Debates of Oct. 4th, 1995

Violence On Television

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, St. Boniface, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in Winnipeg last week I had the privilege of taking part in the CRTC's regional consultations on violence in television, violence which, I believe, has a negative impact on our children.

Parents need better information and better tools to ensure they can make wise decisions with respect to the kinds of programs they want their children to watch.

The industry must continue to self regulate. A standardized classification system is needed. New technology, for example the V-chip, could also be extremely helpful to parents. Media literacy for parents and children is required.

I would urge hon. members to work together to ensure that television becomes a positive tool for us and especially for our children.

Roy Romanow

[Gilbert Fillion, Bloc, Chicoutimi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Roy Romanow, who also took part in the strong-arm tactics against Quebec when the Constitution was patriated unilaterally in 1982, has stated that francophones in Saskatchewan may lose the governance of their schools if the Yes side wins in the referendum in Quebec.

Condescending and irresponsible, that kind of statement is typical of a man who would stop at nothing to impose his views.

In the past, Mr. Romanow has shown that to be the case. He has no respect for francophones or Quebec. The question now is, whether his attitude reflects the views of Canada today.

If it does, if the survival of francophones outside Quebec depends solely on the presence of Quebec within Canada, the Canadian ideal of equality in diversity has ceased to exist. If that is the case, respect for our most fundamental rights no longer exists. Too bad for Canadians who still had a dream.

Wood Bison Trail

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate a Canadian company on a noteworthy accomplishment.

Syncrude Canada, a mining company and major contributor to the economy in Canada, has just opened a nature trail north of Fort McMurray that reflects the mining industry's commitment to Canada and our environment. In the spirit of co-operation and responsibility, the Wood Bison Trail was opened by the premier of Alberta at a ceremony attended by 4,300 spectators.

Most notable is the trail's entrance which is marked by a native carving of bison that stretches 30 feet in the air. It is called the Bison Gateway and was sculptured by the native artist Brian Clark. This monument marks Syncrude's $2 million reclamation project on a mined out area around Wood Bison Trail. As further evidence to this commitment a herd of wood bison has been reintroduced to the area after being extinct for hundreds of years.

I congratulate everyone involved in this project. It is an example of what can be accomplished when government, industry, environment and native groups work together to harvest our resource wealth and leave the area productive for future generations.

Innu Community Relocation

[Len Taylor, NDP, The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with an Innu

delegation making representations with regard to the relocation of its community from Davis Inlet to Little Sango Pond.

The delegation informed me that on February 25, 1994 the Innu people received a statement of political commitment from the ministers of Indian affairs, health, justice, as well as the Solicitor General of Canada. Through these ministers the Government of Canada agreed to support the relocation subject to a number of conditions. The delegation has informed me that these conditions have now been met and the community is anxious for a favourable federal cabinet decision that will begin the process of its relocation.

Today I want to put on the public record that I am completely supportive of the Innu relocation to Little Sango Pond. They have satisfied the terms and conditions required and it would seem that the federal government has a clear obligation to respect its commitments as set down in February 1994.

Prime Minister Of Ireland

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

Mr. Speaker, recently the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr. John Bruton and his wife, Finola Bruton, visited Canada. Mr. Bruton, whose title in Irish is Taoiseach, visited several cities, including Ottawa.

As a Canadian member of Parliament of Irish descent, I was honoured to be invited along with several of my colleagues by our Prime Minister to meet and dine with Prime Minister Bruton.

In his excellent comments that evening Mr. Bruton praised Canada as a nation of diverse peoples who have learned to respect our differences and live together in peace.

As the people of Quebec prepare to vote in the referendum on October 30, it is the fervent hope of other Canadians that Quebecers will choose to remain a very important and cherished partner in a united Canada.

Stand Up For Canada

[Stan Keyes, Liberal, Hamilton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tonight at the National Press Club, Canadian recording artists the True Grit Band will be making their debut performance of "Stand Up For Canada", a song celebrating Canadian unity written by Mr. Jim Chapman, a talk show host at CKSL News Radio in London, Ontario. This world premier performance will be recorded for posterity by the nation's music station MuchMusic.

It should be noted that this song was brought to the True Grit Band's attention by my patriotic colleague and percussionist, the hon. member for London East.

"Stand Up For Canada" is a creative expression of the pride possessed by Canadians from sea to sea to sea. The song is sung by the members for Madawaska-Victoria, Halton Peel and Bonavista-Trinity-Conception. Instrumentals are provided by the members for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Sault Ste. Marie, Lincoln, Sarnia-Lambton and yours truly from Hamilton West.

I ask all my hon. colleagues in the House to show support for our great nation and "Stand Up For Canada".

Jack Gatecliff

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

Mr. Speaker, on November 20, St. Catharines' well known sportswriter, Jack Gatecliff, will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Better known as the Gate, Jack Gatecliff is best known for his constant friendly smile and personable nature. He is also a hockey historian who has dedicated his life to writing about the sport.

In 1950 Jack began writing for the St. Catharines Standard , a five times a week column called ``Through the Sports Gate''. He officially retired as sports editor in 1991, more than 10,000 columns later.

His love of sports shone through in every article he wrote and he still contributes to the Standard on a regular basis. As a hockey player Jack played with the Junior A team in St. Catharines. As a writer he spent countless hours covering Canada's two national sports, lacrosse and hockey. For years Jack Gatecliff kept St. Catharines' sports fans up to date.

I know my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Jack Gatecliff on his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Laurent Beaudoin

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the current referendum debate, Bombardier President Laurent Beaudoin should recognize Quebec's contribution to the success of his company instead of hinting that it might leave the province if the Yes side wins.

Such comments are insulting, not only to the sovereignists but to all Quebecers who contributed to the success of Bombardier and were proud of it.

We should remember that government backing, with the support of Quebec taxpayers, was a major ingredient of that success.

I would ask Mr. Beaudoin, who heads Bombardier, a symbol of Quebec entrepreneurship, to put his talents at the service of his compatriots, whatever the outcome.

Swim For Life

[Sharon Hayes, Reform, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes one outstanding act of courage and commitment stands out and brings to prominence national issues as no spoken or written word can. Such is the case of the completion of a 20-day marathon swim by Fin Donnelly of Coquitlam who on September 24 completed a mammoth swim down the Fraser River. He completed the arduous 1,325 kilometre journey in 20 days.

Fin Donnelly's "Swim For Life" was a personal campaign to raise awareness about environmental abuse of the Fraser River and the need to protect this unique waterway. In his 20-day journey Fin kept up a gruelling pace in spite of personal and natural obstacles.

In dedicating his swim to the need to preserve our waters against pollution abuse, Fin has challenged individuals, businesses and governments that may be part of the problem to become part of the solution.

I join with my constituents in recognizing this young man's courage and commitment in preserving one of Canada's great natural resources, the Fraser River.

The French Language

[Anna Terrana, Liberal, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, recently the Saint-Jean Baptiste Society said that if Quebec did not start protecting the French language, francophone Quebecers would become a minority.

Language is one of the most important aspects of a culture. The richness of the French language is recognized throughout the world. For many centuries, French was spoken not only in France, but in many other countries as well. In fact, French was the language of diplomacy.

Today, in Canada, there are thousands of French immersion courses. In my riding, in Vancouver East, Hastings School offers French immersion courses. When I visited the school, I was surprised at the level of language knowledge and comprehension among sixth and seventh grade students.

I believe in a bilingual and united Canada. We must keep it that way.

Referendum Campaign

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Comité des Québecois et Québécoises pour le non has had to give in and prepare the budget for year one of an independent Quebec, having realized that, despite repeated calls for it by the general public and the business community, the Quebec separatists were still refusing to put any figure to their plans for separation.

The first year budget as presented yesterday represents a scientific update of what the leader of the Parti Quebecois had presented in 1973.

From it we learn that an independent Quebec will inherit a deficit of $15.6 billion, minimum. Quebec workers will therefore find themselves having to pay at least $3,000 in additional taxes annually.

Quebec's separatists refuse to talk about the costs of separation. We shall do it for them, since the public has a right to know. On October 30, the answer to the project for separation will be No.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the PQ leader found out that not all mayors concerned with the day to day administration of their municipalities will commit lightly to any project without finding out first what the costs and impacts will be.

The mayor of Montmagny, Jean-Claude Croteau, took advantage of the presence of the PQ Premier in his region to invite him to indicate in advance what the offer of partnership to be made to Canada the day after a yes vote would be.

The supporters of separation refuse to make that offer of partnership public, because they know full well that an economic and political union between an independent Quebec and Canada is impossible. The only real option they are pursuing is separation. The rest is just another example of smoke and mirrors to confuse the public.

Quebec-Canada Economic Union

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the leaders of the federalist side would have Quebecers believe that English Canada could manage without a partnership agreement with a sovereign Quebec.

The economic reality is that Quebec is the second-ranking partner of English Canada, far ahead of Japan and Germany.

The economic reality is that Quebecers purchase $420 million worth of fish and other food products from the Atlantic provinces every year. That there are $850 million worth of oil and natural gas

sold to Quebec by Alberta. There is Bay Street, the financial heart of Toronto, which would lose $2.8 billion in insurance and financial services business. And there are the $1.3 billion worth of car and truck purchases from the Ontario automobile industry by Quebec.

Yet they are trying to make us believe that a partnership is not in the interests of Quebec and the rest of Canada. Really, now.

Liberal Party

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the opposition in the House. People may think I am talking about the Bloc or the Reformers. No, I am talking about the Liberals. If it looks like opposition, talks like opposition and smells like opposition, then it must be opposition.

The Liberals have pretty well abdicated leadership and have vacated the role of promoting real solutions to Canada's problems. The Reformers on the other hand are acting like government by proposing real, workable, common sense solutions.

It was the Reform Party which proposed a clear response to the Quebec referendum. The Liberals caught up about a week later. We have urged since the beginning that it is most important to set real targets on balancing the budget. We hope they will catch up soon.

The Liberals spend more time criticizing Reformers than they spend promoting their own proposed legislation because they do not seem to have any. The most significant evidence is that they are now filibustering their own bills. While the important issues of the nation go unnoticed, the Liberals are talking endlessly on the few trivial bills now before the House.

The Liberals may not be ready to govern but the Reformers are.

Leader Of The Opposition

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

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Official Opposition told journalists candidly that he is not ruling out the idea of one day being the premier of Quebec.

Is there some connection between his statement and the comments made two days ago by the PQ Premier? He repeated yesterday, for the second day in a row that he is beginning to feel the years and that he is opening the door to his successors.

Is this some new trick, a change in direction or simply a message the Leader of the Opposition is sending to militant Quebec separatists to get them to prepare for the days after the referendum? Regardless of what happens with the political career of the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, we must not lose sight of the fact that his primary objective is Quebec's separation. Our response to that will be no.

Leader Of The Action Démocratique Du Québec

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec was in the Outaouais region yesterday. He tried to convince people that the partnership between an independent Quebec and Canada would be guaranteed the day after Quebec's separation.

The separatist leader of the ADQ justified his confidence in such an agreement by stressing that it was simply good common sense.

Earlier in the day, the separatist leader touched on the future of federal public servants in an independent Quebec and said that nobody would be dropped for a period of two years.

The people in the Outaouais have good common sense and know very well that separatist promises will bring them nothing. This is why they will vote no on October 30.

Hockey

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, nothing defines Canadians more than their love for the game of hockey and its colourful heroes who have brought so much joy to so many.

Long before words like arbitration and agent became part of the game's vocabulary, names like Bathgate, Howe, Mahovlich, Beliveau, Kelly and Richard were being claimed by runny nosed shinny players on rinks across Canada. I know because I was one of them, as were many of my colleagues in the House.

We may have lost our breakaway speed, but we will always remember the smooth stickhandling of a Jean Beliveau, the sure slapshot of Frank Mahovlich, the fierce intensity of Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard, the clutch goal of Paul Henderson, the sharp elbows of Gordie Howe, the tenacity of Ted Lindsay, and the feared hip check of Pierre Pilote.

I am sorry Mr. Meeker, but I only remember how you taught the game on TV.

These individuals personify character, class and charisma. Most important, they made it fun for us to be kids. For that I thank these gentlemen.

Industry Canada

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, now we know that to get applause from all sides of this House, you have to play hockey.

In its secret document prepared for Operation Unity, the federal Department of Industry made a list of Quebec companies, indicating subsidies they had received or will receive from Ottawa. And all for the sole purpose of urging business leaders to support the No side. By strange coincidence, yesterday senior executives of one of the companies targeted by Industry Canada, Spar Aerospace, urged employees at the plant in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to vote No.

My question is directed to the Prime Minister. How can he go on claiming that Industry Canada's secret document is a routine economic report, when it actually lists the political views of top business leaders?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that jobs are created in Canada and that jobs are kept. That is our responsibility. And as politicians it is very important for us to know what we are doing for businesses in Quebec, because the important thing is to keep those salaries and jobs in Quebec.

I was once Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce, and that was quite a few years ago. When Canadair was closing its doors, which would have had a disastrous impact on Spar Industries, we managed to save Canadair. When General Dynamics was leaving Canada, as Minister of Industry I took action, and today, Canadair is the best company in Quebec. And Canadair buys services from Spar. We want those jobs to be kept. This is very important.

In fact, the workers themselves admitted as much, because when I left politics, members of the Canadair employees' union asked me to work for them, and they told me: "You are aware of our needs. When we needed you, you were there. We want you to keep working for us". I am concerned about workers' wages, about high tech jobs for Quebec and ensuring that the markets will still be there, not only in Canada but throughout the world, for the benefit of the economy and the people of Quebec, especially in the Montreal region.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I am still looking for the connection the government seems to see between job creation and examining political views of business leaders. The document we are tabling today contains an analysis, an assessment of the likelihood of influencing members of the Kruger family. That is going a bit too far and has no connection with jobs.

In the same secret document prepared by Industry Canada, we read, and I quote:

"The threat of cutting support for world class industrial facilities such as Pratt and Whitney, Spar Aerospace, and Canadian Marconi might bring reaction and support for the federalist cause".

How can the leader of the government keep denying that Operation Unity is actually blackmailing companies like Spar by threatening to cut off federal subsidies for research and development unless they speak out on behalf of the No side?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of the government to make sure everybody understands what this is all about. This is all about a party dedicated to destroying Canada. You do not break up a country that easily anywhere in the world.

Our preoccupation is very simple. We want to keep the country together. We can have industries in Quebec, we can have industries in Ontario and the rest of Canada that can compete in the world. It is our duty to tell that to Quebecers, because if they vote yes and there is a separatist government there can be no guarantee they will be able to have the same types of operations in Quebec.

The leaders of the unions can talk, but the owners of a company do not know what they talk about.

What does Mr. Beaudoin want? He wants to maintain the number of jobs Quebecers have with Bombardier in Quebec. That is his concern. He is doing this first of all for the sake of the workers, their salaries and the shareholders, and it is his responsibility to do so.

If we can help people tell workers in Quebec that they are taking a risk by voting Yes, it is our duty to tell them that, in their own interests and those of their families, they should vote to stay in the best country in the world: Canada.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the first duty of any government, federal or otherwise, is to respect democracy, to let people enjoy their freedom of opinion.

Democracy calls for the respect of the freedom of those people, whether business people or anybody in Canada, to be free to express their opinions and not be forced to be federalists because of blackmail. It is not very noble to be federalists because we are blackmailed.

Mr. Speaker, would the Prime Minister admit that what the vice-president of Spar Aerospace told his employees yesterday is a direct result of this conscription exercise in which Ottawa is pushing business people to support the No side?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, everyone has a right to express his opinions, including heads of companies. And they have an obligation to tell their employees-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

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

Yes, they have an obligation to say so.