Debates of Oct. 8th, 1998

Tv5 International Network

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the ministers responsible for TV5, including the Minister for Canadian Heritage, met yesterday in Quebec City to discuss issues relating to the future of this very important television network.

Founded in 1984, TV5 is one of the world's leading satellite broadcasting networks and can reach nearly 68 million homes.

This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of TV5 Québec Canada. More than a mere celebration, it is the realization that TV5 Québec Canada is becoming more and more important not only across this continent but also throughout the Francophonie.

TV5 is a new milestone in the cultural development of French-speaking countries and one of the Francophonie's greatest accomplishments. The Government of Canada supports the crucial role that our international network, TV5, plays and must continue to play.

Alain Bellerive

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the efforts and many years of consistent work by Alain Bellerive, of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, a doctor in particle physics whose thesis has earned him a two-year contract with the European centre for particle physics research, the CERN, in Geneva. This centre brings together the finest scholars in the world.

Speaking personally and on behalf of the residents of my riding of Champlain, I want him to know how proud we are of him.

Dr. Bellerive, 28, completed six years of advanced studies and is now employed with the leading international laboratory for research in particle physics. This young physicist dreams of coming home to perform similar duties in a Canadian or Quebec university.

Alain, I wish you the best of luck and I hope your dream will come true.

Violence Against Women

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to commend one of the smaller communities in my riding of Nunavut on it initiative and action.

The residents of Whale Cove, numbering just over 300, are speaking out about violence against women. More than 50 concerned people marched the roads of Whale Cove to create awareness of the issue, carrying posters that were made by children. This is a fine example of what can be done if the community as a whole takes on an issue.

What makes this action even more notable is Whale Cove does not have the protective services of the RCMP. It is served by the detachment in Rankin Inlet 100 kilometres away. Sometimes Whale Cove has to wait for a response to its calls, depending on the seriousness of the situation.

We have to stop violence against women, and I am proud that even the small communities in Nunavut are taking a stand against this terrible crime in society.

Canada Pension Plan

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

Mr. Speaker, the Canada pension plan is a key pillar of retirement income for many Canadians.

To head off an approaching fiscal crisis in the plan the Liberal government is increasing payroll taxes by 73%. Many interested parties including the Alberta Chamber of Commerce are convinced the CPP should include an option to invest mandatory contributions into individual retirement savings plans.

At a media conference scheduled for later today I understand the Alberta Chamber of Commerce will call on the Alberta government to immediately commit to a provincial consultative process on options to the CPP.

An increasing percentage of the population is losing faith in the CPP and want the option of opting out in favour of their own mandatory retirement savings account, an option Reform has proposed.

Bloc Quebecois

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, ever since it arrived here, the Bloc Quebecois has been claiming to speak on behalf of the people it represents.

This means that, each time the separatists ask questions in the House, make speeches and, in particular, hold press conferences, they are expected to reflect the views of their constituents. But today, the truth is coming out once again.

I want to congratulate the member for Rimouski—Mitis. According to yesterday's edition of Le Soleil , the member held a consultation in her riding. She sent 2,000 questionnaires to find out what should be done with the employment insurance surpluses. She got 787 replies.

The people of Rimouski—Mitis want the surpluses to be invested in health and education and used to reduce personal income taxes, instead of lowering employment insurance premiums and corporate taxes.

I do hope the member's comments will reflect these results and that she will correct her leader, unless this is yet another case where they have to consult the head office in Quebec City.

Tommy Douglas

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure many Canadians share my outrage at the pathetic way in which the Prime Minister used the name of Tommy Douglas against the member for Palliser.

If Tommy were here he would be foursquare behind the member for Palliser and everyone else who is challenging the longstanding tendency of Liberal governments to trample on the rights of Canadians when it suits them.

It was Tommy Douglas who stood up to the Liberals over the War Measures Act in 1970. Those of us who regard Tommy as our mentor stand up now against the arrogance and the undemocratic spirit that pervade the government from its handling of APEC to the many other ways in which it seeks to crush dissent within its own ranks and within the country.

The Prime Minister should spend less time misusing the name of those who cannot defend themselves and more time learning from the example of people like Tommy Douglas.

Community Newspaper Week

[David Price, Progressive Conservative, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Community Newspaper Week. Whether in one part of an urban setting or the voice of a rural township, community newspapers give a voice to individuals and to the associations working to build Canada.

These local papers enrich our communities by highlighting achievements of local residents and provide a forum for discussion leading to action.

I am very aware that the local newspapers in my riding play an essential role in keeping the community informed and united. I am thinking, among others, of the Stanstead Journal , the Progrès de Coaticook , the Reflet du Lac , and the Haut St-François .

Let us take a moment to acknowledge the men and women who report, edit, lay out the pages, solicit advertising and manage the distribution of news that is closest to home.

Each newspaper is unique, as is the community that it represents. Together, they make a major contribution to the vitality of the Canadian community.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House and all Canadians that October 4 to October 10, 1998 is Mental Illness Awareness Week.

This public education campaign was launched in 1992 to de-stigmatize mental illness. It is spearheaded by the Canadian Psychiatric Association in partnership with the Depression and Manic Depression Association of Canada, the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the National Network for Mental Health.

Serious mental illnesses such as major depression involve substantial personal and socioeconomic costs.

These diseases can have disastrous effects on those affected, as well as on their relatives and friends.

Mental Illness Awareness Week provides an opportunity for Canadians to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness and to overcome the stigma too often faced by persons with mental illness.

I ask the House to join me in saluting the efforts of the organizers of this event and lend support to this important initiative.

Museums

[Roy H. Bailey, Reform, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the poem I am about to read was written by my wife and is dedicated to the thousands of volunteers across Canada who give their time and their money to keep our small community museums open.

It is called “Keepers of the Past”.

In many a village, city or town There's a spot reserved where records are put down It may have been a church or a school or a hall Now, it houses memories and bits of history for recall.

Treasured possessions preserved through the years In this hallowed place, ably manned by volunteers Dusty antiques, all rusty and old Tin type photos with a story to be told.

Keepers of the past—a rich heritage For generations to come, of a more modern age Community pride—of this I can attest For Souris—Moose Mountain has some of the best.

Quebec Sovereignty

[Daniel Turp, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, “we must grant that recognition”. Those are the words used a few days ago by the secretary general of the United Nations, when he commented on the will of Quebeckers to achieve sovereignty.

Mr. Annan said that, following a decision made by a clear majority of Quebeckers to form their own country, and following a democratic consultation, Quebec would have to be recognized. Our new country would finally be a full fledged member of the international community.

The Bloc Quebecois wishes to inform the member states of the United Nations that it intends to fight democratically to obtain, in a future referendum, the clear majority referred to by the secretary general, and that it will behave in the most appropriate of ways before, during and after the next winning referendum in Quebec.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, according to StatsCan farm cash receipts in western Canada are down drastically in 1998. In 1997 net farm income fell 55% nationally.

Farmers have started to draw money from their net income stabilization account. For the six months of 1998 NISA withdrawals increased by nearly 70%. Most farmers will not be able to face the current market crisis.

Of greater concern is that while governments of our major competitors, the EU and the U.S., declare that they will help their farmers go through this crisis our government is not reacting to our problems.

Since 1993 federal and provincial government support has dropped 60%. Farmers want a long term commitment from the government and the government must react now.

United Nations Security Council

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and proud to bring the news to the House that today Canada was elected to serve a two year term on the United Nations Security Council. This will be the sixth time Canada has been so honoured with a security council seat. It is tremendous recognition by the United Nations membership of Canada's longstanding role in promoting peace and security worldwide.

For generations Canada has been an active player through our extensive participation in peacekeeping missions and through our strong support for multilateral institutions.

Canada's involvement in the UN is a reflection of fundamental Canadian values like freedom, equality, democracy, tolerance, negotiation and compromise. We bring our values and convictions to the security council table, but we also bring our willingness to make the tough decisions needed to ensure peace and security around the globe.

The record speaks for itself. The world community values our contribution. A special word of thanks to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, special envoys and those in the diplomatic corps, without whose efforts our bid for this seat might not have been successful.

Apec Summit

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that was the good news. Now the bad news. Within the last hour the lawyer for the students represented at the APEC hearings has filed a motion to kill the commission because of the solicitor general's conversation about the commission, how he compromised that system which he so piously defended.

When is the government going to ask the solicitor general to resign his place in cabinet?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

I am surprised, Mr. Speaker, that the hon. member did not get up to congratulate the government on Canada's overwhelming election to the security council.

The hon. member shows a very misguided sense of priorities in her question. There is no doubt that the minister is an outstanding minister who has the confidence of the Prime Minister, the government and our entire caucus.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

That is great, Mr. Speaker. He may have the confidence of the benches on the other side but certainly not the Canadian people.

The commission is going to hear this motion on Tuesday. It will be before the commission. The member for Palliser is going to appear and testify under oath about the conversation he heard on the plane between the solicitor general and his buddy Fred Toole.

I would like to ask the solicitor general now, after all the clapping and the cheering on that side, will he stand up right now and say he will testify under oath, yes or no?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in the House many times, the invitation as to who is going to participate in these hearings is at the discretion of the public complaints commission.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Of course, Mr. Speaker, there is a motion on the floor of that place to kill the commission because he has poisoned that process so badly.

Now the premier of New Brunswick has come forward and corroborated the story of the member for Palliser. This is getting more serious by the day. The government cannot have it both ways. It cannot cherry pick. It has already acknowledged that the member for Palliser has it right.

The minister can run from the truth but he cannot hide from the facts. The solicitor general has compromised his office, he has undermined the commission and he has refused to testify under oath. So there is only one question left. When will he resign?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, this line of questioning is based on a despicable act of eavesdropping, unworthy of this place and offensive to fair minded Canadians.

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.

In jurisprudence there is an expression, notes taken at the time. In trials judges regularly ask police officers to refer to their notes made at the time to refresh their memories and these are considered admissible as evidence.

The information released by the member for Palliser regarding the solicitor general's conversation is from notes made at the time.

Can the justice minister, as chief attorney, tell the House how the solicitor general can claim some of these notes are true and some are false?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have had a chance to glance at copies of the hon. member for Palliser's notes. I want to say those chicken scratches show the hon. member is certainly not a certified shorthand reporter.

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, these notes have been taken as evidence by the public complaints commission in Vancouver.

Yesterday the Prime Minister said: “I cannot have a better witness than the member for Palliser”.

The notes are before a public complaints commission the solicitor general oversees. We cannot have the chief officer of that commission sitting as solicitor general while notes that are saying he did something against that commission are before the commission and under investigation.

Will the Prime Minister have the solicitor general resign until this commission is over with?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the law is clear, a law brought into this parliament by a party the hon. member used to be affiliated with, that this commission is at arm's length from the minister and at arm's length from the government. It is an independent body. It wants to do its work. I do not know why the hon. member wants to use the floor of the House of Commons to impede the commission from carrying out the work it has been given by a law passed by this parliament.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general is trying to convince us that what he said in a plane was not serious because the conversation was in private.

Is he telling us that he is perfectly entitled to discuss affairs of state with just anybody, anywhere, so long as he does so in private and there are not too many people around to hear.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as the Solicitor General of Canada, I am very proud of the correctional service and the RCMP. I have discussions all the time about the pride that I feel for those organizations and the work they do. I will continue to do that.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general is very proud of himself and the Liberals are very proud of him. They are the only people in Canada who are very proud of him.

Since we started questioning him on the APEC scandal, the solicitor general has said he cannot comment in this House, because the scandal is before a commission of inquiry.

What principle gives the solicitor general the right to talk to his Liberal friends about the APEC scandal, while he refuses to discuss it here in this House before members of parliament, as it is his duty and responsibility to do?