Debates of Jan. 26th, 1994

The Late G. Campbell Eaton

[Bill Rompkey, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished Newfoundlander, G. Campbell Eaton. Mr. Eaton passed away yesterday in St. John's.

He served with distinction in the 166th Newfoundland Field Regiment Royal Artillery during the Second World War and received the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery, coolness and outstanding conduct under fire during action in Italy. After the war, Mr. Eaton served as commanding officer of the regiment and later was honorary colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

He was a prominent and respected business executive and an energetic and devoted leader in community life in our province, particularly in the fields of health, housing and education. He was made Doctor of Laws by Memorial University, and as well in recognition of his outstanding and distinguished service he was installed as an officer of the Order of Canada in 1978.

I would describe Cam Eaton as a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was a man who stood above the crowd with a quiet dignity formed by wisdom and sound judgment. He was a rare man and therefore leaves a void not easily filled.

I offer his widow, Betty, and his family deepest sympathy.

Serial Killer Board Game

[Maurice Godin, Bloc, Châteauguay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, opposition to the distribution and sales of the serial killer board game has become widespread across this country.

Parents and grandparents are asking to have this game, which is manufactured in Seattle, banned from the Canadian market.

The game contains a body bag, 25 babies and four figures representing the killers. The player who kills the largest number of babies wins.

The council of commissioners of the Châteauguay School Board, in the riding of Châteauguay, recently passed a resolution to condemn products like these where the purpose is to commit murders.

These products, which promote violence as a way of life, should be banned at all costs. The federal government must act to get rid of these products.

Interprovincial Trade Barriers

[Hugh Hanrahan, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election to the chair.

I would also like to inform the House that presently there are over 500 interprovincial trade barriers which cost Canadians over $6.5 billion annually. These barriers make it easier to trade with Mexico and the United States than within our own borders.

Creating a single economic market in Canada would help counter the nation's current regional drift and would allow Canadians to work where they choose.

The federal and provincial governments signed an agreement last week for the removal of many of the 500 barriers. This is extremely encouraging.

The Reform Party caucus is supportive of these efforts and applauds the provincial and federal governments for providing a clear definition of interprovincial trade barriers. As well the commitment of these governments to the June 30, 1994 time line is most commendable.

Social Security

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Oakville—Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage members of the House to play a major role in the reform of Canada's social security system.

The speech from the throne set out the government's ambitious two-year schedule to complete the modernization of our national social security system and to make it more responsive to the economic and social realities of the 1990s and beyond.

Our system was first put in place decades ago. It has served us well but times have changed. Canadians will not accept and we must not accept double digit levels of unemployment, signs of a lost generation of youth and rising levels of child poverty. Canadians realize that reforms are necessary. They also want hope for a better future for themselves and their children.

I have already heard many excellent ideas from my constituents and I hope others will come forward. I know the minister has been consulting widely with provincial representatives, social policy organizations, business and labour representatives, academics and Canadians from all walks of life.

Nobel Peace Prize Committee

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on September 13, 1993 a declaration in principle on interim self-government between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the state of Israel was signed. It marked an historic moment for both politics and the people of the Middle East. It ushered in a new sense of hope to a region of the world where bloodshed and despair continue to dominate the lives of so many people.

The agreement was the direct result of efforts made by two courageous individuals. They managed to overcome insurmountable pressures from those groups that continued to choose violence instead of peace.

Today I wish to inform my hon. colleagues that on January 20, 1994 I submitted a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee nominating both Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel, and Mr. Yasser Arafat, PLO Chairman, for the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.

As Canadians we must continue to play a leading role in seeking peace and promoting peace. In so doing we advance the efforts of men such as the late Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.

International Customs Day

[Susan Whelan, Liberal, Essex—Windsor, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join hon. members and all Canadians in marking International Customs Day. As hon. members know our more than 5,000 Revenue Canada customs officers are the first people that visitors to our country and returning Canadians meet.

This is the International Year of the Family. Revenue Canada customs officers help reunite families by locating and returning to parents or lawful guardians missing or abducted children. They went above and beyond the call of duty all the while doing their jobs inspecting commercial shipments, processing more than 122 million travellers and seizing more than $1.3 billion worth of illegal drugs last year.

I assure all members of the House and all Canadians that the government is committed to maintaining and strengthening all components of national revenue so it may be more responsive to the needs of Canadians.

I call on all hon. members to join me in saluting our customs officers on this 41st anniversary of International Customs Day.

Curling

[Glen McKinnon, Liberal, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the sport of curling is enjoyed by approximately 800,000 Canadians and one-third of these Canadians are women.

I am very proud to announce that this weekend the Manitoba Women's Scott Tournament of Hearts will be played in my home town of Verdun, Manitoba. Of the 16 teams registered 7 of the competing skips are former Manitoba provincial women's champions and among them they hold 16 provincial, 3 Canadian and 3 world titles.

There is no reason to doubt that this year's lead up competitions to the Canadian crown and to the world cup championships could be one of the finest ever.

I wish all 16 participating teams good luck and to the Verdun organizing committee a full house.

Multimedia Transaction Network

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest that the House extend its congratulations the Videotron Limited Group and five of its partners who joined forces to develop and establish a multimedia transaction network that will offer consumers direct access to a wide range of services, 24 hours a day, from the comfort of their own homes.

The project is known as UBI, which stands for Universal, Bi-directional and Interactive. The consortium includes the National Bank of Canada, Hydro-Québec, Loto Québec, Canada Post Corporation and Videoway's classified ads services. The consortium will offer a variety of goods and services that are typical of the potential of an electronic information highway.

The services offered by UBI will be transmitted directly to the homes of users via existing cable systems and a multimedia terminal.

The new services, which will be carried by the Videotron cable network, will be made available for the first time in the Saguenay area.

All parliamentarians are aware of the important contribution being made through this project.

Group Of Seven Summit

[Ray Speaker, Reform, Lethbridge]

Mr. Speaker, as many of my fellow members know, Canada has the great honour of hosting the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations for a summit in 1995.

It has come to my attention that the exact location in Canada for the G-7 meeting has not as yet been chosen. As the site selection process is scheduled to get under way shortly, Premier Ralph Klein of Alberta and I would like to recommend the Calgary-Banff-Canmore area as an excellent choice for the summit. This region has gained international recognition in hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Alberta can also provide a vibrant backdrop to the meeting. On September 1, 1995 Alberta will celebrate its 90th anniversary as a partner in Confederation. To celebrate this celebration with the prestige of an international summit could only serve to highlight the country's strength. I encourage the Prime Minister to accept the invitation of Albertans.

Research And Development

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, an issue I wish to highlight is research and development. In my riding we have an industrial research park, the University of Western Ontario and University Hospital.

Long-term economic growth cannot be founded only upon the exploitation of natural resources. The competitiveness of our nation in today's global economy is influenced by its capability to develop and apply new technology. This requires long-term stable investment in R and D and strategic knowledge based sectors.

Over the past decade spending on R and D in Canada as percentage of gross domestic product was less than nearly all other G-7 countries.

I encourage members of the House to support R and D initiatives which will enable industry to compete effectively and ensure future employment for Canadians.

Cigarette Smuggling

[André Caron, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, hon. members will remember that, yesterday, we talked several times about cigarette smuggling in Quebec and eastern Canada, particularly in Saint-Eustache and in the Mohawk territories of Kanesatake, Kahnewake and Akwesasne.

I would like to point out in this House that the vast majority of the Mohawk people in these territories, as well as Mohawks living elsewhere in Quebec, Ontario and eastern New York, are peaceful people who are also concerned about increased cigarette smuggling and the violence associated with it.

The problem is caused by a small number of smugglers who take advantage of the laxness of police forces, especially the RCMP, in the Cornwall area and the Mohawk territory of Akwesasne.

Rod Hay

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last November at the Canadian finals rodeo in Edmonton, the Canadian saddle bronc championship was won by Rod Hay.

This successful young cowboy hails from the heart of Yellowhead country, the town of Mayerthorpe. His parents, Fred and Sharon, were born and raised in my home town of Onoway.

The whole family is involved in rodeo. Rod's sister is a professional trick rider and is performing in Las Vegas. His brother, Denny, also rides saddle bronc and their father led the way.

But what makes last fall's ride so special was that it was the third time in four years that Rod won this prestigious title. Watch for the world championships this fall.

May I ask all members to join me in congratulating this outstanding young performer.

Administration Of Justice

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Paul, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we heard about the vicious murder, last weekend, of the young Sarah Dutil, a girl of 11 from my riding of Verdun-Saint-Paul.

Personally, and on behalf of my constituents and all my colleagues in this House, I offer my deepest sympathies to Mrs.

Lorraine Dutil, Mr. Frank Coculuzzi and all their relatives who must live with the consequences of such a terrible deed.

I notice with satisfaction that yesterday, when answering a question in the House of Commons asked as a result of that murder, the Minister of Justice said that he intends to amend the Criminal Code to ensure that a criminal jury trial can proceed even if the presiding judge is transferred to another court.

Victorian Order Of Nurses Week

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Canadians I would like to recognize this as Victorian Order of Nurses Week.

For nearly 100 years the Victorian Order of Nurses has provided primary health care to Canadians in the home and the community. The Victorian Order of Nurses is a unique nursing agency in that it is national and a registered charitable organization.

In 1992-93 the VON's 74 branches in all provinces contributed to improved quality of life and health for over 250,000 Canadians and their families. VON registered nurses are specially trained for complex, technological home care, gerontological nursing, palliative care, rehabilitation and foot care.

VON registered nursing assistants and home support workers are critically important to the visiting nursing teams. Over 8,700 volunteers give willingly of their time and talents to VON services.

I am sure all members of the House would want to congratulate the Victorian Order of Nurses for its contributions to the health of Canadians.

[The Speaker]

I wonder if I might put a very small suggestion to my colleagues.

I know I have a very difficult time when I have to read quickly. Could hon. members, if they have the time before they make their statements under Standing Order 31, give the standing order statements, if they are written, to our interpreters. It might help a bit in the interpretation. If they would consider that I would appreciate it.

Cigarette Smuggling

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. While governments are hesitating and passing the buck on this issue, the revolt among shopkeepers is spreading to all regions in Quebec. In the meantime, the implicit, albeit fundamental social contract whereby citizens agree to pay taxes to the state is unravelling. Shaken by the size of the movement, the Prime Minister seemed prepared for the first time yesterday to act to fight cigarette smuggling.

My question is this: If he truly intends to take action, could he tell this House today exactly what concrete measures he intends to take to improve surveillance at the borders, an area over which the government has exclusive jurisdiction and where it does not need to wait for the provinces.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Solicitor General stated clearly in this House that for many weeks now, the RCMP have been under orders to carry out their duty across Canada and ensure that all Canadians obey the law. That is the course of action we intend to follow. There is no need for us to issue any additional instructions at this time. If any new problems arise, we will give them the resources they need. But for the time being, the RCMP are under orders to enforce the law.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister indicated yesterday that after consulting with the provinces, he would be prepared to lower taxes. In light of the urgency of the situation, does he really intend to wait for Mr. Johnson to return from Europe before proceeding? What is the government waiting for to take the action warranted, namely issuing an immediate ministerial statement calling for lower federal taxes on cigarettes?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, everyone agrees that it would be much more effective if all governments would co-operate.

We are presently holding discussions with several provincial governments. The Minister of Finance broached the subject last Friday at a meeting of finance ministers and we will try to find a solution that will please everyone. When we are ready, we will take action. I am very pleased to hear that the Premier of Quebec said he would act as soon as he got back. The federal government is examining its options and as I said, we want to act in this matter in concert with the provincial governments.

Mr. Johnson and I have discussed this subject several times, even at a federal-provincial meeting prior to his becoming premier. We talked about ways of solving this problem quickly and permanently. It is better to act cautiously and methodically than to rush in and make a rash decision.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I understand these honourable intentions stem from a normal reflex to exercise caution, but we are not dealing with a normal situation. Every evening, we see on television acts of open deliberate defiance which foster bad feelings and entice

other taxpayers to take similar action. The problem here is not just tobacco taxes. It has to do with all of the other taxes.

Since it has not always been made very clear what orders that have been or will be given to the RCMP, could the Prime Minister tell this House clearly once and for all and give us the assurance that he has personally instructed the RCMP to lay charges immediately against smugglers when it has the evidence to do so?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

It is not up to me to tell the RCMP what its job is. This police force has earned an international reputation and when it has compiled valid evidence, it takes quick action, as it must. I do not think the Solicitor General needs to tell RCMP officers how to do their job. They already know how to do it.

National Defence

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the week, the Official Opposition has been questioning the government about the very serious events that took place in Kanesatake last Friday.

The minister of defence answered that the matter was under investigation by the Sûreté du Québec but, as we later found out, this was incorrect. The Prime Minister trivialized the incident, saying there were no bullet holes found in the helicopter. He mentioned the use of a slingshot, as you probably remember. At the same time, we are receiving very serious information from reliable sources and we are concerned because it looks like the government wants to keep the whole thing quiet.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Now that five days have gone by since the events took place, can he tell us whether or not bullet holes were found on the CC-130 Hercules No. 130310 which took part in the operation over Kanesatake?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, in direct response to the hon. member, there are no bullet holes in either the Labrador helicopter or the Hercules that were involved in this incident.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, would the Prime Minister agree to table in this House the journey log book as well as the trip reports of the aircraft involved in the operation over Kanesatake?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that that kind of information is not routinely available publicly.

I want to clarify one thing that was raised yesterday about the involvement of the Sûreté du Quebec. They were involved last Friday with search and rescue after the electronic emission occurred.

Our people landed, conducted a search and determined there was not an aircraft downed in the area. Just before they were about to leave they were approached by the individual-I have stated this in the House-who alleged that shots may have been fired. They left because they did not want a confrontation and were reasonably assured there was no downed aircraft in the area. The Sûreté is not involved today but they were involved last Friday.