Debates of Dec. 8th, 1994

Supply

[The Speaker]

Dear colleague, I believe that you have about a minute left. You may continue after Question Period, if you wish.

[Warren Allmand, Liberal, Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will have an opportunity to respond to that question?

[The Speaker]

Yes, you will have an opportunity to respond to the question after question period. As it is now two o'clock, pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House will now proceed to statements by members pursuant to Standing Order 31.

Citizenship And Immigration

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week I had the pleasure of joining the hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration at a special citizenship and reaffirmation ceremony presided over by Dr. John Brooks, a member of the Order of Canada.

I congratulate the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, the Queen Victoria Public School Children's Choir and all the volunteers for putting on such a splendid, well-organized event.

As I was congratulating the new citizens, one individual thanked me for coming and whispered to me: "God bless Canada and please do whatever you can to keep it together".

I was deeply moved by his words. As the son of an immigrant I would like today to echo his words in this honourable House. God bless Canada. I would also like to assure this new Canadian and all Canadians that this government, this party, will work relentlessly to make our country proud, prosperous and above all, united.

Referendum On Quebec Sovereignty

[Jean H. Leroux, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec sovereignty issue is again at the centre of debate.

In the 1980 referendum campaign, Prime Minister Trudeau said that a "no" to the referendum meant a "yes" to renewed federalism. We know the rest: exclusion of Quebec from the Canadian Constitution, failure of Meech Lake, failure of Charlottetown.

This time, federalist leaders promise a "flexible federalism", at the same time we learn that the federal government refuses to pay $282 million in transfer payments owed to the Quebec Treasury.

The rest of Canada no longer wants to hear about the legitimate demands of Quebec. As for Quebecers, they have had enough of the status quo. The positions are clear. Why the false pretences? Quebecers will soon have to choose between sovereignty and fossilized federalism. We are confident of the outcome.

Okanagan Wine Industry

[Jim Hart, Reform, Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute an industry which has risen from the ashes to become a world leader. I refer to the Okanagan's flourishing wine industry. Today any respectable wine cellar is incomplete without a selection of the very fine vintages coming from the Okanagan Valley.

Among our world class estate wines we include Le Compte Wines, Sumac Ridge, Lang Vinyards, Wild Goose Vinyards and Gehringer Brothers. All have won an impressive collection of international medals for their wines. Many of these wines have been judged the best in the world at competitions such as the Intervin International in New York and the International Wine and Spirit Competition held in London, England.

In the south Okanagan estate wineries floundered with government subsidies but have flourished without government subsidies and government interference. Free enterprise and competition nurtures excellence. There is an important lesson in

the Okanagan wine industry. I salute the entrepreneurs of the Okanagan wine industry and the people of the Okanagan. Indeed all Canadians are justly proud of you.

Joanne Dave

[Jag Bhaduria, Liberal, Markham—Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to my dedicated executive assistant, Joanne Dave, who passed away last week. She died after suffering severe head injuries in a car accident.

Joanne was a devoted assistant who never accepted an adverse response to a constituent query. She was so dedicated to her job that she would not stop until she got the best possible result for any constituent. She was much more than a highly competent employee; she was also a friend for many years and was always there to assist me in every matter.

Many members in this House who have met Joanne through her work will concur with me about everything I have stated. To her husband Pankaj, her three children Shilpa, Neha and little Chiku, I offer my deepest sympathy. She will be remembered fondly by all who have known her.

Canadian Peacekeepers

[Jesse Flis, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I know that members on both sides of this House welcome the news that the Bosnian Serb army has now released 55 Canadian peacekeepers detained in the Bosnian town of Ilijas.

If these brave men and women are listening today, I want them to know that Canadians are very proud of the important work being done in this shattered region. We know very well this war could have claimed thousands of lives more if it were not for the Canadian peacekeepers.

We also know the war lords in this conflict would love the UN to pull out of the former Yugoslavia. Canadians are not quitters. We will not carelessly abandon innocent civilians at their moment of greatest need. I ask that all members join me in this salute to the brave Canadians serving in the UN peacekeeping operations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you and Radio Canada International for your assistance in getting this message to our peacekeepers serving around the globe.

Education

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Canada moves into the 21st century no field of endeavour is more vital to our continued success as a nation than education.

I would like to recognize the efforts of Canada's teachers throughout our nation at all levels of education. Their vital role in preparing young Canadians to become full active citizens should never be underestimated.

There is an appreciation from most Canadian students and their families of this reality. Today I am pleased to welcome to Ottawa from my riding of London-Middlesex staff and students of Regina Mundi College where I taught at one time. They are a good example of the very important interest that our educators and our youth have in the future of this our great Canada.

The Late Jack Ellis

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Jack Ellis, member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings from 1972 to 1988.

On Thursday, December 1, Jack Ellis died of a sudden heart attack at his home in Prince Edward County in Ontario. Those of us who knew him as a friend and colleague will know that Jack's public career was one of selfless commitment and fierce pride in his work. His sudden death will leave our community with a profound sense of loss as to the tremendous potential for further service which has been left unfulfilled.

In the Quinte area Jack was a longstanding public figure with a tremendous record of success. Following his retirement as member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings he continued to work tirelessly on some of his favourite community oriented projects and was always a strong voice representing the interests of a region.

Only his commitment to family and his loyalty to his friends had the potential to surpass his devotion to public service. In this sense he was a complete professional with the values that are treasured the most in political life.

There will be a memorial service for Jack tomorrow in Belleville. I know that all members of this House will join with me in extending our most sincere sympathies to Jack's wife Wally, his children, family and friends on their sudden and unfortunate loss.

Social Program Reform

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec university presidents announced that they will not participate in federal hearings on social program reform. Denouncing the federal project, they said that they agreed with the Government of Quebec, that education was strictly a provincial matter.

Unanimously, Quebec university students opposed the federal reform. They condemned it saying, and I quote: "When they choose a country, students will remember that the federal government increased their tuition fees and their debt load against the will of Quebec".

Yesterday, the National Council of Welfare denounced the federal proposal to create two classes of unemployed, and urged the government not to widen any further the gap between rich and poor.

The Bloc Quebecois demands that the minister go back to the drawing board. He said the reform was prompted by public opinion. Yes, Quebecers and Canadian want a reform, but not the one he proposes.

[English]

Gun Control

[Philip Mayfield, Reform, Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the justice minister plans to force legal gun owners to register their firearms with the federal government. The majority of constituents in my riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin are strongly opposed to this plan.

Canadians have told this justice minister many times that a gun registry will not work. Legal gun owners have been very responsible in the care, use and storage of their firearms. One constituent of mine, John Ross of 100 Mile House, said: "Past governments have made much ado about the gun control legislation they have passed. In reality, they have only placed additional responsibilities and restrictions on the honest, responsible gun owners".

All a gun registry will do is frustrate legal gun owners and swell the government bureaucracy while leaving criminals untouched.

I call on all Canadians who are against registration and the other unnecessary proposals to write to the justice minister at the House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, KlA 0A6, no stamp required.

Highways

[John Harvard, Liberal, Winnipeg—St. James, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the government to give serious consideration to increasing support to our national highway system.

Currently of the $5 billion collected as federal fuel tax only about 10 per cent of the revenue is invested in the Canadian highway system. This is simply not enough. More than a third of the 24,000 kilometre national highway system in Canada does not meet minimum standards. Ensuring that the national highway system meets the standards established by the Minister of Transport would result in the creation of 200,000 direct construction jobs as well as a number of secondary benefits for those industries which rely on the road system like tourism and transportation.

Not only will there be economic advantages, I believe the revitalization of our transportation infrastructure will also result in reduced highway fatalities, loss and damage to property, as well as reducing congestion and lowering vehicle operating costs not only in my riding but in ridings across the country.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge this House to support the renewal of the national highway system in Canada.

Human Rights

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Saturday, December 10 is World Human Rights Day.

As Canadians, we can be proud of our contribution to the international community on the issue of human rights and on the development of international standards to which we adhere.

This said, we must also be ever vigilant that our human rights respect international standards and ensure the right of all Canadians to live free from discrimination in this country.

A recent decision of the United Nations human rights committee ruled that sexual orientation is protected by the equality guarantees of the international covenant on civil and political rights, a document which Canada helped prepare and which binds us.

Let us in remembering World Human Rights Day recognize that it is our duty to ensure that our laws in this country are amended to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including any based on sexual orientation.

Employment Equity

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Standing Committee on Finance tabled its report on the first ever pre-budget consultations. As a member of that committee I could comment on several aspects of the report. But as the sole female member I feel compelled to highlight the necessity of understanding the gender impact of budgetary measures.

We recommended a 12 per cent cut in government operations, but will we ensure that the positive impact of employment equity initiatives will not be lost as we pare down our public service? We suggested a 10 per cent reduction in international aid, but will we be sure that our women in development programs are not disproportionately cut?

There are those who say this strategy is too expensive, but I say the government must take the initiative and ensure that systemic discrimination is not perpetuated nor created. We insist on this in the private sector through employment equity legislation. We can expect no less from our government.

Canadian Peacekeepers

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with great relief that we learned this morning that the 55 Canadian peacekeepers taken hostage by Bosnian Serb forces two weeks ago had been released. However, we are still extremely concerned about the eventual pull-out of all peacekeepers from Bosnia, at a time when NATO is speeding up preparations for such a move.

If the humiliation the Bosnian Serb forces are inflicting on the international community were to lead to the withdrawal of peacekeepers from Bosnia, it is quite certain that we will face a significant upsurge in fighting. Consequently, we have every reason to fear the impact of such a decision on the Bosnian civilian population which would be completely left to its fate. It is high time for Canada to show leadership and push for the United Nations to be reformed as quickly as possible in order to recover the credibility the UN lost in this horrible conflict.

Foreign Aid

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this House will be asked to vote later today on $1,143,285,750 worth of spending. Five hundred and twenty-seven million dollars of this spending is to help reduce the debts of heavily indebted countries because of multilateral agreements Canada undertook in the past.

Some of these heavily indebted countries are much less indebted than Canada yet Canadian taxpayers are asked to relieve their debts. This is absolutely insane.

I call upon the Minister of Finance to commit to this House that such ludicrous agreements will not be undertaken in the future. Furthermore, will the Minister of Finance abide by the motion passed by the Standing Committee on Finance on December 1 which states that any agreement to relieve the debt burden of other countries is studied by the finance committee prior to the government making any such commitment?

Social Program Reform

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, consultations undertaken by the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, following the minister's tabling of his discussion paper entitled "Improving Social Security in Canada", are being held in Quebec this week.

We learned recently that the Conseil du patronat du Québec had polled its members on the best way to finance post-secondary education. The results of this consultation are published in the December issue of the CPQ newsletter.

We learn that almost three respondents out of four, 74 per cent to be more exact, believe that the federal government should fund students directly through loans and bursaries. This is yet another proof that the social program reform launched by our government truly meets the expectations and aspirations of the population.

Ronald Edward Armstrong

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to the late Reverend Ronald Edward Armstrong of Windermere in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.

Reverend Armstrong was killed in a tragic plane crash recently, bringing to an end a life dedicated to the service of others. Besides his work at several parishes in Ontario during the past 30 years, Reverend Armstrong will be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the people on the Island of Bequia, St. Vincent and other Grenadine Islands.

Reverend Armstrong, who founded and directed the Bequia Mission, was instrumental in establishing a school for handicapped children and adults, a workshop for the handicapped and he arranged for the sponsorship of underprivileged children so they could attend school.

Reverend Armstrong was a great humanitarian and a great Canadian. We all share the loss with his wife June, four children and grandchildren.

Draft Bill On Quebec Sovereignty

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in the same disarray as the speakers for the federalist cause,

the Prime Minister tried to minimize the consultation process announced by the Government of Quebec and at the same time confirmed that he did not intend to participate in it. He also mentioned the possibility of the federal government holding a Canada-wide referendum on Quebec's constitutional future.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Does he admit that holding a Canada-wide referendum on Quebec's constitutional future means denying Quebecers the right to decide their own future for themselves?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we want only one thing: a referendum as soon as possible in Quebec, under Quebec's Referendum Act, where they will not play tricks but be honest with the people and ask Quebecers whether or not they want to separate from Canada.

If they do that, we will solve the problem quickly and no longer hear about it. I hope that instead of the unnecessary complications which the Bloc members are now raising, we will take the question seriously and stop talking about the Constitution and separation and all work together on creating jobs and economic growth, which is what Quebecers want above all.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how does the Prime Minister reconcile what his Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs said about the possibility of flexible federalism with his own statement refusing any constitutional reform?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is not very complicated. Right now, the Minister of Human Resources Development is making a fundamental reform in Canada without changing the Constitution. That is what we want: fundamental reforms.

Enough time has been wasted consulting people for years. We wasted seven years discussing constitutional changes and ended up with exactly the same situation and the federal system we have today. It was wonderful to see Mr. Parizeau say in his statement how we have advanced in Canada. He was talking about the progress Quebec made within the Canadian federation. Why change that? If we could do so well, we will continue to do even better by remaining in the best country in the world, Canada.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everyone will have understood what the Prime Minister means by flexible federalism: the provinces bend and the federal government invades their jurisdiction.

How can the Prime Minister be indignant and get all hot under the collar about the $2 million which Quebec will spend on consulting its citizens when his own government is getting ready to spend $35 million on tourism advertising to promote his beautiful Canada, $7 million more for promoting Canadian unity and $6 million more for the Privy Council and its federal strategy on the referendum?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, what is absolutely outrageous in the Parti Quebecois's proposal now is that they want to create 15 "yes" committees financed by the state. They proposed having 15 committee members, of whom 13 would be appointed by the party in power and two by the opposition parties. Since they are not confident in their cause, they want the PQ campaign to promote their cause in their ridings to be paid for by the taxpayers of Quebec.

We will go to Quebec and make speeches and it will not be paid for by the taxpayers of Canada. We will tell Quebecers that we do not want trickery; we want the truth, a clear, short, unambiguous question: Do you, in Quebec, want to separate from Canada, yes or no? It is as simple as that.