Debates of Feb. 8th, 1995

His Excellency The Governor General

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate His Excellency the Right Hon. Roméo LeBlanc, who has just been sworn in as Governor General of Canada. Mr. LeBlanc is clearly an excellent person for the job.

He has worked tirelessly and unstintingly for a united and prosperous Canada. In his speech this morning, Mr. LeBlanc expressed his love for Canada. As he said, it is up to us to build our future together as Canadians.

The choice of Mr. LeBlanc is an honour for all Acadians. As you know, he is the first Acadian to be appointed to the position of Governor General. We are proud of him.

I would like to wish His Excellency the Right Hon. Roméo LeBlanc and Mrs. LeBlanc success and happiness throughout this mandate.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the official opposition, the swearing in today of Roméo LeBlanc as the Governor General of Canada. Following his long career as a member of Parliament, minister and Liberal senator, his appointment as Governor General recognizes a life dedicated to politics.

Just as the Leader of the Opposition congratulated the Prime Minister in the House when the appointment of Mr. LeBlanc was announced, we also congratulate the Prime Minister on choosing, for the first time, an Acadian as Governor General.

We hope the Governor General will play a role in promoting the rights of francophone and Acadian communities in Canada. We acknowledge and respect the Governor General's right to defend Canadian unity, just as we must recognize the right of sovereignists to defend their plans because, when all is said and done, the decision is for Quebecers to make and for them alone.

Canadian Airborne Regiment

[Jack Frazer, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in her Standing Order 31 statement yesterday the hon. member for Brant attributed to me "comments denying any racism in the video depicting conduct of some members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment". I assume the hon. member took this statement, out of context and misrepresenting my position, from a media report.

Now I consider calling someone or an organization racist to be a very serious charge and demand factual evidence before levelling such a charge.

It is one thing to have my position misrepresented in the media but quite another to have it misrepresented in the official records of this House of Commons.

I make this statement to make clear that I did not and will not condone racism in any form. However, neither will I join the politically correct in flinging charges of racism before I know all the pertinent facts.

Project Preservation

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to Project Preservation, an environmental youth group in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.

Recently the group was honoured with the Ward Smith environmental youth award. This award is presented by the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority for outstanding youth contributions to the local environment through awareness and action.

Project Preservation was established in the fall of 1986 as a response to the growing need for an active environmental group dedicated to education.

Within the past eight years, the need to protect our environment has grown and Project Preservation has evolved with it. Project Preservation's main focus is the publication of a bimonthly newsletter called "Nature's Plea". "Nature's Plea"

covers a wide range of environmental issues and provides an optimistic outlook to the problems we face.

Within the past year Project Preservation has organized numerous tree plants, litter clean-ups, benefit music festivals and campaigns such as the bad mail campaign, a project to combat junk mail.

My congratulations and best wishes are extended to Project Preservation and to-

Federal Public Servants

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

Mr. Speaker, federal public servants are the government's most precious resource; they implement its programs, deliver its services and apply its regulations.

If there are to be program cuts or service cuts of any kind in the coming budget I ask that the government privatize or contract out these activities and give first crack to those public servants affected. I also ask that the government change the Superannuation Act to permit those affected from age 50 and on to be able to take voluntary early retirement without penalty.

Let there be no public servant penalized because of public service renewal.

Sharing The National Debt

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we were very surprised to hear that Quebec's Minister of Finance completely changed his mind last Monday about assuming a share of the debt if Quebec separates.

Minister Campeau stated that an independent Quebec will not be forced to accept something that undermines its economic development especially because "it is not our debt, it is Canada's debt".

The minister's recent statement basically contradicts a statement he made in 1994, that Quebec was worried when it saw the cumulative national debt reach $550 billion as of March 31, 1994, because Quebecers have to pay 25 per cent of it.

The uncertainty created by such statements can only undermine the efforts of those who are working hard for the country's economic recovery.

Federal Public Service

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the Prime Minister only too ready to make disparaging remarks about federal civil servants, who according to him are sitting around and doing nothing, and with the government poised to slash public spending, four Liberal MNAs for the Outaouais prefer taking it easy in the sun to defending the interests of their constituents.

The stakes have never been higher for the federal public service in the Outaouais, as it faces the worst cuts in its history. Outaouais residents are worried about privatization, reduced services and the loss of their jobs. And while they worry, MNAs Middlemiss, MacMillan, Lafrenière and Lesage are away, indifferent to what is happening and doing nothing to stop it.

What sort of political commitment is it when these Liberal MNAs would rather relax in a warm climate than look out for the real problems of those they represent?

Ethics

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, serious allegations have been made concerning the business activities of the member for St. John's West for some months now. The Liberal government has been advised of the situation and a petition for recall has been circulated throughout her riding.

The Evening Telegram in St. John's has reported on this fiasco at length. CBC St. John's this morning made public that she is indeed the subject of an RCMP investigation.

This government talks so much about ethics, but will not walk the walk when its own members are involved. Since this government refuses to allow the ethics commissioner to report to Parliament or investigate individual MPs, then recall legislation introduced by the Reform member for Beaver River which was turned down by this government is now more important than ever to the people of St. John's.

Let me quote Janet Ryan from Torbay, Newfoundland: The Prime Minister "as leader of the country and the Liberal Party is morally bound to demand her resignation".

Festival Du Voyageur

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

Mr. Speaker, I invite you and all my parliamentary colleagues to come to St. Boniface, Manitoba, to take part in the Festival du Voyageur, which starts Friday, February 10.

This festival is a celebration of our history, our traditions and our culture, as well as the contribution of Manitoba's other founding nations, including all of Canada.

Well-known stars will perform in Manitoba this weekend. We offer an impressive line-up of shows and events and we also have our joie de vivre.

This will be an opportunity to demonstrate how a small, rather isolated community can still be quite vigorous and willing to live and work with others.

Party Affiliation

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have here a letter written by the member of Parliament for New Westminster-Burnaby dated January 9, 1995 in which he writes:

There is only one kind of event that will motivate the government to take notice of what mainstream Canada wants-soaring Reform Party memberships.

A burgeoning "card carrying membership" is far more effective than protests, letter writing, petitions, or other traditional types of lobbying.

I know you will understand why this is true.

I do not know why it is true. It is a flagrant misuse of taxpayer supplied stationery and franking privileges. It totally misrepresents the impact of petitions, letters and our work here in this House. It certainly makes me wonder why the member stands up to present petitions.

To all Canadians, especially to my constituents, I will listen to their opinions, whether they have a party affiliation or not. All Canadians have the right to be heard. They should continue to sign petitions, write letters and call their members of Parliament. They have a right to provide input to our work in this House.

Senior Men's Curling Championship

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell and I wish to congratulate the senior men's team from the Cornwall Curling Club in my riding of Stormont-Dundas. This foursome represented the province of Ontario at the recent Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championships held in friendly and hospitable Saint John, New Brunswick.

Lead George Dolejsi, second Keith MacGregor, third Thom Pritchard, the lone Glengarian on the team, and Skip Bill Dickie proved to be the pride of Ontario and Cornwall by winning the coveted Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship.

We commend them for their effort and dedication to this popular sport that enabled them to win such a prestigious national championship.

We are proud of them and we congratulate them.

Referendum On Quebec Sovereignty

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, results of the Léger & Léger poll published today clearly show that a No vote in the Quebec referendum means the exact same thing to English Canadians as it does to Quebec sovereignists.

Far from being a bargaining chip, a No vote is construed as a No to any constitutional change and any form of renewed federalism. The poll found that scarcely 10 per cent of respondents were not opposed to a special status for Quebec. In fact, two thirds did not recognize Quebec as a distinct nation.

The poll also shows that half of those surveyed feel that Canada should recognize Quebec as a sovereign nation should the Yes side win. In addition, some 58 per cent of Canadians are in favour of maintaining economic ties with an independent Quebec. Beyond the calculated threats of politicians, Canadians are saying clearly that they want to build a partnership that is sound and productive for everyone.

Immigration And Refugee Board

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Immigration and Refugee Board is out of control.

In January, Boujan Inthavong was released from prison in B.C. and ordered deported because of his role in a brutal gang murder. Knowing the system, he got himself a lawyer and delayed his deportation by making a refugee claim. Unbelievably, the IRB gave refugee status to this dangerous criminal in a 15 minute hearing. Now he is here forever.

The IRB completely disregarded his crimes. But even more unbelievable is the stated refusal of the minister of immigration to intervene and stop this ridiculous refugee claim which has made a mockery of justice and a laughing stock of the taxpayers. He had the power to halt the hearing before it got started but decided not to. He went on record to say that he would not even attempt to overturn the decision.

Canadians are used to the stupidity of the IRB, but for the minister who refused to act when he had every legal right and responsibility is itself nothing short of criminal.

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I would urge all of us in our statements under Standing Order 31 to be very judicious in our choice of words as we are coming very close to attacking one another as members. I would appeal to all of you to look at the

statements that you are making and please see to it that the statements that are being made do not engage in personal attack.

Sustainable Development

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

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is time that Canada began to take a lead role in the establishment of alternative sustainable institutions.

With the rapid globalization of capital, the people of the world need more than ever institutions committed to democratic governance, decentralized decision making, transparency, community involvement, full and open public participation and full public accountability. We need institutions committed to sustainable development which promote social and economic justice including global health and education, energy conservation, renewable energy, micro-enterprise, sustainable agriculture and forestry, mass transit and the reversal of economic degradation.

Canada is hosting the G-7 in Halifax in June. We can begin this important process by taking a lead role as the host nation in calling for and working toward a full and fundamental review of the policies and practices of the 50-year old Bretton Woods institutions, projects and programs.

Private Phillip Badanai

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me today to speak of a young man from Thunder Bay, Private Phillip Badanai.

Private Badanai was a member of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment and is now a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was serving as a peacekeeper in Bosnia on December 31, 1994 when he was injured in action. I am pleased to report to the House that he has made a full recovery.

Private Badanai is the son of Sharon and the late Norris Badanai of Thunder Bay, but more important, he is the grandson of Hubert Badanai who served with distinction as the member for Fort William from 1958 to 1968.

I am sure his father and his grandfather would be very proud of Private Badanai as all Canadians are with respect to his role as a peacekeeper on behalf of all of us.

His Excellency The Governor General

[Pierrette Ringuette-Maltais, Liberal, Madawaska—Victoria, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it was a great pleasure for me to attend the swearing-in of the 25th Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc.

His Excellency delivered an historic speech. As an Acadian, he was able to link our past to our present, and to set forth the principles which will guide all Canadians to a promising future. The new Governor General is a remarkable man to whom all Canadians will be able to relate, because of his simplicity, his humility and his great wisdom.

I wish the very best to His Excellency, the Right Hon. Roméo LeBlanc, and to Mrs. LeBlanc in their new roles. As a French-speaking person from New Brunswick and member for the riding of Madawaska-Victoria, I speak for my constituents when I say how proud we are of this great Canadian, this great Acadian, who has shown that, in Canada, it is possible to achieve great things without relinquishing one's identity.

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

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

Mr. Speaker, following allegations that the Reform Party had been infiltrated by a CSIS agent, the Prime Minister said repeatedly in the House that federal intelligence services had no mandate to spy on politicians, whoever they happened to be.

On December 16, Michel Robert, acting chairman of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, stated there was no file on the leader of the Reform Party. However, in a letter dated January 27, the executive director of the SIRC confirmed that since October 1989, there had been a file under the name "Preston Manning".

My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. Why did the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, in October 1994, say in the House that no intelligence service had a mandate to spy on politicians, when we now know that CSIS actually has a file on the leader of the Reform Party and has had one for five years?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, this matter was explained fully in a letter to the parliamentary subcommittee by the chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee.

He said that the file in question did not relate to the leader of the Reform Party but rather to a low level investigation about possible financing by a foreign country of the election campaign in question.

When it was found that this was not the case, the investigation was terminated. The heading on the file did not accurately relate to what the file was about. It was not a file involving an investigation of the leader of the Reform Party.

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

Mr. Speaker, it was probably a coincidence that they picked the name of Preston Manning for their investigation. Just a coincidence, Mr. Speaker.

I want to ask the Solicitor General how Canadians and Quebecers can be expected to trust the Security Intelligence Review Committee, after its chairman denied the existence of a file on the leader of the Reform Party in December 1994 and its executive director confirmed, in January 1995, the existence of a file, that happened to be under the name "Preston Manning"?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should give complete information to the House. What the executive director of the Security Intelligence Review Committee said was that in spite of the initial name of the file, it did not relate to the leader of the Reform Party but rather to the investigation of possible financing of an election campaign by a foreign country, which did not turn out to be correct.

I think the hon. member should give the whole story to the House. It would help us have a better question period.

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

Exactly, Mr. Speaker. We would like to have the whole story in the House. We wonder why the SIRC first denied the existence of the Preston Manning file before committee members and then confirmed that there was a file on the leader of the Reform Party.

Would the Solicitor General agree that the only way to get to the bottom of this, as he claims he wants to do, is to set up a genuinely public and independent commission of inquiry?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I wish the hon. member had listened to my answer instead of reading out the question he had already prepared.

My answer made it clear that based on information provided to me by the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the file in question was not about an investigation of the leader of the Reform Party but about the possible questionable financing by a foreign country of an election campaign.

The Security Intelligence Review Committee, under the statute creating CSIS, is in effect a permanent royal commission with a specific mandate to keep under review the activities of CSIS. The quality of its work has been demonstrated by the comprehensive report of the Heritage Front affair that brought to light the issue about which the hon. member is talking.

While the Security Intelligence Review Committee operates at arm's length from the government, I would think that if the subcommittee wanted to hear further from the Security Intelligence Review Committee on this subject it would be happy to come back to the subcommittee.

National Defence

[Jean-Marc Jacob, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

On March 16, 1994, I asked the defence minister in this House how senior officers at CFB Petawawa could let 2nd Airborne Commando members go around the base displaying Nazi flags on Canadian Forces vehicles as well as white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan insignia. Almost one year later, the broadcasting of revealing videos spurred the minister into action.

Can the defence minister assure us that the board of inquiry's mandate will not be limited to the events in Somalia because, if it is, we must conclude that dismantling the Airborne Regiment will allow the officers and NCMs who have committed unacceptable acts to avoid punishment by being redeployed to other regiments or even decorated?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I have already announced publicly that the inquiry will begin as soon as the last court martial is concluded, which will be about the middle of March. It will deal with the Canadian Armed Forces deployment to Somalia in 1992-93; how the regiment was prepared for that deployment; how particular incidents which occurred in Somalia were reported, investigated and handled, both on the ground in Somalia and here in Ottawa at national defence headquarters.

I want to assure the hon. member and Canadians generally that all of the concerns that one might have about the incidents in Somalia and our engagement there will be subject to the inquiry's terms of reference, once the inquiry is established. As I said before, that inquiry will begin as soon as the last court martial is concluded.