On April 5, 1965, the seconder of the motion for the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne stated the following: "It is obvious that the Liberal party, more than any other, has understood the great currents of history, has seen the changes happening throughout the country and has found solutions which have brought about the collectivist society we know today. In its philosophy, its leadership and its policies, the Liberal party has kept in touch with the traditional trends of thought and action, but is has always understood the evolution of our society. That is why today it is advocating the two attitudes necessary to our country's development, namely economic planning within the administration and the establishment of a new way of life for the two groups which constitute our great nation."
These words were spoken by our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, a realist and a visionary. Mr. Prime Minister, you face many responsibilities and challenges. You can count on me to support you and your team in the delivery of new and fair socio-economic policies for Canadians.
I want to congratulate all my colleagues on their election to this House. To represent one's constituents is a responsibility that demands both diligence and understanding.
I wish to thank the people of Madawaska-Victoria for having placed their trust in me, and I intend to represent them to the best of my ability. Our riding extends along the valley of the Saint John River and borders on the State of Maine.
We are the door to Atlantic Canada, a border cross-roads, and as such we need a better highway and railway network. Human lives, money and potential are being lost as a result of the poor condition of our roads.
Our economy, based on forestry and agriculture, provides mainly seasonal employment. Although we favour greater diversification in the manufacturing and tourism sectors, we must ensure that our so-called natural resources are stable and at the cutting edge of environmental technology.
Our government must renew the subsidiary forestry and agriculture agreements with the province of New Brunswick. I find the riding of Madawaska-Victoria particularly beautiful because, to me, it is also a microcosm of our country.
In the coming months and years, I intend to submit a number of socio-economic pilot projects, projects for a progressive society, to various departments in our government.
Our infrastructure program has been well received in my riding of Madawaska-Victoria. Municipalities are anxious to renew, and some to build, needed infrastructure, but most of all these jobs will provide dignity to numerous families in my riding.
We Liberals did not win this election with empty rhetoric. We won it thanks to a realistic and pragmatic approach. We know what the people's priorities are, and we provided sound alternatives. We knew that Canadians needed jobs, and our infrastructure program is an attempt to deal with this problem.
For too long we have talked of natural resources as in forestry, mining, agriculture and energy. Now let us talk and act for our greatest natural resource and that is our youth. Our government will provide in the near future a special youth program. That is only a beginning. We must be creative and innovative and design job entry opportunities in the private and public sectors. Those of generations to come must be optimistic about developing their abilities.
A Liberal government will have a social conscience for all its citizens while being fiscally responsible. A lean government does not have to be a mean government.
Canadians want government reforms based on Liberal principles of equity for all. Our society's lack of confidence in government and politicians is real. A Liberal government cannot afford to propose socio-economic policies that are no more than band-aid solutions.
It is time to review our fiscal and social policies and to provide a co-ordinated approach that responds to the needs and aspirations of Canadians.
As a French-Canadian, I am very pleased with the quality and quantity of bilingualism on Parliament Hill. In fact, this is thanks to the language policies of a Liberal federal government.
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege for me, as the member for Madawaska-Victoria, to second the motion of the hon. member for the Bruce-Grey for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Today is the beginning of a new, positive era for all Canadians. Along with my government, we will work so that the future is brighter than the past, so that all from coast to coast to coast will find that again after 10 years their federal government, a Chrétien Liberal government, is working with and for them, not against them.