Debates of Nov. 7th, 1997

Criminal Code

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, again members are challenging your ruling. I think there are some things going on this morning that are unacceptable.

Look at what has happened during discussion of the previous motion. You made a ruling and the government, rather than letting the legislation proceed, challenged the vote. It is so intent on blocking these amendments that it would rather delay the bill than let us proceed and approve the amendment. The government forced a vote and challenged the ruling. Now it is challenging it again.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Madam Speaker, I do not want to take up too much time of the House. It is already a relatively short day.

Understand clearly there has been a tremendous amount of co-operation by all parties on an issue of significance which has been presented to the legislature in not what people would recognize as ideal conditions, both from the opposition and the government side. We have arrived at this juncture, at report stage and third reading, and clearly and emphatically the government has no intention, never had or ever would question or appeal the ruling of a chair. We give utmost respect to the authority of the Chair.

For what it is worth to the new members, I had the privilege and honour of sitting in that chair for three years. I hold it the highest esteem, as all my colleagues do on both sides of the House.

The question at this time is whether, in the ruling that was made the Speaker and respecting that ruling, there would be unanimous consent. We know from time to time only by way of unanimous consent can this Chamber go beyond some of those rulings.

In this instance the government is in a situation, quite frankly, where conceivably it would like to support one of the amendments and perhaps not the other. If they were separated we would have the opportunity to address that specific individual amendment. We are asking the consent of the House, if it would allow the debate to continue with those two items separated and dealt with individually.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Is the House in agreement with the suggestions from the whip of the government?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

It being 11 a.m., we will now proceed to statements by members.

Coal Industry

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, having lost one battle when the U.K. switched to natural gas, the coal industry now brings its fear mongering to Canada. They invoke the idea of global cooling to throw the climate change debate off course. But informed scientists conclude that global warming is a problem and that we must act.

Burning coal is highly damaging to the environment and human health. The remedies proposed by the coal association are inspired by profound ignorance of the links between coal burning and damage to water, agriculture, forests, fish spawning grounds and human health.

To reach the goal of stabilization of carbon dioxide emissions by 2005, and 20% reductions by 2010, the answer lies not with coal but with improved energy efficiency and conservation, with technology that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and with greater use of natural gas.

Ekrem Kolay

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Madam Speaker, as I speak, Ekrem Kolay is wasting away outside Canada Place in Edmonton. He has been on a hunger strike for 15 days to bring this government's attention to the imprisonment of Leyla Zana, a mother of two and a celebrated former member of the Turkish parliament.

Leyla Zana was imprisoned for standing up for the wishes of her constituents, for speaking out against human rights violations in Turkey when very few others had the courage to do so.

Amnesty International, British parliamentarians, members of the U.S. Congress, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Alberta Federation of Labour, members of the provincial and federal NDP, and local Edmonton churches and businesses have all joined Ekrem Kolay in his campaign to free Leyla Zana.

Ekrem Kolay is waiting for just one more person to join his struggle before he promises to eat his first meal. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is now the only man who can decide whether my constituent eats or continues to slowly starve.

Havelock, Ontario

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I speak today about one village in Canada, the village of Havelock, Ontario, home to 1,300 people.

This is a community which has faced up to difficult times with great success. This summer the village held its first “Rock `n Rail” festival to celebrate its heritage as a mining and railroad town. This event attracted thousands of visitors, including 4,000 who took the special train rides through eastern Peterborough county.

A few weeks later this same tiny community again hosted thousands, this time for the annual Havelock country music festival jamboree and trade show, which I described previously in this House. The jamboree is now one of the major celebrations of country music in eastern Canada.

The citizens of Havelock are an example to us all. Our thanks to them, especially those who worked so hard on these two events.

Pay Equity

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like once again to draw the attention of the President of the Treasury Board to the dissatisfaction of federal public servants regarding the settlement of the pay equity issue.

Revenue Canada has a major taxation centre in Jonquière. The employees of the centre have asked me to stress that they are upset about the government's delay in solving the issue. The Liberals were definitely more vocal when they formed the opposition.

I am asking the President of the Treasury Board to read each of the some 620 letters which I received and which I will send to him at the earliest opportunity.

All these employees question the $10 billion deficit reduction that the finance minister is bragging about. I join them in asking that the issue of pay equity be settled. It is high time these employees get their due.

Canada Career Week

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice of praise and support for Canada Career Week 1997. This annual event is a reminder to young people and their parents of the importance of preparing today for the careers of tomorrow.

Both the challenges and opportunities posed by the new knowledge based economy demand that extra efforts are made to equip Canadian youth with the skills and knowledge that they will need to succeed.

A top priority of the Government of Canada is to provide young people with the information and assistance they require to make informed career choices. The programs and projects sponsored under the government's youth employment strategy are helping hundreds of thousands of young Canadians achieve their employment goals.

This year during Canada Career Week, the Government of Canada in co-operation with community partners participated in a series of activities, from career fairs in communities across the country to the production of new career information products. These activities will help Canada's teenagers and young adults make a successful transition from school to work.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Miramichi.

Colonel Fred Moar

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, this is Veterans Week. Veterans in comparing our Canadian veterans program to those of other countries report that we have one of the best programs in the world.

In my constituency office, a veteran of World War II, Fred Moar, counsels and advises veterans and their families. He has worked on a volunteer basis with three members of Parliament, Bud Jardine, Maurice Dionne and myself.

Fred Moar has served his country and our community well, first as a cadet; then as a militiaman, he went overseas with the North Shore regiment as a company sergeant major at the age of 21. Promoted as a young officer, he landed with A company on D-Day at St. Aubin sur Mer. Five days later he was the only surviving officer in the company. That August he was promoted to company commander. Later he was wounded in Holland and returned to his unit some three weeks later. He returned to Canada with the North Shore regiment in 1946.

Since then Colonel Moar has served as company commander, officer commanding—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Alberni.

Remembrance Day

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

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, November 11 Canadians will mark a minute of silence for those who gave their lives for the freedom, democracy and peace we enjoy in this country today.

My father was one of those men. He was a navigator in the RCAF and never returned from the second world war. As a result, I grew up with only a photograph and the stories and memories passed on by my mother to tell me what a wonderful man my father was.

Many of us can only imagine what it was like for those men like my father. Their sacrifice was so great and so meaningful we must never forget the contributions made during the wars. No words can convey that to anyone.

Therefore as the House will not be sitting on Remembrance Day, I ask that we remember November 11 is not a holiday. It is a day to remember those who fought and died for this wonderful country.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday Canadians across the nation will honour the brave men and women who have given their lives in the world wars, the Korean war and in international peacekeeping efforts.

They are our heroes and have left us a legacy we can be proud of. So it is right that we bow our heads on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate this ultimate sacrifice.

All across Canada we stop, we remember. In my riding of Vaughan—King—Aurora there will be parades, wreath laying ceremonies and a moment of silence.

I know that I will use that moment to reflect on the progress we have made as a nation and as a society.

Freedom and democracy, this is what Canadians fought for, died for and that is what we must never forget.

Environment

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin, ON]

Mr. Speaker, global climate change presents one of the most significant challenges the world has ever faced. Reducing greenhouse gases will take a concerted and co-operative effort by the world's nations when they meet next month in Kyoto, Japan to reach an agreement to solve this problem.

Our government is consulting with many stakeholders in advance of the Kyoto summit so that Canada makes a solid, balanced and positive contribution through realistic and attainable goals on greenhouse gas emissions.

While the issue of global climate change is a challenging one, it also presents a number of important opportunities for Canadian companies and know-how.

Canada has long been a leader in the development and export of environmentally sound technology. The worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gases will result in a growing foreign market for Canadian expertise abroad and the creation of jobs at home.

As chairman of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations, I look forward to studying ways of assisting Canadian companies and workers to benefit fully from the opportunity this challenge presents.

Canada will be a full and co-operative participant in the worldwide drive to control the emission of greenhouse gases. Future generations deserve our best efforts.

Member For Bourassa

[Stéphan Tremblay, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness and bitterness that I take the floor today, following yesterday's comment by the member for Bourassa who, in a stement worthy of Howard Stern, said that 49.4% of Quebeckers were “colonized separatists acting like colonials”.

Unfortunately, this is not the first unfortunate slip of the tongue by the member for Bourassa. In 1995, he said he felt like restoring the deportation act and sending back to their country those who spit on the Canadian flag.

I respect respectable people. The Elvis Grattons who talk about the best country in the world and who tell separatists to go live in Cuba if they are not happy may be funny on television, but not in this House, particularly when they say “blessed are Quebeckers for they receive more than their share of UI benefits from the federal government”.

Pierre Falardeau may have created Elvis Gratton, but I sometimes think the Prime Minister recruited him in his party.

Women Entrepreneurs

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recently reviewed a copy of the Bank of Montreal study on the economic power of women-led firms in Canada entitled “Myths and Realities”. There is tremendous progress being made by women in our Canadian business community. Here are some of the facts.

Women now own or operate over 700,000 firms, a number which represents over 30% of all firms in Canada. The number of women-led firms is increasing at twice the national average. They are creating jobs at four times the national average. These firms employ 1.7 million Canadians and provide 200,000 more jobs than the largest 100 Canadian companies combined.

Women-led firms are having a significant impact upon our economy. I congratulate these entrepreneurs. I also congratulate the Minister for International Trade who will shortly be leading a delegation of female business people to Washington.

Human Life

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the events of the last few days have given me occasion to once again evaluate at a very deep level the value of human life.

You see, Mr. Speaker, my sister Marian was born with cerebral palsy, injured at birth because of errors made by medical staff. My parents accepted their responsibility for her and she became a very important part of our family. She has never learned to speak and has required total care all her life. But she laughs and sometimes she cries. She loves to sing along when my mother or I play hymns on the piano, although her only words are “da, da, da”.

Marian has added so much to our family, helping us not to become consumed with secular pursuits and keeping our focus on that which is truly important in life. Some would say that her life is not worthwhile, but I profoundly disagree.

Thank you, my dear sister for loving us and accepting our love for the last 52 years.

Tax Avoidance

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of the house to Project Loophole. Choices, a Winnipeg based coalition for social justice, is challenging in the Federal Court of Canada in Toronto the $2.2 billion family trust tax manoeuvre identified and criticized by the Auditor General of Canada. The case is to be heard later this month.

Choices is to be commended for pursuing this issue. Tax avoidance is one of the far too hidden dimensions of why the government finds itself without the revenues it needs. Yet this same government not only does not cite tax avoidance as a factor in its fiscal situation that needs to be dealt with, instead it actively encourages tax avoidance by sending departmental officials to act as resource persons at privately sponsored tax avoidance workshops on tax shelters, offshore havens, et cetera.

It is no surprise really. When we see the kinds of prices the Liberals are able to charge for their fund-raising dinners, we know that their real friends are folks with lots of taxes to be avoided.

The ordinary Canadian will be getting his or her CPP reduced and their public services—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

Manitoba Farm Women

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today with great pride to recognize the week of November 3 to 9 as Manitoba Farm Women's Week. Manitoba farm women are essential to the life and the economic stability of the farm, family and community.

I would like to especially mention that the 1997 Manitoba Farm Women's Conference was held this week in my city of Brandon, Manitoba. The conference entitled “Neighbours en route to 2000” featured sessions ranging from child care in rural Manitoba to getting online on the world wide web. There also were presentations on equality, career planning and money management, to mention a few.

It is time that we as Canadians recognize the monumental contribution women have made to our agricultural industry and applaud them.

Employment

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last night 1,500 people paid $500 each to attend the prime minister's exclusive fund-raising dinner. I do not suppose many of them spend much time worrying about minor things like the Canada pension plan or unemployment.

However, for ordinary Canadians things just got a little rougher. The national unemployment rate climbed back up to 9.1%. There were 104,000 fewer Canadians working in October than in the month before that, which means 104,000 families are facing serious trouble.

Canadians see the golf clubs, the caviar and the champagne so where are the job, jobs, jobs?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are disappointed that employment fell slightly in October but it followed seven consecutive months of solid job growth. Since the beginning of the year 268,000 new jobs have been created, which is nearly double the number of jobs created over the same period in 1996.

Unemployment is down nearly a full point from where it was a year ago. Therefore I am confident in saying that if we continue to work to create more jobs we will be accomplishing this with the policies that have worked well so far.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I suppose hope springs eternal in the heart of a Liberal, but he probably wrote that answer some time last night between cocktails and caviar.

We do not think there is an excuse for these numbers. Our number one trading partner and competitor, the United States, just reported that its unemployment rate is now 4.7%, just half of what ours is. Across the border they are enjoying the lowest unemployment rate in 24 years.

Has it come to this? Is looking outside the country the only place that unemployed Canadians can expect to find work?