Debates of Nov. 27th, 1998

Canadian History

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian author, historian and museum director Jack Granatstein has asked the question: “Who killed Canadian history?” Although the answer is not necessarily easy, simple or to our liking, I am pleased to note that the Department of Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada are taking interest in the final resting places of our 13 deceased former prime ministers.

We are, to my knowledge, the only country which fails to acknowledge and preserve as national historic sites the burial places of those who have led our country.

To know our future we must know our past. That maxim is being realized by actions being undertaken by Parks Canada to preserve and mark the burial sites of former prime ministers.

Drug Awareness

[Gurmant Grewal, Reform, Surrey Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last week was Drug Awareness Week.

I hope this asleep at the wheel government took the opportunity to learn something about the drug problem in our country. I hope it has learned something.

This weak Liberal government is allowing the drug cartels and organized crime to abuse our immigration system. The Liberal dominated immigration committee has refused to even study the abuse in the future business of the committee.

The bogus refugees sell drugs to our children. The problem is at an epidemic level in British Columbia. We need help now. We should tighten the borders and toughen the penalties to keep out the dealers and their drugs.

The RCMP is losing the war against drugs. They have no funds. Our RCMP needs help. Stop making Canada a haven for drug dealers. Clean up the drug problem. Just say no to drug cartels. Protect our youth from drugs.

Violence Against Women

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, violence against women is unacceptable any way, anytime and anywhere. In Canada one woman is killed every six and one half days by a gun. Four out of every five victims of spousal homicide are women.

These statistics confirm a fundamental abuse of power, an abhorrent violation of human rights. All too often violence against women goes unpunished. All too often it is tolerated in silence by its victims.

This government has sent a powerful message through gun control legislation, anti-stalking amendments, rape shield laws and other amendments to the Criminal Code. This is not enough. Canadians as a community must become motivated to break this cycle of violence.

I urge members of this House and Canadians everywhere to break the silence and eradicate violence against women now.

Canada must be a safer place for our wives, mothers, daughters and sisters; for women everywhere.

Canadian Farmers

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the crisis currently unfolding in Canada's agricultural industries.

1998 has been a difficult fiscal year for our primary producers. Commodity prices have plummeted and financial forecasts call for ominous storm clouds to form on the horizon.

This nation was founded upon the institution of the family farm. Sadly, it is that very symbol which now faces almost certain disaster if we fail to intercede. Over the course of the last several weeks my colleagues and I have examined this matter with numerous interested parties. I recall one farmer who summarized this debate effectively when he said “I work on my farm to feed my country but I must work off my farm to feed my family”. It is a very sad reality.

Unfortunately, the choices available are limited. Farmers must either get out of the business now or face the very real prospect of future financial ruin.

I cannot stress enough the urgency of this matter. I would encourage all of my colleagues to support the efforts of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in this matter. If we fail to act we run the risk of closing the proverbial gate long after the cattle have run off.

Semaine Québécoise Des 4-H

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of 4-H week in Quebec, last Friday marked the inauguration of the exhibition entitled “Nature in all its forms”, at the Laval Récréathèque.

Every weekend until next April, this interactive laboratory will teach young people about protecting and improving the quality of the environment. There will be teaching workshops for groups of students.

In keeping with their motto of “honour, honesty, handiness and humanity”, the Quebec 4-H clubs have been operating since 1942 to protect the forest and the environment. Through science-oriented recreational activities, they develop a respect for others, a sense of responsibility, a spirit of initiative and creativity in young people.

I would like to draw attention to the remarkable work done by the 4-H clubs in Quebec, especially those in Laval, which are working to develop good consumer practices in keeping with the principles of sustainable development.

Canadian Farmers

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in September American farmers and politicians shut down the borders. They accused the Canadian Wheat Board of illegally dumping Canadian grain. They accused Canadian farmers of being subsidized by the Canadian Wheat Board. What did the responsible minister say? Don't worry, be happy; it is nothing but an election stunt.

It is time to worry. The Americans were dead serious then and they are dead serious now. On December 6 American farmers and ranchers from Minnesota to Washington state are planning another blockade. They are demanding an audit of the Canadian Wheat Board to prove that it is illegally dumping Canadian grain. They are demanding country of origin labelling on our agriculture products. They are demanding a moratorium on all grain and livestock imports.

These are not election stunts. These border closings are making a bad, critical situation worse for our Canadian farmers. How many more border closures will we see before this government gets serious about helping our farmers in Canada and at the international trading tables?

Election Campaign In Quebec

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, next Monday is a decisive moment for the future of Quebec and of Canada, the day of the Quebec election.

Quebeckers will have an opportunity to choose between economic growth and separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada.

I myself will be voting Liberal, because I believe in a better future within a united Canada for myself and my children. I will be voting for a party which has the true interests of Quebec at heart, the Quebec Liberal Party.

This coming November 30, it is Quebeckers' chance to speak up. I am confident that they will choose Canada.

Canadian Farmers

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian banks have a golden opportunity. They can prove their commitment to the Canadian people by helping farmers in Canada.

Grain and hog farmers in Canada are trying to survive the most serious crisis since the great depression of the 1930s. After years of record profits, bank closures and a multitude of service charges, the banks have been spending millions on a lobbying campaign to force the acceptance of mergers. Canadians have be vigilant in their opposition to the mergers and have clearly said no.

The banks were in the farming and mining communities in the good times and now they must stand by them through the bad. They must reconcile their profitability with the responsibility which comes with their charters.

They can begin rebuilding their reputation with Canadians right now. It is imperative that Canada's chartered banks put those merger campaign dollars into productive use and invest in the farming and mining communities of Canada.

I urge the banks to halt foreclosures on any family farms during this crisis.

Fédération Des Agricultrices Du Québec

[Paul Mercier, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, recently, the Fédération des agricultrices du Québec announced the recipients of its 1998 regional awards.

The women who received these awards were: Abitibi-Témiscamingue, dairy and cattle operation, Lise Gélinas; Bas-Saint-Laurent, greenhouse operation; Yvette Trépanier; Beauce, dairy operation, Fabienne Roy; central Quebec, dairy operation, Lucie Talbot; South Shore, sheep operation, Gisèle Nadeau; Estrie, beekeeping operation, Carole Huppé; Lanaudière, goat operation, Carole Johnson; Mauricie, cereal and market gardening operations, Françoise Béland; Montérégie, cereal operation, Monique Lecours; Montérégie, seed operation, Marie-Anne Marcoux; Outaouais-Laurentides, cereal operation, Nathalie Malo; Québec, ornamental horticulture, Lorraine Bélanger; Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, dairy operation, Suzanne Larouche.

Our sincere congratulations to all these women for their initiative and their competency.

Election Campaign In Quebec

[Mark Assad, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, November 30, Quebeckers will be choosing a new government. I encourage the population to exercise its right to vote, as this is the very cornerstone of democracy.

People need to keep in mind that, ever since the Quiet Revolution, the Quebec Liberal Party has safeguarded the best interests of Quebec. When making their selection, they must keep in mind that the Quebec Liberal Party has always worked to maintain harmony and social justice within a country serving the best interests of the people of Quebec

Health Care

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, in the last budget the Minister of Finance put more money into federal transfers for health and education. In the case of Newfoundland, that only slowed the rate of decrease in our transfers. This year Newfoundland received $274 million in these transfers. By the year 2002 the amount will have dropped to $245 million.

As of November there have been 429 cardiac surgeries done in Newfoundland. When asked recently in question period about the 220 cardiac patients on the waiting list at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's, the Newfoundland Minister of Health said “Unfortunately we have to live within our fiscal means”.

When those means keep decreasing it is possible that some people may not live. I call upon the Minister of Finance to increase transfers for health in his upcoming budget. For some people on the waiting list it will be a matter of life and death.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today in Halifax the Minister of Health, together with Nova Scotia Health Minister Jim Smith, announced some important initiatives for the future of health care in Nova Scotia and all of Canada.

Funded under the health transition fund, these four projects will be testing ways to improve primary health care to enhance the health of children and youth in Nova Scotia, to pilot palliative home care in rural areas and to develop a new model for primary care in the Eskasoni First Nations community. Total funding for these projects will be $4.8 million.

The common thread through all of these projects is that they put the patient first by organizing health services around the needs of people instead of the needs of the system.

In the spirit of co-operation that is guiding our efforts, these projects will be managed in partnership with the Nova Scotia ministries of health, education, community services and justice, the Prince Edward Island department of health and social services, Health Canada, Dalhousie University and the Eskasoni First Nation reserve.

These projects will generate evidence based information to help provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Standing Committee On The Environment And Sustainable Development

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

Mr. Speaker, this week the government showed enormous contempt for the Canadian taxpayer.

It has been the tradition in the House that the minister be called before the appropriate committee to be questioned on the money allocated for the respective departments.

In the fall ministers appear to answer questions on the supplementary estimates, which are additions to their budgets late in the fiscal year.

In the case of the Ministry of the Environment this additional expenditure amounts to $46 million. When opposition members called for the environment minister to appear before the environment committee, the government used its majority to vote down this motion.

What happened to accountability? What happened to tradition in the House? By refusing to allow the minister to appear the government showed not only contempt for the Canadian taxpayer and for the principles of an open, responsible democracy, it renounced one of the traditions of the House.

It raises a question. What is the government trying to hide in this $46 million expenditure?

Pornography

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, hundreds of my constituents recently joined together with other Canadians to wear white ribbons against pornography. In particular, several local chapters of the Catholic Women's League in my riding of Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough sent me hundreds of white ribbons to express their opposition to the destructive and harmful effects of pornography.

In an era where the CRTC grants broadcast licences to the playboy channel but denies similar privileges to single faith Christian broadcasts, we as parliamentarians need to be vigilant against the spread of obscene material, especially with respect to children.

I urge all members of the House to join with me in commending the white ribbon against pornography campaign. Let us hope that the depictions of human relations in the ever expanding mass media are ones of morality, decency and respect and not personal gratification, degradation and objectification.

Canada-China Legislative Association

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, last week I had the honour of travelling to China with several of my colleagues from the House and Senate to participate in the first meeting of the Canada-China Legislative Association.

This new association was created under the sponsorship of Speaker Parent, Speaker Molgat and that of the chair of the Chinese National People's Congress, Mr. Li Peng.

Our counterparts from the standing committee of the National People's Congress were Jiang Xin Xiong, Zheng Yi, Zeng Jianhui, Lu Congmin, Liu Zheng, Tao Xiping, Wang Shuming, Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubain Qoigyi Nyima, and Yang Zhenhuai.

Together we covered a wide range of topics of importance to legislators from the functioning of our respective governments to many of the more difficult issues we all face: respect for the rights of minorities, the rule of law, the development of a civil society, human rights, protection of the environment and much more.

Together we began a process which I believe will deepen the already positive relationships that exist between our two countries.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I must caution hon. members from using the names of other hon. members in speeches or in statements. I believe I heard two today but I was reluctant to interrupt.

Agriculture

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this government does not seem to understand that to a prairie farm family losing the family farm is a disaster. They lose the land that in many cases has been in the family for years. They lose their home, their income and their hope.

Instead of inventing excuses for doing nothing, why does this government not treat this like the disaster it is?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, we are treating it like the disaster it is. It is imperative, however, that we make sure that producers are able to use the risk management tools that are already there. If and when a program is put in place we must recognize that it needs to go to the individual producers who are most in need and that it is as equitable as possible across the country.

I agree with the member very sincerely. We need to do it and we will do whatever we are able to do as quickly as we possibly can. We must be diligent in making sure it helps those most affected.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is just not good enough. When there is a disaster in any part of the country the government correctly leaps to the aid of the people who are affected.

This is a disaster in western Canada, the provinces where agriculture is the very lifeblood of survival, and this is taking altogether too long.

Farmers have been brought to their knees by this government. They are pleading and begging the ministers of finance and agriculture to do something. Will they announce disaster relief for these farmers today?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, that is very refreshing. The member's party just a few months ago was adamant about farmers not having support, not having subsidies and that we should cut back the minister of agriculture's budget.

On behalf of the farmers of Canada, I thank opposition members for their new found support and understanding of agriculture.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is because of this government and the lack of getting agreement with other countries that are unfairly subsidizing that these farmers are in trouble. It is the government's fault.

Will the minister finally wake up and smell the coffee and realize he has to respond to the long term needs of farmers, cut taxes and get a trade agreement that works for everybody?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, there has been no government that has done a better job and worked harder than this government in working with the provinces and the industry in putting safety net programs in place and listening to them.

We started many months ago after the federal-provincial agriculture ministers meeting in reviewing the whole safety net program. The safety net advisory committee has been giving us advice. It gave us some very critical and important advice last week. We are working on that and will continue to do so as quickly as we can.

[Howard Hilstrom, Reform, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this fall South Dakota stopped Canadian agriculture exports. South Dakota gave a two week warning and the trade minister did nothing until the trucks were stopped.

Now North Dakota farmers have warned us that they will blockade the border on December 6. Why is the trade minister doing nothing to keep the border open on December 6?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we resolved the issue between the United States and Canada that was triggered by governors who clearly woke up one morning and did something that was completely illegal. The trucks are moving. Our officials are discussing these issues. Next week is the next round for discussions. We have already brought to their attention that once is enough. We call on the Government of the United States to take up its responsibility to cease and desist actions coming from its states that are clearly illegal.

[Jim Pankiw, Reform, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I just met with Roger Bergrand and John Germs, hog producers from Saskatchewan who were in tears. Both farmers will be bankrupt by March. They cannot afford to feed their baby pigs, and talk among hog farmers is not about the weather this winter but about whether diesel or gasoline fumes are the cheapest way to kill their pigs. It is clearly a desperate situation. John and Roger are right there in the gallery—