House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was palestinian.

Topics

The Fisheries ActGovernment Orders

1:30 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC

To be a card-carrying Liberal.

The Fisheries ActGovernment Orders

1:30 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Bernier Bloc Gaspé, QC

-to have a good knowledge of Canada's ocean resources or a good knowledge of administrative decision making.

I even heard someone say: perhaps to be a card-carrying Liberal. Well, he might have to be a card-carrying member of some other party when the time comes, but we want is transparency.

I am not saying that people in the fisheries sector are incompetent, but I want the process to be transparent. I want fishermen and the people who make a living in this industry to be judged with a genuine traditional system. These are not second class citizens. They should not be judged by a second class court. And especially not by friends of the party who will have to do exactly what the minister asks them to do.

I may recall that three years is not a long time, so if you do not do the job, my boy, they will put someone else in your place who will do exactly what the minister wants him to do. That is how I interpret this part and that is how it is written.

To conclude on this issue, what the minister is proposing to us is a second-rate, parallel justice system. At the same time, he is sending real judges, who have completed law studies and know the system inside out, the message that they are doing a bad job. I am not convinced the minister is in a position to teach them lessons.

If the Minister of Justice thinks that judges and lawyers should be better informed, he should follow in Quebec's footsteps. When Quebec amended its civil code, it invited all the judges in the province to review the new parts of the civil code.

If the minister of fisheries thinks this is important, he should ask the Minister of Justice to establish a process to familiarize Canadian judges with the new fisheries act. I agree that the last one dates back 100 years.

The many points we raised show how important this is. Fishermen are not second-class citizens. They have the right to go to court, to benefit from a transparent, equal and equitable justice system across Canada.

What bothers me somewhat is the perception by departmental officials that fishermen are poachers. Fishermen are not poachers; their goal is to catch fish at the lowest possible cost while protecting the environment to ensure that this resource can be sustained.

Again, regarding departmental officials' notion that fishermen are poachers, who drafted the regulations? Who said that any cod measuring less than 16 inches should be thrown back into the water?

Fishermen cannot see the ocean floor, while the fish do not know that fishermen are prohibited from catching fish measuring less than 16 inches. So what should fishermen who inadvertently catch fish measuring less than 16 inches in their nets do? If they bring it back, they will become poachers and be fined by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. So what do they do? They throw the fish back into the water. But if they throw it back into the water and Fisheries and Oceans finds out, they are still poachers in the department's eyes.

How can we establish a system that will treat fishermen not as poachers but as people trying to catch fish in a cost-effective way while protecting the environment so they can continue fishing year after year?

This may be a different subject, but let me tell you that, as far as I can see, the tribunals certainly do not look like they will be fair and impartial, given that they will be the ones making the regulations, and I am not always sure that the people who work there use their heads to make them.

My point, and perhaps some people will have a hard time following, but what we must realize is that, as I said earlier, the main problem with fishery at present is the need for a constant relationship, the same tool box, so that all the fish caught by the fishermen, and hopefully only the most mature fish will be caught, all this fish can be sold. But we have just changed jurisdiction here. Because dead fish is a matter of provincial jurisdiction. Could we not focus on seeing how fisheries will be commercialized, by providing the fishing industry with the tools it needs to avoid making blunders like forcing fishermen to throw their catch back in the water?

We should work toward giving them the necessary tools. And if the federal government does not have the authority required, it should refer the matter to the provinces, because they are the ones licensing fish processing plants, guaranteeing boat loans and, in some cases, helping fund the construction of processing plants.

What is left for the federal government to be responsible for? Issuing fishing licences.

As for conservation, I think that it is clear to everyone that stocks overlap. We are prepared to share and to live with a central player in the form of Fisheries and Oceans.

But for the province of Quebec or for Newfoundland, working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conserve the resource or working with NAFO, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, boils down to the same thing. But what is better about NAFO's rules is that they are respected by Canada and by all other countries in the world, as well as in the provinces because Canada is a member country. It would not be a heck of a lot harder, and in fact would be that much easier, to get along in this respect.

I will therefore wrap up before I run out of time. I would like to remind viewers that the Bloc Quebecois will be voting against the bill. I am nonetheless pleased to take part in discussions about a bill that I described as the bill of the century, but I am saddened because it is badly put together.

In review, there are three major reasons the Bloc Quebecois will be voting against the bill at second reading. The first is that the minister determines who may enter into management agreements. This prevents fishermen from knowing all the players.

The second irritant, still in part I, concerns the delegation of authority. In my view, the delegation of authority set out in clause 9 is inadequate, as well as contradictory.

The third point concerns the Fisheries Tribunal. I would call it a front. It resolves nothing. The minister will sort things out quietly himself behind the scenes.

At the start of my speech, I also criticized what I would call the minister's lack of interest. And yet, at the same time, it is as though he wants to ram the bill through. The best he could manage was a 15 minute speech yesterday in the House to launch the fisheries bill of the century. In my view, this is a lack of respect for the fishery and for the Canadian people. I think it is simply lacking in respect to ram through in 15 minutes a bill that will not come up for review for perhaps another 100 years. I hope to be able to meet with him again to discuss this subject, because I am not certain that Quebecers and Canadians will share his sentiments, in light of the introduction he gave the bill.

The Fisheries ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

John Cummins Reform Delta, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address Bill C-62. The bill gives sweeping powers to the minister to manage the fisheries through ministerial orders, through private fishing agreements, and it transfers authority to the provinces. The

major question is does the bill address the real problems that are facing the fishing industry.

First I would like to take a look at the west coast, where I come from, and advance some problems that are facing the industry there. I would like members to consider whether this bill will do anything to alleviate those difficulties.

For example, I would like to quote from a document which was prepared for congressional staff in the U.S. It mentions the Canadian salmon fleet restructuring. It states that on August 9, 1996 a report by the B.C. job protection commission was released, revealing that in the past two years the B.C. commercial salmon fleet's decline has cost the provincial economy $180 million, with 7,800 jobs lost. At the same time, the provincial sport fishing sector's decline has cost the economy $170 million, with the loss of 2,175 jobs.

By allowing the minister under the new act to give fish to his friends, will that alleviate the difficulties identified in that report?

A document entitled "Status of Anadromous Salmon and Trout in British Columbia and the Yukon", prepared by T.L. Slaney et al for the American Fisheries Society's North Pacific international chapter, attempted to give some idea to the public about the health of fish stocks in B.C. The assessment found that 624 salmon stocks were at high risk, 78 were at moderate risk, 230 were of special concern and 142 were extirpated in this century. One hundred and forty-two salmon species extinguished in this century alone. They were unable to classify 4,172 stocks, or 43 per cent, because of an absence of reliable data.

They go on to note that habitat degradation associated with logging, urbanization and hydro power development contributed to most of the 142 documented stock extinctions.

Furthermore, they say there is little doubt that overutilization by commercial and recreational fisheries has in many cases resulted in severe stock depressions that, when added to other factors, has put many stocks at risk.

The question again is will this act somehow alleviate this problem. I think not.

The preface to the bill notes that this is an act respecting fisheries. The preamble says that the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans extend to seacoast and inland fisheries. The point I want to raise is just how certain is the minister's authority when it comes to this bill and as well to the oceans act?

I would like to go back to December 1995. At that time the oceans act was up for discussion. A House of Commons standing committee received a notice from the president of Nunavut Tunngavick Inc., the Inuit fishery organization in the territory of Nunavut.

It advised the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans that sections 35 and 107 of the new oceans act, which was Bill C-98 at that time, were ultra vires given the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The NTI proposed the following amendments to the oceans act. It proposed in section 30(5) that the governor in council may make regulations (a) establishing marine protected areas with approval of bodies established under land claims agreement where required.

Section (b) would have said that the governor in council could make regulations prescribing measures not inconsistent with Canada's international obligations or the authority of bodies established under land claims agreements for the conservation and protection of fisheries resources and their habitat in marine protected areas.

Clearly the Inuit of Nunavut interpreted their treaty as limiting federal authority over legislation affecting arctic waters within the Nunavut settlement agreement. The response of the committee to this request was to acknowledge that regulations under the new oceans act were to be limited by the terms and conditions of land claims agreements.

The committee sent the following amendments to Parliament for consideration at report stage of what was then Bill C-98. The regulation then read in section 2(1):

For greater certainty nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from any existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Section 36(1) reads:

The Governor in Council, on recommendation of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, may make orders exercising any power under section 35 on an emergency basis where the Minister is of the opinion that a marine resource or habitat is likely to be at risk to the extent that such orders are not inconsistent with the land claims agreement that has been given effect and has been ratified or improved by an Act of Parliament.

That is to say, the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans conceded that land claims agreements may constrain the ability of the Government of Canada to protect a resource owned by all the people of Canada. The question again is will this new act somehow improve on that situation. Does it somehow allow that the minister has the ultimate authority? No, it does not.

This will have a devastating effect on management of the fisheries resource in British Columbia. We are looking at approximately 40 treaties which are to be put together in the next few years, each one of which will have the ability to overrule the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Obviously that makes the management of fisheries unworkable.

The fisheries act, Bill C-62, which the government has laid before this House, is a bill that will radically change the management of the fishery as we have known it for over 150 years. Bill

C-62 gives the minister of fisheries unlimited discretion to carve up the public fishery into private fisheries.

There is no requirement for any publication of the private exclusive fishing agreements. There are no guidelines on whom these agreements are to be with. The minister is given unlimited discretion to make his own regulations, to organize the fishery by ministerial decrees or orders. These ministerial orders can even override regulations made by the governor in council. The government can transfer its constitutional responsibilities for fisheries management, enforcement and habitat protection to the provinces without ever coming back to seek the sanction of Parliament.

Before we examine the detail of the bill or the problems it should address, this House would do well to remember some sage advice from a former member of this Chamber, Stanley Knowles. He said: "It is our experience in Parliament time and time again to think we know what we passed when we gave final approval to a piece of legislation only to find months later that things were being done or restrictions were being imposed of a kind we did not believe appeared in the bill at all. We try to find out what happened. We discover that we had given authority to the governor in council to make regulations for the carrying out of the purposes of the act and that under this authority restrictive regulations were passed or restrictive definitions were introduced of such a nature as to produce quite a different result from the result we thought had been intended".

A recent report of this House issued another warning that bears repeating. When delegated authority is broad and use of that authority is not adequately supervised by Parliament, the implied parliamentary control is absent and the supremacy of Parliament is undermined.

I would like to refer to the bill and to some of those sections which give the minister that kind of blanket authority to do what he wishes. Clause 17(1) states:

Her Majesty in right of Canada, represented by the Minister, may enter into a fisheries management agreement with any organization that, in the opinion of the Minister, is representative of a class of persons or holders.

That is any group, whether they be friends of the minister of or of the government, whatever, but there is no limitation as to what that group should represent. There is no coming back to Parliament for authority to enter into policy decisions which, as I will point out later, will impact on the fisheries as it has been run since Confederation.

Clause 18(1) states:

Before a fisheries management agreement is entered into, notice of it shall be given to the holders or persons likely to be subject to it.

Again, no notice need be given to anyone other than those who are going to be covered by it. The public at large does not need to be informed.

Clause 19(1) states:

The Minister shall publish a fisheries management agreement in the manner the Minister sees fit.

In other words, no publication or notice need be given of that arrangement.

The adoption of a set of agreements between the crown and any organization gives sweeping power to the minister to create private fisheries out of the public fisheries of Canada. This would be the first time since Confederation since this power has existed. All fisheries law in tidal waters in British Columbia has so far proceeded on the principle that all Canadians are to have equal access to the commercial licences governing the fishery.

Apart from a brief period during the war when Canadians of Japanese ancestry were denied this right, it has prevailed without question.

A second exception is the recent incursion into the public fishery by the AFS, but that was not provided for in the act and is probably ultra vires of the act. It would not be ultra vires of Bill C-62.

The Fisheries ActGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

The Speaker

My colleague, I am loath to interrupt your speech, but I wonder if perhaps you could take your speech up at the end of question period. Of course you will have the floor again. At this time I would like to proceed to Statements by Members.

FirefightersStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Karen Kraft Sloan Liberal York—Simcoe, ON

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I attended a retirement celebration to honour the 45 years of service by Gord Rolling and 32 years of service by Arnold Smith, more commonly known as Smitty. Both served with distinction and dedication as firefighters on the Mount Albert volunteer fire department.

In celebrating their retirement, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the contribution of all of our firefighters, particularly the volunteers.

We are all thankful and grateful for the crucial service they provide our communities. However, we may not be fully aware of the hours taken away from families in fighting fires, assisting at accidents, on training courses and other community activities. Nor can any non-firefighter understand what it is like to respond to a call in the middle of the night knowing the potential risk.

We should all remember the extraordinary service these men and women provide our communities and be mindful of the sacrifices their families have made to support their good work.

Lise BrouilletteStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Bloc

Benoît Sauvageau Bloc Terrebonne, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to a business woman in my riding, Lise Brouillette. Ms. Brouillette, who has been Director General of the Société régionale de développement économique des Moulins since 1991, recently received the 1996 Prix Professionnelle en développement économique du Québec in appreciation of her contribution to the economic development of the des Moulins region.

As a woman very involved in the development of our region, she managed, with her dynamic approach, to create several thousand jobs and attract $50 million worth of investment since the beginning of her mandate at the SORDEM.

Last year, Ms. Brouillette was awarded the Assiette d'argent de l'Association des professionnels en développement économique du Québec. This woman is an outstanding example of how to succeed and a symbol of excellence for everyone.

Ms. Brouillette, the people of Des Moulins and the House of Commons salute you. Congratulations!

West Coast Marine SafetyStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, Liberals' words sound great but their actions differ: $87 million in questionable corporate welfare to Bombardier; millions of dollars in a questionable flag giveaway program; and more millions of dollars on a questionable information office in Ottawa.

Meanwhile back on the west coast we see cuts; information limited; automated light stations replace reliable manned stations; coast guard vessels and operations are reduced, as are hatcheries needed to rebuild endangered salmon stocks.

An unusually heavy October storm resulted in the failure of several automated light stations leaving mariners and others who rely on vital weather information to fend for themselves.

The decision to postpone closure of the Ganges coast guard station was welcome but apparently has not changed the ultimate Ottawa intention to relocate the station to Victoria. To replace a fast, proven vessel located at the hub of maritime activity in this very busy region with a slower vessel substantially removed from much of that activity simply does not make sense.

This Liberal decision places west coast public safety and lives at risk.

National 4-H WeekStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, this week marks National 4-H Week, a time to reflect on the important work that 4-H does in developing one of our greatest resources, our rural young people.

For nearly a century, 4-H has been giving young Canadians the education, skills and support they need so they can grow up to be contributing members of our society. Rural communities are a wellspring of our economy providing the people and the resource base that underlies much of our success as a trading nation.

One of rural Canada's leading industries, agriculture and food, will create jobs and growth for our economy well into the 21st century. The foundation for this growth is people who have a wealth of creativity, ability and self-confidence to build our farms and businesses. 4-H has a proven track record developing those skills in our young citizens.

The Government of Canada will contribute $300,000 over three years to 4-H activities. It is not only an investment in our young people, it is an investment in the social fabric of our country and the future prosperity of Canada.

I congratulate all 4-H participants.

Merchant Navy VeteransStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, today I had the honour to speak at a Remembrance Day ceremony for the merchant navy war dead at the war memorial here in Ottawa.

During the second world war the government named the merchant navy the fourth arm of the armed services and for good reason. The merchant ships formed the lifeline to the free world. They carried vital supplies of food, munitions and fuel. The merchant navy became the designated target of the enemy and its losses were the highest of all the war services.

Now in their seventies and eighties, only 2,900 remain of the 12,000 who went to war. They are veterans in name only without equality of entitlement for disability pensions, health care and other benefits.

I was disappointed that the Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs was not able to attend the memorial service today. I call on

him and the government to finally recognize the merchant navy veterans as equals and to correct this injustice.

CanworknetStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal York North, ON

Mr. Speaker, information is power. Yesterday through an innovative partnership of the federal and provincial governments, the private and not for profit sectors, Canadians were given a powerful tool.

New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Tobin and I launched CanWorkNet, a new world wide web site to help Canadians find and secure the jobs they want.

CanWorkNet will connect Canadians in all parts of the country to information about jobs, planning their careers, upgrading skills, accessing financial assistance and locating community services.

Whether I am talking with someone in Whitehorse or in York North the message is the same. Information is a key element in the decision making process. People need to know where the jobs are and what the requirements are to get them.

CanWorkNet celebrates what is right with Canada: strong partnerships, new technology and an ever growing modern economy. Together we are working to ensure that tomorrow is indeed better than today.

TradeStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Roger Gallaway Liberal Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, talk of increased exports is taking on visible meaning in my riding of Sarnia-Lambton.

Tomorrow morning hundreds of feet above the St. Clair River, the iron workers of local 700 will put in place the final beam joining the two halves of our second Bluewater Bridge in Point Edward.

This new international crossing is clear evidence of the growth of trade between Canada and the United States, and in particular, Ontario and the Great Lakes states. With approximately 5,000 trucks crossing each day on the existing bridge, this second span will be open for the anticipated surge of 10,000 trucks daily by the millennium.

I look forward to joining with Councillor Barbara Horner, the Commissioners of the Bluewater Bridge Authority and the thousands of proud area residents in celebrating this new link.

Increased trade is not just a statistic, it is tangible in Sarnia-Lambton, now the gateway to the NAFTA superhighway.

The Quebec Socio-Economic SummitStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Yvan Bernier Bloc Gaspé, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week a socio-economic summit was held in Quebec, which has led to an unprecedented mobilizing of resources for job creation and economic renewal in Quebec. The vast majority of the principal actors on the Quebec scene have reached a major consensus on ways to stimulate economic growth and investment in Quebec.

Participants in the summit approached a host of subjects that are important to Quebec society, including job sharing, family policy and social economics. Furthermore, dozens of job creation projects were presented, totalling more than $2.6 billion in investments, which will create about 40,000 jobs in Quebec.

This summit, which did not forget the most vulnerable among us, is a first step towards employment expansion and economic recovery in Quebec.

SeniorsStatements By Members

November 5th, 1996 / 2:05 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Fraser Valley West, BC

Mr. Speaker, Les and Evelyn Browett from Langley, British Columbia, both in their eighties, came to me the other day most distressed. Their total income is from old age security and the Canada pension plan. It is not much to live on these days thanks to the pathetic overspending of Liberals and that other party.

Evelyn must have her teeth fixed because she is in terrible pain. She and Les have been saving for several years to get the work done and they now have some money but not enough. The interest from that savings has just been wiped out retroactively because health care premiums have been charged to them.

Why are Les and Evelyn treated worse than criminals in prison? Why do Liberals and separatists and other MPs gorge on their own lavish pension scheme while Les and Evelyn border on poverty? When will Ontario and Atlantic Canada kick these Liberals out of office so our seniors can live with dignity?

Please, are there any dentists in Langley, British Columbia listening? Who can help Evelyn? This government will not do it so let us do it ourselves.

Postage StampsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Simon de Jong NDP Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, the classic children's character, Winnie the Pooh, often de-

scribes himself as "a bear of very little brain". Well, Canada Post has entered into a campaign of very little brain.

In promoting its series of Winnie the Pooh postage stamps, Canada Post is also promoting the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom in Florida. Caps, T-shirts and stamps with Winnie the Pooh in front of Disney World are available at your local post office outlet as well as entry forms for a free trip to Florida.

Countries around the world use postage stamps to promote what they are proud of: national heroes, historic events and natural beauty. So what is Canada Post promoting? Disney World. What is next: McDonald's or Coca-Cola?

To use the much loved Winnie on Canadian postage stamps to promote a commercial enterprise outside the country is exploitive and demeaning. Is there no national dignity left? Can space be bought on postage stamps to the highest bidder?

It is about time this Liberal government took our national image more seriously.

Veterans WeekStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Ian Murray Liberal Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, last year and over the previous five years, Canadians marked the 50th anniversaries of the events of the second world war. The anniversaries led to unprecedented media coverage of the commemorative ceremonies for such historic events as the Battle of Britain, the Dieppe landing, the Italian campaign, D-Day and the end of the war. Across the country veterans organizations helped communities stage special ceremonies and celebrations that brought to mind the way of life of a different time, and the spirit of dedication of those who served Canada.

We must not let go of that sense of respect for the generation of the second world war now that the 50th anniversaries have passed. I invite all Canadians to take time this Veterans Week, November 3 to 11, to reflect upon the contributions of those Canadians who brought our nation through some of its most trying times and gave it some of the proudest moments in our history.

Canada Labour CodeStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

George Proud Liberal Hillsborough, PE

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-66 which amends the Canada Labour Code is in my view a fair and balanced piece of legislation. There are several reasons for this.

The first has to do with the process to produce the legislation. Labour and management participated fully in the review process. The second has to do with the contents of the bill. Unquestionably, the most contentious issue to address was the replacement worker issue and here we came up with a reasonable compromise.

The bill does not abolish the right of employers to use replacement workers, however employers will not be able to use replacement workers to undermine the union. It is the board that will determine if an employer action constitutes an unfair labour practice, not the union.

Collective bargaining is widely accepted in Canada by both labour and management. This bill will improve the efficiency with which the law is administered and enhance the effectiveness of the collective bargaining process. It does nothing to alter the balance of the labour-management relationship. In fact, it ensures a balance will continue in a world of rapid change.

Jean-Louis RouxStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Mercier Bloc Blainville—Deux-Montagnes, QC

Mr. Speaker, from 1940 to 1944, Belgium, where I was living at the time, suffered under the brutality and pillaging of the Germans. When I was 18, I went underground for more than a year to avoid being arrested by the Gestapo, because I had refused to go to work in a company that worked for the enemy.

I then worked as a volunteer in operations conducted in Germany to crush nazism and bring about its fall.

I mention these facts to illustrate my astonishment when I heard yesterday that the lieutenant-governor of Quebec, a man who symbolizes the supreme power in our province, walked around at the time with a swastika on his chest.

I also want to express my indignation when I heard the Deputy Prime Minister give another demonstration of her lack of judgment when she justified this behaviour. Common sense dictated that she should have said she was going to recommend that the Prime Minister relieve him of his duties.

Fortunately, Jean-Louis Roux, who was more aware of the seriousness of his action than the Deputy Prime Minister, has just handed in his resignation.

Atlantic Canada EconomyStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Reform

Diane Ablonczy Reform Calgary North, AB

Mr. Speaker, over the past 30 years dozens of Tory and Liberal politicians kept promising Atlantic Canadians prosperity and economic growth.

This goal was to be achieved by politicians spending billions of tax dollars on regional subsidies. Not only have these programs failed to work, but as a new study by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies has proven, they have actually hurt Atlantic

Canada. They have slowed growth in the Atlantic economy and increased unemployment.

Furthermore, regional development programs like ACOA have been used as political slush funds by Liberal and Tory governments alike. That is why Reform would end ineffectual regional development programs and instead would offer Atlantic Canadians tax relief, a policy that has been conclusively proven to create jobs and stimulate the economy.

This may mean fewer photo ops for Liberal cabinet ministers but it will mean more real jobs for Atlantic Canadians.

Merchant Navy VeteransStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Richardson Liberal Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House during Veterans Week to salute the great veterans of our merchant navy, the merchant seamen.

During World War II the merchant navy served under some of the most dangerous conditions and hostile weather. Through their efforts they maintained the supply routes which played a crucial role in ensuring victory for our soldiers abroad.

However, these brave men paid a high price for their heroics. During the course of World War II some 1,500 merchant seamen were killed. In fact, approximately one in ten died on the high seas.

In light of their contribution to the war effort, the merchant seamen will be participating in the remembrance ceremonies as part of the VIP group which includes the army, the air force, the navy and the merchant mariners.

We thank them all for their deeds. I salute these brave Canadians who risked their lives so that we could live in freedom.

The Quebec Socio-Economic SummitStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, on the day after the socio-economic summit from which they came back practically empty handed, the people of the Outaouais are totally justified in questioning the PQ government's attitude toward them.

In fact, PQ minister Sylvain Simard accused the people of the Outaouais of being responsible for their lack of success at the summit. He stated that they could not accuse Quebec of not doing its share in the Outaouais while remaining uninterested in Quebec and not getting involved, that if they did not adapt to Quebec, they would miss the boat because the federal state would no longer be there to compensate, that they should stop complaining and start acting.

The minister's scorn for our region is unjustifiable. The PQ government must stop its referendum vendetta against the Outaouais and agree to give our region the same benefits as those enjoyed by separatist regions.

Boys And Girls Club ScholarshipsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

John O'Reilly Liberal Victoria—Haliburton, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the Boys and Girls Club of Ontario for raising over $90,000 toward scholarship funding for 90 youths across Ontario.

The Boys and Girls Club started a scholarship program in 1992 to cover the rising costs of post-secondary education faced by many of their youth members. From an initial $4,000 and four awards the program has grown to over $40,000 and 41 awards in Ontario in 1996.

Within the riding of Victoria-Haliburton two youth members have benefited from this scholarship program. Tracey Medina hopes to one day work with children who have social and emotional disabilities. She will be attending George Brown College. David Stubbs has chosen to study recreational leadership at Humber College and one day hopes to pursue a career with the Boys and Girls Club. Both individuals are invaluable members of the Lindsay club.

I would like to thank the Boys and Girls Clubs across Ontario for raising the funding for these and other accomplished youth.

I wish Tracey and David all the best in their future endeavours.

Jean-Louis RouxOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Roberval Québec

Bloc

Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, Jean-Louis Roux has just resigned from the position of lieutenant-governor of Quebec, in response to the pressures on him to do so, ever since his anti-semitic activities during the second world war were revealed.

This resignation was certainly the only possible solution under the circumstances. Yet everyone is wondering how the Prime Minister could have got himself into such a situation.

My question is for the Prime Minister. How can he explain having made such a poor choice for the position of lieutenant-governor of Quebec?

Jean-Louis RouxOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I have accepted the resignation of Jean-Louis Roux as lieutenant-governor of Quebec with enormous regret.

Jean-Louis Roux is one of the most honourable men in Quebec. He has enjoyed an exceptional career in our province. He was involved in all manner of causes for the defence of human rights and freedoms in this society.

I would ask the indulgence of the Chair to demonstrate how this man has participated in the advancement of human rights and freedoms in Quebec. As early as 1947, he was involved in opposing censorship in the Les enfants du Paradis affair. He was involved in Radio-Canada's strike over the right to unionize. In 1965, he fought class legislation concerning authors. He was even opposed to the War Measures Act in 1970. He fought for freedom of expression during the controversy over the play Les fées ont soif in 1978.

Way back in the 1950s he was one of the founders of Cité Libre , in opposition to the regime of the day. He was a member of Artistes pour la paix, Amnesty International, and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal, which helped people involved in tracing war criminals.

Such was the career of this man, Jean-louis Roux, one of the greatest artists Quebec has ever known. Unfortunately, he made one mistake-

Jean-Louis RouxOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Jean-Louis RouxOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC

Mr. Speaker, pardon me, but I rarely take advantage of the House, and I am going to continue.

This is a most honourable man. Are there two standards in our society? He was a federalist as well. I trust that some of those who have written things about him today will have the courage to look up what was written in Le Devoir during the 1930s and 1940s.