House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was committees.
Sharon Hayes Reform Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is again from a group in my area. They call on Parliament to refrain from implementing a tax on health and dental benefits and to put a hold on any future consideration of such a tax until a complete review of the tax system and how it impacts on the health of Canadians has been undertaken.
I am pleased to present both these petitions.
PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
It would be my intention, immediately after statements and question period, to take up where we left so we can receive all the petitions you want to make today.
It being 2 p.m., we will now go to Statements by Members.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that strong families make a strong country and that we must pursue appropriate initiatives to build that strength. These initiatives also include mitigating problems which undermine and weaken the family such as alcohol abuse.
Tragically, 50 per cent of family violence, 65 per cent of child abuse and one in six family breakdowns in Canada are all directly or indirectly due to alcohol misuse.
The consequences of family violence and child abuse are devastating and long lasting. However, this is a societal problem which requires the resolve of both men and women working together to identify and eliminate the root causes of family violence.
Reducing family violence means healthier families, improved outcomes of our children, lower health care costs, lower social program costs, safer communities and stronger families.
Finally, strong families make Canada strong. Therefore I call on members of Parliament to pursue initiatives to restore the strength of the traditional Canadian family.
Jean Landry Bloc Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to salute the management and employees of Les industries Cascades. Environmental protection is an important value for them, and an integral part of their management philosophy. Evidence of this is their recent official opening of a secondary water treatment plant at the Kingsey Falls pulp and paper complex, representing an investment of over six million dollars in order to reduce biological oxygen demand and hence the toxicity of effluent from the four Kingsey Falls plants.
Cascades employees were responsible for much of the design, construction and installation of the equipment, and its operation. This company now has one of the most efficient secondary treatment systems in the pulp and paper industry. My congratulations to the management and employees of Cascades, which has now moved into the vanguard of environmental protection. Theirs is an example to be followed.
Hugh Hanrahan Reform Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government's lavish spending sprees are breaking through the superficial fiscal restraints.
The Liberals have committed to pay approximately $3 million or 30 per cent of the total cost of the francophone games to be held in Madagascar. These games include medals for such events as sculpting, video production and even story telling.
We plan on spending over five times more than what we spent on the Commonwealth games which were held in Canada and over ten times more than what we spent on the 1996 Olympics.
Government waste of taxpayer dollars is indefensible. In bad times such as what we are in now when many Canadians are suffering, the government is hard pressed to-
Government SpendingStatements By Members
The Speaker
The hon. member for Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Jag Bhaduria Liberal Markham—Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is a national disgrace that the unemployment rate in Canada is still higher in comparison to our neighbours to the south.
Canadians are tired of excuses and slogans from this government. They want to see employment opportunities created regularly. Creating jobs for Canadians has to be the number one priority for this government.
Recently the Prime Minister stated that more than half a million jobs had been created since the last election. Nothing is ever said about whether this is the net total and not another flip-flop statistic. If these jobs have been real then let us see the true numbers from this government.
I hold this government personally responsible for the sad state of affairs of our economy.
Brenda Chamberlain Liberal Guelph—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, over 1,300 Canadians living in 180 communities from every province have expressed their support for my private member's bill which would adopt an official pledge of allegiance to the Canadian flag.
Individual Canadians are not alone. The councils of 33 municipalities including Windsor, Rockland and Guelph, Ontario, Beaconsfield, Quebec, Chester, Nova Scotia, Cardston, Alberta and Logan Lake and Cranbrook, British Columbia have passed resolutions of support in the past three weeks.
Some of our country's greatest moments have involved our flag. Canadians love their country and the flag that flies proudly everywhere. Young and old, they have said this summer: "The maple leaf forever".
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, the city and county of Peterborough have submitted a bid for the 2001 Canada Games.
The bid is the result of months of work by hundreds of volunteers. It includes details of our sports facilities and of our expertise in sports management.
The bid points out that we have already hosted the Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled, the National Slo-Pitch Championships, the Memorial Cup Tournament and two Ontario Summer Games. We have decades of experience in hosting sports events.
This bid has the full support of the city and county councils, local municipalities, the Curve Lake First Nation and our sports organizations. The bid already has strong financial as well as moral backing.
Peterborough will ensure that the first Canada Games of the new century will be the best ever. I urge all members to support Peterborough's bid.
Bonnie Hickey Liberal St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, a record three people from Newfoundland and Labrador competed at the Summer Olympics from July 19 to August 4 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Maria Maunder as well as Phil Graham from my riding of St. John's East and Andy Crosby of Corner Brook each competed in the rowing events.
Maunder and her Canadian women's eight crew rowed to second place and received a silver medal. Graham and Crosby rowed in the men's eight and finished fourth.
I want to thank and congratulate each of these athletes for their contribution to sports in our province and as well for Canada. Their spirit and dedication stand as examples to all of us to try our hardest at whatever task is before us. Canada is proud of you.
Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, conclusive scientific evidence on gulf war syndrome verifies that neurological damage occurs when two pesticides, deet and permethrin, are used in combination with the anti-nerve gas agent pyridostigmine bromide.
University of Glasgow studies show neurological dysfunction in gulf war vets and the U.S. Defence Department confirms use of chemical weapons on seven occasions during the first week of the
war, including the area of Hafr Al-Batin where some Canadians served. These confirmed the 1991 Czech and French reports of the presence of chemical agents in this area.
On May 16 the defence minister said that veterans affairs would review gulf war veterans' disability applications, assuring that those who display symptoms will be given the benefit of the doubt for treatment and compensation.
However, current regulations accept only disabilities with medically recognized symptoms. These regulations must be changed to recognize the chronic and multiple disabilities from which our gulf war veterans suffer. Talk is not enough. Action is needed now.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, the NDP views the preoccupation of Parliament with the fate of the defence minister and General Boyle as politically unfortunate. It has let the Liberals off the hook on other issues.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and the minister of defence have been disappointing in their stalwart defence of General Boyle.
The Prime Minister is right to say that the inquiry should be allowed to do its work but the Prime Minister should do his work.
To question General Boyle is not to attack or criticize the enlisted men and women of the Canadian forces who are distinguishing themselves at home and abroad.
To imply that questioning General Boyle is an attack on all who serve in the forces is false and a cheap rhetorical tactic. To imply that all General Boyle's internal critics are only motivated by resistance to change in the department is also false. There is a legitimate question of leadership here and it is hard to argue that General Boyle is the one to provide it.
The Prime Minister should be wary that his twisting, evasive and often shallow defence of General Boyle is enough to make some Canadians wonder about his leadership abilities. It is time he stopped bragging about his standing in the polls. Pride goeth before a fall.
John Murphy Liberal Annapolis Valley—Hants, NS
I am pleased to rise today to make my colleagues aware of the Acadia advantage.
As of September, Acadia University is the first fully wired campus in Canada.
The use of IBM ThinkPad computers is now an integral part of first year courses in business administration and computer science. By the end of year 2000 a high end lap top will be a standard part of every student's admission package. Acadia University recognizes that computers are no longer the wave of the future. They are the way the world communicates now.
With the help of their partners in this project, IBM Canada Limited, MT&T, Mariott Corporation of Canada Ltd. and American Express special teams, students will be equipped to learn the skills they need to compete successfully in a demanding world.
Acadia University is truly taking a leadership role in innovation among Canadian universities.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, today marks the start of a first-ever forum of agents of local development in rural settings at Saint-Germain-de-Kamouraska. Focussing on the theme "Rebuilding the countryside, villages and towns for the 21st Century", this meeting brings a number of rural local development workers and prominent speakers from France, Belgium and Quebec together from September 19 to 22.
This little village of barely 300 people is to be congratulated for its initiative in encouraging reflection on the conditions fostering the development of rural villages and towns.
We are sure that this first forum on rural local development will draw from accumulated knowledge in this field to consolidate the actions needed for a rural renaissance.
Congratulations. We wish you every success in your undertaking.
Gurbax Malhi Liberal Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON
Mr. Speaker, national defence contracts are helping to stimulate our economy and are creating and sustaining many trading jobs. For instance, Atlantis Aerospace Corporation and Fullerton Sherwood Engineering Limited in my riding recently submitted successful bids for DND contracts valued at over $1,400,000 each.
I congratulate DND on its ongoing willingness to shop Canadian when seeking the finest expertise and equipment available. It is clear that the Minister of National Defence takes his job quite seriously. The minister has displayed tremendous strength and tenacity as he works to make Canada's defence department the best it can be.
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton—York—Sunbury, NB
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to once again to your attention an innovative tool for promoting literacy.
I had the recent pleasure of participating in launching a new Canada Post Corporation stamp in Fredericton. The new stamp is a partnership effort between CPC and ABC Canada, a non-profit organization that helps raise awareness of literacy and promotes private sector involvement in supporting the cause.
The new stamp costs 50 cents, with five cents from every stamp going to ABC Canada.
I wish to commend Canada Post for this novel and creative way to support literacy in this country. It is once again helping us raise funds on a community basis. New Brunswick has been a leader in the promotion of literacy and I hope it continues to lead by supporting the use of this new stamp. If all 10 million stamps are sold literacy groups across the nation will benefit to the tune of $500,000. If one in three Canadians buys just one booklet of stamps they will sell out.
Maurice Bernier Bloc Mégantic—Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, on October 27, the chief government whip will be the star of a benefit rock show to help those who deliberately broke the Quebec Elections Act during the last referendum.
The member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell did not settle with funding civil disobedience in Quebec using federal public moneys, he called upon sponsors such as Canadian International, the official carrier for all those who love Quebec, The Ottawa Sun , famous for its Quebec bashing, and the parliamentary channel, which is funded by Canadian cable companies.
No matter how hard the government whip tries to look like a rock star and how many heritage minister's flags he waves on stage, his government's music will always sound off key to Quebecers.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Well, Mr. Speaker, the summer is over The Liberals thought they were really in clover Three months back home to talk to the folks Would give them the chance to garner some votes
What do you know, the people were mad A brand new government they thought they had But when listening closely it was the same old tune Liberal, Tory, just two sides of the same old loon
We want jobs, real jobs, not an infrastructure scheme We want leaders to really say what they mean We want violent criminals to do their time But the government says, hey, everything's fine
The military is crumbling from the top down The general blames the troops on the ground The minister says I'm proud of that man He should be let go, not given a hand
Let's get on with how to fix this land Let's get people to work-let's give them a hand Let's show the world if you commit a crime The consequence is you do the time
Let's prove to the world that our country is one And quitthis fighting the separatists have begun Canada is good butlet's make it great Times running out and the people can'twait.
Nick Discepola Liberal Vaudreuil, QC
Mr. Speaker, between now and the next election, the Bloc leader and his advisers intend to show Canadians, and I quote from their report, "that sovereignty and an offer of partnership are the best path toward a solution to the future of Quebec and Canada".
How can the Bloc leader be taken seriously when he said exactly the reverse, on December 22, and I quote again: "Mrs. Lalonde wants to convince Canada of the benefits of an economic partnership with Quebec. For my part, I believe it is more important to be in Ottawa to defend Quebec's interests and show to its people that federalism as it stands is not in their best interest, so that they will vote yes at the next referendum".
Who is telling the truth now? The member for Roberval who wanted to become leader of the Bloc Quebecois or the member for Roberval who is trying to get re-elected?
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Saint-Denis, QC
Mr. Speaker, as everyone will remember, early on during the last referendum campaign, the separatists promised federal civil servants that they would all be integrated into the new Quebec civil service.
A few weeks into the campaign spokespeople for the separatists began to send the message that perhaps they would not be able to guarantee a position for all public servants. In the end federal public servants were told it would be unrealistic to guarantee work for anyone in an independent Quebec.
Last week, at the PQ regional convention held in Quebec City, delegates asked that the clause concerning the automatic integration of federal civil servants be withdrawn from the agenda, since it was, in their views, the biggest blunder in the PQ strategy in the Quebec City area.
[English]
What else is new? They never keep their promises. The hypocrisy and the flip-flops of the separatists never cease to amaze us and do little to improve the image of all Quebecers.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, in an absolutely unprecedented gesture, Liberal members have attacked the auditor general for blowing the whistle on the family trust scandal.
For three years the Bloc Quebecois has been criticizing these tax havens, yet now, because the auditor general has confirmed what we have been saying, that billions of dollars are going out of the country tax free, the Liberals are questioning his competency and the way he is fulfilling his mandate. And this is someone appointed by the House of Commons.
Will the Prime Minister tell us whether he dissociates himself from the opinion of certain members of his party or whether he rejects this report?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the finance committee for its report. I would like to thank the representatives of the government for the majority report, and the opposition members from the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform Party for their minority report. I intend to examine it with care.
As for the comments about the auditor general, someone who, as the hon. members are well aware, has always had our strong support, I must admit that there was a difference of opinion in the committee on certain steps taken or recommended by the auditor general.
Differences of opinion are, I feel, part of democracy. What I do not understand about the tone of the comments on the auditor general in the Bloc Quebecois minority report-for it is not merely a disagreement with the government-is that the Bloc seems to hold the position that the committee, that Parliament, does not have the right to make comments about an employee of Parliament, which is what the auditor general is.
It is the role of Parliament, and the role of the members of Parliament, to make comments, whether about the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, other ministers, or the auditor general. That is part of what democracy is all about, and that is what they have done.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the Minister of Finance has given up his fancy footwork for the summer. He was much more nimble when it came to skating around the GST issue.
Does the Prime Minister realize that, by remaining mum, he is sanctioning the report by his MPs and making a direct attack on the very institution of the auditor general, the protector of the general public and the one whose job it is to call attention to the faults in the public administration? Does the Prime Minister realize that he is backing up his MPs by his silence?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, what the Leader of the Opposition is really doing is confirming the point I wanted to make in my response, namely that the standing committee does not have the right to make comments about an employee of Parliament. This is totally ridiculous. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to speak about the substance of the majority report, a report which I applaud. This is a very meaty report, with a great deal of merit, and we on this side plan to examine it carefully.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, if the minister wants to talk substance, we will talk substance. We will talk of the very philosophy of this government. It has to be understood. When the Somalia inquiry tries to cast some light on administrative and leadership failings in the Army, the Prime Minister discredits the Commission. When the auditor general tries to cast some light on the matter of family trusts, government members discredit the auditor general.
How can the Prime Minister explain to us the new philosophy of his government, which to all appearances consists in discrediting those who are not in agreement with it?