Debates of Feb. 22nd, 1995

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, today is a rather special day in our Parliament. I want to explain how we are going to proceed.

We will have statements by the leaders of various parties. Then we will have the introduction of our new members of Parliament who will be joining us today, following which will be statements.

We will then move on to Oral Questions. The Prime Minister has the floor.

Tribute To Hon. Lucien Bouchard

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all members of this House, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to the Leader of the Opposition. All members of this House and all Canadians salute the courage and determination shown by the Leader of the Opposition throughout his recent ordeal.

I also wish to pay tribute to Mrs. Audrey Bouchard and her children for their support for him during this very difficult time, which certainly played a major part in helping the opposition leader recover so quickly.

I would like to thank all Canadians, despite the differences of opinion we might have, who have shown to the Leader of the Opposition their sympathy and moral support in praying for him to recover his health in as short a time as possible.

Since it is one of his fondest wishes, I would like to say to the Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of all members of this House: Welcome back to the shop.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Reform members, including myself, I wish to welcome back the hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

We parliamentarians are all professional politicians. Although, in the course of our public lives, we often express heartfelt and varied opinions on matters of public policy, we remain human beings united by our shared love of life and health and by our vulnerability to disease and tragedy.

When the hon. member became ill, all members of this House shared a feeling of solidarity because of their common concern for their colleague.

Those of us who believe that the ultimate secret of life and death rests in the hands of the Supreme Being prayed for his recovery.

When we learned that the hon. member was out of danger at last, we shared feelings of relief and gratitude.

It is a tribute to the hon. member's courage and determination that all members of the House put their differences aside and showed their solidarity through their concern for his recovery and well-being.

I therefore would like to express these feelings today by welcoming the hon. member back to the House and wishing him excellent health in the future.

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, upon the return of the leader of the Bloc Quebecois to the House of Commons, I would like to say, on behalf of the New Democratic Party, that we are glad to see him back in good health.

The news of the devastating disease that struck the leader of the Bloc Quebecois came as a terrible shock. Beyond all our differences, compassion is the bond that unites us.

I would like to offer my best wishes to the leader of the Bloc Quebecois and to his courageous family.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

Welcome back, Lucien.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, these past two months have taught me something about this House and its members. They taught me that one can get homesick for this place.

I return here with feelings of gratitude, with pride and confidence. I am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for your constant concern throughout this difficult time. I also wish to mention the courtesy and understanding shown by the Prime Minister. His heart is in the right place. I am deeply grateful to the ministers and to the other party leaders and members of all parties who supported me with their messages of encouragement and, in so doing, perpetuated a tradition of compassion that is a credit to this House. I applaud this ability to rise above the many differences we may have, even in the midst of a debate that is about the future of Canada, no less.

Also, Mr. Speaker, it should come as no surprise to you that during the anxious days that brought me these expressions of sympathy, I felt very close to all of you.

At this point I want to thank from the bottom of my heart my friends and colleagues in the Bloc Quebecois caucus. They behaved like a family that, when one of its members is hurt, summons the courage and dignity to carry on. I want to say how much I appreciate their wonderful solidarity and the tremendous job they have done during my absence.

I am also deeply grateful for the thousands of expressions of encouragement I received from my fellow citizens. I must say I felt strengthened and comforted by their prayers and best wishes.

My illness gave me first-hand knowledge of how our health care system works. I have the greatest admiration for and am deeply grateful to the doctors and other caregivers at the Saint-Luc Hospital in Montreal who saved my life and those at the rehabilitation institute in Montreal who helped me learn to walk again. Their dedication and competence have reinforced my commitment to protecting and improving our social programs.

And so today we answer the call of duty and again take up the mandate that was given to us by the people.

Yes, I have been looking forward to this moment since a certain day in December when technology and destiny combined to give me another chance. If the rallying cry of democracy is stand up and be counted, I respectfully ask to be counted.

I have so much to remember, the sympathy and compassion from this and every other quarter, from Quebec and from the whole of Canada, from friends and strangers alike. In such circumstances who is really a stranger? I remember a yellow rose, a gracious gesture by a gracious lady.

In our moments of anguish my family and I were not alone. This we shall never forget. Our gratitude goes to all of those who offered us their thoughts and their prayers.

We come back to this Chamber with a renewed hunger for life. Time is so precious and there is so much left to do. And so we will concentrate on the more important things and give the best we can. Quebecers and Canadians alike can expect your faithful servant to remain true to his convictions and values, for our convictions may clash, as they do and will, but we share the same values of tolerance and respect for democracy; values that are tragically in short supply in a large part of the world. Where others fight with bullets, we fight with ballots, with arguments, with facts, with emotions and it should always be with respect for those who believe differently from us.

Let us never forget our common humanity. Let us never disallow our common need to reach out to one another so that in our times of suffering, of solitude, even despair, we can take comfort in the knowledge that in spite of our differences we share the same compassion.

There will no doubt be heated exchanges in the weeks and months ahead. At the end of the day we will remember the intensity of our debates and the passion that suffused them. It is my fondest hope that we will also recall that civility prevailed and that outside this Chamber men and women of every persuasion will proudly be able to say they profoundly disagreed but they were, all of them, men and women of peace and honour.

I also mentioned the word pride, and indeed I am proud to be standing here with you in this House, where we were sent by our fellow citizens.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I also used the word confidence, and indeed I have the greatest confidence in the democratic and responsible resolution of the issues before us.

I was able to observe how compassionate and generous our fellow citizens from English Canada can be. Who would not have been moved by their expressions of sympathy? I realize this does not mean English Canada will be converted to Quebec's sovereignist option, any more than I will renege on my political commitments. On the contrary, these past few weeks during which I had time to think about these issues have strengthened my sovereignist position. However, I am confident that sovereignists and federalists can discuss their options with dignity, without impugning each other's motives.

In concluding, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me, with the consent of the government and the other parties, these few minutes to address the House. However, after expressing these worthy sentiments, we must go back to the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate. In fact, I was a little worried earlier that the Prime Minister's kind words would have a disarming effect on me. I am aware that I will have to revert to a more robust approach in my first questions to the Prime Minister later on.

New Member

[The Speaker]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election of Mr. Mauril Bélanger, member for the electoral district of Ottawa-Vanier.

Mauril Bélanger, member for the electoral district of Ottawa-Vanier, introduced by the Right Hon. Jean Chrétien and the Hon. Herb Gray.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Denis Paradis, for the electoral district of Brome-Missisquoi.

Denis Paradis, member for the electoral district of Brome-Missisquoi, introduced by the Right Hon. Jean Chrétien and the Hon. Alphonso Gagliano.

[The Speaker]

Dear colleagues, I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mrs. Lucienne Robillard, for the electoral district of Saint-Henri-Westmount.

Lucienne Robillard, member for the electoral district of Saint-Henri-Westmount, introduced by the Right Hon. Jean Chrétien and the Hon. André Ouellet.

New Member Introduced

[The Speaker]

It being 2.24 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House will now proceed to Statements by Members, pursuant to Standing Order 31.

I would like to point out to the hon. members that we are going to take the regular statements by members, and then, we will move on to oral questions. We will take all the time we need, 45 minutes, and, in an hour from now, we will have completed question period. We will then proceed with the orders of the day and take a bit more time, if necessary, for our debate.

Hon. Lucien Bouchard

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to greet Lucien Bouchard on his return. We are delighted to have him in our midst again, pleased to see that he has pulled through his terrible ordeal and is resuming his place in the House of Commons. The Leader of the Opposition knows only too well that nothing is certain in this life. And yet he maintains that the referendum should not be launched unless the sovereignist option is sure to win. This, he says, is in the interest of Quebecers.

It is indeed in the interest of the entire country that a referendum be held, and as soon as possible, not to see one side or the other win, but instead to learn the position of Quebecers and resolve the issue once and for all. That is democracy. Anything else is shameful manipulation. Quebecers deserve better than that after all.

For my part, I say yes to one clear question. I say yes to a strong Quebec, I say yes to a unified Canada.

Quebec Federation Of Labour

[Osvaldo Nunez, Bloc, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am still moved by the return of my leader and by his speech.

Yesterday, the Quebec Federation of Labour, which has some 450,000 members, adopted a manifesto and an action plan to mobilize workers in favour of Quebec's sovereignty. I had the honour of addressing the 1,600 shop stewards present at this special assembly.

The members of the Bloc Quebecois would like to pay tribute to Bob White, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, who spoke in favour of the democratic right of Quebecers to self-determination. He stressed that a yes in the referendum should be respected by the rest of Canada.

We would like to congratulate the Quebec Federation of Labour for its commitment at this turning point in the history of the Quebec nation.

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association has printed more than 10,000 neon yellow cards which make the important point that when taxes go up employment goes down.

The restaurant and food services industry employs more than 667,000 people in Canada. They know firsthand the devastating effect taxes can have on their businesses and jobs in Canada.

The last time the government made a tax grab with the GST the industry lost 46,000 jobs almost overnight. An Ernst & Young report concluded that two out of every three jobs lost were directly as a result of the new tax.

The restaurant and food services sector is a huge employer of students, recent immigrants and single mothers. It has been estimated that 30 per cent of those Canadians working today had their first experience in the workforce in food service. It is also an industry that depends on disposable income and is one of Canada's most labour intensive.

If taxes go up employment will go down. It is that simple. Taxes kill jobs.

Gasoline Prices

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on budget day Canadians will be preparing themselves for another tax increase on gasoline prices.

The Liberal government will take the responsibility of justifying these high taxes to Canadians. However consumers have already had to deal with many increases in gas prices when oil companies hiked the prices at the pumps for no reason at all. These increases are invisible taxes on consumers by the multinational oil companies and have not been justified.

The Liberal government not only condones this price gouging but encourages it. In a recent report the Bureau of Competition Policy has said that oil companies can charge whatever they want for gasoline.

Canadians need an energy pricing review commission with the power to investigate gas price increases and when unjustified roll them back. I challenge the Liberal government in the upcoming budget to get out of bed with the oil companies and give consumers a fair deal by immediately setting up an energy price review commission.

Heart Month

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I remind members of the House that February is Heart Month.

Heart disease and stroke are the number one killers in Canada of both men and women and together are responsible for the loss of 75,000 Canadian lives each year. In fact 40 per cent of all deaths in the country are due to cardiovascular disease.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada tells us that the risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking and physical inactivity. The foundation strives to educate Canadians about these risk facts and plays an important role in the fight against heart disease.

During the month of February more than 100,000 volunteers will be canvassing in our communities to raise public awareness and funds for research and education.

Please join me in saluting the Heart and Stroke Foundation and its many volunteers for their excellent work. So, when they come knocking on your door, have a heart.

Port Of Halifax

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to bring good news from the port of Halifax. In 1994 revenues of the port of Halifax were up 4.7 per cent.

There is more good news. There was an increase of 23 per cent in container traffic in the fourth quarter of last year. Sixteen hundred vessels called at Halifax last year. That was a big increase. It included 39 cruise vessels bringing 38,000 tourists to Halifax, the home of this year's G-7 and was a 22 per cent rise over 1993.

The future is bright for the port of Halifax. Officials there predict a 15 per cent to 25 per cent increase in container business this year.

The port of Halifax is the key to economic recovery in this area. It provides 2,500 direct and 4,500 indirect jobs to Halifax.

I am sure that members of the House will join me in commending the port of Halifax on a very successful year.

Fisheries

[Jean Payne, Liberal, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to offer my firm support to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in his efforts to conserve Greenland halibut and turbot.

The European Union has launched a formal objection to the quota decision of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. It was the European Union's use of this objection procedure in the late 1980s that led to the moratoria on flatfish and cod on the tail of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Even as scientific findings showed evidence of stock decline, the Spanish ignored all warnings and actually increased their fishing efforts.

The NAFO decision is the result of a vote by the world's major fishing nations: Japan, Russia, Norway, Iceland, Cuba and Canada. Its findings are based on conservation, science and traditional shares.

It is irresponsible for the European Union to play by the rules only when the rules are in its own favour. We cannot allow further destruction of Canada's fisheries resources while communities such as those in my riding of St. John's West are suffering economic devastation in the name of conservation.

Kingston Prison For Women

[Bernard St-Laurent, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the CBC's English network aired some deeply disturbing footage of the riot squad in action last April at the Kingston Prison for Women. The humiliation the six female inmates were subjected to at the hands of the male emergency response team raises some serious questions.

In his report yesterday, the correctional investigator denounced the use of excessive force against inmates. The same report completely contradicts the findings of the internal inquiry by correctional services, which condoned the acts of the emergency response team through its complacency, to the disgust of the Elizabeth Fry Society.

The Solicitor General must assure this House that the director at the prison for women who was in charge of the internal inquiry will be suspended immediately for having hidden the truth.

Railways

[Ray Speaker, Reform, Lethbridge]

Mr. Speaker, a strike or a lockout is looming for the nation's railways. The negotiating parties have had 13 months to reach a collective agreement on their own and they have failed.

If such a strike or lockout were to occur, the country's transportation network would grind to a halt within days. It would devastate shippers of coal, potash and newsprint, paralyse the auto industry and, as usual, leave western grain farmers footing the bill for somebody else's irresponsibility.

The cost of such a strike to our economy is just too high and the government knows this. That is why for the 14th time in the last 29 years we will have no choice but to suspend the rules of the House in order to pass emergency back to work legislation. If and when this happens it will be the second time in two years. I hope we have not already forgotten the Vancouver port strike experience.

My private member's bill, Bill C-262, offers a permanent solution to this chronic problem. Let us pass Bill C-262 so that we do not find ourselves in the same position again this year.

Banks

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning four national banking institutions raised their lending rates in reaction to the Bank of Canada's rate hike yesterday to a one year high of 8.38 per cent.

Just as last week when Moody's Investors Service put Canada's AAA domestic bond rating on a credit watch, now our own institutions have shown a complete lack of understanding of our deficit problem. It is extremely shocking and saddening when our national institutions do not have the patience and presence of mind to wait for the budget.

Maybe the finance minister will slash the budget drastically to control the deficit. I fail to understand why the bogeyman of inflation created by the previous government is being resurrected once again.

With inflation presently running low, there is no need for higher interest rates. The increased rates will hamper job creation and hurt small businesses, as it will thousands of Canadians who have to renew their mortgages this year.

It is time for the Bank of Canada to initiate systems policies-