House of Commons Hansard #260 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-96.
Sheila Finestone LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, the government and the minister in charge have made it eminently clear that the changing circumstances and the economic aspects of the CBC, the National Film Board and Telefilm are all to be taken into account as the mandate is reviewed. The CRTC is involved as well.
From that perspective, the hon. member might well wait for the results which should be announced shortly.
Chris Axworthy NDP Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.
I was looking through Hansard and found that when the budget was debated in 1991 the then member for Winnipeg South Centre criticized the cuts by the provincial government in health care, social programs and post-secondary education. He said:
As a result, the ability to have any kind of national system of education and health care now stands in jeopardy.
He also said that these cuts cut the very fundamental institutions on which people depend and that they were being dismantled.
Since the minister was so critical of measures considerably less harsh than those his government has taken, could he say why the cuts to education, health care and social programs, much deeper than the last government's, are so good when the last government's cuts were so bad?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear from the last budget that one way to restore the country to a form of economic health is to make sure there is more integrity and stability in federal financing.
His home province has been able to achieve a balanced budget. We are still on track to do that but it will take some time because the previous government, of which I was quite critical, did not take the measures that were necessary when it should have to ensure a proper formulation of a fiscal plan that would allow us to have good economic investment.
The proof of that is very clear. Since the two years of coming into office we have created over 500,000 full time permanent jobs. The best way to deal with the problems of low income and of social insecurity is to get people a job. That is what our last budget was all about.
Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other civil rights activists in defence of the Ogoni people were summarily hung by the military Government of Nigeria after a surreptitious court proceeding.
Could the minister tell the House what actions are planned by the Canadian government to protest this heinous act?
Christine Stewart LiberalSecretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.
Canada has spoken in the strongest language to condemn the actions of the Nigerian government in relation to the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Canada took actions beyond that at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Auckland, New Zealand last week. Our Prime Minister spoke out as well against this and with other heads of governments suspended Nigeria from participation in the Commonwealth for a period of two years. This will be reviewed when Nigeria shows it has improved its democracy, respect for human rights and governance.
Bilaterally Canada has taken actions as well. We have suspended visas to military figures in the Nigerian government. We have terminated our trade in arms with Nigeria for the past few years. We will continue to look at other possible sanctions including finance and trade.
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it is with much sadness that we mourn the passing of a truly great Canadian, the hon. Justice Emmett Matthew Hall.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family.
It is with sadness that we mourn the passing of a great Canadian, the hon. Justice Emmett Matthew Hall, whose many achievements included being a founder of our health care system. He was also one of the keenest crusader for the system.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family.
Justice Hall led a long and distinguished legal career, becoming Chief Justice in Saskatchewan and later serving on the Supreme Court of Canada. He was noted for his forward thinking ideas and keen sense of equity which resulted in his being named a Companion of the Order of Canada and receiving other tributes including numerous honorary degrees, distinguished titles and select memberships.
Of his many achievements Justice Hall may best be known as a founder and lifelong crusader for our medicare system. In 1961, prior to the introduction of the first provincial plan for medical care insurance in Saskatchewan, the federal government established the Royal Commission on Health Services, chaired by Mr. Justice Hall. Its mandate was to inquire into and report on existing facilities and future needs for health services for Canadians and to assess the resources required to provide these services.
The commission report, published in 1964, recommended Canada should introduce the legislative organizational and financial frameworks necessary to ensure that health services would be available to all residents without barriers. The commission also called for universal and comprehensive coverage on uniform terms and conditions, in all provinces, regardless of age, condition or ability to pay.
These recommendations formed the basis of the federal medicare act proclaimed in 1968. This act, which established a conditional cost sharing program, empowered the federal health minister to make financial contributions to those provinces which operated medical care insurance plans that met certain minimum criteria: comprehensiveness, universality, portability and public administration.
By 1972 every province and territory had established medical care insurance plans in addition to their hospital insurance programs, and the two main features of Canada's universal health care system were in place from coast to coast.
Justice Hall summed up the need for a national publicly funded medicare system in these words: "The only thing more expensive than good health care is inadequate or no health care".
The guarding principle of health care in Canada is as meaningful now as it was when the system began. Justice Hall's support for this system never waned or wavered.
In 1979 when the federal government asked that the status of publicly financed health insurance programs in Canada be reviewed Justice Hall again accepted the call and chaired the review which also bears his name. After months of public hearings and hundreds of briefs from various consumer groups, individuals and health care organizations, Justice Hall released his report, Canada's national-provincial health program for the 1980s, "A Commitment For Renewal".
Once again reflecting a broad Canadian consensus, the report called for a renewed national commitment to the principles of medicare. Justice Hall could find no one, not any government or individual, not the medical profession nor any organization not in favour of medicare.
On extra billing by doctors, Justice Hall said it was inequitable because it not only denies access to the poor, it also taxes sick persons who, besides paying premiums, are already paying the major cost of the system through their taxes.
Canadians owe a great debt of gratitude to Justice Emmett Hall. In his report Justice Emmett Hall states: "Canadians understand the full meaning of the hospital insurance and medical care acts. They said through these two acts that we as a society are aware that the trauma of illness, the pain of surgery, the slow decline to death are burdens enough for the human being to bear without the added burden of medical or hospital bills penalizing the patient at the moment of vulnerability".
The fundamental principle of medicare is equity. All Canadians are treated the same according to medical need regardless of their ability to pay. This recognizes and fosters the compassionate nature of our people. Our universal health care system is constitutive of our identity. Clearly it is part of who we are as a nation. It is the outward manifestation of fundamental shared values, the values of justice and caring. All Canadians pay homage to this great Canadian.
The people of Canada are greatly indebted to the late Justice Emmett Hall.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to pay tribute to Emmett Hall, who, among other things, chaired the Royal Commission on Health Services from 1961 to 1964. Mr. Hall was one of those who contributed to inspire the debate that had already started on an issue under consideration and discussion in most Canadian provinces: the establishment of a health system accessible to all, regardless of one's socio-economic circumstances.
This principle, oft mentioned and presented as a basic aspect of any society that wants to be fair and equitable, was also part and parcel of the discussions that were taking place at the provincial level at the time. Based on respect for human dignity, the principle of accessibility met with the agreement of all primary stakeholders and players in the health sector.
I am therefore pleased and honoured to pay tribute to a man like Emmett Hall, who participated in this reflection of major importance to preserve the dignity of all Canadians. We must however be careful not to forget the efforts made by Mr. Hall and by the other men and women who participated in this extensive reflection, which revolutionized the concept of health care and the way that services were provided, nor the message they left us.
No one, let alone the federal government, has the right to jeopardize such a system. But the government certainly seems to be bent on making decisions that will have a disastrous impact on the quality of health care and services.
It is therefore essential that serious thought be given to the decision this government is about to make, to fully assess its real impact.
As you do so, think about the women and men who, like Mr. Hall, were in favour of the establishment of a health system accessible to all, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances.
I am joined by my colleagues of the Bloc Quebecois in extending my deepest condolences to the family of Emmett Hall.
Sharon Hayes Reform Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of the Reform Party to recognize a Canadian who was not afraid to leave his mark on the pages of our history. Emmett Hall was a man who led, a leader who asked not why, but why not. Today I join with colleagues from all parties to pay respect to his memory.
Emmett Hall had an outstanding record of personal achievement. After a successful and long career in law, at age 57 he rose to new and increasing challenges as Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, Supreme Court judge, royal commissioner and finally elder statesmen.
It was his Supreme Court judgment in 1975 that set the stage for negotiations on Indian land claims. The Ontario education system was profoundly changed with the Hall-Dennis report of 1968.
Even in retirement in 1977 he led the commission that addressed the challenging need to balance affordable rail transportation with small town survival in central Canada. Even at the age of 90 he was mediating a logging and land claims dispute between the B.C. government and two Indian bands.
Historians, however, will recognize his greatest contribution as the chairman of a royal commission whose report led to the introduction of our national medicare system through the Hall report of 1964.
Medicare to this day continues to be a federal cost shared program. It is and should be the best health care safety net in the world. It was made in Canada for Canadians, first on a provincial level and then federally through the Medical Care Act, and it is now mandated to bring comprehensive coverage for health service, publicly funded, portable across Canada and universally accessible to all Canadians regardless of ability to pay.
I would be remiss today to neglect to mention that the confidence of Canadians in medicare is severely eroding. Cutbacks have forced health care professionals, governments and the public to take time to address, analyse and protect this aspect of our life and country.
Emmett Hall was never afraid to challenge the status quo. Today we recognize a man who bravely put forward ideas to propose change, not for change itself but to bring about a better solution.
All that Canadians value in medicare is recognized today in his memory. His vision of health care reform was that it result in the highest quality health care for all Canadians. That challenge continues and needs new Canadian solutions once more in these times of increased pressures on public finances.
Our condolences go out to his family. We salute with others today a great prairie pioneer and statesman.
Chris Axworthy NDP Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour for me to rise today on behalf of my colleagues in the New Democratic Party caucus to pay tribute to one of Canada's and Saskatchewan's greatest sons, Mr. Justice Emmett Hall.
It perhaps seems trivial at a time like this to simply talk about a great man's achievements and to reiterate the many honours achieved in his lifetime. As the Very Reverend Len Morand said in delivering the homily at Mr. Justice Hall's funeral service in Saskatoon, if we were to simply list the man's honours he would have more medals than a Russian general.
As important as these honours may be, there is something more important and more enduring for each of us to take from Justice Hall's life. He was a visionary and a pioneer. In his professional and personal life he created many landmarks which now serve to mark our course as a great country, as a caring and compassionate country; guide posts and landmarks which still guide us today.
He is perhaps best known for his historic and heroic Royal Commission on Health Services which paved the way for the rest of Canadians to enjoy the universal health care service that was born in Saskatchewan.
Even then, in 1964, Justice Hall was looking far into the future, talking about the second stage of medicare, about enhanced services to seniors, dental care, pharmacare and much of what we in Saskatchewan now call the wellness model.
He foresaw a Canada with an ongoing, permanent commitment to a universal and improving health care system. He served as an inspiration to those who continued to battle for just that.
It would be unfair to ignore some of Justice Hall's other great accomplishments. His sense of justice and his belief in our sense of community guided him to make a number of other remarkable changes to this nation and to our culture.
He was an early advocate of the equality of women. He set that concept into law with his precedent setting 1961 decision which ruled that a homemaker's contribution to the household was no less than that of the income earner. It was groundbreaking in 1961 and still is guiding us today.
A religious and spiritual person, Mr. Justice Hall also believed it was important to keep promises. His courageous Nisga'a land claim decision of the 1970s helped the nation keep its promise. It was courageous in the 1970s and still is guiding us today.
There were, of course, many political leaders in attendance at Justice Hall's funeral service in Saskatoon last week. The Premier of Saskatchewan was there. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food were there. I hope that each of them used the occasion to commit himself or herself to the vision of a caring nation of supportive communities of which Mr. Justice Hall so ably spoke and for which he so determinedly fought.
More important than the dignitaries who were in attendance is the fact that hundreds of ordinary people joined in to pay tribute to a man whose many deeds have touched the lives of every Canadian.
One of the scriptural readings at the service was the letter from Timothy, in which he talks of fighting the good fight. Justice Emmett Hall committed his life to fighting that good fight and it is up to each of us to continue it.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to eight petitions.
Réginald Bélair LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, in response to a question asked on November 10, 1995, by the hon. member for Fraser Valley West, the minister responsible for the Canada Post Corporation read an excerpt from a letter sent by a Canada Post official. I am pleased to table a copy of this letter in the House today, for the benefit of all members.
Richard Bélisle Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(d), I have the honour to present the seventeenth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(d), the committee reviewed chapter five of the May 1995 auditor general's report, concerning the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, deposit-taking institutions sector.
The importance of the financial services industry in the Canadian economy, as well as the concerns expressed by the auditor general, prompted the committee to take a look at the operations of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
Consequently, the committee held a meeting on this issue on October 3, with officials from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee asks the government to table a comprehensive response to this report.
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Saint-Denis, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, entitled "Economic Impact of Recent Immigration".
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition which has circulated all across Canada. This particular petition was signed by a number of Canadians from Medicine Hat, Alberta.
The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that managing the family home and caring for preschool children is an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to our society.
They also state that the Income Tax Act discriminates against families that make the choice to provide care in the home to preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged.
The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families that decide to provide care in the home for preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged.
Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present this petition from the riding of Prince George-Bulkley Valley and specifically the town of Prince George.
It reads as follows: "Whereas members of the Parliament of Canada are duty bound to represent the interests of Canadians for the good of all Canada; and whereas members of Parliament swear allegiance to the Queen in Canada; and whereas members of Parliament have a moral and legal obligation to fulfil their duties in the best interest of all of Canada; therefore we the petitioners humbly pray that the leader of the official opposition of the 35th Parliament of Canada and the caucus members of the official opposition party having breached their allegiance and moral obligations as members of Parliament of Canada be permanently ejected from the Parliament of Canada".
I support this petition.
PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
Colleagues, as you know it is not in form to either support or not support a particular petition. I would ask you respectfully to please refrain from so doing.
Jim Jordan Liberal Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have yet another petition coming from dairy farmers and the users of dairy products in my riding, expressing their opposition to the use of the hormone BST in Canadian dairy cattle.
This is about the fourth petition I have presented from my constituents. It is a pleasure to present this.
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
November 20th, 1995 / 3:20 p.m.
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, Question No. 238 will be answered today.
Question No. 238-
Randy White Reform Fraser Valley West, BC
Concerning Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, what automobile leases were made by CMHC during fiscal years 1992, 1993 and 1994, itemizing ( a ) year, make and model of the leased vehicle, ( b ) monthly payment and term, ( c ) name of the employee who is driving the leased vehicle and ( d ) the number of kilometres each car has been driven?
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Cape Breton—East Richmond Nova Scotia
Liberal
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation made the following leases for vehicles for the years 1992, 1993 and 1994: a) to d)
1992-No lease was made for that period.
1993-1993 Ford-Crown Victoria Monthly payment: $571.53 Term: 24/06/93 to 23/05/96 Driven by: Gilles E. Girard, Senior Vice-President, Insurance Land and Asset Administration 61,890 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
1994 Chrysler New Yorker Monthly payment: $548.01 Term: 03/12/93 to 03/12/96 Driven by: Claude Poirier-Defoy Vice-President, Programs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary 32,899 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
1994-1993 Acura-Vigor GS Monthly payment: $713.05 Term: 01/03/94 to 01/03/97 Driven by: Robert Lajoie Senior Vice-President, Policy Research and Communications 59,902 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
1994 Dodge-Grand Caravan Monthly payment: $555.95 Term: 01/04/94 to 01/04/97 Driven by: Peter C. Connolly Senior Vice-President, Corporate Resources 29,306 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
1994 Volvo-GTA Sedan Monthly payment: $698.05 Term: 06/05/94 to 31/05/97 Driven by: Douglas A. Stewart Vice-President, Policy and Research 24,978 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
1994 Ford-Explorer XLT Monthly payment: $686.55 Term: 18/11/94 to 18/11/97 Driven by: Jim T. Lynch Vice-President, Insurance Operations and Land Management 20,210 kilometres as of 30 September 1995
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 225 could be made an Order for Return, this return would be tabled immediately.
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Question No. 225-
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton, ON
For which of its initiatives in China has Northern Telecom received monies from the E.D.C. or the Canada Account during the period beginning in 1989 until the present, how much was provided in each instance, in instances where monies were provided from the Canada Account, why wasn't financial assistance provided by the E.D.C., how did Northern Telecom satisfy the "national interest" criteria in cases where Canada Account funds were used?
Return tabled.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.