Debates of Sept. 21st, 1994

Government Services

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Carleton—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was reported in the media Tuesday that the minister of supply and services has struck a committee of bureaucrats to find ways of moving supply and services jobs from Ottawa to Atlantic Canada.

I strongly disagree with the study and any decision to move public servants from the national capital region.

At the present time 31.7 per cent of federal public servants work in the national capital region, whereas in each province and territory the number is proportionate to population.

The minister has no intention of either pursuing Tory practices or, even worse, applying the Reform Party's right wing agenda vis-à-vis the public service. He informed me today that the study is just that, a study. I am confident that we will treat any suggestion of transferring public servants out of the capital as an ill advised, bad public policy.

Canadian Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, the recent figures in the Work Competitiveness Report show that Canada is in a very bad position. In 1989 Canada had the fourth most competitive economy among OECD countries. Five years later, it stood fourteenth!

This drop is the predictable result of the federal government's inability to control its deficit. The government's stubborn insistence on using its spending power to intervene in provincial areas of jurisdiction is a waste of public funds and is slowing down job creation. Labour training, a tangle of federal-provincial overlap, as the Quebec manufacturers association pointed out yesterday, is a perfect example of the ineffectiveness of federal intervention. And who is paying for all this? Taxpayers and the unemployed.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to call upon the government to properly compensate my constituent, Mr. Walter Jerram.

His bull was seized because its only crime was being imported from the United Kingdom and just may have been exposed to BSE, mad cow disease.

Last Thursday Agriculture Canada and the RCMP seized the bull at 6.30 a.m. They cut through his chain fence, seized his bull and were gone in 20 minutes. No warrant was produced and a curt letter was left behind informing him that because he had resorted to legal recourse he would not be paid the routine, if low, $2,000 in compensation.

The handling of this case is despicable. They came as thieves in the night. Canadians deserve better from their government. I call upon the minister of agriculture to pay the compensation my constituent deserves and launch an inquiry into the handling of this case.

New Directions

[Anna Terrana, Liberal, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago in my riding I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony of 14 young Vietnamese men who found an alternative to their lives. Of these young men two-thirds were on drugs and three were in jail. They were all part of gangs, did not have families and were all on social assistance.

These young people participated in a project called New Directions. For a year they were coached, taught, put through school, and they are now all free from drugs. They all have become part of society and some are continuing with school. It was an uplifting experience. Fourteen lives were saved. There is an alternative to crime but we must be proactive.

Congratulations to immigrant services societies and the agencies involved and to the instructors and young people who had the courage to complete the program.

Railways

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's railway policy lacks a short line railway strategy. Several American states, our most important trading partners and stiffest competition, have dynamic, comprehensive plans to strengthen and expand their short lines.

In Canada, and particularly in the province of Ontario, CN and CP are abandoning their branch lines at an astonishing rate.

This includes Midland-Uhthoff subdivision which will be abandoned as of October 8, 1994 unless the petition to governor in council I presented on August 30 is successful in keeping the line open.

These closures are taking place at a time when Ontario's new labour legislation does not allow operators of secondary lines to buy and run abandoned lines at a profit.

Canada needs a strategy to address this grave situation before our short line network has been completely dismantled. I urge the Minister of Transport to come up with a plan quickly to save our short line network.

The Environment

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 1994 the Government of Canada entered into two administrative agreements with the province of Saskatchewan. These agreements provide for the more effective administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act and the complementary Saskatchewan legislation.

The agreements are among the first of their kind in Canada. They apply to the areas of environmental protection and are jointly regulated by federal and provincial groups. The agreements will lead to more effective environmental protection programs by reducing duplication. The agreements ensure co-operation and reduce duplication in areas of reporting spills, spill response, inspections, investigation and information gathering.

The agreements reflect the federal government's goal to effectively protect the environment through federal-provincial harmonization and to ensure wise use of our limited resources.

Manpower Training

[Philippe Paré, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the people of Quebec make a little noise and threaten to walk out, you can always find some well-intentioned English-speaking Canadians to tell them that their Canada includes Quebec. The fact of the matter is that the rest of Canada usually greets Quebec's claims with: "Your demands are inadmissible and unacceptable. But we really like you and would want you to remain within Canada."

That is precisely what happened yesterday at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce convention, where the delegates from English Canada rejected a resolution from the Sainte-Foy Chamber of Commerce asking that manpower training be transferred to the provinces. "Quebec, we love you", said the Premier of Alberta yesterday.

For an increasing number of Quebecers, the English Canadian mermaid's song is losing its appeal and fast.

Rod Hay

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my very first member's statement in the House was about a young cowboy from the heart of Yellowhead country, Mayerthorpe, Alberta. I spoke about Rod Hay, a tough cowboy who has seen it all.

I am not talking about the beautiful countryside. I am talking about mud, dust and pain. In fact Rod walks around with plates, screws and wire holding his hip together because of a rodeo mishap three years ago.

He is almost in as bad shape as I am. All of the pain and hard work has paid off for this 25-year old cowboy. Today Rod is $50,000 richer thanks to the biggest rodeo win in his life, the saddle-bronc championship at the greatest outdoor show on earth, The Calgary Stampede.

The win puts an exclamation point on Rod's illustrious career as the best bronco buster in Canada. Rod is also the reigning Canadian saddle-bronc champion and he will represent Canada at the world championships this fall.

I ask all members to join me in cheering for Rod Hay.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Canada

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during the first week in September I had the privilege of being part of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations conference on population and development in Cairo, Egypt.

There were many significant things to be learned. One of the most interesting was an understanding as to how the world community views Canada. Canada is nation to be trusted. It is a nation turned to when issues are polarized and emotions are frayed.

We are truly the honest broker on the global stage. This is important for us to understand right now because initiatives here at home threaten to tear our country apart. For Canadians that means risking the loss of the rich culture and heritage that is so much a part of Quebec and her people. For the world there is a risk of loss of a great partner, the likes of which could never be replaced.

1999 Pan-American Games

[David Walker, Liberal, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure I announce to the House that during the summer break the city of Winnipeg won the bid to host the 1999 Pan-American Games. We view the games as an opportunity to bring the world to our doorstep, to extend friendship and to exchange cultural traditions with our close cousins in the American hemisphere.

Indeed showcasing Canada to the world by hosting international games contributes immeasurably to forging international bonds. At the same time it instils in Canadians a sense of national pride and unity and a better understanding of the diversity of linguistic and cultural identities.

It will be a great celebration in 1999. Winnipeg has a long tradition of excellence in playing host to major events. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with the excellent co-chairs Don Mackenzie and Barbara Huck, the mayor of the city of Winnipeg, the premier and the numerous volunteers to bring the games home again.

I would like to say a special thanks to the Prime Minister for supporting the bid to its success.

Michael Strange

[Gary Pillitteri, Liberal, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise in the House today to congratulate a constituent of mine, Michael Strange, the gold medalist in boxing, 60 kilograms class, at the 25th Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, where Team Canada won 128 medals.

Michael's achievement was remarkable, given the many adversities that he and his team mates encountered outside the ring. His outstanding performance is testimony to his skills, hard work and commitment to excellence. The efforts, teamwork, sportsmanship and dedication of athletes like Mr. Strange constantly make Canada's sporting scene one of the best in the world.

If we are to enjoy a repeated performance by Team Canada at world events we must, as Canadians, continue to recognize the positive influence these young athletes have on Canadian youth and support the valuable contributions they make to the Canadian identity.

1992 Referendum

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, Quebec spent $45 million in 1992 to organize its own referendum on federal offers. Yesterday, we learned that the federal government refused to refund the $26 million, or one quarter of the total costs, the people of Quebec have contributed toward the referendum held in the nine other provinces.

All told, the cost of the referendum on the Charlottetown Accord to the Quebec taxpayers was $70 million, as compared to $80 million for the rest of Canada. Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister was pleased to hear this yesterday. She said that separation is expensive.

Unfortunately, Quebec is not a sovereign state yet and the Quebec taxpayers have paid three times as much as those from the other Canadian provinces for the referendum that buried any hope of federal renewal to be held. It was expensive indeed just to find out that federalism equals status quo.

The Reform Party

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that yesterday the Reform Party broke new ground in Ontario. Three Reform MPs, the member for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre, the member for Prince George-Peace River and I, participated in the international ploughing match special class competition for members of Parliament. This took place in Pembroke.

I am proud to say that we ploughed the competition under and left them in the dust. My colleague, the member for Prince George-Peace River, was straight and focused to the end. His winning performance proved that with hard work and perseverance we will be the voters' choice as well.

Give us a chance and we will plough under the national debt which today stands at $531,298,621,000.

Referendum On Quebec Sovereignty

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

Mr. Speaker, like millions of Quebecers, I understood that there was some confusion following a telephone conversation between Premier Parizeau and the Prime Minister of Canada. However, I clearly heard Mr. Parizeau make an election commitment to hold a referendum within 10 months. That statement is the only one that matters.

[English]

I say ignore the advice of the Leader of the Opposition to put off the referendum until the climate is more favourable. I can assure Mr. Parizeau that these are not the winds of change he hears from the Leader of the Opposition. It is simply hot air.

Mr. Parizeau, hold the referendum in 10 months as you had planned and promised Quebecers during the election campaign. It is time for the Leader of the Opposition to respect the democratic choice of Quebecers and the commitment made by Premier Parizeau, who stated that the referendum must be held quickly, that is, 8 to 10 months after the election.

Haiti

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

Mr. Speaker, Sunday night's agreement between Haiti's illegal president and Mr. Carter, which was drafted without consulting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide or the United Nations, is a tragic betrayal of the Haitian people. The hoodlum Raoul Cédras and his associates did not sign anything, do not have to leave the country and will even enjoy a general amnesty.

Last week, President Clinton strongly denounced Cédras and his army of thugs and condemned his reign of terror. Today, according to him, he is an honourable man. President Aristide has called for the implementation of Resolution 940 and of the Governors Island Accord, and I hope that the Government of Canada will support him while denouncing this repugnant agreement.

Terry Fox Run

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues in this House to the 14th Terry Fox Run which was held on Sunday, September 18.

At 3,400 different sites across Canada on Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people took part in the event which raised a total of $8.5 million in 40 countries worldwide last year and is expected to raise more this year.

These donations pay 20 per cent of all the cancer research in Canada.

Over half a million Canadians walked, ran, pedalled or skated in memory of Terry Fox, who died of cancer in June 1981. I would like to pay tribute to the Canadians who once again volunteered their time to promote this cause they care about. Volunteers are needed now more than ever.

Radio-Restigouche Community Radio Station

[Guy Arseneault, Liberal, Restigouche—Chaleur, NB]

Mr. Speaker, a dream came true in my constituency of Restigouche-Chaleur. Last Monday, Radio-Restigouche, a community radio station also known as CIMS-FM, went on the air.

For the last few years, a great number of volunteers and employees have been working relentlessly to reach this goal. This community radio station aims at promoting the Acadian and French culture and at providing high quality regional news. CIMS-FM will also give its many volunteers the opportunity to train in the communications sector.

I want to congratulate all the members of the Radio-Restigouche team for their hard work. Such commitment by volunteers is worth mentioning. Long live Radio-Restigouche.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery today of Major-General Roméo Dallaire, des forces armée canadiennes.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

It seems that his reputation has preceded him and rightly so for all members of the House. I welcome you home, Major-General Roméo Dallaire. This is your place and we are glad to have you here.

Haiti

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the brutal repression which the Haitian police and army carry on is getting worse in Port-au-Prince, as the American soldiers watch impassively. For his part, exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has publicly repudiated the agreement reached between Washington and the military junta, referring back to the Governors Island Accord. The UN special envoy who was in charge of negotiating these accords has just resigned. His name is Dante Caputo.

I ask the minister who seems to be increasingly embarrassed by the growing confusion to tell us if negotiations are now going on in Washington to ensure the speedy and effective return of President Aristide.

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, my answer is yes. As much as the Leader of the Opposition, I deplore this carnage that has followed the arrival of multinational troops in Haiti. These are certainly unacceptable actions which should have been expected from the military who are losing control of the country. I think that we must see what is happening there in that context and I would ask the Leader of the Opposition not to make a partisan issue of it but to accept that the Government of Canada is playing a very important and very useful role with President Aristide, who will return to his country very soon.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I always thought that Canada's policy was to support President Aristide. I wonder if President Aristide cannot rightly ask whether Canada did not support him by signing an agreement with an impostor president who has taken his place, without any reference to President Aristide's own legitimacy.

Did the minister intervene on behalf of Canada with Washington in order to ensure that the return of President Aristide takes place under conditions which respect the Governors Island agreement rather than according to the terms of agreement negotiated last Sunday with the U.S.?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition should know; if he does not, he should talk to President Aristide, who will confirm for him that he fully supports what the Canadian government is doing.

President Aristide has always shown himself to be very interested in and very close to the positions taken by Canada. He knows that the Canadian government is a dependable friend and ally.

So I do not accept the Leader of the Opposition trying for partisan reasons to create dissension between the Government of Canada and President Aristide when there is none at all.