Debates of May 3rd, 1994

La Saint-Jean

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's national holiday, la Saint-Jean , is a very special moment when all Quebecers have the opportunity to renew their commitment to their native land. Last year, over 200,000 people took part in the march down Sherbrooke street, and close to one million viewers watched the parade and the show on TV.

This year, several corporate partners from the business and communication sectors will help finance the festivities. Moreover, all Quebecers will be able to chip in by purchasing one of the 500,000 tickets which will be sold across Quebec at 5,500 different outlets.

The Bloc Quebecois strongly urges all Quebecers to give a hand to the National Holiday Committee so that, this year, the celebrations are once again a magical time of solidarity for all Quebecers.

Canadian Navy

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

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday Canadians remembered the Battle of the Atlantic. Canadians have enjoyed 50 years of peace and security

in large part due to the contribution of the courageous sailors of the Canadian navy.

Today the navy has as its mission the continued assurance of this peace. Canada has the world's longest coastline and is a major trading nation with busy seaports on both coasts. Her maritime interests are undeniable, particularly the fisheries.

Our navy plays a significant international role in NATO and made no small contribution to bringing about the end of the cold war. In peacekeeping operations the professionalism of our navy is respected around the world.

Today almost 1,000 Canadian sailors and airmen are off the coast of Haiti and Yugoslavia doing their part to support UN operations.

As we remember those sailors of World War II, I call on all Canadians to also remember the men and women of the Canadian navy who serve us so well today.

Killer Cards

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, serial killer cards have an adverse effect on our youth by glorifying the deeds of violent murderers. I encourage all members of the House to support the ban on their production and distribution.

Over the past six weeks I have received letters from high school students in my riding telling me that they fear growing up in a society in which violent murderers are rewarded with the production of commemorative trading cards. They tell me they fear that peers who collect these cards will come to look at violent murders as a quick and easy way to achieve fame rather than seeing murder for what it really is: a cruel end to many lives beginning with the victim and ending with their family and friends.

Youth in Brampton are demanding an end to the production and distribution of these cards.

For the well-being of our children and for the well-being of the type of society this generation hands down to them, I again ask all parliamentarians to support a ban on the production and distribution of serial killer cards.

Canadian Forests

[Derek Wells, Liberal, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is National Forest Week and I would like to acknowledge the contribution that forests make to my riding and to all of Canada's social, environmental and economic well-being. Next to the fishery the forestry sector is one of the largest employers in South Shore, with 270 companies employing over 5,000 people with exports valued at $150 million a year.

The designation of Lunenburg county by the Canadian Forestry Association as the forestry capital of Canada for 1996 and the previous designation of Queens county in 1987 indicate just how significant this resource sector is. Forests are a part of the natural beauty of South Shore and serve to make it a popular tourist destination.

Most important, forests are a key component of our natural environment. They moderate the climate, prevent erosion, improve air quality and provide wildlife habitat.

This week we should not only be thinking about what our forests provide for us but what we can do to provide for them.

Killer Cards

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern and that of my constituents about the importation of serial killer cards and serial board games into Canada.

We do not need products that exploit violence and cruelty. It is appalling that in the midst of the recent senseless shootings and the flare-up of violent crime some would go to any length to promote and commercialize serial killer cards and serial board games.

I am heartened that the Minister of Justice tabled in this House on April 20 draft amendments to the Criminal Code and the custom tariff. These draft amendments would prohibit the sale or distribution of offensive material such as serial killer cards and serial board games to children under the age of 18.

Let there be no doubt that I along with my colleagues in this House will do my utmost to effectively deal with the commercialization of crime and still work within the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of our country.

Agriculture

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the agri-food sector is presently faced with an upheaval the like of which we have not seen in thirty years. During the States-General of the rural world and the Trois-Rivières Summit, Quebec took the lead and agreed on principles which will govern the agriculture of tomorrow. The challenges of globalization are enormous and Quebec committed itself to developing a competitive agricultural sector which would build on the social and economic strengths of the regions.

The future depends on the decentralization of powers towards regional decision-making units better in touch with reality. Unfortunately, shared jurisdiction in the area of agriculture and

very different interests in the main agricultural areas of Canada, is not really helping the initiatives of Quebec farmers.

In this context, Quebec sovereignty is the necessary tool which will allow Quebec farmers to stay in the game.

Referendum '94

[Ted White, Reform, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, at a news conference this morning Referendum '94 on proposed amendments to the Young Offenders Act was officially launched.

Referendum '94 is believed to be the world's first ever electronic referendum. In the next few weeks every registered voter in North Vancouver will be receiving a confidential PIN number which will allow them to vote by dialling a 1-900 number, using their touch tone telephone to enter PIN identification and then voting yes or no to the questions on the electronic ballot.

North Vancouver high school students 15 years and older will also take part in the vote using a special series of PIN numbers that separates their vote from the vote of the registered voters.

A Canada wide 1-900 access will permit all Canadians to be part of an opinion poll on the same three questions that will be asked to the voters of North Vancouver in Referendum '94.

Bangladesh

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the severe cyclone which battered the Bangladesh coast and offshore islands yesterday I would like to extend sincere condolences to the people of Bangladesh.

Winds of over 200 kilometres per hour and heavy rains swept over the area bringing widespread damage to crops and property. The Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh has confirmed that there have been many casualties from this storm.

I know all members of the House join me in mourning this terrible loss of life and property.

Our condolences are also extended to the members of the Bangladesh community in Canada. We join with them in mourning the passing of their friends and loved ones.

Fishery Observer Contract

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

Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that there are severe problems with the recent awarding of the fishery observer contract to Biorex.

This year the contract was up for renewal and the government went with the lowest bidder, Biorex, to save money. This saving is being consumed by the fact that the government has decided to train these inexperienced observers from Biorex under funding from CEIC. It is clear that by paying for this training the government is spending the same if not more by awarding the contract to Biorex when the government could have awarded the contract to the Scotia Fundy observers who are already trained and experienced.

How can the government justify spending $1.9 billion on a fisheries aid package while at the same time put 50 experienced and trained observers from Scotia Fundy out on the street?

Bosnia

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the House the plight facing children in war torn regions across the world, specifically in Bosnia.

Last week I attended an international conference on genocide in Bosnia-Hercegovina. One of the impressions from this meeting is how much some European nations are doing for the children and some women at risk, and how comparatively little Canada is doing. The most recent numbers I have been able to obtain indicate that Canada is only taking a mere few dozen children for temporary safe haven. For a society as generous and caring as ours I find it hard to believe that we have not done more.

As well, I want to invite all concerned members of this House to speak up on this issue and to consider forming a coalition to find ways of bringing together federal and provincial governments, private corporations and community groups in a joint effort to do what is right.

History will judge us harshly if we stand aside and allow an entire generation to be sacrificed.

Mohawks From Kanesatake

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, three human rights organizations jointly condemned the intimidation and acts of violence suffered by Mohawks from Kanesatake. The Native Women's Association of Quebec, the Civil Liberties Union and the Canadian Action Committee on the Status of Women ask Quebec and Ottawa to intervene in order to guarantee respect for the rights of all those who live on this territory. These organizations are joining their efforts to those of

local organizations that today met with the minister for the same reason.

My question is directed to the Prime Minister. Does the government intend to act on this request by three human rights organizations, especially considering that band leader Jerry Peltier did not even bother to consider meeting with these three organizations?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the reports are disturbing but these particular incidents are a matter for provincial jurisdiction. The Kanesatake area is not an Indian reserve and, as I said, these incidents are a matter for the province and should be brought to the attention of the Sûreté du Québec or the Government of Quebec.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, considering that several Mohawks have suffered intimidation, especially women whose Indian status had been newly restored, and considering the major role played by the federal government in maintaining law and order through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, does the government intend to intervene and act on this distress call?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, maintaining law and order comes under the provincial government, and the RCMP has no role to play in this kind of situation.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Michèle Rouleau, ex-president of the Native Women's Association of Quebec, said according to certain newspapers that if what happened in Kanesatake had happened anywhere else, criminal charges would have been laid.

Will the Prime Minister promise to intervene in this matter, since he has said repeatedly that the law should apply equally to everyone in Canada?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the administration of justice is a provincial matter, and complaints, if these matters come under the Criminal Code, are handled by the Attorney General for the Province of Quebec.

If the hon. member is talking about possible breaches of the Criminal Code then this is a matter strictly for the Attorney General of the province of Quebec and I would be happy to draw his attention to the concerns that have been reported in the press.

Child Support Payments

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a decision handed down by the Federal Court-Appeal Division today confirms that the custodial parent should not have to pay tax on support payments and that the federal government has apparently wrongly collected several millions of dollars in taxes.

Can the Minister of Revenue tell us whether he will act upon this decision or appeal it before the Supreme Court?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of great interest to us. As the hon. member must know, in the budget tabled on February 22, reference was made to the federal-provincial family law committee which is expected to report to us on a number of issues relating to children and family and indeed more specifically, on the one raised by the court in the decision rendered today.

Our biggest concern, I must say, is first and foremost financial support for children and second, tax fairness. I can assure you that we will take into consideration the court's decision as well as the report of the federal-provincial family law committee.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, more specifically, are we to understand that the Minister of Finance intends to implement the court's decision or that he will appeal it? Furthermore, how substantial are the amounts involved?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has to understand that the court just handed down its decision late this morning. We have received a copy of the decision, but have only had the chance to glance at it. We will now have discussions with the Minister of National Revenue, the Minister of Justice and certainly officials from our respective departments.

After that, we will be in a position to provide you with the answer you are looking for, but as I just said, our biggest concern is financial support for children and tax fairness.

[The Speaker]

I would remind the hon. minister that the hon. members must always address the Chair.

Taxation

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Yesterday the Prime Minister in response to a question from the member for Calgary Centre said that Canadians cannot expect any tax relief "until all Canadians who want to work find jobs". This statement surprises and alarms business people, investors and unemployed Canadians who believe that tax relief is necessary to create jobs.

They feel that the Prime Minister has put the cart before the horse. My question to the Prime Minister is this. Does he or does he not believe that tax relief is necessary to create jobs and reduce unemployment?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have an economic policy that was enunciated in the budget and we said that the priority of this government was to create jobs.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

It is still the same.

We would like to be able to reduce taxes at this moment but it would increase the deficit. If the hon. leader of the Reform Party is telling us to increase the deficit, fine, we will consider that.