Debates of Oct. 20th, 1998

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Chuck Cadman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, despite recent criticisms of the RCMP there is good news.

Last year the Surrey detachment decentralized services by dividing the city into five districts, each with its own police station. The move has proven to be very successful. Citizens appreciate the proximity of the stations, district commanders take pride in improved community relations and frontline members have taken ownership by creating logos and giving nicknames to their district offices.

The Surrey model is now used as a textbook case study for college and police academy courses. Surrey detachment is the largest in Canada with an average resident to police ratio approaching an unacceptable 900:1.

I commend Chief Superintendent Terry Smith, his senior staff and the members of the Surrey detachment. Despite monumental funding and resourcing problems compounded by a federal government which does not seem to care, they have shown that when it comes to innovation and commitment the RCMP rank and file is second to none.

Violence Against Children

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that October is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Violence against children is a problem that concerns us all whether it takes the form of sexual abuse, physical, emotional maltreatment or neglect. All of us must work to prevent child abuse by promoting social and economic conditions that support parents and reflect the way we value children. We must intervene when we suspect a child is being threatened, hurt, neglected or sexually exploited.

The federal family violence initiative, in partnership with community, national, corporate and volunteer organizations, has developed innovative prevention and intervention approaches to protect children. They are being used across Canada to support efforts to eliminate child abuse. Together we must continue to do all we can to protect Canada's children.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference

[Karen Kraft Sloan, Liberal, York North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last summer the Inuit Circumpolar Conference held its general assembly in Nuuk, Greenland. The assembly passed a resolution calling on national governments to act on the elimination of toxics that make their way to the north. Where enough evidence exists legislators must act in a cautionary manner to ensure the protection of public health.

I congratulate the ICC for its foresight and political leadership. The right to a safe environment is an Arctic issue that must be reckoned with immediately, especially in light of mounting evidence of the presence of toxic contaminants at high levels with the potential to cause harm to humans and animals.

It is my hope that all governments will heed the ICC's resolution to ensure a healthy and vigorous Arctic environment.

Canadian Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, the figures are making liars of the opposition parties, who predicted economic disaster for the country.

Yesterday, for example, Statistics Canada reported that manufacturers' deliveries were up 7% in August. It also reported that most analysts see the August figures as an important step forward for the economy.

But our government's message remains unchanged: caution is the order of the day. We must maintain optimal conditions for a lasting economic recovery. Fortunately, we are not following the advice of the opposition parties. Their idea is to increase the deficit in the years ahead. Perhaps they think we will not eventually have to pay the piper.

Our government has opted for a cautious approach, an approach that also focuses on creativity, growth and improving the quality of life for Canadians.

Telus Mobility

[Eric C. Lowther, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the National Quality Institute announced yesterday that the 1998 Canada Award of Excellence has been won by an Alberta Company, in fact a Calgary based company. Telus Mobility provides wireless communication services to Alberta. Yesterday in Toronto, Telus Mobility was called to the front to accept this most prestigious award.

This company learned and applied methodologies that made it number one. These included clearly defined and communicated objectives, independent assessment of progress toward its goals, and recognition and rewards at all levels for quality improvements. The government must learn how to gain efficiencies from Canadian business people like these who are achieving world class quality results.

Congratulations to Mr. Harry Truderung, President of Telus Mobility, for the consistent leadership he has shown and to all employees who made it happen.

Scientific Research

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday we saw the opening of the Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories with the promise of a new era of prosperity for Canada's north.

There was also a diamond connection to last week's biggest surprise. In the largest individual charitable donation in Canadian history, Vancouver scientist, investor and diamond prospector Stewart Blusson announced a donation of $50 million to support scientific research at the University of British Columbia.

This donation was made under the Canada Foundation for Innovation announced in this spring's federal budget, meaning the donation will ultimately translate into a $150 million investment into research infrastructure and equipment.

Thanks to Mr. Blusson's generous donation and the success of the Canada Foundation for Innovation initiative, the University of British Columbia will remain on the cutting edge of scientific research and will continue to provide valuable application which will benefit all Canadians.

The Late Normand Racicot

[Mark Assad, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the City of Gatineau is mourning the loss of a great citizen and public servant, Normand Racicot. Mr. Racicot was respectively executive assistant under two mayors, director general, secretary-treasurer and clerk of the City of Gatineau.

Normand Racicot was a kind, polite and professional person, as can be attested by all those who knew him. He had an extraordinary sense of community, he kept to his word, he was renowned for his ability to maintain harmony among city staff, and he was always available to anyone.

Normand Racicot was faithful to his friends and he fulfilled his commitments so as to promote the well-being of his fellow citizens. People were proud to say “Normand is a friend of mine”.

I extend my deepest condolences to his family.

Bill Gold

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, tonight in Calgary a dinner will be held to honour one of Calgary's favourite chroniclers. For over 30 years Bill Gold brought his own powerful observations to readers of the Calgary Herald on the issues that mattered most to his adopted city.

It makes sense that he started out life as a carnival worker before entering journalism to become an insightful political commentator. We well recall his dispatches from Ottawa in which he blew away the smoke and shattered the mirrors to show his readers what really goes on here.

Carnival worker, war correspondent, political commentator, editor and ombudsman, Bill Gold did it all and he did it eloquently and with passion.

We hope that students awarded the Bill Gold Scholarship for Studies in the Humanities will know and embrace the humanity of their benefactor.

We know Bill will laugh when we call him a giant, but our response to Bill is “if you are not a giant, why have so many people looked up to you over all these years?”

Lester B. Pearson Centre

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House that the Elliot Lake Centre in my riding of Algoma—Manitoulin will be renamed Lester B. Pearson Centre at a special ceremony this Saturday, October 24.

This honour reflects the many achievements of a former member of the House, a diplomat, prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mike Pearson's first election as member of parliament for Algoma East, a riding which he served admirably for 20 years from 1948 to 1968.

The Elliot Lake Centre was established as a centre of excellence in education and the performing arts in February 1965 with the encouragement and support of Lester B. Pearson. In the years since the founding of the centre, the city of Elliot Lake has been transformed from a one industry mining town to a community with a more diversified economy.

The Elliot Lake Centre has evolved as well and is at the forefront of the redevelopment of the city as it approaches the new millennium. The centre has been instrumental in the development—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve.

Poverty

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the suffering generated by poverty is one of the worst violations of human rights and the greatest failure of our political institutions.

I salute the courage of the millions of children, women and men who, every day, struggle to survive, without ever having the right to express their distress.

Moisson Montréal tells us that the number of meals served in various help centers in Montreal has increased 38% in the last two years, and that children now make up 40% of their clientele.

What is the millionaire who owns Canada Steamship Lines doing in the face of this ever increasing poverty? He is about to take the $20 billion surplus accumulated in the employment insurance fund and give it to the rich.

As if this were not enough, the Minister of Finance refuses to repay the billions taken from the provinces and needed for health care, income security and education.

We condemn the insensitivity of a minister who is more concerned with his ships than with fairness and social justice.

Foreign Affairs

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last weekend British police arrested Augusto Pinochet, the army general who led a bloody coup in Chile 25 years ago. At the request of Spain, the British detained him because Spaniards were among those murdered following that coup.

General Pinochet overthrew a democratically elected government and had President Salvador Allende assassinated the day of the coup.

Thousands were executed. Many were thrown to their deaths from helicopters. Thousands more disappeared forever. Hundreds of thousands were exiled, many of them to this country where they have made a great contribution.

This caucus, and we hope all members, congratulate Britain and Spain for sending a clear message that dictators like Pinochet can run but they cannot hide indefinitely.

[The Speaker]

Of course there is no problem at all when speaking any other language than English and French in the House, but we would hope that you would give this part at least to the interpreters so that we can all understand what was said.

Cirque Du Soleil

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the circus is in town. Indeed, the Cirque du Soleil is making news these days with its all new show called “O” in Las Vegas as well as the “Saltimbanco” tour, in town until November 8.

Since its inception in 1984, the Cirque du Soleil has astonished 17 million spectators with its wonderful amalgamation of the talents of street performers and circus artists. This Quebec company headquartered in Montreal currently employs 1,300 people and will generate approximately $300 million in billings in 1998. In addition, the Cirque du Soleil commits nearly 1% of its income from ticket sales to supporting young people suffering socio-economic hardship.

This is an example of success made in Quebec, where arts, business and solidarity have come together. I urge all my colleagues to attend the circus and wish every success to these ambassadors—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Bourassa.

Cégep De Maisonneuve

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in September, some disgraceful acts took place at the Cégep de Maisonneuve, when the rights to freedom of expression and representation, that is the very foundation of democratic rights in our country, were very clearly interfered with.

The Société générale des étudiants et étudiantes at Maisonneuve college has its own goons responsible for vandalizing stands set up by political parties. Not only did they kick young PQ members out with much fuss, but on September 30, they vandalized the young Liberals' stand, arguing that no political party was welcome. A note posted on the association's billboard read “We boot them out”.

I am sure that the students of Cégep de Maisonneuve—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Tobique—Mactaquac.

New Brunswick Byelection

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus I am proud to congratulate New Brunswick leader Bernard Lord on his two byelection victories last night.

In Fredericton South, PC MLA-elect Bradley Green beat out his challengers to capture a riding that has been Liberal for 11 years. He replaces the former Liberal minister of health who left the health care system anything but healthy.

In Moncton East the leader of the opposition came one step closer to becoming the premier of New Brunswick. Bernard Lord won the seat held by former Liberal Premier Ray Frenette for the last 24 years.

New Brunswick has a Liberal government that is old, tired and has become arrogant. Most of all, it has lost its respect for voters and last night we saw the inevitable consequences.

Bernard Lord showed that if one has trust and listens to the people there is no limit to what one can accomplish.

Congratulations again to the entire PC caucus from all of us. As they prepare for next year's election, we wish them Godspeed.

Women's History Month

[Lou Sekora, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to recognize Women's History Month in Canada. In honour of this important occasion I would like to discuss the increasing involvement of women in science and technology.

In the 1960s few women studied chemistry and engineering because the attitude was that girls were not engineers. Today the number of women working in science and technology is on the rise, but we still have a gender imbalance.

Statistics Canada reported that in 1994 only 12% of students or professionals in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics were women. Encouraging and developing the talents of young Canadian women can only benefit our country and help keep Canada competitive in the global economy.

Government initiatives such as the National Research Council's women in engineering and science program and support for organizations such as the Canada Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science and Technology will help ensure that this indeed happens.

Apec Inquiry

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, let us get this straight. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that the students at UBC should be thankful that they were not beaten with baseball bats at last year's APEC summit. Then this morning he referred to water cannons.

Did the Prime Minister really mean to say that students should thank him for not attacking them with baseball bats and water cannons?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I want the commission to look into that for the people of Canada to know exactly what happened. If there were some means that were used that were not acceptable we will be advised. I am sure the police will make the proper decision.

In order to achieve this what we want to do is let the commission study the problem, hear the witnesses and come to a conclusion. The opposition wants to debate this in this House because they do not want to listen to the witnesses at the commission. I want to know the truth from the commission.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, every member in this House heard the Prime Minister's reference to using baseball bats on students yesterday. We were not relying on hearsay. We were not relying on the unreliable memory of the solicitor general.

The Prime Minister was asked yesterday to apologize for using pepper spray on students and instead he said they were lucky he did not use baseball bats.

Will the Prime Minister apologize today for that insulting response he gave yesterday?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if someone should apologize it should be the Leader of the Opposition who is trying to use this incident to try to score political points.

I am very concerned about these incidents and what I want is the commission to look into the matter, look at all the facts, hear all the witnesses and report. I think the citizens of Canada, I in particular, are very concerned about having a very civilized society. It is why I was the minister who introduced the charter of rights for all Canadians.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister used to present himself as the little guy from Shawinigan, the friend of the underdog, but now a different picture is emerging. It is a picture of someone who cannot tolerate dissent, someone who cannot tolerate embarrassment and who thinks people should be thankful he is not carrying a baseball bat.

If the Prime Minister does not like this ugly portrait that is emerging of himself why does he not start to tell the whole truth about his role in the APEC security scandal?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say thank you to the Leader of the Opposition for confirming that I am still the little guy from Shawinigan. I am very proud of it.

I want the inquiry to ask all the questions because, I repeat, I have no preoccupation with the abilities of the RCMP to handle the situation in Vancouver. They did a fantastic job at the G-7 meeting in Halifax. It was the only G-7 meeting where leaders of the countries were able to shake hands with citizens because the RCMP—