Debates of Dec. 7th, 1994

Saint John Weather Office

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have recently been informed that Environment Canada has decided to move the Saint John weather office to Fredericton, New Brunswick.

I believe this change will have a wide-reaching negative impact on the city of Saint John. Because of the government's decision the Saint John city works department supervisors who plan snow removal for the next day will have to base their decision on a forecast from Fredericton which is 60 miles inland or else rely on the local forecast that may be five hours old.

Having up to the minute forecasts is critical to the Saint John works department, schools, the airport and our port. Saint John has a reputation for having its own unique weather. For example fog which can occur without warning and certainly is undetectable from Fredericton, New Brunswick.

I ask the Minister of Environment for safety's sake to reconsider this decision and return full meteorological service to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Violence

[Dianne Brushett, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House we remembered the fifth anniversary of the tragic death of 14 young women at l'École polytechnique in Montreal. We strongly emphasized the need to end violence against women.

All violence is an assault on the sanctity of human life and the thief of personal dignity. Whether this violence occurs in the home or on the street, whether it is directed at men, women or children, it abuses the soul and violates the body.

Human beings have the potential for immense noble acts while at the same time we can be immensely cruel. By a single word we can make our neighbour feel like a king or a pauper. By a single act we can create life or destroy it.

I call upon all members of this honourable House to enhance their efforts to end not only violence against women but violence against all people.

Michel Tremblay

[Maurice Dumas, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, the Mouvement national des Québécois et Québécoises presented one of Quebec's most noted authors, Michel Tremblay, with the 1994 Silver Medal.

A prolific writer, Michel Tremblay is one of a short list of Quebec playwrights whose works are played on all five continents.

Approximately 100 artists from Quebec paid tribute to the recipient in a skilful production directed by André Montmorency.

At the end of this magnificent evening, Mr. Tremblay impulsively, and with characteristic generosity, dedicated his award to our leader, Mr. Bouchard.

Louise Laurin, the president of the movement, said that the tribute being paid to Michel Tremblay that evening was in recognition of the generous contribution of the author to the development and dissemination of our culture. Thank you, Michel Tremblay.

Peacekeeping

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the defence review has acknowledged that Parliament needs to have criteria in place for peacekeeping missions, criteria like when should a mission be undertaken, what are the goals for our peacekeepers and more important, when should Canada withdraw.

The lack of criteria has resulted in the distressing capture of 55 courageous Canadian peacekeepers in the former Yugoslavia. The government dithers on while the UN mission becomes the

laughing-stock of the world and our soldiers are held hostage by armed forces intent on finishing their war and not contributing to peace.

Today I will introduce a private member's bill called the peacekeeping bill. It would require the government to pass a resolution in this House before a peacekeeping mission starts. The resolution would lay out the goals, duration and maximum cost of the mission. Once the resolution expired, troops would be withdrawn or a new resolution passed to continue the mission.

A peacekeeping bill would allow Parliament to ask the hard questions before peacekeeping missions begin and help to secure the lives of our peacekeepers.

International Civil Aviation Organization

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today is the 50th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.

As the only United Nations agency with headquarters in Canada, it covers the bilateral international accords governing landing and access rights and passage through air space, control of aerial piracy, illegal diversion of aircraft. It also covers issues of hostile military action against civil passenger aircraft as with the Korean Airlines incident of 1983 and the Iranian airbus incident of 1987.

As a former director of the McGill University Institute and Centre of Air and Space Law, I salute ICAO and its mandate for the freedom of the air and politically secure and economically viable international air transportation.

Drunk Drivers

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recently spent two days at the international border crossing at Fort Erie in my riding. I observed the operation of our hardworking customs and immigration officers and discussed various issues with them.

After spending some time observing the procedures on the primary inspection line during the evening shift I became concerned about the lack of sobriety of motor vehicle drivers returning to Canada from the United States.

The public fully expects that our Canadian roads are to be protected from drunk drivers and are of the opinion that our customs officers have the right to detain such individuals. The reality is that our customs officers have no such authority. The inability of our border personnel to lawfully detain suspected intoxicated drivers or demand that they submit to a breathalyser test is unsatisfactory.

I ask the Minister of Justice and the Minister of National Revenue to reconsider the powers of our customs officers with a view to correcting this unacceptable situation.

Justice

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the recent decision by the Supreme Court of Canada that drunkenness is a defence for rape has led to cries from Canadians for a change in these laws. These cries have grown louder in recent weeks as we have seen a number of cases in which individuals have successfully used the drunkenness defence to escape conviction for the horrendous crime of sexual assault.

I have been contacted by a number of my constituents who are upset and disillusioned with the Supreme Court of Canada's decision. I share their concerns and their outrage.

On behalf of my constituents I would like to inform all members of this House that the people of Brampton support the introduction of new legislation which will ensure that individuals who commit a serious crime serve the time, whether or not they have consumed alcohol.

It is up to every member of this House to ensure that the outrage which Canadians feel is promptly translated into new legislation.

International Civil Aviation Organization

[Nic Leblanc, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the international civil aviation organization, or ICAO, the only UN agency based in Canada and one of its oldest components, is celebrating its 50th anniversary today in the presence of the UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Based in Montreal, like more than 30 other international organizations, including the International Air Transport Association and the secretariat for the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, ICAO exemplifies the vitality of Quebec's chief city internationally.

It is this internationalism that the federal government was forced to recognize last winter by allowing the head office of the NAFTA environment committee to be based in Montreal. Dynamic, cosmopolitan and open to the world, Montreal will make a proud chief city in a sovereign Quebec.

Sexual Orientation

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there has been much debate about sexual orientation and issues concerning the rights and status of gays and lesbians in our society. I believe that there are two parts to this issue. The first is a matter of discrimination and the legal rights of the individual; the second is group rights.

I personally support the addition of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act providing that sexual orientation is defined as homosexuality, heterosexuality or bisexuality.

Canadians must decide whether or not they want to give same sex relationships the same rights and benefits as heterosexual relationships. Personally, I do not support granting gay and lesbian couples the same status as heterosexual couples with regard to marriage, adoption and common law rights.

A spouse should continue to be defined as a member of the opposite sex and the family defined as those related by blood, adoption or marriage.

East Timor

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 19th anniversary of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. Since 1974, over 200,000 people, one-third of the population, have died in the genocide. Recent reports indicate that the repression continues with acts such as shutting down key media outlets, banning trade unions and arresting union leaders.

At the recent APEC summit, Canada managed to secure a number of important contracts but the silence on human rights abuses was deafening.

The situation in East Timor received international attention during the APEC meeting, but with the international spotlight gone the Indonesian government can continue to repress the people of East Timor.

It is imperative that pressure be put on now. Canada should end its arms sales to Indonesia and support an international embargo. We should put pressure on the Indonesian government to release all political prisoners, in particular Xanana Gusmao, leader of the independence movement. Canada should support independence and self-determination for the people of East Timor and show full respect for UN Resolutions 389 and 384.

Parti Quebecois

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Premier of Quebec tabled his so-called draft bill on Quebec independence. The object of this exercise is to rush Quebecers into an empty debate on what an independent Quebec state would look like, without even knowing if they are in favour of this ill-advised venture. This bit of trickery amounts to putting the cart before the horse.

Given the fragile mandate which the Parti Quebecois received in the last provincial election, I can easily understand why the separatists do not dare ask the only question that counts: Do you want to stay in Canada, yes or no?

Despite the games being played by the Parti Quebecois, I have no doubt that Quebecers will choose to remain and continue to grow in Canada.

Radio Station Cjem

[Pierrette Ringuette-Maltais, Liberal, Madawaska—Victoria, NB]

Mr. Speaker, radio station CJEM in Edmundston, New Brunswick, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding; it started broadcasting 50 years ago.

Under the direction of its founders, CJEM has been a source of relevant information and entertainment for the local population since December 4, 1944. CJEM was also the first French-language radio station in the Maritimes, which illustrates very well the vitality and creativity of the people in my riding and their interest in promoting the French fact.

I extend to them my sincere congratulations on their 50th anniversary and wish them continued prosperity in the years to come.

Children For Peace

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Bonaventure—Îles-De-La-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise to thank over one hundred children from my riding who sent me drawings, as well as messages of peace, hope and friendship.

These touching messages come from pupils in grade two at École Saint-Paul, Maria, in grade four at École Père-Pacifique, Pointe-à-la-Croix, in grade one at École Bourg, Carleton, and in grade four at École Bois-Vivant, New-Richmond. Their drawings convey messages such as: "Every child has a right to

be protected", "I want children to live in love", and "Let us make sure fewer children die very young".

It is my hope that these messages will inspire all young Canadians, at a time when we are debating the gun control issue and on the day after the sad anniversary of the killing of 14 young women at Montreal's École polytechnique. Fortunately, these drawings are a source of hope for a better future.

Draft Bill On Sovereignty

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec Premier unveiled his proposed sovereignty plan to Quebecers. The process is characterized by a deep respect for the democratic principles in which Quebecers firmly believe.

The fact that those who patriated the Constitution in 1982 without Quebec's approval and those who concocted the Charlottetown referendum without any mandate from Canadians are now criticizing a transparent and legitimate process is confirmation that cynicism never killed anyone.

In 1990, the Parti Quebecois agreed to participate in the Bélanger-Campeau Commission, even though the Liberal government had no mandate and the conditions were far from equal for all involved. The difference is that the PQ had convictions and a vision to propose.

Today, the sovereignists are in control. They want to invite all Quebecers to participate in the process. The federalist parties are free to boycott it. As for us Bloc Quebecois members, we will listen to Quebecers and build a country that reflects who we are.

Western Economic Diversification

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, western economic diversification boasts about how many jobs it has created since the Tories invented the program in 1987.

Forget about the millions of dollars in write-offs and grants. There is one shining star that western diversification can trumpet about and he is Iain Williamson. Who is he, the Liberals might ask. He is a man who some would define as a real entrepreneur. He saw a unique opportunity created by federal government largesse.

Williamson wrote the book entitled: Your Guide to Government Financial Assistance for Business in Manitoba . You guessed it. He writes about finding taxpayers' money for your business. If you run a small business and are in receivership or default of a loan, don't worry, be happy. Just apply for the small business financing program.

Yes, the Liberals should be proud that they have created one good job by giving Williamson lots to write about.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the election last week of the Canadian Wheat Board advisory committee was a clear victory for those supporting the principles of orderly marketing.

Ten out of eleven candidates running won for the pro-board side. That is the highest number of candidates on the pro-board side ever elected. It comes at a time when promoters of the open market dual marketing system so-called were sowing seeds of misinformation on the board and trying their hardest to undermine orderly marketing. Some even supported tactics of breaking the law. It goes to show that the rhetoric and publicity tactics of the anti-board groups are just that, rhetoric but no substance and little support. Every wheat board permit holder had the right to vote in this election. The evidence is in. Congratulations. The government must now continue to support and strengthen the Canadian Wheat Board.

Small Business

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of small business owners in Vancouver South I congratulate the Minister of Industry for the bold measures which he has introduced for Canada's small business community. Through those measures outlined in "Building a More Innovative Economy" the minister has managed to strike the necessary balance between less government and better government; less government in areas like regulation, taxation and paperwork, and better government in areas like procurement, trading opportunities, business training and transportation.

I hope that a careful reading of the minister's plan will demonstrate to all members of this House that a vibrant economy is built on a well thought out and proactive plan. It can never be achieved through a simple minded slash and burn policy as promoted by members of the Reform Party.

During the election campaign we promised to make small business the centrepiece of our economic strategy. With the release of this plan I am proud to see that this government has kept yet another election promise.

Draft Bill On Sovereignty

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday, the Premier of Quebec announced his government's approach to the referendum and invited Quebecers to a wide-ranging debate on their political future. The Deputy Prime Minister called the draft bill on Quebec's sovereignty a fraud and an illegitimate, undemocratic manoeuvre.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister call this draft bill illegitimate when it fully respects the provisions of Quebec's referendum law, the same one under which referendums were held in May 1980 and in October 1992 on the Charlottetown Accord?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, in our opinion, neither the form nor the content of the draft bill presented yesterday complies with Quebec's referendum legislation, which requires parity among the parties. As Mr. Johnson clearly showed yesterday, Mr. Parizeau's law does not provide for regional commissions where the various parties are represented equally. As for the substance, once again, they talk about the process even before the consequence of the process leading to separation has been put to a referendum.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, are we to understand that the federal government refuses to participate in the process initiated by the Government of Quebec because the Prime Minister of Canada and his government have nothing to offer but the constitutional status quo, which they know is rejected by a very large segment of Quebec's population?

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, what we have to offer is a federalist option which is clearly supported by most Quebecers.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

It is clear that well over 60 per cent of Quebecers oppose separation and it is also clear that if they are given a clear, honest question, the great majority of Quebecers will support the federalist option.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you will agree that it is harder and harder to define what the federalists are proposing, since the Prime Minister talks about a fixed status quo and the federalist spokesman in Quebec, Daniel Johnson, talks about renewed federalism.

How can the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs justify his government's refusal to get involved in this debate? Are they so afraid of presenting Quebecers with a real debate on the two options: sovereignty or their status quo?