using a conventional antenna, then came cable TV and other forms of transmission including direct-to-home satellite broadcasting.

There have been changes not only in transmission techniques, but also in programming formulas and choice of packages offered. Traditional television stations and networks are now competing with a broad range of specialized offerings, as well as the pay TV channels and pay-for-view TV.

These changes and improvements have not been without their problems, as this bill shows.

We have, however, always found a way to solve the problems caused by changes in broadcasting, and to attune the Canadian broadcast network to the needs and interests of Canadians.

This will continue to be our main focus and we owe thanks to the hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton for having brought to our attention the problems associated with the launching of specialized television services in Canada.

For the past 30 years, Parliament has entrusted the CRTC, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, with the mandate under the Broadcasting Act of regulating and monitoring the Canadian broadcast network so as to implement the policy objectives set out in that act.

Generally speaking, this has worked well and I am convinced the CRTC will continue to take Canadian public opinion into consideration, and to strike a fair balance in its search for the means to realize the policy objectives set for it.

[International Women's Day, March 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the whole world celebrated International Women's Day.

The Canadian government plays an active role in promoting equal opportunities and rights for all women, because it is clear that an enormous amount of work remains to be done in every part of the world.

Last week, I travelled to Algeria with the parliamentary delegation. On that occasion, Canada renewed its resolve to continue to press Algeria to amend its family code, which restricts the rights of women in that country. We were also moved by the despair of the most vulnerable people in Algeria, namely the women who became orphans or widows during the continued slaughter.

Women around the world have made giant steps toward greater equality. It is up to every one of us to rise and to affirm our rights, whether in the workplace or at home.

[Nagano Olympic Games, February 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let us remember all our heros. The games in Nagano have ended and Canada has distinguished itself by leaving with 15 medals. Our athletes went to Japan to fulfil their Olympic dream.

A young woman from Sainte-Dorothée, in my riding of Laval West, saw her Olympic dream come true. Tania Vicent won the bronze in the 3,000-metre short-track speed-skating relay.

On behalf of all my constituents and of all Canadians, I wish to congratulate Tania and thank her for treating us to such an extraordinary performance. We are all proud of her.

[The Economy, February 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister issued a vigorous call today at noon before the members of the Canadian Club inviting Canadians to join him in facing the vital economic challenges arising at the dawn of the year 2000. These challenges will involve ensuring sustained economic growth, as we have since 1993, for our children and future generations. This is what vision is about.

Vision, for most Canadians, means taking advantage of the incredible opportunity to live in Canada. The Prime Minister made the commitment today to give young Canadians the opportunity to take part in improving the quality of our life.

Our government finds solutions for the problems facing us. The sovereignists would do well to note this speech expressing common sense and the realities of our country.