Debates of Sept. 26th, 1997

Arthritis Month

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to inform the House and all Canadians that September is arthritis month.

Arthritis is a debilitating disease that threatens the independence and quality of life of thousands of Canadian men and women. It is one of the most widespread chronic diseases in Canada, and cases of long term disability are most frequently due to arthritis.

There is no cure for arthritis, and the direct and indirect costs of this disease are enormous. Public awareness campaigns and a healthy life style can sometimes help relieve certain damaging effects of arthritis.

Health Canada is committed to continuing its involvement with other stakeholders in public and private organizations, to deal with matters concerning arthritis and how to treat its sufferers.

The month of September is an opportunity for us to recognize the work done by the Arthritis Society and its 10,000 dedicated volunteers.

Hockey

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, September 28 is the 25th anniversary of an event that three out of four Canadians remember, an event where we collectively went nuts. With 34 seconds remaining in game eight of the Canada-Soviet hockey series Paul Henderson snapped in his own rebound, the winning goal that sent 15 million Canadians crazy. Paul Henderson's goal is a benchmark of Canada's unique collective culture.

By contrast the heritage minister should get a game misconduct for high spending. It is called Canadian culture the Liberal way. The sugar plums that dance in her head are coated with taxpayers' dollars. She believes it is up to her and the Liberals to determine Canadian identity. She does not understand. She cannot manufacture culture. She cannot buy patriotism.

Paul Henderson's goal was an unscripted athletic event that helped define what it is to be Canadian. Thank you, Paul. Your famous goal is part of what it truly means to be Canadian.

Homes First Society

[Rey D. Pagtakhan, Liberal, Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday this House paid tribute to one its greats, Stanley Knowles. How fitting it is that today I draw attention to one humanitarian work this weekend.

Tomorrow, the Homes First Society in Toronto will hold its first annual “off the street garage sale” at Nathan Phillips Square to raise funds for Savard's and Haven, two housing projects for homeless women in Toronto and in the Philippines.

Such projects are living examples of Stanley Knowles' lifelong dedication to social justice for all peoples.

I commend the organizers and supporters of tomorrow's fundraising event. I take personal pride that Filipino Canadians are in the forefront of this volunteerism.

Indeed, the Homes First Society has displayed that uncommon sense of public duty which Stanley Knowles so well embodied. These volunteers have dedicated themselves to the duty of citizenship that helps advance humanity forward.

Health Care

[Michelle Dockrill, NDP, Bras D'Or, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am both honoured and proud at having been chosen by the people of Bras d'Or to be their voice in Ottawa.

The people of Cape Breton sent a strong message to this government on June 2. It is their right and the right of all Canadians to be guaranteed by this government that they will receive access to quality health care under the Canada Health Act.

It is unacceptable for the people of Bras d'Or to be forced to stand in line and take a number to access even minimal health care. These people are trying to get medical attention, not pick up a parcel at their local department store.

It is with this in mind that I intend to make the government accountable for the devastating effect that has resulted from the cuts to health care through the CHST.

The people in Bras d'Or would like to send a clear message to the government that this type of treatment will not be tolerated.

I call on the government to reverse the cuts and reinvest in health care until such time as the system addresses all the health care needs of my constituents and all Canadians.

John Cochrane

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—Assiniboine, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of my constituent and friend, John Cochrane.

John recently travelled, as a Canadian volunteer adviser, to Russia to assist a private company that publishes a newspaper and produces stencilled colour printing. The company which requested Mr. Cochrane's assistance was seeking advice on creating a new product line and improving efficiency and profit. Mr. Cochrane developed a plan to increase subscriptions and attract additional advertisers as well as a new and more aggressive marketing strategy.

Mr. Cochrane, like many other CESO advisers who work as Canadian volunteer advisers to business and assist business and organizations in Canada's aboriginal communities, developing nations and emerging market economies in central and eastern Europe. CESO volunteers are skilled Canadian men and women who willingly share their lifetime of practical experience with those who need it.

Again I congratulate all CESO volunteers and especially my constituent, John Cochrane, on a job well done.

Canada Summer Games

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise to inform the members of the House that on August 9 to 23 in my constituency of Brandon—Souris we hosted the 1997 Canada Summer Games.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the minister of sport, as well as my leader, Mr. Jean Charest, for being a part of that—

[The Speaker]

I do hate to intervene but I remind the hon. member no names.

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

I do apologize, Mr. Speaker. It was a rookie mistake. I would like to thank the leader of my party for being there.

I would also like to congratulate the 4,000 young men and women who came from all 10 provinces and 2 territories and demonstrated both the spirit of sport and the spirit of unity.

I thank also the 6,000 volunteers that took part in my community and the surrounding area to put on the best ever Canada games.

I would like to conclude with a remark that was made by a father of one of those athletes. “There are very few things that seem to be able to bring Canada together lately and this is one of them. Our most valuable resource in this country is our youth and if anybody is going to pull it together it is going to be them”.

[The Speaker]

I would like to make a very brief comment or observation. It would seem that yesterday we accomplished what we set out to do. I would like to compliment the members because they are disciplining themselves and I think that question period is becoming a little more lively.

Government Expenditures

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this summer when the Liberals were out making election promises they swore that any budget surplus would be split 50:50, half would go to new Liberal spending programs naturally, and the other half would actually go back into taxpayers' pockets or to debt retirement.

But now that the Liberals are back in power they have changed their tune. They used to sing The Taxman by the Beatles, now they have changed to another one entitled Hey, Big Spender .

When the government spends $42,000 on a musical study entitled “The Social Origins of the Medieval Latin Lyrical Song,” why should ordinary Canadians believe that the government will ever be able to give Canadians the tax relief they deserve?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Council gives grants to people to do some very useful work. To be knowledgeable about great ancient music is very important for some people. I am not an expert but I love Gregorian music. It was part of the services in the Catholic Church when I was a kid. It is medieval and very good and very peaceful to listen to after a good question period.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if the Prime Minister was part of a medieval Latin song, but he has been around for a while.

I heard the Prime Minister whistling another ditty yesterday. I think it was called “Smoking in the Boys Room”. Apparently the government has decided to spend $1.5 million to subsidize smokes for convicts in the Kingston penitentiary.

We suspect he has been blowing smoke about this whole budgetary surplus thing. I think that is a given. But does he really think that spending $1.5 million to subsidize smokes for convicts is the best way to spend the money that he has siphoned out of Canadian small businesses?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for posing the first question of my new position. I want to take advantage of the occasion to commend the good work that is done by Correctional Service Canada whose 300 executives sat in this House last night. They do good work. They deserve to be complimented and I am proud to do it.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what they have been smoking, but it was something.

We also know that the Prime Minister enjoys a good golf game. Heaven knows he has teed off plenty of voters. But does he really have to waste taxpayers' dollars on it? Did the government really have to spend $19,000 last year on golf balls, or $500,000 for golf cart bridges at Antigonish, Nova Scotia? Did Canadian taxpayers really need to spend $100,000 on a golf course at an army base?

My question is obvious. Are these kind of spending programs really more important to the Liberals than offering some prospect of tax relief for the ordinary Canadian citizen?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, yes there is a beautiful golf course in the national park at Cape Breton which is enjoyed by the thousands of visitors who come there in the summer. It is an area of Canada that needs economic development.

The golf course was developed a long time ago and it has been made adequate for golfers. The people who play there pay and that helps. On top of that, it helps the tourist industry in an area which needs some help. It is about modernizing a golf course a bit for tourists to visit, in one of the most beautiful parts of Canada which has some big economic problems. I think the Reform Party should compliment the government for doing something for a region that needs it.

Health Protection Branch

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Michelle Brill Edwards uncovered dangerous safety violations at Canada's health watchdog, the health protection branch.

I have proof here that senior department bureaucrats have unethically opened her personal, confidential files in an attempt to smear her just hours after her public disclosure.

Does the health minister condone these attempts to smear her reputation?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the news reports this morning about a file being asked for by an official at Health Canada. I have asked officials to look into it and when the facts are known I will respond in detail.

The hon. member should acknowledge in his question, and I know he is aware of the fact, that for me and for this government the role of the health protection branch is extremely important. It protects the safety and the health of Canadians.

It is for that very reason that this week I took three important steps to ensure its continuing strength: first, a moratorium on future cuts; second, the appointment of an arm's length science advisory board; third—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Macleod.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that this minister himself is responsible for the cuts that he is now undoing.

Dr. Brill-Edwards is an expert. She says the health protection branch is unsafe. She worked there. Her colleagues agree. Now health bureaucrats are trying to ruin her reputation and smother the truth. Why is the health minister afraid of this scientist?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, one thing I have tried to make a habit is to get the facts before I jump to conclusions.

I caution the hon. member to get the facts before he characterizes conduct in that irresponsible way. The reality is I have asked officials to inquire into the news reports this morning. Let us get the facts first.

The third step I took was to prepare a consultation document to involve all Canadians, not just one or two in this discussion of the future of the health protection branch.

I do not have to be told by former employees or by anybody else what the role of the health protection branch is. I am firmly committed to making sure it does its job in the most effective way.

Speech From The Throne

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

In his speech in reply to the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister urged Quebecers to put their trust in the Calgary declaration, the ramifications of which became even murkier yesterday with the replies the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs gave to our questions.

My question is a very simple one: Given its constitutional history, what makes the Prime Minister think that Quebecers can trust the Liberal government?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Quebecers are visibly losing faith in the Bloc Quebecois. This is clear from the recent election.

The very great majority of Quebecers want to remain in Canada. This is clear not just from the polls, but from speaking to average citizens. And the more they could be convinced that they do not have to choose between Quebec and Canada, that these two formidable entities can join forces and make them stronger and will be more indispensable to them than ever in the next millennium, the more they will turn away from the Bloc Quebecois in mistrust.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the minister's information, the Bloc Quebecois still holds the majority of seats in Quebec.

That having been said, when we hear that being as unique as Pacific salmon is the same thing as distinct society, we might well wonder.

How can the Prime Minister hope for Quebecers' trust, when his government's only strategy since the last referendum has been to threaten Quebec with its clever Plan B?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, far from making any threats, the government is calling for calm and democratic debate of very serious matters: How does secession square with democracy? There is no model for it anywhere.

Let me illustrate. The leader of the Bloc Quebecois and the Premier of Quebec gave the example of the recent referendum in Wales, noting that 50% plus one was enough. I must give you the following information, which is important to the debate. The Tories asked the British Prime Minister not to apply the results to a simple decentralization because—

[The Speaker]

Pardon me for interrupting the minister, but the member for Lac-Saint-Jean has the floor.