Debates of March 26th, 1996

Walter Gumprich

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the efforts of Walter Gumprich, a CESO volunteer who lives in my riding of Saskatoon-Humboldt. He has just completed his assignment with the Vologda regional government in Russia.

CESO is supported by CIDA, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Canadian corporations and individuals.

Speaking with Walter this morning, I learned that he had held a seminar for 150 government, business and farm personnel on consumer driven economics. I also learned of how he assisted Russian farmers with management issues such as operations, financial management and marketing. Before conducting such seminars, Walter spent time in the area to familiarize himself with the reality of farming in Russia in 1996. I was struck by his comment that there is little value in fine marketing theories when the biggest obstacle facing the Russian farmer in selling his crop is a lack of protection on the highway against hijackers on his way to market.

Walter said after his work in Russia he realized even more vividly how lucky we are to live in Canada. I would add how lucky we are to have committed volunteers like Walter representing us throughout the world.

Bloc Quebecois

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker,yesterday's byelections in the ridings of Lac-Saint-Jean,Papineau-Saint-Michel and Saint-Laurent-Cartierville confirmed Quebecers' support for the Bloc Quebecois.

In Papineau-Saint-Michel and in Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, which, as we know, remain two Liberal strongholds, candidates from the Bloc performed well. Our party is grateful to them.

As for Lac-Saint-Jean, the unequivocal choice of the people in that riding will bring among us the youngest member of this 35th Parliament. The election of that member confirmed the status of the Bloc Quebecois as official opposition.

Thanks to all voters who supported the Bloc. Congratulations to Michel Sarra-Bournet, Daniel Turp and Stéphan Tremblay. Welcome to the new member for Lac-Saint-Jean, who will join us in defending Quebec's interests and our sovereignist option.

The Valour And The Horror

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Comox—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the CBC documentary on the bombing of Germany during World War II entitled "The Valour and the Horror" is an unbalanced portrayal of Canadian servicemen.

Thousands of Canadian airmen gave their lives during this war and I know from personal experience the sacrifices they and their families made. My father, who was a navigator in the RCAF, gave his life overseas during this war.

The Senate committee found serious inaccuracies in this docudrama and strongly recommended that CBC fulfil its promise to the Canadian public not to rebroadcast "The Valour and the Horror" in its original form, yet CBC has refused to listen.

I am personally outraged that CBC, funded by taxpayers, intends to rebroadcast this production which completely distorts history and casts a dark shadow on our brave airmen.

Brandon Police Service

[Glen McKinnon, Liberal, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the Canadian Police Association in general and the Brandon Police Service in particular who are in town this week.

The Brandon Police Service has developed an innovative approach to traditional crime prevention, one that is community based with a focus on youth.

In January 1995 to increase informal accessibility of police officers to young people, six Brandon schools formally adopted a cop. The officer is sometimes a guest in the classroom or a walker in the halls which provides students with the opportunity to interact with the officer at whatever level they choose.

Canadian police forces across the country are making great efforts to bring policing closer to the communities and are working with the communities to address issues relating to crime prevention.

I salute the initiative of the Brandon Police Service and the administrative staff of the participating schools. I encourage more involvement of this type across the country.

Standard & Poor's

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a news release from Standard & Poor's brings the federal government back to reality.

Federalists say that there will be no negotiations following a declaration of sovereignty? Standard & Poor's thinks otherwise. Federalists say that economic ties between Canada and Quebec will suffer? Standard & Poor's says that they will be maintained. Federalists are talking about a ruthless breakup. Standard & Poor's says that negotiations will take place in a climate of responsibility.

In addition, the firm expresses confidence in Quebec's approach, and this is reflected in the bond market, where there has been an upswing in the performance of Quebec government bonds.

The markets are putting to rest the federal government's campaign of fear. It is high time that the government faced up to the inevitable and began to prepare for Quebec's sovereignty.

Taiwan

[Gar Knutson, Liberal, Elgin—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan who have just voted in that country's first truly democratic election. President Lee Teng-hui received over 54 per cent of the votes last Saturday despite the implied warnings made against him by China. For the Taiwanese people this was the first democratic presidential election ever held on the island.

Several weeks ago China began conducting military exercises along the coast of the island of Taiwan in an attempt to influence the outcome of this historic vote. Taiwan has demonstrated great courage and has shown it will not be intimidated by China's military manoeuvres.

Canadians and all others who believe in democracy must support the Taiwanese people as they move forward.

Etobicoke North Byelection

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, good news, good news. A new Liberal swept to victory once again last night in the Etobicoke North byelection. This proves once again that the people of metro Toronto have faith in the direction of the Liberal Party and its ability to govern this country.

It is interesting to note that in this byelection the Reform Party gained only eight more votes than it received in 1993. Only eight more votes despite a considerable sum of money and a great amount of energy put into trying to win voter support in Etobicoke North.

I ask you, Mr. Speaker, is this a strong second? It is not even striking distance. The voters of Etobicoke North have spoken. They support the policies and vision of the Liberal government. They recognize the Liberal government is good for Ontarians and is an excellent government for the people of Ontario.

Welcome to the member for Etobicoke North.

Food Banks

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is bad news today. Today, a number of food banks throughout Canada and Quebec will be holding press conferences to criticize, among other things, the cuts to the Canada health and social program transfer. According to these organizations, the cuts will add to the difficulties already being experienced by those who depend on food banks to survive.

After the brutal cuts in unemployment insurance, the student loans program, transfer payments to the provinces and, soon, in the universality of old age pensions, we must ask ourselves what has become of the fine principles that led to the creation of Canada's social safety net.

Labrador Byelection

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we want to congratulate the wonderful Reform Party campaign workers in the constituency of Labrador and their excellent candidate, John McGrath. Working together with the constituents they have changed the political momentum in Atlantic Canada raising the Reform share of the popular vote from zero to 30 per cent in our very first election there.

While the people of Labrador have set a new first, they have soundly rejected the Progressive Conservatives of course and have shown their willingness to consider a new political alternative in the Reform Party of Canada. I can assure the people of Labrador that we are in Labrador to stay and we will be even more active in the months and years ahead.

We also congratulate the new member for Labrador. We hope he enjoys his short stay in the House of Commons. We urge him, no we dare him, to stand up for the rights of his constituents because the voters have served noticed that in the coming days the person who puts the party ahead of the constituents will have to find a new job come the next general election.

Byelections

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

Mr. Speaker, yes the byelections are over and the people have spoken and I for one like the results.

I am happy to note that Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte is giving us a gentleman we know and has given overwhelming support for Gerry Byrne. The name is well known around Parliament Hill as he worked with former member and now Premier Brian Tobin. Gerry's experience is going to serve the House and his people very well.

Labradorians had the good sense to put their confidence in Lawrence O'Brien. In so doing I say to the leader of the Reform Party they sent a strong signal of support for the Liberal government here.

I look forward to working with both members. I want to extend my gratitude and that of all the caucus to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for their ongoing confidence and trust in the government's efforts on behalf of Atlantic Canada.

Liberal Party

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after being in office for over two and a half years, our government succeeded in having five members elected in the six byelections held yesterday.

Voters in Humber-Sainte-Barbe-Baie Verte will be well represented by Gerry Byrne. So will those in Labrador, by Lawrence O'Brien; those in Etobicoke North, by Roy Cullen; those in Papineau-Saint-Michel, by the Hon. Pierre Pettigrew; and those in Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, by the Hon. Stéphane Dion.

Since 1993, our party has won four of the five byelections held in Quebec, and eight of the nine held across the country. This is Stanley Cup material.

Canadians, in Quebec and elsewhere in the country, have once again renewed their confidence in our government and our Prime Minister.

Statistics Canada

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada is preparing for its census, and is therefore recruiting a number of census commissioners and census takers in each riding. To fill these positions, the Minister of Industry has asked each MP to provide the name of one volunteer to recruit potential census commissioners.

Will the Minister of Industry confirm that, in nearly all ridings represented by opposition members, additional lists of candidates have been provided by the Liberal Party of Canada?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows since he also received an invitation to name a contact person in his riding, that contact person is a source of names for the appointment of census commissioners. The same invitation was provided to all members of Parliament. Experience has shown that it is not adequate to generate all of the names required because the people whose names are submitted must submit themselves to testing, both written as well as interviews.

As the names have come in, in fact, I have noticed that in the ridings represented by the party of the hon. Leader of the Opposition, 134 of the recommendations were accepted out of 754 referrals, a proportion which is not dissimilar to the experience of others. I must say it is somewhat better than some of my colleagues have experienced.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out from the Minister of Industry why his office, or Statistics Canada, seems to be asking for additional lists in ridings represented by opposition members far more often than in ridings represented by Liberals.

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition would like to take it up with some of my colleagues, he is welcome to do so. If he asks them he will know that additional names have been sought by Statistics Canada other than those submitted by political parties in all parts of the country. This has been necessary in order to ensure that census commissioners are those who are the best qualified.

Those who have been named have had to pass what is a rather difficult test of their skills. Very often, names submitted by the representatives or by the contact persons named by members of Parliament have been inadequate in number to fill the jobs. Therefore, they have been recruited from Canada Employment Centres, ads in newspapers and virtually any other source. They rebut them. They were all subject to the same testing procedure. If the member finds that unfair, I fail to understand it.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I accept the Minister's explanations but I would like to ask whether he will confirm that, under the system set up by his office, by his department, there appears to be two kinds of lists, a regular list and a priority list?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, to be perfectly clear on this, the lists of names submitted for the position of census commissioner have come from a number of sources.

With respect to the Liberal Party, of 2,199 names referred for census commissioner across the country, only 569 were actually recommended, fewer positions than there are. Obviously names come in from a variety of other sources in order that the census is well performed.

Certainly political sources have been used in order to obtain names of people for testing. Those sources have been, in each riding, first of all suggested by the member of Parliament of whichever party. The success rate for all parties is well below half, including overall the governing party.

There is also a recruiting process to select census representatives. There are over 35,000 of these people being hired to work on the census across Canada. They will be subject to testing. If the member has any names that he would like to submit for those positions, I would be happy to receive them and we will see that they are in.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the minister will be happy soon.

The practices the Minister of Industry established for the 1996 census leave us somewhat perplexed. There are regular lists and there are priority lists.

Could the minister tell us whether the priority lists are the ones provided by the Liberal Party of Canada?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

What we need to know is who chooses the television commentators. Who chooses the television commentators?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered this question.

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

The guys who talk on television, who chooses them?

[John Manley, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

At the end of the day there will be one list of people hired. They will be selected-

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

They did not have a whole lot to say last night.

[John Manley, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

-by Statistics Canada and they will have been qualified-

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

When you lose, you are sad.