Debates of Nov. 3rd, 1997

Veterans

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, veterans week is a time of national celebration and commemoration of those who served and continue to serve in our military services.

Many who will attend next Tuesday's Remembrance Day services will be the widows, the children and grandchildren of veterans who never came home from the battlefield.

As we pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much on the front lines, we must also remember that war does not affect only those who fought but also those who were left behind. On the home front it was often the women who took up the slack, who worked on the farms and in the factories, raised families and kept the home fires burning. It was the children who never saw their fathers and grandfathers who also paid dearly for the sacrifice.

So we learn the lesson that no one can escape the tragic consequences of war. The sacrifices of those who went before either on the front lines or back at home must never be forgotten. May those who have gone before us rest in peace. Lest we forget.

Klaus Woerner

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today the governor general will be naming the national entrepreneur of the year. Mr. Klaus Woerner, the president of ATS, a firm in my riding of Kitchener Centre, has been designated as one of the finalists for this national award.

Beginning in a small shop with only two other employees in 1978, Mr. Woerner's business has expanded to employ over 2,500 employees with operations in three continents and sales in all.

Mr. Woerner's success mirrors that of many business persons in the Waterloo region, one of the most dynamic economic regions in Canada.

The award presented today also reflects the tremendous achievements of the Canadian economy in the past four years. The future promises to be even brighter yet.

St-François-De-Sales Parish Church

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this year we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the building of the oldest church in Laval, the church of the parish of St-François-de-Sales.

This magnificent example of Laval's heritage is located in the riding of Laval East. Through its relics and architecture, it stands as a tribute to the talents, creativity and aesthetic sense of Quebec craftsmen and artists.

The church of St-François-de-Sales is also a symbol of the sense of belonging to a community, to values of faith, sharing, solidarity and openness to one another. It is a tangible sign of the ties woven over time by its parish community, to whom I wish to pay tribute today.

It is also, without a doubt, a reflection of our culture and history, and one of the symbols of the enduring nature of the people of Quebec.

Commission De Toponymie Du Québec

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, controversy still rages over the naming of 101 islands in the far north of Quebec. On the one side, the Cree and Inuit communities feel that they were not consulted before the names inspired by Quebec literature were chosen, and on the other the Commission de toponymie du Québec persists in stating that, in its opinion, this was “virgin and unnamed territory”.

Matthew Coon Come, Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, and Zebedee Nungak are deeply disappointed by the geographical names commission's giving the 101 islands a name and claiming not to have known that there was already an aboriginal name for these geographical features.

This is one more example of the separatist government's preference for its own partisan agenda over consultation with its fellow citizens in northern Quebec.

Foreign Policy

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the world is poised to sign a land mine treaty in December and Canada has been a leader in this success. But this is just the beginning.

If we are to work toward a safer world we must address the precursors to conflict and formulate responses to them. Human rights violations, militarization and the breakdown of civil structures all contribute to conflict. To address these requires multinational responses from NGOs and other institutions.

Canada can use its moral suasive power to create a critical mass of like minded nations to truly address these issues. We must move our foreign policy from an era of conflict management to an era of conflict prevention. We must seize the day for a better and safer world for all.

Land Mines

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP congratulates the international campaign to ban land mines and the 1,000 NGOs from 60 countries that backed the treaty process. We also congratulate Mines Action Canada with which we were pleased to work in the last Parliament helping to copy and forward the many letters of support it was generating to all cabinet ministers.

The Canadian government and other governments responded to the work of the NGOs, and that is good. Unfortunately the Americans have not seen fit to sign on. We hope they and others will yet see the light.

What we need now is a similar but even more comprehensive and successful dynamic to develop around the need to abolish nuclear weapons, which pose a threat to the entire human prospect. Let the recent success on land mines be only the latest but not the last step in banning particular evils from our midst.

Quebec Premier

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, look out, look out, Lucien Bouchard is in China.

In 1994, the sovereignist leader of the Bloc Quebecois stated, in connection with the Canadian mission to China, that our Prime Minister, and I quote “has made a 180 degree turn and set a course that is guided by strictly commercial interests, thereby turning his back on protecting human rights”.

Lucien Bouchard also asked whether our Prime Minister would “allude to the oppressive policies of this dictatorial regime only in very polite terms and in private, on the—advice of his Minister of Foreign Affairs”.

Today, in 1907, as part of his own trade mission to China, the same sovereignist leader, but now Premier of Quebec, is planning to use courtesy and respect on this question. He does not want to see this mission turn into a big problem.

So, who then is telling the truth, Lucien Bouchard, 1994 version, or Lucien Bouchard, 1997 version? It seems as if what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander, where principles are concerned. Will the real Lucien Bouchard please stand up.

I hope that the Bloc Quebecois, 1997 version, thinks the same way as the leader of its head office in Quebec.

The Miner Company

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today at noon Nobel prize recipient Jody Williams and the prime minister destroyed the last land mine in Canada's stockpile. On this momentous occasion I am disheartened by our government's lack of interest in a domestic issue occurring in Shefford, Quebec.

The Miner Company operated as an arms manufacturing plant during World War II in Shefford. In April 1996 forgotten explosive material was found at the site of the old plant. The ministers of foreign affairs, defence and the environment as well as the prime minister have all been made aware of this situation in our backyard.

To date no action has been taken to clear the area of dangerous material. I urge the government to maintain a domestic policy consistent with our international agenda and to address the dangerous situation in Shefford without further delay before a Canadian resident is injured or killed.

Land Mines

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is a remarkable day in Canadian history et nous pouvons touts être fier d'être Canadiens.

Today after three years and the efforts of many individuals, including the member for Brant, Canada has eliminated its land mine stockpile. This is a critical step in the long road to ban land mines around the world.

In December governments, NGOs, citizens and activists will come together in Ottawa to sign a treaty that will unambiguously ban land mines. For all the world it will be a wonderful celebration. It will also be a time to commit energies, to work hard to ensure the treaty is ratified, implemented and monitored. The remarkable success of individual and collective efforts, the tremendous accomplishments of people like Nobel peace prize winner Jody Williams give us the energy we need to see this issue resolved.

Let us join in congratulating Ms. Williams for her relentless quest and in pledging to her our continued support to work together toward a safer society within our borders and outside them for all human beings.

Immigration

[Gary Pillitteri, Liberal, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are those in this House who link unemployment with immigration in spite of the fact that several studies have proven them wrong time and time again, but ignorance perseveres. Immigrant success stories which are the norm do not make the front page of national newspapers.

Recently I received a letter from a constituent, a refugee to our country and now a proud Canadian citizen. She wanted me to know that she was gainfully employed, waiting for a place to do her apprenticeship in hairdressing and earning credits toward a high school diploma.

She ended her letter with:

I will try to make you proud and to be a good, honest and valiant citizen, a small part of a large family of Canadians.

I am sure I echo the sentiments of many Canadians when I say to her “Thank you, Hilda, for choosing Canada as your new home”.

Environment

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, normally the finance minister is one of the more talkative ministers in the House. He rarely misses a chance to be on his feet, particularly when the prime minister is away, but throughout the whole debate on the Kyoto emissions treaty he has been strangely silent. That is unacceptable in that the Kyoto deal could cost ordinary families thousands of dollars.

My question today is not for the prime minister or for the environment minister. It is for the finance minister. How much is the Kyoto deal going to cost and how are we going to pay for it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to respond to the leader of the Reform Party. This is the first time I have been asked a question by the Reform Party on the issue.

As the environment minister set out very clearly, she has not yet gone to Kyoto. The negotiations have not been completed. It is very difficult for one to estimate the final costs of an agreement that has been neither negotiated nor signed.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot understand first the silence of the minister and now the waffling of the minister.

Environmental interest groups are offering their speculation as to what this deal will cost. The industry interests have offered their speculation. The think-tanks have offered their calculations, but it is the finance department that will have to actually calculate the cost of positions the minister is taking in Kyoto and how we will pay for it.

I repeat my question. How much is the Kyoto deal going to cost and how are we going to pay for it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Reform Party has answered his own question. Industry may well speculate. The Reform Party may well speculate. The finance department does not speculate. The finance department deals with facts. It deals with a number of items that will have to be negotiated.

We are in the process of doing that, but we will not speculate, not even to please the leader of the Reform Party.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are looking for answers on the economic implications, the job implications and the tax implications of the positions the environment minister is taking to Kyoto. The finance department has the capacity to run those numbers. It can run scenarios on all the options the minister is looking at.

Again I ask a question of the finance minister. Is it not his obligation to the House to tell us how much what the environment minister is proposing is going to cost and how we are going to pay for it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, when the negotiations begin and when the government's position is outlined in clear detail then very clearly the costs and the ways of achieving it will be outlined.

What Canadians are really interested in is: Does the Reform Party have a position on this, or is its only position that of contradicting its own critic?

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians are concerned about is making sure that they do not get a jump at the pump when this deal is signed, and the minister has already promised it.

The Liberal minister for Alberta has been as quiet as a little mouse on this, not even a squeak about the Kyoto deal. The entire oil patch is worried and the Liberals have not ruled out an energy tax. The minister has not done a thing to calm their fears. Albertans want to hear finally from their top Liberal.

Let me ask the justice minister this. Will the justice minister tell us her position on any energy or environmental tax?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the issue of climate change is an issue that affects our environment profoundly. It is an issue for all Canadians, for every region of the country, and every region of the country will take a part.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it certainly is an issue for all Canadians but specifically in the Alberta oil patch. Albertans themselves are worried about an energy tax.

The countdown to Kyoto is on. We would think the top Alberta Liberal would have said something by now, but in fact she is hiding and she is hiding in the House.

[Some hon. members]

Order.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, many times questions are addressed to specific ministers. These ministers may or may not have an administrative responsibility. I am sure the whole House is aware that a question generally is posed to the government and anyone on the government's side can answer that question at any time they want.

I am going to permit the hon. member to continue with the question.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure Canadians will be glad of that.

Albertans are wondering where is Waldo. I do not want to hear from the prime minister or the environment minister or the deputy prime minister or anyone else. I want to ask a question of the senior minister from Alberta. Will the justice minister stand up for her constituents and will she stand up—

[Some hon. members]

Order.

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of the Environment.

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is one that the Reform Party will not speak about from an environmental perspective.

We have yet to hear after 50 questions any view of the Reform Party with regard to this as an environmental issue. Many Albertans are doing very serious things to reduce greenhouse gases in that province. The Reform Party could learn a lot by listening to Albertans.