Debates of May 12th, 1995

Canada Health Day

[Roger Simmons, Liberal, Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Florence Nightingale, the great public health pioneer, was born 175 years ago today. How fitting then that this day has been designated as Canada Health Day, thanks to the Canadian Public Health Association and the Canadian Hospital Association.

This year's theme, "creating a new agenda for health", highlights a broader view of health, one that is consistent with this government's approach, the approach of Health Canada. The importance of a population health approach, a healthy society, is recognized by federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health.

Florence Nightingale's courage and dedication serve as a benchmark today for Canadian health professionals as they embark on this renewed agenda for health.

Join me then in wishing the Canadian Public Health Association, the Canadian Hospital Association and all Canadians a very successful Canada Health Day.

Sexual Orientation

[Philip Mayfield, Reform, Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC]

Mr. Speaker, an Ottawa Citizen columnist recently stated that criticizing the use of the words sexual orientation in Bill C-41 is homophobia. This is yet another example of the forces of political correctness trying to stifle and suppress debate in the House.

The justice minister insisted on including sexual orientation in Bill C-41, but as many MPs have noted it is virtually indefinable. As one MP said: "Don't ask me to tell you what it is because [it's] difficult to interpret, to define". These words belong to our very own Prime Minister.

Perverse groups such as the North American Man-Boy Love Association argue that pedophilia is a legitimate sexual orientation and look for legal loopholes to press their case. Bill C-41 gives them one more chance to do just that, endangering our children in the process.

I urge the justice minister to listen to Canadians, listen to common sense and drop the words sexual orientation from Bill C-41.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on ME Day to acknowledge the thousands of Canadians inflicted with chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers have otherwise unexplained relapsing fatigue that is not the result of ongoing exertion. People with chronic fatigue see a decrease in their occupational, social, educational and personal activities. Anyone can be inflicted with this disease, men and women, seniors and children. I want to recognize their courage in trying to cope and carry on under very difficult conditions.

I also commend the many volunteers and support people who help their fellow Canadians. Colleagues' support is welcome. The ME Association of Canada has more than 3,000 members and more than 130 ME-CFS support groups across Canada.

Have courage, my fellow Canadians, we solve this debilitating riddle soon.

Algonquins Of Lac Barrière

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to offer my heartiest congratulations to the Algonquins of Lac Barrière. This is a fine day for them, as five of their sons will receive their diploma today for completing police studies at the First Nations Tribal Justice Institution in Mission, B.C.

Like other aboriginal nations in the land, Algonquins invest in their youth to give their communities a brighter future. Three other young Algonquins from Barriere Lake are presently studying at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and the University of New Brunswick.

For these achievements I offer my warmest congratulations to the youth of Barriere Lake and their families.

International Nurses Day

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the current economic situation places society before difficult choices, health services are about to undergo deep changes. In this context, it is with admiration and gratitude that the official opposition wishes to draw members' attention to the fact that today is International Nurses Day and to the key role played by these professionals. Nurses have always put themselves on the side of the patients and their families. Today more than yesterday, their competence and ability to listen guarantee quality care despite insufficient resources.

For their efforts, their creativity and the miracles they accomplish, we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Thanks to these men and women, the values of compassion and respect for people will always hold an important place in Canada and Quebec.

Aboriginal Nurses Day

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to remind the House that tomorrow is Aboriginal Nurses Day. I extend to aboriginal nurses my congratulations and more particularly to the Aboriginal Nurses Association which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

From a group of 41 nurses that came together in Montreal 20 years ago, this association has grown to a membership of 300 and continues to have a strong voice on behalf of aboriginal health. It serves as a great role model for Canadian youth.

The association strives to improve the health of aboriginal peoples and to encourage them to take responsibility for their own health and social problems.

The government strongly supports this initiative and I know all hon. members would like to join with me to congratulate aboriginal nurses on this important day.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I knelt while a wonderful woman in a wheelchair pinned this flower on my jacket. When I got up, I had to fight back tears because I was so aware of the ease with which I could get up and walk to my destination.

People who suffer from multiple sclerosis and other debilitating diseases display the highest courage as they live from day to day. I have a profound respect and love for them.

I think of people struggling with MS; Mark, Joanne and others in my Elk Island constituency and hundreds throughout our country. They deserve every possible support and encouragement from the rest of us.

I urge everyone to give generously to its fundraising efforts. Let us do all we can to promote research to find a cure and to help make their lives more tolerable.

Tree Plan Canada

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week has been designated National Forest Week. I rise today to recognize the significant contribution of a school from my riding that has participated in a tree planting program called Tree Plan Canada.

This group of grade 7 and 8 students from Scott Young Elementary School in Omemee have been active participants in planting over 100 trees, 1,200 seedlings and about 500 shrubs on their school property last year.

I congratulate these students for their hard work and dedication to the maintenance of forests in Canada and I am honoured to have some of these students join us in the public gallery today.

Congratulations and keep up the excellent work for the future preservation of our forests.

Heart Institute

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker I rise in the House today to congratulate the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, a health care organization dedicated to the promotion of cardiovascular health.

In Canada, the number one cause of death is cardiovascular disease. Forty-three per cent occur in patients less than 65 years of age.

Treatments for heart disease are continually being developed and the Heart Institute is a leader in this area. The team at the Heart Institute has developed a fully implantable artificial heart, the most advanced in the world.

To Dr. Keon, Dr. Mussivand and everyone at the Ottawa Heart Institute, on behalf of my colleagues, I congratulate and thank you for your commitment to the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Your research, your skills and your ability to innovate, give us reason to be proud Canadians.

Ethics

[Gaston Leroux, Bloc, Richmond—Wolfe, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has recommended that the government adopt a code of conduct that would apply to ministers and members of Parliament as well as federal public servants. On the very same day, we learned that Ottawa had appointed Michel Robert to the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Michel Robert was president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1986 to 1990 and has since made annual contributions of $1,000 to that party's election fund. Michel Robert is also the Liberals' representative on the Security Intelligence Review Committee and the person who defended the report by the committee that whitewashed racist informant Grant Bristow. In addition, Michel Robert is being paid substantial fees as the federal negotiator in the Kanesatake matter.

Since negotiations were finally about to start, will it now be necessary to go back to square one after paying Mr. Robert close to $300,000 in fees? We all know the tune: "Jobs, jobs, jobs for my friends".

``Red Book''

[Georgette Sheridan, Liberal, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in the red book we promised to restore integrity to government. We have put this promise into action.

For example, Bill C-85 will bring about changes to the MP pension plan. The direct correlation between what we said, what we did, what we continue to do is starting to sink in, even among Reformers, that rag tag band of rhinestone cowboys.

Just yesterday, the much misunderstood member for Calgary Centre, himself more of a Diamond Jim than a rhinestone cowboy, predicted that in the next election, and I quote: "The Prime Minister will stand in front of voters and talk about how Liberal ideas and initiatives have restored integrity to the parliamentary system in Canada as a fait accompli". He is right.

The Prime Minister will present his record to the voters: his personal integrity, his dedication to public service and his respect to the parliamentary system.

As the member mused yesterday, people in the real world will think that is pretty impressive.

Canadian Jewish Congress

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Jewish Congress is known at home and abroad as the national representative body of the Jewish population of Canada.

Since its inception 76 years ago, the congress has acted on behalf of the Canadian Jewish community on a myriad of issues. It was founded as a result of the great emergency of World War I and since then has provided supportive services in Canada.

The CJC set up an Immigrant Aid Society and has helped to sustain German-Jewish relief funds. This fine group relies predominantly on funding from its members and is a wonderful example of a successful organization that thrives because of the strength of its membership.

This weekend in Montreal over 1,000 delegates will congregate for the 24th national plenary session of the Canadian Jewish Congress. This year's theme is "Beyond History: Building for a Stronger Future".

I urge all members of the House to join me in wishing the Canadian Jewish Congress a most successful congress.

Manpower Training

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Bonaventure—Îles-De-La-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of announcing, for the benefit of the Bloc Quebecois in particular, the names of community organizations that were recently granted federal subsidies for research, job creation and occupational training.

The $2.6 million in subsidies includes $314,000 for the Club de recherche d'emploi; $475,000 for CTI Société Inc.; $391,00 for the Le Portage job training centre; $296,000 for the Centre de formation en options and $425,000 for the Bois-Francs job access service. Not to mention the millions of dollars awarded every year by the federal government to the community development assistance centre.

We can therefore conclude that our government is a welcome and essential partner for these Quebec community organizations.

Mrs. Priscilla De Villiers

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Priscilla de Villiers, the president of CAVEAT, who is receiving an honorary doctorate of law from McMaster University today.

This honour is well deserved in recognition of Mrs. de Villiers' valuable and tireless work on behalf of the victims of crime. She has served as director of the Canadian Resource Centre for victims of crime and is a member of the National Crime Prevention Council.

Mrs. de Villiers organized a petition that gathered over two million signatures of Canadians requesting changes to the legal system that would address the issue of violence in society. The success of the petition led to the founding of CAVEAT, Canadians Against Violence Everywhere Advocating its Termination.

Mrs. de Villiers and CAVEAT have done a great deal of valuable work that has resulted in many changes to the justice system to increase the protection for victims.

I am sure all members of the House will join me in extending congratulations to Priscilla de Villiers.

Child Poverty

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Oakville—Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians who are concerned about the welfare of children will be interested in the initiative announced by Lyn McLeod in her Ontario Liberal election platform.

She has promised that if elected she will name a key cabinet minister to be responsible for children's services. This minister will be responsible for improving the co-ordination and delivery of children's services.

The number of children living in poverty and the number of those at risk or in crisis continues to rise in Ontario. More than 500,000 children in Ontario are dependent on the welfare system. One out of three children in metropolitan Toronto alone is on social assistance. This is unacceptable and Mrs. McLeod has recognized it. She knows that the current system is fragmented and confusing to deal with. She identified that involving local communities in the decisions about children's services is the key.

I applaud her foresight and proactive initiatives in the area of children's services. I must ask why the other parties in the Ontario election seem to be-

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Surrey-White Rock-South Langley.

Justice

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1982 Theodore Speicher and two accomplices kidnapped Sharon Bollivar outside her Vancouver house where she lived with her husband and three children. They wanted Sharon's husband to provide them with all the money from the grocery store where he was the manager.

However, the kidnappers panicked and decided not to go through with the ransom plot. Instead Sharon Bollivar was driven to Burnaby Mountain where Speicher killed her with a single shot to the head. He was subsequently arrested after a shoot-out with police. Speicher received a life sentence with no parole for 25 years.

Today Speicher is suffering from terminal leukaemia and is asking for the mercy of the crown so he can die a free man, surrounded by his family. He wants society to show him a compassion that he refused to give Sharon Bollivar.

When Speicher was sentenced the judge stated that: "If there was ever a case in which parole should never be granted this is it". I fully concur with the judge's comments and I hope the minister sees to it that Theodore Speicher dies behind bars where he belongs.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the inquiry into the conduct of peacekeepers in Somalia is scheduled to start on May 24. We have just learned that one of the main witnesses in this case, Major Armstrong, who, we will recall, stated that incriminating evidence had been ordered destroyed, has just been sent on a three month tour of duty in the former Yugoslavia.

How can the Minister of National Defence explain that Major Armstrong was sent on a three month mission in the former Yugoslavia just five days before the beginning of the inquiry?

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

Mr. Speaker, the assignment of Canadian forces personnel is done within normal procedures.

In this case, Major Armstrong is a medical officer with certain skills that are required in ex-Yugoslavia. Any member of the Canadian Armed Forces who is required to give testimony to the commission on Somalia will be available to that commission. The fact that they are in Bosnia, Croatia, Rwanda, Washington, or London does not really matter. If the commission wants to interview any Canadian forces personnel, they will be available.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would have thought that it would be easier to find another medical officer to send to Yugoslavia than another witness to testify before the commission of inquiry.

Since Major Armstrong is one of the main witnesses in this case, will the minister undertake to postpone his departure so that his testimony can be heard as soon as the inquiry starts?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is an independent commission with judicial powers under part II of the Inquiries Act. It is for the commission to decide whom to speak to and from whom it wants to hear. If the commission wishes to hear from Major Armstrong or any other member of the forces, all it has to do is make that known and those people will be there.

We cannot have the normal operations of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence affected simply by the fact that this commission is under way. We have to carry out our duties on a day to day basis. I want to give my friend the assurances that any of the personnel will be available as required.

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

Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that the Minister of National Defence refused to extend the scope of the inquiry to the events in Petawawa, that he decided to restrict access to the documents to be used in the inquiry, that he refused to undertake to release the commission's report and that, all of a sudden, one of the main witnesses in this case is being sent abroad five days before the beginning of the inquiry, are we to conclude from the government's attitude that this is a further attempt to cover up the truth rather than to shed light on the way members of the Airborne Regiment from Petawawa behaved both in Canada and in Somalia?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has made a number of assertions which are totally, absolutely and utterly false. I resent those kinds of insinuations being made on the floor of the House of Commons. There is hardly a grain of truth in any one of those assertions.

This is a public inquiry. Its results will be made public. I assume it will operate under the glare of the country's television lights and cameras. This matter is totally open. It is civilian led and is something this government has called. This government wants to make sure that all of the troubling accusations surrounding the Canadian forces deployment to Somalia are brought to light. This government has nothing to hide. This government wants the truth.

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

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

This week, the Minister of Public Works categorically refused to break off negotiations with Agusta regarding the settlement to be paid for the cancellation of the EH-101 contract. However, during the investigation in Europe regarding Belgium's EH-101 purchase contract, senior executives at Agusta revealed that the company is in the habit of giving kick-backs to obtain contracts.

In light of these rather troubling developments, how can the minister refuse to investigate the circumstances surrounding the federal government's EH-101 contract with the company? What guarantees can the minister give to the House that the company did not use bribery to get its contract with Canada?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, answering on behalf of my colleague, I want to assure the member that the Government of Canada, certainly this government, has no knowledge of the kind of practices that have just been described.

With respect to the cancellation of the EH-101 contract, the Government of Canada is now negotiating a settlement with E.H. Industries Limited of London, England and the other EH-101 contractors. As the member knows, the company is owned equally by Agusta of Italy and Westland Helicopters of England. Our intention is to arrive at a fair and judicious settlement and to proceed as quickly and as reasonably as possible.

I would say this to the member with great respect for the importance of the question he asked: The onus is not on the government to assure the House that something improper has not happened; the onus is on the member, if he has some evidence, to produce it.