Debates of Dec. 9th, 1998

[The Speaker]

As today is Wednesday we will be singing our national anthem, but today I thought we would have a special treat for Christmas. We have invited the Toronto Austrian Choir to sing our anthem along with us.

Family

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this time of year is a time for celebration. It is a celebration of life, of peace and joy, and, most important, of love.

The holidays are perhaps the only time all year when we remember old friends and gather as a family. This is the time when we realize how much we need the support, encouragement and warmth of our loved ones in order to succeed in life. Without the love of my immediate and extended family, I know that I would not have accomplished half of what I have set out to do, and for that I thank them.

Families may come in many shapes and sizes but they are all equally priceless. At this special time I would like to wish everyone and their families the best of the season and much happiness in the new year.

Danny Virtue

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Danny Virtue, one of my constituents.

Mr. Virtue lives in Mission, B.C., and has recently built a 40,000 square foot motion picture studio, making it one of the largest in the world. He was one of the creators of the award winning Neon Rider series which was filmed primarily in Mission. He also manages the old west bordertown set in Maple Ridge, also in my riding.

Mr. Virtue has worked on over 300 TV shows and motion pictures including the movie Seven Years in Tibet . The CBC-Alliance Pictures show Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy is currently being filmed at his studio ranch in Mission.

Mr. Virtue has won an international award for superior educational and community programming for children. He employs over 100 individuals and his business ventures add a great deal of economic stimulation to the local economy.

I ask all members of the House to join with me in congratulating Mr. Danny Virtue and to wish him success in all his future endeavours. He is living by his wits and more in Mission.

Government Of New Brunswick

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am really excited today with the events that are happening in New Brunswick: Premier Thériault, his throne speech and the first budget.

We see additional moneys for education and for health. Above all, we see that he is to end voice mail as a system of answering government phones in New Brunswick. Away with the press 1, press 2, go to 3 and listen to the bells and whistles.

This is a dandy initiative and we hope that other government agencies will also look forward to real people answering their phones.

John G. Hayes

[Hec Clouthier, Liberal, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret that I inform the House of the death of a true icon in the sport of harness racing.

John G. Hayes was a legendary luminary in racing circles. He did it all. He was an owner, trainer, driver and breeder of champion horses such as Sharp N' Smart, Penn Hanover, Conquered, and the charismatic chestnut stallion Strike Out that won the world's most prestigious pace, the Little Brown Jug. John Hayes was outspoken and opinionated. He could be obstinate but above he was a winner.

My fellow parliamentarians will appreciate his commitment to horse racing by this typical Hayes comment. When asked “Why did you come to Ohio”, he replied “Sure as hell not to run as governor but to win the jug”, and win he did.

Sincere condolences to Mrs. Hayes, his daughter Elizabeth and his son John Jr., a very talented veterinarian and horseman in his own right. I know that Sam will carry on his dad's tremendous legacy in the true Hayes tradition of excellence.

Donations

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 'tis the season of giving. As the holiday season approaches I call upon all Canadians to strongly support their grassroots charities.

Nowhere is the plight of the poor more apparent than here in the capital region where over 30,000 people, half of them children, rely upon food assistance services each month. We can all begin by giving generously to our local foodbanks.

Parliamentary interns, with the support of the Canadian Bankers Association, are once again organizing a food drive and require our support. Non-perishable food and cash donations can be dropped off at the cafeterias and canteens on the Hill. Collection boxes will remain open until Friday, December 11. The interns will also be visiting our offices this week to collect cans and cash donations. All proceeds will be matched by the Canadian Bankers Association. Last year they raised $2,100.

We should support this praiseworthy initiative and give generously. On behalf of all MPs, a very special thanks to our interns.

Kingston, Ontario

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, two local citizens from my neighbouring riding of Kingston and the Islands, Mr. Ian Milne and Ms. Margaret Angus, have undertaken an initiative entitled “Kingston—First Capital” to gain official recognition of their city as the first capital of Canada.

Kingston, which adjoins the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario and is gateway to the Rideau Canal, served as capital of the United Canadas from 1841 until 1843. Often referred to as the Limestone City, Kingston hosted the first, second and third sessions of the first parliament of the United Provinces of Canada until the capital was moved to the city of Montreal in late 1843.

Of the various buildings used for that legislative assembly, only two, the Kingston Hospital and the Bonsecours Market in Montreal, are extant. It is truly fitting that Kingston be officially recognized as the first capital of our great nation.

I visit this historic city regularly and admire the traditions and the respect for history this community supports. I applaud the efforts of Mr. Milne and Ms. Angus and those assisting them for their dedication and commitment to this worthwhile project.

La Francophonie

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the biannual ministerial conference of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, held at Bucharest on December 4 and 5, the Minister of International Co-operation and Minister responsible for Francophonie was made president of that organization.

I would like to congratulate the minister, not only on her appointment, but also on what has been accomplished to date in preparation for the upcoming summit of heads of state and heads of government of countries using French as a common language, to be held at Moncton in September 1999, as well as on the work that has been accomplished on the reform of the Agence de la Francophonie.

This latest ministerial conference adopted a plan for in-depth structural reform of the Agence de la Francophonie. This ought to result in greater transparency and greater efficiency in the administration of multilateral programs of co-operation.

I am sure that this summit will offer an opportunity to stimulate and consolidate the foundations of a true Canada-wide Francophonie.

Stanley Faulder

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

Mr. Speaker, earlier today a delegation of Canadians met with the chairman of the Texas Paroles and Pardons Board to plea for a stay of execution in the case of Mr. Stanley Faulder, a 61-year old Canadian who is scheduled to die by lethal injection tomorrow in Texas. Regrettably that meeting was unsuccessful.

It appears that Mr. Faulder will die despite the fact that his rights as a Canadian under the Vienna convention were violated. It appears that Mr. Faulder will die despite the many irregularities in his case, irregularities that include a private prosecution, paid witnesses, and so-called expert psychiatric testimony from an individual who was subsequently expelled from his professional association.

Many ordinary Canadians rallied to Stanley Faulder's cause on legal and humanitarian grounds. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was also very active on the case as was the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, United Nations officials and the famous Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Over 1,000 letters were sent to Texas Governor George Bush. It is very regrettable that the state of—

Deaths Of Five Fishers

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the St. Lawrence has claimed the lives of five valiant fishers.

When such a tragedy occurs, there is not much one can say to the wives, children, relatives and friends who have lost loved ones. All we can do is to let them know we are with them.

Bastien, the captain, Sébastien, Carl, Julien, Frédéric, your commitment and devotion were not enough to overcome the inexplicable. When someone dies at 18, or at 40, this is far too soon, but it is not too soon to have left your mark. You will be remembered for your courage and determination, and for going beyond the call of duty.

Speaking as the member for Matapédia—Matane as well as for all my colleagues in the House of Commons, we want the five families in mourning to know that our thoughts are with them. As a believer, I know that this is just an au revoir, not a final farewell.

Government Of Canada

[Rick Casson, Reform, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week as community groups across the nation put the final touches on the Christmas hamper programs, they were shocked to hear that the Liberal government was considering tax breaks for millionaire athletes.

The government has been one disappointment after another. It fails to introduce tough young offender laws and has an immigration system that attracts criminals.

Government revenues have skyrocketed but it offers no real tax relief. It has destroyed the morale and competency of our armed forces. It lets hepatitis C victims die without compensation. It lets family farms and small businesses go bankrupt because of heavy taxes, yet ignores families that are asked to be politically correct.

We have a prime minister, a modern day Emperor Nero, who fiddles while he watches the country crumble as a direct result of his policies.

The government's lack of vision is destroying the country. History tells us what happened to Rome. What will history tell us of this government?

Trade

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers are experiencing devastating financial problems in part because of subsidies in the United States and European Union.

In a recent agreement Canada and the U.S. made progress toward addressing the problem. The two countries agreed to a co-operative response to the European Union's trade distorting subsidies.

Subsidies encourage overproduction which leads to oversupply and results in depressed markets. The combined voice of Canada and the United States will be more persuasive than our individual voices in encouraging the EU to eliminate trade distorting practices.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Minister of International Trade and the Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board have taken an extremely important initiative. I urge them to continue their work in eliminating trade distorting subsidies.

Fisheries

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the International Court of Justice in The Hague has ruled that the court has no authority to hear Spain's complaint that Canada's seizure of the fishing trawler Estai in 1995 violated international law.

If the current Minister of Fisheries and Oceans truly believes in conservation, as he claims he does, now is the time to prove it by extending Canada's jurisdiction over the ocean floor to 350 miles to include all the continental shelf. This would stop foreign fishing draggers from destroying the seabed on Canada's continental shelf outside the present 200 mile limit.

This foreign fishing is damaging the spawning areas on the Flemish Cap and the nose and tail of the Grand Banks and destroying the fishing resource for our coastal communities.

We now have the opportunity to preserve fish stocks for all future generations by preventing huge foreign bottom draggers from fishing spawning grounds and destroying the seabed.

Plane Crash In Baie-Comeau

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, in my riding, a tragic plane crash in Baie-Comeau took the lives of seven people.

I would like to offer my condolences to the families and friends who are having to come to terms with this cruel fate and to wish the three survivors a speedy recovery. May they have the courage and strength to face this trial.

I would like to pay tribute to the courage of the rescue team and of the employees of the Héli-Manicouagan company. It is thanks to them that the three passengers who were clinging to the tail of the plane survived.

I must also pay tribute to the work of the professionals and all the volunteers who spared no effort to recover the victims quickly. Without the vigilance of the six-year-old girl who saw the survivors clinging to the tail of the aircraft in the river there might have been three more victims.

We hope this tragedy will cause the federal government to give thought to the dramatic consequences of cuts to air and emergency services in Baie-Comeau.

Youth Employment Strategy

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on December 7, the Prime Minister of Canada announced the renewal of the youth employment strategy, a highly successful program.

The main objectives of the strategy are to help young people acquire work experience, gain access to learning opportunities and, most importantly, find out about careers.

The program enables 100,000 young people to get the information they need to start their careers. It also helped create 300,000 work internships for young people.

Canada's future rests with the young, because they form a vital element of our economic and social fabric. The Liberal government is trying to give them the opportunity to receive the training and acquire the experience they need to carry us through to the dawn of the new millennium.

Highways

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to leave for the Christmas period, I would like the Prime Minister and his cabinet to think about the voters in Atlantic Canada.

Staring on January 4 thousands of people every day for 30 years will start paying tolls on a highway they know is already paid for. Starting on January 4 thousands of voters every day for 30 years will be reminded that cabinet looked the other way and allowed this to happen.

The auditor general in his recent report said the Department of Transport did not use the powers entrenched in the agreement to enforce the terms and conditions of that agreement. I am now making one last effort to encourage the cabinet to do what the auditor general said, follow the auditor general's directions, and make the province of New Brunswick honour the terms and conditions of the agreement which it signed.

Social Services

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last weekend I was very pleased to attend an adult education graduation ceremony at the Success Social Service Centre in Vancouver. This 25 year old community organization offers services for immigrant settlement, family counselling, language training and job training programs.

I was honoured to present to the organization a grant as part of the Canada-B.C. infrastructure works program. I say congratulations to Success for its ongoing dedication to individual empowerment and community bridge building and to the federal and B.C. governments for supporting its work.

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if you would do me a favour and call The Guinness Book of Records . I think we have a new winner, a new record for tax collection.

On January 1 the finance minister is going to set a new record for high payroll taxes in Canada. On January 1 the finance minister will set a new record for high personal income taxes in Canada. On January 1 the finance minister will set a new record for taxes collected through bracket creep.

I want to ask our record holder: How does it feel to set a new record for being the greediest tax collector in Canadian history?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member opposite would spend a little less time with his speech writer and little more time looking at the substance of his question what he would see is that over the course of the last number of weeks Reform has called for $9 billion in tax cuts, $9 billion in debt retirement and $7 billion in EI reform, for a total of $25 billion.

I would tell the Reform that $25 billion would put this country back into a double digit deficit.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, you would not believe how many billions of dollars in tax relief we are going to put back into Canadians' pockets. You would not believe it.

The minister did not answer. On January 1 taxes are going to go up. Payroll taxes alone are going up $58 and that is instead of going down by $350 like the actuary of the EI fund recommended.

How does it feel to wring more taxes out of Canadians' pockets than any finance minister in 131 years? How does it feel?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian people are entitled to a more intelligent debate than the Reform Party is putting forward.

The Reform Party would take $25 billion out of government revenues. The issue is, what programs would it cut to pay for that $25 billion? It owes that to the Canadian people. Is it health care? Is it—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. minister of finance.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian people are entitled to know. To pay for that $25 billion is it going to cut health care? Is it going to cut research and development? Is it going to cut aboriginal funding? Is it going to cut agriculture? Or is it going to cut them all? To what extent is it going to gut the Canadian fabric?

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we are certainly not going to gut health care like this finance minister did. He is the Dr. Kevorkian of health care in Canada. The $7 billion taken out of health care spending has closed more hospitals than any health minister or finance minister in this country.

But let us get back to the topic. The minister danced all around this issue. I have not seen footwork like that since River Dance . I want to know how many more billions of dollars this finance minister is going to wring out of Canadians' pockets. How does it feel to be the finance minister who has taxed Canadians more heavily than any finance minister in Canadian history?