Debates of Nov. 30th, 1994

World Aids Day

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is World AIDS Day.

The presence of HIV and AIDS in our communities is a constant reminder of our vulnerability as individuals and as members of the human race. Many members of this House, and far too many Canadians, many of whom live in my riding of Rosedale, will be familiar with the human tragedy associated with living with HIV and of grieving for the loss of friends and loved ones.

The effects of HIV and AIDS are suffered by individuals and families now estimated worldwide at 17 million men, women and children. Measures to reduce the vulnerability of women to HIV/AIDS, the need to strengthen AIDS associations, and the need to address related human rights and ethical issues are now of paramount concern to us all.

These issues, as well as the cure and immunization against AIDS, can only be effectively dealt with by co-ordinated, intensive, national and international efforts which Canada must not only support but lead.

Therefore we should all welcome the Prime Minister's attendance at the Paris summit on AIDS.

Pearson Airport

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, hon. members are familiar with the scandal around the attempt to privatize Pearson Airport. However, despite a long debate on Bill C-22, the government has refused to reveal all the information on this patronage horror story.

Today we heard that the Pearson Development Corporation is asking for compensation totalling $440 million. The consortium's demands include two million dollars for lobbying expenses, contributions to the Conservative Party in 1993 and baseball tickets for the Blue Jays.

To eliminate any possibility that the consortium's outrageous demands would be successful before the courts and to avoid any recurrence of such events, the Prime Minister must realize he has a responsibility to provide all the information available on the Pearson affair and to appoint a royal commission of inquiry that will consider all the ramifications.

Gun Control

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a few sentences from a speech given by Mrs. Deborah L. Ure whose 19-year old son Wes and his friend Santo were shot and killed in 1992:

Wes and Santo are dead. It doesn't matter to me that they were killed by a gunshot wound. They could just as easily have been stabbed, beaten or mutilated. The end result is the same. Our children are dead. The gun didn't kill them. Two poor excuses for human beings did. Now, when these men came into possession of this gun, the murder weapon, did they have an FAC? Did they register it? Did they store it safely? Of course not. Criminals or wanna-be criminals don't respect our country's gun laws. Safe storage to them is having the gun stuck down the back of their pants or inside a boot until they need to use it. This is the problem that our justice minister should be addressing. We need criminal control, not gun control.

In response to the pleas of this mother of a murdered teenager, Reform does not support the registration of rifles and shotguns unless it can be shown to be an effective control for reducing the criminal-

Bloc Quebecois

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this House recently witnessed a scene that was more like theatre than parliamentary debate.

The hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata protested against a statement made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, in which he indirectly associated the House of Commons with theatre.

The member of the Bloc said that the minister's comments "cast discredit on an institution such as Parliament, implying that what goes on in this place has more to do with play acting than real life".

Would the hon. member feel more comfortable with what was said by her own colleague, the Leader of the Bloc Quebecois? In an article in the Journal de Montréal , he stated: ``We consider both the question and the tone we want to use. Sometimes, all we want to do is get the information. Occasionally, the question is intended to embarrass the minister''.

Quebecers and Canadians expect Bloc Quebecois members to take their parliamentary responsibilities more seriously.

Christmas Miracle Program

[Harold Culbert, Liberal, Carleton—Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, as the holiday season approaches, we see many acts of caring and sharing by thousands of Canadian organizations and individuals.

This past Sunday, the Woodstock and Florenceville, New Brunswick, Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs hosted their 18th annual Christmas Miracle Program displaying an abundance of excellent local talent and raising thousands of dollars to assist those in need. Having had the opportunity to personally take part again this year, I was pleased to see the pledges of sharing and caring that are prevalent among Canadians.

Congratulations to the Woodstock and Florenceville Kinsmen and Kinettes for their worthy efforts to help others. Congratulations to all Canadian clubs, organizations and individuals who volunteer their time and talent in order to assist others during this season. They truly represent the holiday spirit and make us all proud to be Canadians.

Forum 94

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, November 25, I had the privilege to participate in Forum 94 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

This conference was an affirmation of the important place official language communities should have within Canada. Forum 94 has demonstrated that provincial governments can play a vital role in promoting official languages in Canada.

The Acadian community and the Government of Prince Edward Island have shown leadership at a time when the birthplace of Confederation is contributing more than ever to our sense of national identity.

Participants were able to prove that the vision of a united Canada that respects regional, linguistic and cultural differences is still firmly rooted in the birthplace of our nation.

Child Poverty

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, five years ago, this House took the solemn undertaking to fight against and eradicate child poverty by the year 2000. Since then, the number of children living in poverty has grown from a little under one million to nearly 1.3 million.

In its most recent report, the Canadian Council on Social Development criticized the reform the Minister of Human Resources Development is conducting. The Council considers that the minister's reform plan may well make child poverty worse because of cuts in assistance programs for poor families. Single-parent families, in which 41 per cent of poor children in Canada live, would be particularly hard hit by this reform.

The council has now joined the ranks of those who, like the Bloc Quebecois, object to any reform that cuts blindly into social programs. In his inaugural speech yesterday, the new Premier of Quebec expressed concern for the difficulties facing women and youth in particular, and we hope that the actions he will undertake will be aimed directly at fighting poverty.

Refugee Determination

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the current turmoil at the IRB is only a symptom of a greater disease. Members of the IRB have approached me saying that there is no cure for the lack of accountability in that institution. They have told me that the IRB was a gross overreaction to a court decision and should be scrapped.

Our current refugee system is out of touch with internationally accepted norms of refugee determination. It costs a horrendous amount of money and is ignoring the desperate needs of tens of thousands of genuine refugees overseas.

It is time to rethink our refugee determination system and the Reform Party has. Very soon we will be releasing our proposals for change to the system, changes that are going to be in the

interests of not only refugees but of taxpayers as well. Our proposals will balance the needs of refugees against the needs of Canadians.

We have the guts to restore a little common sense to the system. Once again the Reform Party leads the way. We will be setting the agenda in refugee determination the way that we have set the agenda in immigration policy.

Gasoline Prices

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last spring gas prices jumped seven cents per litre across Canada without justification. Only after I publicly called for the government to investigate this industry for price fixing and gouging did gas prices drop about three cents per litre. Public protest followed and it dropped one or two cents more per litre around the country leaving a two or three cent a litre increase intact.

The Bureau of Competition Policy today said it does not see price fixing. This is a bizarre conclusion with unanswered questions. Why this conclusion? Could it be because the oil companies and the Liberal government are in bed together?

For example, the Liberal Party received political donations from Husky Oil of $14,000, from Amoco Oil of $27,000, and from Imperial Oil of $47,000 last year alone. He who pays the piper calls the tune. As far as Canadian consumers are concerned the Bureau of Competition Policy and the Liberal government are more like lapdogs than watchdogs when it comes to gas price fixing.

The oil companies' donations in this case to the Liberal Party are paying off.

Crohn's And Colitis Month

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that November has been designated Crohn's and Colitis Month.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic digestive disorders of the small and large intestines. Often referred to as inflammatory bowel disease their cause is unknown although stress can precipitate attacks. There is currently no cure, however specific diets may control the symptoms. Crohn's disease and colitis may affect as many as 200,000 Canadians of all ages.

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a non-profit voluntary medical research foundation dedicated to the finding of a cure for this disease by raising funds for medical research. The foundation with the financial support of Health Canada also provides education programs for individuals with this disease as well as for their families, health professionals and the general public.

To the foundation and its many volunteers we extend our best wishes and hope for future success.

Bosanquet

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure today to congratulate the residents and the council of the township of Bosanquet in my riding of Lambton-Middlesex.

On December 1, 1994 by order of the Ontario Municipal Board the township of Bosanquet will be elevated to the town of Bosanquet and its new town council will be sworn in.

The province of Ontario's newest town has a very storied history commencing in 1821 with a 390 acre land grant to its first settler, Mr. Asa Townsend. In 1850 electors met to elect the township's first council. One of the first motions passed by the council was the proviso that there was no qualification necessary with respect to property for the several officers appointed at that meeting.

It is not hard to deduce that the first councillors of the township of Bosanquet displayed the highest democratic principle. Their spirit lives on with the current mayor, Mr. Fred Thomas, and the town's six councillors.

My heartiest congratulations to the town of Bosanquet.

Government Of Quebec

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Saint-Denis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the linguistic and cultural communities of Quebec are worried. In recent weeks, statements by certain Quebec government ministers and their officials have been increasing and have given rise to speculation and suspicion.

We were apprised yesterday of what Yves Michaud, Quebec chargé de mission in Paris, had written his boss and friend, Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Landry. Referring to an article, he said it was refreshing compared to the claims of cultural communities, adding that we will have to do away with such nonsense reminiscent of Trudeau, cooked up to make us disappear in a sea of Canadian multiculturalism.

Louise Beaudoin, Quebec minister responsible for Canadian Affairs, was quoted as saying: "Why could I not live in my country as I wish, instead of as English Canadians want me to? They are the ones who want a multicultural society, not me".

This attitude of distrust toward ethno-cultural communities goes against every aspect of our international reputation for hospitality, openness and tolerance.

The Parti Quebecois government must quickly put an end to-

[The Speaker]

I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member. The hon. member for Beauharnois-Salaberry has the floor.

[Laurent Lavigne, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau delivered his first inaugural address.

Calling upon Quebecers' solidarity, the Premier launched a major campaign to fight unemployment, revive the economy and start thinking about our collective future.

Painting a positive picture of his government's first few weeks in office, Mr. Parizeau outlined encouraging prospects for Quebecers in the future.

Things will not happen overnight, of course, but Quebec now has a real government with projects, resources and an ideal.

After several gloomy years, Quebecers are urged to take charge of their lives, make choices and adopt a real plan for their society.

Multiculturalism

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this government and the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism continue to deny Canadians their fundamental right to choose, to choose for themselves how to protect and promote their heritage and culture.

I will continue to ask questions that challenge the way we spend our money while at the same time encouraging ethnocultural communities to fully participate in Canadian life adding to it their unique diversities.

We in the Reform Party reject a big brother, paternalistic approach to cultural imperialism that the minister continues to preach. Instead we believe we should provide jobs for Canadians. We should tax them less. We should allow them the freedom to develop and pay for those cultural programs that interest them.

This government should realize the importance of empowering ethnocultural communities to be themselves. Then truly it will have abandoned its culturally imperialistic and arrogant multiculturalism policies.

Organization For Economic Co-Operation And Development

[John English, Liberal, Kitchener, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the decision by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to appoint Donald Johnston as the secretary general.

Mr. Johnston's five year appointment will represent the first time in the OECD's history in which a non-European has been chosen to lead this major policy forum for the world's industrialized countries. Candidates from around the world were vying for this position and yet in the end it was a Canadian who was chosen.

It should come as no surprise that this longstanding member of Parliament, former cabinet minister, Montrealer and resident of Quebec should be chosen as the new leader of the OECD. He is a highly respected lawyer with a strong background in economic issues. Mr. Johnston will bring to the organization a wealth of experience with a truly Canadian perspective.

By tradition the OECD leadership is a consensus decision. Given the outcome of this announcement-

Bloc Quebecois

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—French-River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to warn the House and the Board of Internal Economy that some members of the Bloc Quebecois shamelessly use their privilege as members of the House of Commons by promoting Quebec's independence in their Christmas cards.

In addition to being in poor taste, this practice probably goes against parliamentary rules. Using taxpayers' money and the great Christmas holiday for political purposes is reprehensible and shameful.

Will Bloc members reimburse the Canadian government for these immoral expenditures? Will Bloc members include these expenditures in the "yes" campaign in order not to contravene Quebec's referendum act?

I therefore ask you, Mr. Speaker, to investigate and condemn this outrageous practice.

[An hon. member]

Come on.

[An hon. member]

You exaggerate.

[The Speaker]

It is Wednesday, what do you expect?

Mil Davie Shipyard

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House, the Prime Minister agreed with the verdict of the Canada-Newfoundland board which denounced awarding a contract without tender to Saint John Shipbuilding. The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Natural Resources to require the Hibernia consortium to review its decision that was unfair to MIL Davie, the only bidder able to carry out this contract which had been awarded to Saint John.

How can the minister explain the government's decision to hold another call for tenders on this contract, when MIL Davie was the only other shipyard that bid on it?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me clarify that which the Prime Minister and I said yesterday.

In light of the Canada-Newfoundland offshore board decision which indicated all Canadian shipbuilding companies were not given a full and fair opportunity to bid or tender for the contract in question, we have asked through the president of the Hibernia Management Corporation that the owners review their decision.

I understand from Mr. Hull, the president, that he will be in contact with the other owners and seek that review. Pending the outcome of that review, I think it would be unfair or inappropriate for me to anticipate the outcome.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since everyone admits that MIL Davie was wronged in this affair, why does the minister stubbornly refuse to recognize that the only way to correct the injustice done to the Quebec shipyard is to award it automatically and without delay this contract which it should have had from the beginning?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate the position of the Prime Minister and myself. What we are concerned about in this situation is the process that was used by the Hibernia Management Corporation. It is clear based on the report of the offshore board that all Canadian companies were not treated fairly. We have asked the management board of Hibernia to review that decision. Our concern is with the process. We have never commented on the ability or lack thereof of any shipyard in this country to do the job in question. We are concerned that everyone get the opportunity to be treated fairly.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we see how complicated and difficult it is to obtain justice when a Quebec company like MIL Davie is involved. Does the minister realize that by reopening the bidding, she is leaving MIL Davie vulnerable to its competitors since they will probably have access to the documents from the first bid and find out about their contents? Does she realize that?