Debates of Feb. 27th, 1995

Firearms Act

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the member has raised a couple of interesting points that I would like to address very briefly.

First, there are two groups of aboriginal people in my constituency and I work very closely with them. My most recent meeting with the chief was on Thursday night. I object to the innuendo that we are not working with these people and that we do not treat them as equals. I take exception to that.

In terms of consultations, I do have a letter from the minister in response to my request to come to my riding for further consultation. Thousands of people would have attended. Of course I was turned down because the consultations are over.

Also you mention in your speech about rights-

[Ray Speaker, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

I am sure the hon. member was referring to me but I did not make the speech. He must refer to the Chair. My colleagues, I am going to give the hon. member for Red Deer the floor right after question period. However, it being 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House will now proceed to statements by members pursuant to Standing Order 31.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, scientists have predicted that global temperatures could increase 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius over the next century. The cause is greenhouse gases from human activities and in particular, increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gases produce shifts in climate, in forest growth and agricultural patterns.

Led by Alberta, Canada is among the highest per capita producer of carbon dioxide emissions. Yet ignoring the large problems coastal provinces would face because of rising sea levels and the further disruption of fisheries, the province of Alberta is adamantly opposed to comprehensive carbon dioxide reductions.

The federal government repeatedly asked the provinces to co-operate and introduce mandatory carbon dioxide reductions. So far however, Alberta's inflexible position makes any meaningful reduction impossible and weakens our international reputation.

French-Language School Boards

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, instead of announcing the creation of homogeneous French-language school boards in Ontario, the provincial education minister once again chose to put off that decision. In fact, he created a committee mandated to rationalize the governance of education in Ontario. This committee is to deliver its report next December, that is after the Ontario provincial elections. Moreover, this committee with a majority of anglophones has been made responsible for the future of French-language school boards.

Instead of taking action, Ontario goes on violating the Canadian Charter, which it signed of course, a charter which grants francophones the right to manage their schools.

Instead of taking action, Ontario is letting the situation deteriorate; consider the 31 per cent illiteracy rate and 38 per cent rate of assimilation among Franco-Ontarians.

During the next referendum, Quebecers will remember that those who speak about a renewed federalism are merely playing with smoke and mirrors.

Province Of Quebec

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, government officials, whether municipal, provincial or federal, are elected to represent their constituents. Both the Parti Quebecois and Bloc Quebecois do not seem to agree with this. Their idea of a referendum is not to find out what the people of Quebec want but rather how to force them into accepting separation.

Now the PQ and BQ want to water down the question so the issue remains unsettled. This presents a problem for all Canadians, including those in Quebec. Uncertainty is causing interest rates to rise, the dollar to fall and international credit to be re-examined. It is also likely to be partly responsible for the Liberal's failure to properly deal with the deficit for fear of upsetting Quebec.

If the Parti Quebecois does not call the referendum with a clear question on separation within its own 1995 timetable, I call on the Prime Minister to hold a federal referendum in Quebec to settle this issue by year's end. This uncertainty must not continue.

Justice

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Minister of Justice for his speed in tabling a bill on the subject of intoxication as a defence.

All Canadians were outraged last autumn when a man convicted of rape had his conviction overturned by the Supreme Court on the grounds of extreme drunkenness. Many residents of my riding were concerned that this decision would be seen by some as a licence to commit offences while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Allowing individuals to justify their acts of violence by blaming intoxication will hamper efforts to end violence in our society and cause further victimization.

I am sure that all members of the House will join me in supporting the efforts of the Minister of Justice to eliminate this loophole in the criminal justice system.

Referendum Debate

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Paul, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on March 31, 1993, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois declared in La Presse that all those who live in Quebec are Quebecers.

The fine words of the leader of the official opposition do not seem to have been heard by his peers, since, in recent weeks, racist remarks by Quebec separatists have been on the increase.

This weekend, Pierre Bourgault accused anglophones in Quebec of wanting to exercise a blatantly racist vote, while the Bloc Quebecois member for Louis-Hébert wanted ethnocultural communities to withdraw from the referendum debate and let old stock Quebecers decide the province's future.

These statements are unacceptable in a democratic society such as ours, and we invite all Quebecers to refuse to participate in a sovereignty debate that is based on intolerance and racism.

Northern Ireland

[Mary Clancy, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as many know, Northern Ireland is moving forward in pursuit of peace.

In the past few months, Irish and British officials have been negotiating a framework that will ultimately make the tyranny of violence in Ulster a thing of the past. Many Canadians, particularly those of Irish descent, wish the people of Northern Ireland well in this crucial transition period.

Years ago when my ancestors left that beautiful country, like all immigrants to Canada they also left behind the ancestral feuds for a more peaceful new world.

We all hope that we can soon see an emerald isle where the peace and tranquillity of the people reflect the beauty of the landscape.

Michel Bélanger

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Clearly, Mr. Speaker, there are two Michel Bélangers.

There is one Michel Bélanger, a true statesman, a man of imposing presence and influence, who can inspire in Quebecers a healthy confidence in themselves.

At the time he co-chaired the commission on the political and constitutional future of Quebec he was impervious to the exaggerations and arguments of fear still being brandished by a few federalists who lacked the fine words of terror that were the specialty of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Then there is the other Michel Bélanger. A man who heads the NO camp, whose imposing presence is withering away inside the ideological straitjacket put on him by the federalists. These days, Michel Bélanger has become the bogeyman.

This man, who had raised the debate on the national issue to the level of pragmatism and a people's belief in itself, has been reduced to visiting homes for the aged and telling the people there that a sovereign Quebec could no longer afford to pay their pensions.

This shows how little argument the man has left.

Pensions

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has just introduced amendments to the MPs' pension plan but in reality has just changed troughs and given it a new look.

This new plan is still much more lucrative than what a person in the private sector would receive. Basically it is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

The new package is still fully indexed to inflation, something 78 per cent of the public does not enjoy. The accrual rate is twice the amount allowed for under the Income Tax Act and is therefore illegal.

How can the government in good conscience ask overtaxed Canadians to tighten their belts while doing exactly the opposite itself?

I ask every MP in the House to join hands with the rest of Canada and make a sacrifice by opting out of this hideous MP pension plan which still says to Canadians: "We will line our pockets and tough luck to you". I also applaud every MP who is opting out, especially my colleagues in the Reform Party.

When the budget is tabled later today, Canadians will not forget that less than a week ago it was the government that chose above all else to take care of its own.

Gun Control

[Chris Axworthy, NDP, Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it has become apparent that this Liberal government is trying hard to stifle discussion of its gun control legislation.

The interest in, and demand for, copies of Bill C-68 is overwhelming. Initially the Minister of Justice limited MPs to just 15 copies. If that was not bad enough, we now find that the chief government whip has further ordered the House distribution centre to limit that number to five copies per member. Five copies among 75,000 or 100,000 citizens is hardly the open and honest government of the Liberal red book.

Canadians are being denied their most basic democratic right; the right to understand and discuss the laws of the land.

The last time such anti-democratic action was taken by a federal government was by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney. The legislation-you guessed it-was gun control, Bill C-17.

I want to congratulate the Saskatchewan Association of Responsible Firearms Owners that has been making copies of this legislation available for $5 each. Surely important issues deserve open and informed debate. Surely Canadians are entitled to access proposed legislation that affects them. Why does the Liberal government want to deprive Canadians?

Ontario Special Olympics

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this last weekend Kitchener-Waterloo hosted the 1995 winter games, the Ontario Special Olympics.

The Ontario Special Olympics are part of a worldwide charitable organization that helps meet the need for sport training and competition among 300,000 children and adults who are developmentally challenged. Two hundred and ninety-five athletes competed and they were true to their Special Olympic oath: "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".

Generous donations in excess of $156,000 and the efforts of over 700 volunteers helped to make this year's winter games a great success.

This spirit of compassion, caring and sharing was demonstrated by my community and exemplified by the 107 members of the Westvale Public School choir that sang: "Keep the Spirit Alive". This song was written especially for the opening ceremonies by their teacher Lorna Beam.

The very special athletes of the Ontario Special Olympics rose to the challenge and exemplified to all Canadians how to keep the spirit alive.

Income Tax

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Ontario, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended an anti-tax rally in my riding where 2,000 people told the government they do not want tax increases in the budget.

Canadians have a right to be heard and the Minister of Finance has made it possible through an open and full budgetary process.

It is wrong however when the Reform Party, in concert with top officials in organizations such as the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, tries to pass itself off as leading the anti-tax message in Canada.

The CTF and provincial counterparts such as the Ontario and Alberta Taxpayers' Federations are staging anti-tax rallies across the country. Unfortunately that is not the only thing they are staging.

The CTF states it is independent of all political affiliation, yet Mr. Andrew Crooks, member of the CTF board of directors and head of the Alberta Tax Federation ran for the Reform Party nomination in Calgary and contributed $3,000 to the Reform Party in 1993. Mr. Paul Pagnuelo, executive director of the Ontario Taxpayers' Federation also sought the Reform Party nomination in the riding of Durham.

Canadians have legitimate concerns about the budget and they want to see these concerns taken into consideration. However, they do not want to be taken in by these people who are trying to further their political ambitions.

Referendum Debate

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of the linguistic and cultural communities in Quebec, I would like to condemn the racist and intolerant comments made by the Bloc member for Louis-Hébert. He believes that ethnic communities should keep their noses out of the referendum debate and let Quebecers of old stock make the decision on our future.

He admitted to journalists that he deliberately used the expression "Quebecers of old stock" because he believes that anglophones and allophones have always systematically voted for the Liberal Party and that it is a given that they will vote against sovereignty.

If the only ones in this House allowed to vote were the hon. members of old stock, then the hon. member for Louis-Hébert would have to refuse this right to many among us, including the Bloc member for Bourassa, who is from one of Quebec's cultural communities.

The Bloc member's comments are a real embarrassment, and I invite all members of this House to openly condemn such words of hate.

Defence Spending

[Jean H. Leroux, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a study published by an employee of the Department of National Defence found that Quebec is getting literally gypped out of $650 million per year in regional allotment of defence spending.

It is simply scandalous to see that, over the past 15 years, Quebec has received 27 per cent less than its fair share of defence spending. To add insult to injury, the study confirmed that francophones are under-represented in the higher ranks of the army. For example, there is only one francophone lieutenant-general out of nine and three majors-general out of 31. There has been no change on this front for at least 10 years.

This sheds some light on the government's decision to close the only francophone military college. We are tired of seeing that, year in, year out, Quebecers have remained so poorly served by the federal system in Canada.

Income Tax

[Herb Grubel, Reform, Capilano—Howe Sound, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister has said repeatedly that he will make the taxation system fairer by increasing taxes on the rich. Here is a Canadian tale that contradicts him.

Two students did equally well in high school. One went to work at age 18. He had a good time, attended the rallies of the peace generation and spent all he earned. The other went to university and graduate school, worked during the summer, lived frugally and invested wisely. He held his first full time job as a professional at age 28.

Both men are now 50. The first makes $30,000 and pays 14 per cent of it as income tax. The second makes over $51,000. He belongs to the top 10 per cent of Canadians who pay 50 per cent of all income taxes.

This so-called rich person insists that fairness requires he pay less income taxes, not more as the minister suggests. I agree.

Canadian Coast Guard

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday a tragic accident occurred over the Margaree River in Nova Scotia when a coast guard helicopter carrying four people crashed. The helicopter was returning home after completing a fisheries patrol along the river.

Transport Canada pilot Stephen Hemphill of Dartmouth was killed in that crash. His daughter Lindsay was injured, as were Wes Barrington and Adrian Tousenard, observers with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Mr. Hemphill was an experienced pilot and was one of the first North Americans to fly over the north pole during the 1994 Louis St. Laurent mission. In addition to his outstanding service to Canada, he devoted much of his time to helping others. He received a Medal of Bravery from the Queen in 1979 after he rescued three young boys at sea. He was very active in the

community for many years with the Dartmouth Crusaders swim team and coaching minor baseball.

I would ask that the House join with me in offering our deepest sympathies to Mr. Hemphill's wife and two children and our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those others injured in the crash.

Breast Cancer

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a Canadian woman has a one in nine chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.

In fact, Canada has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in the world. Each year 16,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and tragically over 5,000 die each year from this disease.

In November 1993 Health Canada, in conjunction with a number of organizations, hosted a national forum on breast cancer. One of the principal recommendations was that we must develop a new sense of urgency to deal with this disease.

Specifically they recommended the need for improved research funding, coupled with a need to provide women with better access to information, effective screening and treatment programs.

We can and must do more to address this urgent and pressing need. Breast cancer can and must be beaten for the benefit of all Canadians.

Vision Awareness Week

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my regards to the Canadian Association of Optometrists on the occasion of Vision Awareness Week, March 5 to 11.

For the second year in a row the CAO is focusing on its theme of vision connection to literacy. Although good vision is an essential building block for acquiring good reading skills, the linkage has not as yet been made prominent. For example, one in six children has a vision problem which makes it difficult to learn and read.

Through the events organized this week through the CAO Canadians will come to see that the attainment of full literacy skills depends not only on proper instruction but on good eyesight as well. A study has shown that 75 per cent of adults with low literacy skills also have vision problems.

On behalf of the residents of Lambton-Middlesex, I wish the Canadian Association of Optometrists every success.

Peacekeepers In Former Yugoslavia

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, according to a spokesperson for the White House, President Clinton plans to send American soldiers to Croatia and Bosnia to protect UN peacekeepers during their withdrawal, if they are to withdraw, now that the president of Croatia has refused to extend the peacekeeping mission after March 31.

Could the Prime Minister tell us whether, when the U.S. president was in Ottawa, he discussed with the president the plan to send massive numbers of American troops to allow the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Bosnia and Croatia?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes, we did discuss this problem, because I think NATO has an obligation to ensure that troops now on duty as peacekeepers in Croatia and Bosnia are able to return safe and sound. The Americans have already made a commitment to ensure secure withdrawal, and we hope they will, if Croatia asks UNPROFOR troops to withdraw from Croatian territory and such measures are necessary.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know whether the Prime Minister intends to put pressure on the Croatian president and persuade him to reconsider his present position which, as the Prime Minister himself indicated, is to demand the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Croatia, once the deadline has expired?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that is the option Canada has chosen, and we said so two weeks ago when a delegation of parliamentarians from Croatia came to Canada. I had the pleasure of meeting them, and I told them clearly I thought it was a mistake to ask the troops to withdraw at this point, because the risk of war was imminent once UN soldiers had left.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Prime Minister for clarifying his position on continuing the peace mission in Croatia.

As far as Bosnia is concerned, I would like to ask him whether he would agree that in this case as well, the mission of Canadian peacekeepers should be extended as well beyond March 31, since a withdrawal of UN peacekeepers at this time will merely allow the conflict to escalate, while the civilian population and refugees will be totally deprived of humanitarian aid?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there will be a decision made about the continuation of the presence of our troops in Bosnia and Croatia. We have to

make a decision this month and we will make it known to the House of Commons very soon.

We are of the view that it would be an error for the Croats to ask for the withdrawl of UN troops to get out of that situation but they have explained to us that they are afraid the presence of UN soldiers will create a de facto division of Croatia. They are afraid it might be another Cyprus. That seems to be their political reason to move. The danger is that if troops are out of Croatia by the end of the month there will be a direct confrontation with the Serbs which we think will cause a lot of deaths.