Debates of March 23rd, 1995

Sale Of Canadian Cf-5 Aircraft

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, in response to a question from my hon. colleague for Red Deer, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence confirmed that Canada is indeed negotiating with Turkey at the moment for the sale of the CF-5 fighter planes scrapped following the tabling of the latest white paper on defence policy.

Since the rules governing Canadian exports of weapons technology are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, what assurance can the government give to the people of Canada and Quebec that these Canadian fighter aircraft will not be used against civilian populations as is the case at the moment with Turkish offensives against the Kurds on the Iraqi border?

Salmo Makes Cents

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

Mr. Speaker, it has often been said that great things come in small packages. That saying is certainly true in my riding.

Salmo, a community of 1,300 enthusiastic people, wants to give Canada a special present on its birthday. Noting that the mint spends over $10 million a year replacing hoarded pennies, Salmo hit on the idea of challenging communities and service clubs across the country to gather in more pounds of pennies on a per capita basis than it does.

Penny drops are now set up throughout the province and will soon be in other provinces as well. It proposes that all pennies collected will then be shipped to Ottawa to be applied against the national debt on Canada Day. This project has caught the interest of people all over B.C. and it is still growing.

Salmo challenges all hon. members to dig into their jars, dressers, drawers and penny banks to collect more pennies on a per capita basis than the residents of Salmo.

This patriotic project will not only reduce the debt by millions of pennies, it will also save a substantial portion of the $10 million the mint spends to replace hoarded pennies.

Salmo, a small town that makes a lot of cents.

Immigration

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a country of immigrants and a tolerant one. However, Canadians were told this week by the Canadian Human Rights Commissioner Max Yalden that there

appears to be an undercurrent of intolerance around immigration and Canada's changing demographic face.

I must urge my colleagues not to let any actions tarnish the excellent image Canada enjoys around the world as a country of tolerance and compassion. Let us not fan the flames of anti-immigration for they will ultimately consume us all and our good reputation.

In this respect, the timing could not be more perfect for the Liberal government's decision to establish the Race Relations Foundation.

Americana 1995

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one of the Liberal Party's policies is to promote and support the environmental industry in Canada to enable it to explore new markets, broaden its activities and create new jobs.

I am delighted to announce that Environment Canada is taking advantage of the opportunity presented by Americana 1995, an event currently taking place in Montreal until March 24, for the very purpose of enabling the promoters of environmental technology funded by our various programs to learn more about gaining access to international markets.

In addition, we have planned certain activities in order to give these promoters an opportunity to meet members of the international delegation invited to this event so they may demonstrate their technological innovations to potential buyers.

Environment Canada, Industry Canada and the Federal Office of Regional Development are partners in this event.

Rail Transport

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

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois is continuing to do its blocking job in order to prevent the government from passing the back to work legislation for the rail industry quickly.

We must denounce this official opposition tactic because it is prolonging a dispute directly affecting thousands of Canadians, in addition to causing all regions of the country to lose great amounts of money.

Perhaps we should remind the Bloc Quebecois of its commitment to present and to defend in the House the report which the organization Rural Dignity made public on June 16. That report said that railway links are not a privilege but a right. The organization said that the railway is a tool needed to maintain and develop the regions.

It is time for the Bloc to be true to its words and to stop blocking this legislation.

Canadian National

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian National treated itself to full pages of publicity in the dailies stating that its employees are paid to do nothing.

Egged on by the unfailing support the federal government has given it from the very beginning, that company is using the worst demagogy to achieve its ends, which is to stop the strike and to erode working conditions. Some believe that the lower the working conditions are, the easier it will be to privatize CN. In fact, the federal government wants to line its empty coffers with money taken from CN workers.

Does this kind of publicity show the Liberal government's and the employer's good faith and will to settle the dispute? Not at all.

CN's ad this morning states that we are no longer in the 1980s and that the company must adapt its employees' working conditions.

For all intents and purposes, by denying the right to strike, rejecting all negotiations and imposing their own conditions, CN and the Liberal government are setting us back several generations.

Operation Varsity

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

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago tomorrow morning, on March 24, 1945, the first Canadian parachute battalion made its last wartime strike from the skies into enemy territory in a major allied attack across the heavily defended Rhine River. The battalion had first jumped into battle on D-Day in Normandy as part of the 6th British Airborne Division.

Its air assault over the Rhine, which saw one of its members, Corporal George Topham, win the Victoria Cross, was once again marked by success.

The bravery of this hard-hitting unit, dropped in the midst of a desperate enemy defending their homeland, should never be forgotten.

Our Canadian airborne won the respect and hearts of their comrades, joining an airborne brotherhood which transcended all borders of the Commonwealth.

Historically, Operation Varsity was the largest and most successful airborne operation and is recorded among the battle honours, borne on the colours of the Canadian airborne regiment.

Dawn tomorrow will mark a special anniversary for paratroopers who played a significant role in hastening the end of World War II. We extend to them our sincere congratulations.

Meadowcroft Place Seniors Residence

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday my riding of Mississauga East was struck by tragedy.

Flames evicted the most vulnerable members of our society from their homes at Meadowcroft Place seniors residence on Constitution Boulevard. The fatal blaze took the lives of three of my constituents, while another 10 were left hospitalized. Many more were left displaced and shaken by the experience.

I would ask all the members to join me in expressing our sympathy for the families of the elderly persons who unfortunately did not survive.

Our best wishes for the full recovery of the injured and all other survivors. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Rail Strike

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois' continuing blockage of legislation that would put Canada's rail network back to work is clear evidence that the official opposition cares little about Canada's economy or the impact this strike is having on working men and women across this country.

Each day this strike continues costs the Canadian economy tens of millions of dollars. The port of Halifax alone has already lost millions as ships are diverted to American ports such as New York. The Bloc's actions are causing layoffs, shutdowns and misery from sea to sea, including the province of Quebec. This must not and cannot continue.

I urge Bloc members to recognize the impact their actions are having on the Canadian economy. Their continued blockage of the return to work legislation is just the latest example of how truly out of touch they are with the desires of Canadians, including the good people of the province of Quebec.

[Stan Keyes, Liberal, Hamilton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my complete and utter disappointment with the members of the official opposition and the members of the NDP. They have seen fit to allow the people of Canada to be economically devastated as a direct result of their unwillingness to co-operate with the government and its attempts to end the crippling effects of a national rail strike.

It is estimated that the national rail strike could end up costing Canada $3 billion to $5 billion.

Certainly members can appreciate the necessity of the back to work legislation tabled by the Minister of Labour on Tuesday. Even the president of the Canadian Auto Workers Union states that there is "absolutely no advantage or reason for them"-the opposition-"to delay the legislation".

Given the economic harm this strike has already brought to the people of Canada and in particular the good people of Ontario, Quebec and the western provinces, I implore members opposite to set aside their petty politics long enough to act in the public interest for their constituents and to put an immediate end to the chaos caused by the national rail strike.

Port Of Montreal

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great relief that the official opposition learned that the mediator had managed to bring the parties close enough to allow workers to return to work in the port of Montreal. This is an encouraging sign that it will be possible to solve that conflict through negotiations.

If the Minister of Labour had appointed the mediator earlier, the strike might have been avoided or, at the very least, been considerably shorter. The slowness of the minister in this conflict clearly shows that the government neglects the economic interests of Montreal. The success of the mediator should be an inspiration to the Minister of Labour.

Mediation can work when the parties can truly negotiate. It is undemocratic and irresponsible on the minister's part to impose arbitration so quickly in the rail strike and in the Vancouver port conflict, without first giving mediation a chance.

Question Period

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House when I asked my question, a Liberal member referred to me with the insulting word "scum". Although this member apologized at the end of the proceedings, the damage had been done and I did not have the opportunity to reply.

I wonder if members of this House realize it is how we treat one another which disgusts our viewing audience at home. This childish display of verbal attacks on members of this House during question period is an attempt to intimidate those very members for whom the question period is designed. This display shows a lack of respect for this House, a contempt for this House-

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I only intervene to point out that this specific matter was dealt with yesterday in a point of order. I believed at the time that it had been resolved and that is why I am intervening at this time.

Rail Strike

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Mr. Speaker, people from Saskatchewan, especially farmers, are very concerned about the effects of the rail strike on their ability to get their products to port.

Farmers across Saskatchewan were quite disgusted with members of the NDP when they put the interests of their union masters ahead of the needs of the grassroots farmers, whom they claim to represent, when they did not give their consent to fast track Bill C-77 on Monday.

As for members of the BQ, farmers are not surprised that the Bloc would stoop to such tactics. No doubt they have realized that the strong economic growth and the excellent government provided by the Liberal Party are convincing Quebecers to remain in Canada. Then the rail strike came and they realized they could damage the economy of Canada.

Farmers and industries in Saskatchewan need the rail lines. Without efficient rail service, any chance of economic growth will be lost. I appeal to all members to allow the bill to proceed as quickly as possible.

Immigration

[Simon de Jong, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, among the many Canadian traditions lost by the wayside in the Liberal budget was the tradition of fairness.

The new $975 fee imposed on every new immigrant and refugee plus the existing fees will mean that a family of four will need to pay $3,150 just to get into the country. This new form of head tax will be a particular burden to immigrants and refugees from poorer countries with low average incomes.

Canada needs new immigrants if it is to maintain its population and economic base. Studies show that immigrants put more money into the Canadian treasury in taxes than they take out in services.

The government with this new discriminatory tax has created a major obstacle for the newly arrived. Where is the fairness? Where is the humanity?

No one denies the need to deal with the debt that former Liberal and Conservative governments have created, but surely we can have a leaner government without it becoming a meaner government.

Rail Strike

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the sixth day of the national rail strike. Ontario's economy is coming to a standstill. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each day in this struggling economy because of the strike. It is unconscionable for the Bloc Quebecois, with the exception of one courageous member, to allow this strike to continue knowing fully the damage it is causing.

Among the millions who have the Bloc and the NDP to thank for this unnecessary strike are: 2,500 CAW members at Ford Canada's St. Thomas, Ontario plant who have been sent home because of a shortage of parts; 3,900 CAW members at Oakville and Windsor who will be working only halftime this week for the same reason; and at least 70,000 commuters in Montreal and Toronto who are facing long delays in getting to and from work.

Although our official opposition does not care about the Canadian economy, everyone else in this country does. It is time to move and quickly.

Reform Party Leader

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Les éditions des Plaines, in Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, for publishing a book on the Reform Party leader, Mr. Preston Manning. We welcome the initiative of that publishing house, which followed up on a request made by French-speaking Canadians interested in finding out more about the Reform leader and his ideas.

On behalf of the Reform leader, I thank the publishing house for its objectivity and hope that the community of Saint-Boniface, as well as all French-speaking Canadians, will enjoy some good reading.

We understand from Les éditions des Plaines that it was responding to a demand from French speaking Canadians and is encouraged that more francophones are demonstrating a willingness to inform themselves about the Reform Party and our leader.

We wish Annette St. Pierre and her publishing house the best of luck and a good read to the community of St. Boniface and French speaking Canadians all over.

[Translation]

Rail Transport

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that all members of the House are glad to see that the appointment of a mediator in the Port of Montreal dispute has paid off by allowing the employees to go back to work this morning while leaving the door open to a negotiated settlement.

My question is for the Minister of Labour. Given the success of mediation in the Port of Montreal dispute, where talks had dragged on for 25 months, why is the government stubbornly rejecting mediation combined with a return to work for the railways, as the official opposition has been proposing since Monday?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Labour, I am very happy to see that the mediator in the Port of Montreal dispute has succeeded in bringing the parties to agree to a voluntary resumption of work, without any act of Parliament. I hope that the mediator will also help the parties negotiate a collective agreement and that we will not experience another work stoppage at the Port of Montreal.

As far as the railways are concerned, that phase is already over. We have already tried to reach an agreement with the parties. We went through several phases involving conciliation, a conciliation commissioner, Department of Labour officials and even the minister herself to help the parties reach an agreement. Unfortunately, this did not happen and we must now take action.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I must remind you that the minister forgot to tell us that there was no mediation in the rail dispute and that mediation at the Port of Montreal did wonders. The government should apply the same approach to the railways, thus avoiding a bludgeon law.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

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

The federal government can settle the dispute in the next hour by being flexible and agreeing to mediation.

In this context, how does the Minister of Labour explain her refusal to make any concession, when the Canadian Manufacturers' Association begs her to be flexible and settle the rail dispute immediately? Does the government want to settle this dispute in the next hour, yes or no?

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that both parties want to settle this dispute in the next hour. It is up to them to settle this dispute in the short term, thus precluding government action. However, if they cannot do so, we will have to assume our responsibility. This has enormous economic consequences from coast to coast; jobs are being lost across the country. It is our duty to act.

I urge the Bloc Quebecois to take a very realistic look at the situation and the jobs that are being lost.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.

Everyone knows that the only reason why the federal government refuses to allow mediation for rail workers, as it did in the Port of Montreal dispute, is that it intends to break the unions so that it can sell CN for more money.

Does the minister not see that CN will be much harder to sell if it is hampered by a rotten labour relations climate resulting from a bludgeon law?