Mr. Speaker, I sure hope Hansard got every single word of the recent comments of my colleague from the Reform Party.
It is amazing that during question period a very passionate plea came from a Reform member from northern B.C. I lived for nine years in Watson Lake, Yukon, a town very close to Fort Nelson which he had mentioned in his question. He made a very passionate plea “for the federal government not to divest itself of the Fort Nelson airport. We need the federal government to keep its hands on Fort Nelson airport”. Not more than two hours later they turn around and say that the government has to get out of coal mining.
I would really like to know what side of its mouth the Reform Party is going to talk from today. One minute the government is no good and the next minute we need the government. Please, for the sake of all Canadians and for their constituents, the Reform Party should make up its mind. It is unbelievable. I find it amazing that no matter what the subject members on the Reform benches think the solution is always fire public servants, sell off public assets and return to some ideal state of nature that sounds like a cross between Sunday school and the wild west.
I know the hon. member will find this hard to believe but most people in Canada do not want an American style government which does nothing for working people but lectures them on morality. Most Canadians want a government that will stand up for people and make job creation its number one priority. That is why I am here, to push this government to help create jobs on Cape Breton Island.
Yes, crown corporations like Devco have been inefficient. It is not because of the workers. It is because of a handful of powerful men who have made themselves rich at taxpayer expense. The problem is not the crown corporations. The problem is the people who ride the gravy train.
I have lived in Nova Scotia for nine years and it is a great honour for me to look in the cameras and face all of Canada and wholeheartedly support my hon. colleagues from Cape Breton. I thank them for their wonderful efforts in trying to get this motion through the House.
I also wish to thank the hon. House leader of the Conservative Party for his gracious remarks with regard to this motion. After what the hon. member has had to go through for the last few years with Westray, and I know I do not need to go into what has happened with Westray, it is a very emotional time for him to stand in this House and mention coal mining in his area let alone Cape Breton. He deserves the kudos from the New Democratic Party and all Canadians.
The other day I was in Cape Breton and I met three absolutely wonderful people. They are miners José Pimentel and Victor Tomecheck and the head of the UMWA. I wear its pin with pride. They are trying to get us to move this government in the direction of making Donkin part of the Devco corporation plan. It is imperative for this to happen.
I encourage all members of this House and all Canadians to head up to Cape Breton and take North America's most beautiful scenic route, the Cabot Trail. Those who choose to do that can stop at wonderful areas like Chéticamp, Louisburg and Sydney. They will understand the feeling and the love Cape Bretoners have for the rest of Canada and they will be able to return that love.
A young woman stood up at a conference the other day and said “ladies and gentlemen, I am 18, I am a female and I am a Cape Bretoner”. According to the Reformers that is three strikes against her, get out of there. That is a scandalous shame. I find that hard to believe. I would have loved it if the Reformers could have been at that conference in Centennial hall to tell her “there is no future for you here, out you go. Government is no good, we can't help you. Let the dogs eat you”. I get really mad when I get on this subject.
The hon. Liberal member from Newfoundland did not give us an answer on whether he supports this motion or not. I would really like an answer before we recess today. Is the Liberal Party in favour of this motion or not? No political answer, just a yes or no. It would be greatly appreciated by those miners in Cape Breton.