Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994  Needless to say that, with the very cold weather we had this winter, I suspect these birds will stay a little longer in my riding this year, unfortunately for our farmers, but fortunately for bird watchers. That is probably why they will stay with us for a few more days, even though they have been in this area now for two or three weeks.

Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994  We have realized that each species is part of a web of life on which it depends and which it helps sustain. Tear apart that web and many species may no longer be able to survive. Patiently mend the web and you may help save not one but dozens of species. In other words, we have understood that the most effective way of ensuring the health of wildlife is by ensuring the health of the ecosystems in which they live.

Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994  Several aspects of the 1917 law are obsolete today. For example, the penalties provided in the Act are no longer what society is entitled to expect. Fines from $10 to $300 are provided for infractions. Bill C-23 as presented today increases these penalties very significantly. Amounts of up to $5,000 and even $25,000 provided in clause 13(1) will deter poachers, we hope.

Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claimsettlement Act  The member's time with the 10-minute limit has expired. I wonder if he wishes to seek unanimous consent to go on a bit longer. Is there unanimous consent to let the member complete his remarks?

Pearson International Airport Agreements Act  There are a number of quotes from the famous red book that I would like to bring up, because this government had told us it was going to control the activities of lobbyists when it would come to power. Apparently some things take much longer than others, but I will quote this: We will develop a Code of Conduct for Public Officials to guide Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, senators, political staff, and public servants in their dealings with lobbyists.

Pearson International Airport Agreements Act  If I recall correctly, I was asked yesterday if, by allowing one hon. member to speak longer, I was in fact impinging on another member's speaking time. We are supposed to adjourn at 1.30 p.m. this afternoon. I will let your colleagues decide whether they will let you conclude your remarks, briefly.

Prescription Drugs  In fact employment increased by almost 15 per cent from 1987 to 1991. Again I believe we should have had a longer time period in order to assess the impact Bill C-91 will have on the employment rate in the pharmaceutical industry. Another key area that must be examined is whether or not the extension of the patent life to 20 years has increased health care costs in Canada.

Health Care  In her zeal to enforce the three-decade old Canada Health Act does the minister propose that 25 per cent of cataract patients line up in a longer line?

Health Care  What this means is that a person who has money can get the cataract surgery ahead of others, but the person who really needs it and probably does not have the money has to wait a lot longer. What does that $1,000 do? Does it add to hospitals? Does it help the system do a better job? Does it foster better utilization of what we have in place? No. It allows someone to get richer.

Health Care  Yesterday the minister told the provinces she is going to withhold $750,000 per month in transfer payments for health care. That is $750,000 less to treat the people of British Columbia which means longer bed closures, less care for the sick and the elderly and people are going to die. We must get our heads out of the sand. What is the minister going to do and what alternative does she have to get health care and Canada on firm financial ground?

Health Care  The total health care bill in Canada is now over $70 billion with the provinces paying 46 per cent of that bill, individuals and private insurance companies paying about 28 per cent and the federal government now paying about 23 per cent. The federal government is no longer the senior partner in health care financing. It has become a junior partner. Will the minister today admit that health care transfers are now insufficient to permit the provinces to meet the demands of the Canada Health Act?

Health Care  The minister's answer leaves Canadians wondering what it would take to convince the government that health care financing and the Canada Health Act need to be reformed. How many more hospitals have to be closed down? How much longer do the waiting lines have to become? How many more Canadians have to go to the United States for health care? How much further does the health care system have to deteriorate before the government will agree to reform the Canada Health Act and the financing of health care in Canada?

Health Care  It is tragic that today health care is under threat from the very same party that introduced it. Health care is deteriorating rapidly and soon it may no longer be the envy of the world. Our huge debt and deficits and this government's refusal to update the 30-year old outdated Canada Health Act are combining to undermine and gradually destroy the system.

Supply  The only argument I was given at the Bélanger-Campeau Commission by the person who is now Minister of Foreign Affairs was the Canadian system will protect milk production in Quebec, but if you leave Canada you will lose this protection. This argument is no longer appropriate, because we now are in a much larger market. Does the hon. member not agree that in the North American economy, in the Canadian economy, eastern and western agricultures have interests so different that trying to defend them simultaneously brings about important problems and situations almost impossible to reconcile?

Supply  It amazes me when I see stats that the turnaround on a hopper car today is actually a little longer than was required in 1923. Is this today's modern system that is supposed to help farmers survive? With the negotiations having gone on for over a year, this government failed to pass legislation to order the west coast strikers back to work.