House of Commons Hansard #166 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pops.

Topics

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:25 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:25 a.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano Liberalfor the Minister of Justice

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:25 a.m.

Ahuntsic Québec

Liberal

Eleni Bakopanos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the debate on the motion for third reading of Bill C-57, an act to amend the Nunavut Act with respect to the Nunavut court of justice and to amend other acts in consequence.

The bill represents the fulfilment of a commitment made by the federal government to the people of Nunavut to bring forward legislation in a timely fashion to establish a single level trial court in Nunavut.

The establishment of a trial court which is specifically designed to meet the needs of the people of the north is part of the larger dream of the Inuit of the eastern Arctic to shape their own future. I am very proud today to be part of a process that will help the people of Nunavut realize that dream. We are all part of a new process making history today.

The witnesses who appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights praised the consultative process through which Bill C-57 was developed.

As Ms. Rebecca Williams, the assistant deputy minister designate for Nunavut so eloquently said:

The process we used to develop the Nunavut Court of Justice was revolutionary in our history because it involved Inuit. Inuit were able to express what kinds of systems they needed to handle conflicts and to work for peace and safe communities in the future. The process itself has given me hope about the future of our public government in Nunavut. I learned from this process ways of bringing our time of silence to an end.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Ms. Nora Sanders, the deputy minister designate for Nunavut, who praised the open, respectful and meaningful way in which federal officials conducted the consultation process in respect of Bill C-57. They should be commended.

The development of Bill C-57 also signals the commencement of a new phase in the partnership between the federal government and the people of Nunavut. It is a concrete acknowledgement that reform of the criminal justice system in Nunavut now and in the future must be responsive to the needs and wishes of the people of Nunavut.

I am very pleased to announce that, when the Minister of Justice appeared before the standing committee last week, the Reform Party, the Bloc Quebecois and the Progressive Conservative Party indicated to her that they supported Bill C-57.

I call upon all members of this House to support this bill, and thus help the people of Nunavut to realize their dream of establishing a single-level trial court before April 1, 1999.

Since Bill C-57 was studied so thoroughly by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I have no intention of discussing the content of the bill in detail. I would, however, like to go over its salient points, which bring out certain unique aspects of the Nunavut Court of Justice.

One of the important characteristics of the Court of Justice is that, unlike judges in other jurisdictions, the judges of this court will be authorized to hear all cases. An amendment to the Nunavut Act authorizes a judge in the Nunavut Court of Justice to exercise and perform all powers, duties and functions which any law in force in Nunavut confers upon a representative of the judiciary.

The amendments made to a specific part of the Criminal Code provide that a judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice has and may exercise and perform all the powers, duties and functions of any court or agent of the judicial authority prescribed in the Criminal Code.

Consequently, a single judge of the Nunavut court of justice will be able to do in a remote locality what cannot be done anywhere else in Canada, that is to hear all matters on the docket of a given circuit court, from the most mundane to the most serious cases, in both adult and youth courts.

Territorial legislation will also enable judges to hear all cases, whether family or civil. I have no doubt that this characteristic of the new court will expedite trials and ensure speedier access to justice.

Another important point is that the bill confers on the Nunavut court of justice the jurisdiction of a superior court. Because of the demands associated with the administration of justice in Northern Canada, judges of the Nunavut court of justice will, of necessity, perform most of the functions and duties normally performed by other agents of the judicial authority. However, these judges will perform these duties in their capacity as superior court judges and will have all the powers vested in superior court judges.

Since the judges will reside in Nunavut and be in frequent contact with the various communities in Nunavut, I have no doubt that the people of Nunavut will notice an improvement in terms of access to justice. They will also be able to explain their problems to judges who are familiar with their culture, their values and their needs.

I am pleased to say that the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code to establish a single level trial court will not curtail in any way the rights of the parties before the court.

This respect for equity is reflected, for example, both in the appeal provisions and in the new statutory form of review designed to ensure the review of certain key decisions made under the criminal justice process.

Bill C-57 preserves the full ambit and scope of appeal rights relating to summary convictions made under all legal proceedings instituted in Nunavut. The appeal of summary convictions made by the Nunavut court of justice will be heard by a single judge of the court of appeal. At the second level, the appeal will be heard by three judges from the court of appeal.

As for the changes made to the legislation, those hon. members who take a close interest in the more technical aspects of a single-level court system will note that, unlike provincial and territorial court rulings, the decisions of the Nunavut court of justice cannot be reviewed through prerogative writs, since the Nunavut court of justice will be a superior court.

To compensate for this, the provisions of this bill will create a new statutory form of review for certain important decisions in the criminal justice process. As is the case with summary conviction appeals, the review will be conducted by a single judge of the court of appeal and an appeal will lie from the review decision to a three person panel of the court of appeal.

In describing these features of the statutory review scheme in some detail, I want to emphasize that one of the important purposes of the scheme is to ensure that the people of Nunavut are not treated as second class citizens when it comes to the rights accorded to them by their court system.

It is because of these features that the government can say in the summary printed on the first page of Bill C-57 that the bill:

—creates a single-level trial court system for the territory of Nunavut in order to provide an efficient and accessible court structure capable of responding to the unique needs of Nunavut while, at the same time, maintaining substantive and procedural rights equivalent to those enjoyed elsewhere in Canada.

A final theme in Bill C-57 concerns the changes to the Judges Act necessary to accommodate the operation of a single level trial court in Nunavut at the superior court level.

The amendments to the Judges Act provide for the appointment of three superior court judges to the Nunavut court of justice. As I indicated earlier, all of them will be resident in the territory itself.

The Minister of Justice is committed to finding candidates who are qualified, experienced and committed to the north to be appointed to the Nunavut bench. The hon. minister is on record with a commitment to consult the people of the north to ensure that appointments reflect and respond to the unique demands, culture and conditions in Nunavut.

The establishment of a single level trial court in Nunavut represents the starting point in developing a justice system which meets the needs of the people it serves.

The Department of Justice is committed to working closely with the interim commissioner of Nunavut, Nunavut organizations and the new Nunavut government when it is established to help further adapt the justice system to the needs of the Nunavut people.

For example, one very important issue relates to the training of justices of the peace to ensure that they will have the ability to complement the work of the Nunavut court of justice by resolving less serious matters at the community level. While the training of justices of the peace is a territorial responsibility, the Department of Justice will do everything it can to assist the new territory in this important task.

Another aspect of the administration of justice which will continue to be an important aspect of justice delivery in the north is the use of both community justice committees and youth justice committees. Continued funding for both committees will be the responsibility of the new territory.

Youth justice committees are extensively used on Baffin Island and deal with youth in a pre-charge context. Youth justice committees are also recognized as alternative measures programs pursuant to the Young Offenders Act. Both the youth justice committees and the community justice committees have been and will continue to be an important part of the broader justice system in Nunavut.

The creation of a single level trial court brings with it high hopes for a court structure which is more responsive to the needs of the people of Nunavut, the people it stands to serve.

The new system proposed in Bill C-57 is unprecedented. There will be a need therefore to monitor and evaluate the system in the years ahead to ensure that it achieves the objective of providing an efficient, effective and accessible justice system in the north. The Department of Justice is working with the interim commissioner's office to design a monitoring and evaluating system to identify problems and possible changes to the court system which might be needed.

The creation of Nunavut in a mere four months from now is a momentous event in Canadian history. It signals a realization of a 25 year old dream of the Inuit of the eastern Arctic. It signals the creation of the first single level trial court for criminal, civil and family matters in Canada. It signals a new chapter in partnership between the Inuit and the federal government. As one witness indicated to the standing committee last week, it signals the dawn of a new age of hope for the Nunavut people.

The evidence given before the standing committee last week by Miss Leena Evic-Twerdin, policy adviser for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is noteworthy in this regard. I quote:

Today we are beginning the process of reclaiming our identity and our ways. It is the opportunity that is unfolding in front of us that is allowing us to begin the process. Nunavut is that opportunity and everything that falls under the establishment of Nunavut is a chance for a positive impact on the future of the Inuit. The successful passage of Bill C-57 will mean a better opportunity for Nunavut and its people. That is why we are here to encourage you to support the bill.

I thank all the members of the committee and of this House on behalf of the minister for their attention today. I ask for their support in the speedy passage of Bill C-57 so that we may make history together.

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:40 a.m.

Reform

Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak in support of Bill C-57.

This legislation comes down to the creation of the Nunavut court of justice, a single level of court to handle all trials in this new territory. Instead of two levels of court as we have in the rest of the country, Nunavut will have this single court. This is required because of the small population of approximately 26,000 spread over such a vast territory with only about 25 settlements. This only makes sense.

Three superior court judges are to be appointed. These individuals will be tasked with all matters. While it is unfortunate to have these highly expensive and qualified judges being assigned the responsibility over all types of cases regardless of importance, there appears to be little alternative. It does not make sense to transport a federal level judge and a territorial level judge to each community when one judge could come in a deal with all cases available for adjudication. We all understand that most of these communities are isolated and remote. Judges are not available except from centralized and more populated areas.

The bill amends a number of other pieces of Canadian law but these are mere consequential changes. A number of our acts use procedures or terminology which must be altered to recognize the new territory of Nunavut, the Nunavut court of justice and the single level of court.

My Reform colleagues and I have expressed our very serious concerns over the methods used to select our superior court judges. We have expressed our opposition to the recent pay increases granted to judges in Bill C-37 at a time when Canadian families are under intense financial pressures. We also expressed concerns surrounding the creation of this new territory and its untold costs. However, those issues are not relevant to this debate.

Nunavut is a reality. As I have said, this legislation is highly practical for that reality. All citizens of Canada are entitled to an efficient court system.

If the Nunavut court of justice model proves successful, and I am sure we all hope that it does, perhaps we will see it replicated in other remote, sparsely populated parts of this vast country we call Canada. That would be up to the provincial or territorial governments concerned.

There has been some opposition expressed to this legislation as it is currently worded, most notably by the Dene of northern Manitoba whose traditional territories extend into Nunavut. It is my hope that fair and just minded peopled, both north and south of 60, will work together toward a solution agreeable to all.

The Reform Party will be supporting the legislation. It makes the most practical sense both for Canadians and for the people of this new territory to be known as Nunavut.

I extend to the people of our newest territory our best wishes and look at the legislation as a step toward further self-determination. We wish them all the best toward seeing their dream realized.

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:45 a.m.

Bloc

Ghislain Fournier Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Mr. Speaker, as an associate member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development for the Bloc Quebecois, I am pleased to speak again today on C-57, an act to amend the Nunavut Act with respect to the Nunavut Court of Justice and to amend other Acts in consequence.

My position and impressions with respect to Bill C-57 are really no different than the comments made at second reading. We were favourable then, and we are favourable now. Ever since this bill was introduced in the House, we have wanted to see it passed as promptly as possible.

The purpose of Bill C-57 is to amend the Criminal Code so that it reflects the realities of the new territory of Nunavut and to make it possible to establish an operational government before April 1, 1999, the territory's official launch date. It is therefore very important for this bill to be passed so that the people of Nunavut may be prepared and equipped with all the necessary tools to be equal to the challenge of this new government.

Bill C-57 is part of the process that began in 1992 with the territorial land agreement setting out the legal and political framework of the new territory of Nunavut. Approved in 1993, the creation of Nunavut is supported by Bill C-39, which we debated in the House last year and which provides for the holding of a legislative election, while facilitating the transition and legitimizing the process. Bill C-57 is part of this ongoing process. It is the last building block, as it were, in the political and legal structure that will allow the inhabitants of this territory to at last be ready for April 1999.

We are on the threshold of 1999. It is high time to give the inhabitants of Nunavut all the political, and more particularly in the case before us today, all the legislative instruments they will need. This will enable them to have a court that meets their needs and that is closer to them. The creation of a trial court, as provided in Bill C-57, is vital to full government autonomy.

Since Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949—I said “Confederation” but I should have said “federation”, because we know that the successive federal governments, without any consultation, threw out Confederation and replaced it with a federation.

Since 1949, Canada's borders have not been changed. This indicates clearly just what a historic moment the creation of Nunavut represents and also explains the importance of its creation to the people living there. The Northwest Territories will therefore be divided into two separate entities.

Nunavut covers some two million square kilometres and is north of the 60th parallel. It is divided into three regions and includes 28 communities. Eighty per cent of the population is Inuit. “Nunavut” is a lovely word from their language meaning “our land”.

Needless to say, life in the Canadian far north is very different from life as we know it in our big cities. The size of the territory alone explains the need to pass legislation more suited to these northern communities' needs and realities. I firmly believe Bill C-57 meets that need.

With the establishment of a single level trial court and the broader powers accorded it, the judges will be more versatile and better able to meet the specific needs of the people of Nunavut.

I would like to repeat that the Bloc Quebecois supports Bill C-57, which enables thousands of native people to move closer to solid, viable and more relevant self-government.

Bill C-39 passed in the House last year permits the Inuit in Nunavut to administer their land through a legislative assembly elected by universal suffrage. We supported the bill at the time. It gave form to more than 25 years of negotiations and enabled the Inuit, a great people within Canada, to take their place on the continent by controlling their own destiny.

Bill C-39 provides for a transition period and for the powers of the federal and territorial governments to be devolved to the Nunavut territorial government. This legislation also amends the Constitution Act, 1867, so that the people of this territory will be represented in the House of Commons and the Senate.

It ensures that representatives of the Inuit of Nunavut will be able to serve their constituents in an operational legislature as soon as their territory is officially created.

While Bill C-39 dealt with many issues, some of them must still be addressed to ensure the proper functioning of the new territory at the political and legislative levels. Indeed, much work remains to be done between now and April 1, 1999. That is why it is essential that Bill C-57 be passed as soon as possible to complete the establishment of the territory's legal and administrative components.

In order to be ready by April 1999, Nunavut must have at its disposal all the necessary legislative instruments now. This is what Bill C-57 is all about, and we support it. The transfer of certain territorial and federal jurisdictions to Nunavut is not a simple matter, but it is nonetheless vital and meets the needs of the far north.

This bill establishes a single level trial court system for the territory of Nunavut. This tribunal, to be known as the Nunavut court of justice, is established to provide an efficient and accessible court structure capable of meeting the unique needs of Nunavut, while at the same time maintaining rights equivalent to those enjoyed elsewhere in Canada.

In concrete terms, this means that the new Nunavut territory will now have its own court of justice. This court of justice will replace the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories as the superior court, and the territorial court as the lower court. Bill C-57 makes further amendments to the Nunavut Act, passed in 1993, when the Progressive Conservative Party was in power.

The bill also amends the Judges Act to provide for three superior court judges on the Nunavut court of justice

The senior judge of each of the three territories must be a member of the Canadian Judicial Council. Indeed, given the expanded jurisdiction of that tribunal, it is important to make sure that the judges will be competent to hear cases from the lower and superior courts, with the exception of those cases that come under the jurisdiction of specialized and administrative tribunals.

The bill also amends the Criminal Code to provide for new procedures for the court of justice and it includes a whole range of legal considerations. The creation of this court of justice will ensure a flexible and efficient legal process for the whole territory of Nunavut. By making the court competent to hear any case, whether it involves a minor wrongdoing or a serious criminal offence, we give the people of the territory access to a service that is more consistent with its reality.

From now on, when a judge travels to some small community in Nunavut, he will have broader powers. It must be understood that the multiplicity of jurisdictions, in other words a multifaceted court system, useful in high density urban centres, is not necessarily useful in the proper administration of justice in a territory such as Nunavut. This is why legislation must be passed on this issue and to permit the necessary changes to be made to the various laws that, up to now, have granted various jurisdictions authority to hear various cases.

Bill C-57 provides the changes needed for the establishment and operation of this court of justice, and it also meets the wishes of the promoters of self-government.

I add that we support the bill and that we will continue to support the principle of actions that, like Bill C-57, enable peoples to find the tools they need to reach their full potential.

Nunavut ActGovernment Orders

10:55 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

If the hon. member for Manicouagan wishes, he will have approximately 30 minutes after question period when debate resumes.

Dalian, ChinaStatements By Members

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

Reg Alcock Liberal Winnipeg South, MB

Mr. Speaker, last month while travelling in China with the Canada-China Business Association we had the opportunity to visit Dalian in northeast China.

It was a memorable trip. Dalian is truly one of the most beautiful and most dynamic cities in China. It has one of the largest ports in China, comparable to our own port of Vancouver with which it is twined. It has a modern, efficient industrial infrastructure.

This dynamic city is led by an equally dynamic mayor, Mayor Bo Xalai. His obvious love of his city and the people who live there and their admiration for him were marvellous to behold.

Home to a major international fashion festival and an extremely competitive soccer team, Dalian is a city I am sure we will all hear more of in the future.

On behalf of the members of the Canada-China Legislative Association I thank Mayor Bo for his hospitality and wish him and his city the very best in the new year.

HealthStatements By Members

10:55 a.m.

Reform

Reed Elley Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC

Mr. Speaker, someone much wiser than I once said “where there is no vision, the people perish”. That is exactly what we have happening in the country today. There is no visionary leadership coming from the government, especially in the huge matter of health care, and people are literally perishing.

As long as there are 188,000 sick and dying people on waiting lists, as long as wards are being closed, as long as 1,400 plus doctors are moving to the States and as long as nurses are being laid off, people will continue to suffer.

There have been $7 billion in cuts to the provinces. The Liberals cannot blame the provinces. They cannot blame any other party. They must accept the blame. They gutted health care to preserve their precious spending spree.

Now the government tells us that it has a $10 billion budget surplus. Next year is not the time to put this money back into health care. Canadians need that money now. They have been waiting for five years. In that time how many people have perished because of inadequate health care?

Robert SimpsonStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Stan Dromisky Liberal Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON

Mr. Speaker, Robert Simpson, a resident of Thunder Bay, founder and past president of the Thunder Bay Salmon Association was an honorary recipient of the Recreational Fisheries Award presented by His Excellency Romeo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada.

For years Mr. Simpson led the battle to enhance our fisheries resources. His efforts were not for his own gain, but for the benefit of Canadians and our recreational fisheries. He has done his part to give us a richer resource and has acted as a model of public spirit in northwestern Ontario.

It is really gratifying to see that the fine work of anglers, outfitters, guides and other people who care about recreational fishing are being recognized.

We should all know that recreational fishing is an important contributor to our country's economy, culture and heritage. No one knows this better than Bob Simpson.

NunavutStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU

Mr. Speaker, our opportunity as residents of Nunavut to manage our own affairs will come in about 117 days with the establishment of Canada's third territory, Nunavut, on April 1, 1999. To do this we need to have trained personnel.

Part of the challenge in creating a civil servant employment base representative of the population has been met by the innovative Sivuluiqtit Nunavut Management Development Program created by Nunavut Arctic College and the Canadian Centre for Management Development.

This partnership designed a very effective program that allows participants to continue working in their home communities with periods of intense formal training in Ottawa and other centres to expose them to best practices management theories and Inuit traditional ways.

A unique element of this program is the utilization of mentors and elders, giving Sivuluiqtit a dimension unlike any other training program. The success rate alone is testament to the effectiveness of this holistic approach to training.

TobaccoStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

John Maloney Liberal Erie—Lincoln, ON

Mr. Speaker, cigarette smoking is a scourge in our society, especially and regrettably for youth.

Over 40,000 Canadians die each year from tobacco related diseases. Eighty-five per cent of smokers in Canada make the decision to smoke before the age of 18. What 12 year old thinks about lung cancer or heart disease as they light up their first cigarette? The answer is, a child who has been educated about the dire consequences of tobacco use.

This government has heard, has listened and is acting. The tobacco control initiative allocated $50 million for research program development, public education and enforcement of legislation; legislation restricting access by young people to tobacco products, restricting promotion of tobacco products and empowering the imposition of health warnings on package.

Bill C-42 will impose a complete ban on tobacco sponsorship by 2003. We are committed to spending $100 million to reduce tobacco use, $50 million of which will be targeted to young Canadians. We are committed to win this tobacco war. Young Canadians, indeed Canadians of all ages, will be much better for it.

Canadian FarmersStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Reform

Rick Casson Reform Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, the crisis in agriculture has reached new heights. North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan has called on the Clinton administration to begin formal trade actions against Canada because of the deceptive trade practices of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Our farmers are reeling under the effects of this avoidable agricultural crisis. They are facing bankruptcy because of low commodity prices. They can hardly afford to feed their families, let alone their livestock. Worst of all, they have been blindsided by this government which stands idly by while they are being bullied by foreign politicians.

The day after tomorrow borders from Minnesota to Washington State will be blockaded. American producers are rallying public opinion, demanding an end to the predatory tactics of the Canadian Wheat Board.

The Minister for International Trade and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food have done nothing to guarantee Canadian producers that their products will continue to flow freely across the border.

How much more abuse are our farmers going to have to take before this government steps in and demands an equal playing field?

Canadian FarmersStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Lynn Myers Liberal Waterloo—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, this year has been a very difficult one for Canada's farmers. A crisis is unfolding in Canada's agriculture industry.

This industry, which is Canada's third largest employer, is suffering great losses and is facing financial ruin. Farmers in my constituency of Waterloo—Wellington have approached me about their great concern for this problem. Hog and grain producers across our country are facing horrible circumstances in relation to commodity prices. Financial forecasters are expecting conditions to get even worse.

These circumstances are beyond their control since many of the problems have their roots in Asia and elsewhere in the world.

Family farms are a very important resource in Canada. They are the cornerstones of our country and when they experience difficulty all Canadians are affected.

The national farm income crisis is a sad realty and one that needs to be dealt with and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is doing so. I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the government and the Minister of Agriculture and thank him on behalf of the residents of Waterloo—Wellington for his help on this very important issue.

Professional SportsStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Bloc

Gilles-A. Perron Bloc Saint-Eustache—Sainte-Thérèse, QC

Mr. Speaker, it appears that being in power gives one the right to choose. Yesterday, the Liberals made a choice.

They see an urgency to use the budget surplus to create new tax credits worth hundreds of millions of dollars to satisfy the bottomless appetites of the sport millionaires. The Bloc Quebecois totally disagrees with this and we beg the Minister of Finance not to give in to his irresponsible colleagues.

After the $42 billion in cuts to federal transfers to the provinces, millions of Quebeckers and Canadians believe money must be reinvested in health. Employment insurance must be improved, for it has become poverty insurance for the unemployed, and surplus insurance for the government. Taxes on the middle class must be reduced.

The public will never agree to this government's giving in to these spoiled kids who want millions just to push a puck around. When I was with the New York Rangers, we played mainly for the honour—

Professional SportsStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The hon. member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul.

The Prime MinisterStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share the sentiments of Canadians and give many congratulations to the Prime Minister.

Last night our Prime Minister received the Beth Shalom Synagogue Humanitarian of the Year Award. It is richly deserved by a man whose vision of Canada is one nation wanting the very best for her citizens, a nation with a soul for humanity for all.

In accepting the award the Prime Minister said: “Canada is a nation where there is no higher calling than helping people build better lives for themselves and their families. It is a country that is worth protecting and fighting for”.

With his characteristic humility he continued: “This award is more about Canada than anything I have accomplished in my career”.

These are truly the words of a man whose habit of the heart and habit of mind throughout his entire political life have remained focused on ensuring one Canada for all. I, along with my colleagues in this House, salute our Prime Minister.

Social UnionStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Reform

Rahim Jaffer Reform Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, the comments recently made in private by the Liberal caucus and the Prime Minister clearly indicate that the federal government has no intention of co-operating in good faith with the provinces to create winning conditions for the social union.

The Prime Minister puts his love of power before the needs of the country. Ten premiers and all the opposition members of this House support a strengthening of the social union. We want to improve health care, education and the other social programs in Canada.

Canadians have had enough of the status quo. On Monday, Quebeckers sent a clear message to the Prime Minister.

It is time to show leadership. It is time to set partisan politics aside. It is time to create the winning conditions for a new Canada.

Violence Against WomenStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989 the reality of the issue of violence against women was forcefully brought home to Canadians and to the world community when 14 young women were gunned down at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

As a result, Canadians from coast to coast to coast faced that tragedy, first with profound shock and horror and then with determination and the conviction that violence against women must end.

Today, to honour the memory of those 14 young women, I urge all of my colleagues in the House and Canadians across this great country to pause and reflect on December 6, the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women.

We must all collectively work together to effect real change and to ensure that no woman must live or die in the shadow of violence.

Universal Declaration Of Human RightsStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of hope. Fifty years ago a group of men and women from diverse cultures, traditions and faiths came together to offer humanity an extraordinary vision of how the world could be.

They adopted the Universal Declaration of Human rights which, half a century later, continues to address directly what is necessary for a life of dignity for every human being.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a proclamation of the most fundamental rights to which a human being is entitled, written in large part by a Canadian. It was to represent a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. It is a message of hope, equality, liberation and empowerment. It is a message to all who are committed to freedom, justice and peace in the world.

On behalf of my party and for all of our children, I encourage Canadians to reflect upon these values and celebrate human rights day on December 10.

Violence Against WomenStatements By Members

11:10 a.m.

Bloc

Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg, QC

Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989, 14 young women were killed in Montreal. As we know, violence is a worldwide problem. Everywhere, women and young girls are victims of psychological and physical violence, including rape, assault, mutilation, sex slavery, dowry crime and infanticide.

We have a collective responsibility to ensure safety, equality and justice for women and their children. I join the Urgence-Femmes organization in marking the national day of action to fight violence against women, on Sunday, December 6. To show that we will not tolerate such crimes, the Urgence-Femmes team is asking all of us to light a candle and put it in our window, on Sunday.

I invite all Canadians and Quebeckers to say no to violence against women through this symbolic gesture.

Violence Against WomenStatements By Members

11:10 a.m.

Liberal

Stan Keyes Liberal Hamilton West, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canadians commemorate December 6 as the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women. 1998 marks nearly a full decade since the tragic deaths of 14 promising young women at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

Let us remember them by name: Geneviève Bergeron, 21; Hélène Colgan, 23; Nathalie Croteau, 23; Barbara Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie Edward, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29; Barbara Marie Klueznik, 31; Maryse Leclair, 23; Annie St. Arneault, 23; Michele Richard, 21; Maryse Langanière, 25; Anne-Marie Lemay, 22; Sonia Pelletier, 28; and Annie Turcotte, 21. These are the beloved daughters, sisters and friends who are deeply missed to this day.

Canada is that much more poorer because of the remarkable promise lost in these young lives. By remembering them and acknowledging our collective loss, may we be inspired to create a peaceful society, a society where gender based violence must never again cut short the lives of women.

Guysborough CountyStatements By Members

11:10 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, once again the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is making decisions that are costing jobs in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.

In July I joined with the town of Canso, the Canso Trawlermen's Co-op and the local chapter of the Canadian Auto Workers in supporting Seafreez's request to the minister that the Canso plant continue to be allowed to process turbot caught by foreign offshore vessels.

Had the minister acted promptly, 300 jobs would have been created during the first six months of 1999. Moreover, Canso trawlermen would have had the opportunity to work on offshore vessels.

Instead, DFO waited five months before finally granting the request from Seafreez. Instead of 300 jobs for six months, the people of Canso and surrounding communities will be lucky to get 150 jobs for six weeks.

Meanwhile, there will be no offshore jobs for the trawlermen because of DFO's unacceptable foot-dragging.

On behalf of Guysborough County, I urge the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to be more prompt in his decisions and start to work with our local people in bringing prosperity and hope to the local fishery workers and their families.

The EconomyStatements By Members

December 4th, 1998 / 11:10 a.m.

Liberal

Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON

Mr. Speaker, there is good news this morning. November 1998 marked the fifth consecutive month of economic growth in Canada.

In November 103,000 new jobs were created, the unemployment rate fell to 8% and 60.3% of Canadians were employed. This marks the first time since 1991 that the employment rate has been above 60%.

So far in 1998, 425,000 new jobs have been created, more than were created in any full year in the 1990s. The vast majority of these jobs were in the private sector or in self-employment.

The government's well balanced approach to getting the fiscal house in order, creating the environment to grow the economy, while at the same time providing help to those who are struggling is paying off with a brighter future for all Canadians.

The Kyoto ProtocolStatements By Members

11:10 a.m.

Reform

Bill Gilmour Reform Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, this week marks the one year anniversary of the signing of the Kyoto protocol regarding Canada's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 25% by the year 2010.

This is one of the most important economic issues facing Canada, yet the government still has no economic analysis of what that reduction will mean to Canadians. Independent studies show that the cost will be staggering and that Canada will be more adversely affected than almost any other developed country.

Last month negotiations in Buenos Aires failed to resolve critical issues such as mechanism for the implementation or signing on of developed countries.

The reality is we signed on to a bad deal for Canada. The environment minister agreed to reductions without knowing what they meant in economic terms and there is little hope that the reductions agreed to will be met.

Once again the government has given Canada a black eye on the international stage.

TaxationOral Question Period

11:15 a.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, on January 1 the Liberal government and the finance minister will take yet another step toward the biggest tax hike in the history of Canada.

With the CPP premiums going up more than twice as much as the measly EI premium refund or decrease, when we do the math it works out to another net tax hike for Canadians, yet another pound of flesh cut out of Canadian family budgets.

The parliamentary secretary told the truth when he said he would take the blame for the Liberal assault on health care.