Debates of Sept. 25th, 1997

Speech From The Throne

[Jean-Guy Chrétien, Bloc, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speake, before making my comments to the member for Waterloo—Wellington, I would like to congratulate you on being returned to your duties as Deputy Speaker of this House. You certainly deserve it, having proven your mettle in the 35th Parliament, and I trust you will be just as vigilant in the 36th.

I would address my remarks to the member for Waterloo—Wellington, an educator it seems. I understand that he cares a great deal about young Canadians and especially the young people in his riding. Does he consider the abnormally high rate of unemployment among young people to be normal? The rate, unfortunately, did not decrease over the four years his government, the Liberal Party, sat in this House. On the contrary, it increased. The rate of unemployment among young people increased.

Is it the member's intention to propose concrete solutions to his Liberal caucus for improving things for our young people, to enable them to find satisfying work that complements their studies at CEGEP or university?

[Lynn Myers, Liberal, Waterloo—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member opposite, I would simply say that any rate of unemployment is not normal. We will have to, as will people from all parts of Canada and members on all sides of the House, work to ensure that the kind of unemployment which we have now is brought down to an effective and appropriate level.

I would say to him that we need to continue to work very hard to ensure that is the case. We will press not only government but also caucus members to do that to ensure that the best kinds of jobs will be in place for Canadians.

[The Speaker]

Debate. Of course I am going to recognize the hon. member for Charlotte. However I was wondering, instead of having you begin and then interrupting your remarks for question period, if you would begin your remarks when the debate reconvenes. Would that be acceptable to you?

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, that would be more than acceptable.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, as it is nearly 2 p.m., perhaps we could begin with members' statements.

Royal Canadian Legion

[Jerry Pickard, Liberal, Kent—Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Legion Week here in Ontario. We as Canadians owe a great deal to the men and women of the Royal Canadian Legion who in many cases have devoted their lives to the remembrance of their fallen comrades as well as those who have made major sacrifices for the defence of our country.

Legion members across this land take up the torch daily to enhance the lives of seniors, youth, veterans and the disabled. Last year alone $310 million were raised and spent in communities across this country while three million hours of work were put in by volunteers and members of this great organization.

May I express the thanks of millions of Canadians for the great work and dedication given to us by the Royal Canadian Legion members.

Fisheries

[John Duncan, Reform, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a little fish story for the House today.

A bunch of the good old boys, like Turbot Tobin and Walleye Woodward, were out with their chum the Federal Fisherman. What a time; no worries, no cares, just them and those Labrador sport fish. It was very educational for the Federal Fisherman. During his time there he almost learned the difference between the salmon and a sucker.

I am sure the member for Burin—St. George's urges the Federal Fisherman to make this an annual event so that every July he spends his hard-earned dollars in Labrador. And just like this July, the minister can celebrate his return by flying over Prince Rupert and the salt water fishermen far below.

Is it not wonderful that the Prime Minister does not subtract days spent fishing in Labrador from a minister's shelf life.

Arts And Culture

[Lynn Myers, Liberal, Waterloo—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Fergus, Ontario is located in my riding. Fergus among other things is noted for its architectural beauty which is surpassed only by its natural beauty located as it is on the Grand River watershed. Fergus is also famous as the home of the Fergus Scottish Highland Games.

Recently an opportunity has arisen for the purchase and renovation of the Fergus building that houses the Grand Theatre, which a number of theatre groups call home. A fundraising campaign has started and is called “the crowning touch to restore the downtown jewel”. Needless to say, I support this very worthwhile effort.

The initiative in Fergus underscores the necessity for Canadians wherever they live to support cultural and community endeavours such as this. The preservation, promotion and expansion of Canadian culture in all its many forms is both necessary and desirable.

I applaud all of those who, like the residents in Fergus, are doing something to support our culture.

Centre Des Femmes De Laval

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I take special pleasure today in paying tribute to the Centre des femmes de Laval, which is celebrating 15 years of operation.

The centre, whose main goal is to improve living conditions for women, provides shelter, counselling, information and support to all women in Laval.

Be it through information and training or through innovative programs, the Centre des femmes de Laval brings women together to discuss their individual situations, look for solutions and, more importantly, break down the isolation women often unwillingly find themselves in.

As a founding member of the centre, I want to congratulate the board of directors, the staff and especially the volunteers who work in this key player in the Laval community.

Long live the Centre des femmes!

Royal Victoria Hospital

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House for the first time in my new career as a federal politician to congratulate the citizens of my riding of Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford for their magnificent community spirit and fund-raising efforts which have resulted in the development of the new Royal Victoria Hospital.

I was honoured to participate on September 13 with the Lieutenant-Governor and the minister of health for Ontario as we celebrated together this splendid new facility.

It was truly a happy occasion.

The 297 bed facility will be the regional hospital for all of Simcoe County and beyond. It is the result of the impressive Building on a Century campaign which saw the community raise $15 million toward its construction.

The new hospital features over $25 million in state of the art equipment and will be the location of Ontario's newest breast screening site.

Dr. Tom Bolton

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago this week Dr. Tom Bolton discovered the first evidence of black holes while working at the David Dunlap Observatory, University of Toronto, located in Richmond Hill.

A black hole is a collapsed star of such mass and density that nothing can escape from it, not even light. There had long been speculation that black holes existed, but Dr. Bolton produced the first credible evidence.

This is an event of great importance, not only to my riding of Oak Ridges, but also to Canada. We are in the forefront of great scientific discoveries, working with the largest telescope in Canada.

The University of Toronto boasts one of the world's greatest programs in astrophysics and with continued support, not only from the federal government but also from committed private supporters, I am sure we can look forward to maintaining Canada's leading edge discoveries and contributions to international space exploration.

I congratulate Dr. Bolton.

Prostate Cancer

[Ted White, Reform, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Canadian men, with an estimated 80 men being diagnosed every working day. Its incidence is 40 percent greater than that of breast cancer and only lung cancer kills more men than does prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer, because it strikes one man in eight, is, like breast cancer, a serious disease which affects huge numbers of Canadian families. Yet prostate cancer, which kills 4,000 men each year, was ignored in the government's throne speech. It continues to receive just one-ninth of the funding of breast cancer research and one-fiftieth of the research money given to AIDS.

September is prostate cancer awareness month so let us begin adequately funding prostate cancer research, not at the expense of funding for other cancer research, but at least to the same levels. We owe it to ourselves, our families and our constituents.

Cape Project

[Yvon Charbonneau, Liberal, Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have reason to be proud of Canada's youth.

On September 19, the Canadian Space Agency in St. Hubert hosted an event involving the elementary and high school students taking part in the CAPE project. This project is aimed at sending experimental equipment primarily designed for protein crystallization to the MIR station.

The experiments were developed by young students from across the country in co-operation with their teachers and with scientists who may be their colleagues 15 years from now.

As the member representing the Minister of Industry at this event and a teacher by profession, I have seen for myself that we need not worry about the next generation of Canadian scientists.

Our government is investing in such programs as CAPE to ensure that more students have better opportunities in finding jobs and more opportunities to learn the skills that they will need in building Canada's future.

I hope the experiments leaving for MIR today, which testify to the inquisitiveness and ingenuity of Canadian youth, will be an unqualified success.

World Maritime Week

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week we are celebrating World Maritime Week and I want to take this opportunity to draw to the attention of all members the future of the Lévis shipyard.

I would have preferred to talk about good news this week. Unfortunately, the government's lack of action in the shipbuilding sector is just as bad as it was during the Liberals' first mandate.

Indeed, Davie Industries executives have been waiting for months for a positive reply to a request for financial security from the Export Development Corporation, in order to execute a $125-million contract with Petrobras, a Brazilian crown corporation. The refitting of the Spirit of Columbus platform would immediately create 400 jobs.

We are also still waiting for the implementation of a true shipbuilding policy, as promised by the Liberals four years ago. Let us hope that World Maritime Week will be a wake-up call for the Liberal government.

Throne Speech

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the member for Laval West, I want to congratulate the government on its Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 36th Parliament of Canada in which it set out its priorities for the years ahead.

Of particular note is its wish to maintain national unity. Our government should be congratulated on its clearly stated intention to contribute to the effort by federal, provincial and territorial governments to develop a more collaborative approach to strengthening and modernizing Canada's social union.

In order to build a stronger Canada, our government will invest in children, in quality care and good health, and will take steps to ensure the safety of our communities.

These are some of the goals that we believe will help bring all Canadians closer together as we head into the next millennium.

Vancouver Kingsway

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to convey to you and to this House that it is a great honour to represent Vancouver Kingsway in this Parliament.

One of the most important strengths of Vancouver Kingsway is its cultural diversity. From around the globe, communities of Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, East Indian, Filipino, Chinese, Greek and others have made my riding their chosen home. Through their cultures and the traditions they have enriched this country.

As the first Asian Canadian woman to be elected to Parliament, I am proud to be their voice here in Ottawa and to champion their diversity.

British Columbia

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today we read of the sad and unfortunate conclusions of a one-time prominent Conservative senator who, having spent a lifetime trying to change the federation from within, is now reduced to bitter mumblings about B.C.'s separation from Canada. What went wrong?

Perhaps it started with the Liberals and the national energy program, an arrogant, me first initiative that gouged the west and catered to the east. Perhaps the fault lies with the Conservative leader, the leader of her own party who, bereft of ideas for Canada, clings desperately to the distinct society clause as a solution to national unity.

First it was a report from the B.C. adviser on national unity warning of the potential of western separation. Now a prominent senator has turned her back on her own party, its leader and the centrist ideas for which it stands.

It is time to listen up, Mr. Prime Minister. If he continues to ignore the concerns of western Canada, if he refuses to recognize Canada as a federation of equal provinces and citizens, if he continues to ignore the pleadings for parliamentary and Senate reform, he will have sown the wind only to reap the whirlwind.

The Late Dudley George

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended an event marking a tragic day in our country's history. Two years ago Dudley George was shot dead. He was one of 40 people peacefully protesting at Ipperwash. These unarmed citizens ended up facing the Ontario Provincial Police riot squad and the tactical weapons squad. The responsibility for this anti-native act lies with the current Ontario government.

Just two days ago the government in the throne speech committed itself to “develop relationships with aboriginal peoples based on the principles of partnership, transparency, predictability and accountability”. Transparency and accountability, enough words.

I call on the government to support the call for a full public inquiry in Ontario. Each day that passes without a full public inquiry into Ipperwash darkens the stain of the blood spilled at that tragic event.

Osteoporosis

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, studies show that elderly people can minimize the loss of bone that may lead to osteoporosis, a debilitating bone disease that affects thousands of Canadian seniors by consuming the higher amount of calcium and vitamin D now recommended by the Osteoporosis Society of Canada.

I urge people over 50 in my riding of Brampton Centre and throughout Canada to add at least one extra serving of dairy products to their daily menu to help keep their bones and teeth strong.

We can all contribute to improving our own chances for wellness and reduce the future cost for medicare by making the right choices now.

Income Taxes

[Jim Jones, Progressive Conservative, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, taxes are too high. While progress has been made in lowering the deficit, it has come at the expense of jobs and higher taxes.

If Canadians experience increases in their incomes, personal income taxes, EI and CPP premiums reduce those incomes by two-thirds. Taxes in Canada from all levels of government account for more than one-third of the GDP. CPP hikes proposed by this government with current EI premiums will further burden already over taxed Canadians.

Clearly lower taxes mean both economic and employment growth. As a nation that depends on bilateral trade with the United States, the widening tax gap between the two countries continues to damage our standard of living.

If the government is serious about jobs for all Canadians in this new economy, it must now get serious about tax cuts and lower EI premiums as Canadians have earned this right.

We are the only political party that is advocating tax cuts now.

[The Speaker]

Yesterday I shared with you my intention, with your help of course, to make question period a little more brisk, if you will. I want to thank all of the interveners yesterday, those who put the questions and those who gave the answers. I especially want to thank the Prime Minister who pointed out that he understood that I would be intervening when a certain amount of time went by.

Today I am going to try to tighten it up just a little bit more so that we get in both the question and the answer in 35 seconds and I know that we are all going to co-operate. With that I am going to recognize the hon. Leader of the Opposition.

The Debt

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in 1992 the Mulroney government passed the debt servicing and reduction act. It established a special account to pay down the debt from a special surplus. Of course, Mulroney continued to spend so there was neither a surplus nor any debt reduction. The whole thing was a shell game.

Now this prime minister promises to put 50 percent of any surplus into a special fund and to pay down the debt and give tax relief from that account while continuing to spend at record levels.

My question for the prime minister is how is his shell game any different from Mulroney's shell game?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the difference is that during Mr. Mulroney's time he moved the deficit up to $42 billion. We are reducing it to zero. That is a very big difference. According to the Speech from the Throne it will be done in the next year. We are not there yet.

It is amazing the satisfaction I am getting today standing in the House seeing the Leader of Opposition very preoccupied with the fact that we have been very successful in what we did with the finances of the nation.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, anybody could have done better than the federal Tories in reducing the deficit.

What the prime minister failed to mention is that the national debt is $82 billion higher than it was under Mulroney. What he fails to mention is that his government is ripping $3,000 more from every average Canadian family in taxes than Mulroney did. And on top of that there are 1.4 million unemployed.

If the prime minister is not playing a shell game, if he wants to make himself different from Mulroney, then why does he not pass the bulk of any surplus on to Canadian taxpayers?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if we reduce taxes we are not reducing the deficit. That is something people will understand. We said that in the end we will be in a position of surplus. It is coming but we are not there yet because there are still some problems in the nation.

When I look at the program of the Leader of the Opposition, he promised to put $4 billion more into health care. He is a spender.

That was not a promise from us. We have done it. Right at the beginning of the campaign we said that next year the provinces would receive $700 million more and the year after $1.4 billion and the same thing in the years to come. So over the period of our term we will have given more back to medicare.