House of Commons Hansard #64 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was drug.
Canada Labour CodeGovernment Orders
The Speaker
I am sorry, my colleague, you are. I must tell you it was quite enjoyable listening to you. You had five minutes, as did the previous speakers.
Jim Gouk Reform West Kootenay—Okanagan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member said labour leaders do not want to go on strike. Fine, let us give them some mechanism so they have an alternative when they cannot settle.
He talked about strike leaders on strike pay. That makes it okay because they suffer? What about the people who are not part of the bargaining agent who are forced out of work? They are not even a part of these negotiations and have no strike pay at all.
He said unions are important. We never denied that. When unions were brought in they started to deal with deplorable working conditions. If unions were done away with in their entirety, the pendulum would swing back, although maybe not all the way. We are not talking about whether there should be unions but whether there should be work disruptions with major impacts on the economy of this country.
In terms of off site workers, what we object to is providing unions with home addresses so that they can actually go to the homes of these people. If they want to send something to them, that is one thing. It can be done through the employer. It can be done in other ways. The provision in this bill is unreasonable and undemocratic.
Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, on the issue of off site workers it is quite clear that the board can lay down the rules for making contacts. It even says that the most likely way would be through the mail. If there is a situation where an organizer is using unfair aggression or trying to intimidate, which happens from time to time, the board has the ability to put sanctions against the union and to charge it properly with unfair bargaining.
It is totally an overreaction. In the case of off site workers, the company can take the union information and pass it through its electronic system, e-mail. It is all about communication. Why would the company and the union not want to let them know what is going on?
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, so much has been said in reference to this act and how it will alleviate some of the problems within the grain handling industry, specifically for the farmers. It is no secret that the farmers have really had to foot a major bill in the past because grain handlers and others in the union system, which is quite elaborate from the prairie fields to the ports, go on strike. The only people who pay for it are the farmer.
Section 87.7 talks about the strike and the lockout being prohibited under certain circumstances.
Since the member supports this bill, how will it deal with every entity when it comes to the handling of grain from the country elevator to the port when the bill itself restricts—
Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I guess it is interpretation. I suggest it is interpretation for the convenience for the member opposite to adopt a position.
The bill is quite clear that if longshoremen go on strike there is still a requirement to load the grain. That is a recognition by this government of the importance of that aspect.
The minister has also said that we are not sticking our heads in the sand on this issue. We are prepared to look at it to make sure it works. There will be committee hearings in which people will have the opportunity to have input and make comments. If adjustments need to be made down the road, this government will make them. We are flexible. This is about creating a level, fair playing field of labour relations between unions and management.
Canada Labour CodeGovernment Orders
The Speaker
It being 11 o'clock we will now proceed to Statements By Members.
Larry McCormick Liberal Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to congratulate the federal cabinet for endorsing the rural impact test. The endorsement by cabinet of the rural impact test creates an important tool. The rural lens provides a mechanism to ensure federal departments review the impact of programs and services on rural Canadians. This process will go a long way toward developing federal programs and services that are appropriate for and accessible to rural Canadians.
Nearly one third of Canadians live in rural areas. These areas are made up of small communities which are not all alike. Depending on a number of factors, they experience different needs that require different solutions. For example, those living near urban areas face challenges and opportunities that differ from the challenges and opportunities of rural residents in more remote locations.
The rural lens will also identify whether there is flexibility for decision making at the local level.
Please join me in thanking the agriculture and agri-food minister whose mandate includes rural development and in thanking federal cabinet for endorsing this initiative.
Jake Hoeppner Reform Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to Dr. Cornelius W. Wiebe of Winkler, Manitoba who celebrated his 105th birthday this week. Our world has changed more in this century than it has over the preceding 2000 years. Some people resist change but Dr. Wiebe welcomed it and used it to give people in his community a better life.
Dr. Wiebe was born in a log home in the Manitoba village of Weidenfeld in 1893. Despite an early life of hardships, he excelled at his studies. He went on to become a teacher, a physician and a one term member of the Manitoba legislature.
He is quiet and determined man. His insights into medicine, politics and agriculture have been highly respected. He was instrumental in establishing Winkler's Bethel hospital and the Valley rehabilitation centre.
Today people in our community are still benefiting from his knowledge and his continuing contributions. On their behalf I wish Dr. Wiebe a happy birthday and thank him for all he has done.
Eugène Bellemare Liberal Carleton—Gloucester, ON
Mr. Speaker, February has been declared Black History Month in Canada.
To encourage Canadian students to explore, promote and celebrate contributions made by black persons and individuals of other cultural backgrounds, in February 1996, the Secretary of State instituted the Mathieu Da Costa Award.
On behalf of all my colleagues, I congratulate this year's young winners. They have distinguished themselves by incarnating some of these values. We welcome them to Parliament Hill today.
Allow me to mention one name in particular, that of Arianne Matte, of Louis-Riel Public High School, in my riding of Carleton—Gloucester.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the OECD countries, the debate on employment is centred on technology and increased productivity. In the long term, knowledge, technological knowledge in particular, constitutes the main force that drives economic growth and an enhanced quality of life.
Yet our top researchers are choosing to move elsewhere because there are not enough resources here to fund leading edge research in their fields.
This government thinks it has found the solution to this by creating the Foundation for Innovation and announcing the creation of the Millennium Fund. This is not so, for post-graduate bursary programs have fallen victim to the budget cuts to funding bodies, thus adding considerably to post-graduate students' debt load.
I am therefore calling upon this government to increase the budget allocated to the funding councils, the key mission of which is to fund research, on which the new knowledge-based economy rests essentially.
Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, we cannot really celebrate black history month in Canada without remembering Mathieu Da Costa, the first recorded black African to set foot in Canada.
Mathieu Da Costa was a navigator, an explorer and a linguist. Through his many voyages to Canada in the late 1500s he made contact with the Mi'kmaq people and learned their language.
In 1603 he was the navigator on the ship which carried Samuel de Champlain on his voyage of exploration. On arrival this black man became the interpreter for Samuel de Champlain with the Mi'kmaq people, thus paving the way for the early settlers; Mathieu Da Costa, navigator, linguist, interpreter.
Congratulations to the many students who today receive the Mathieu Da Costa awards.
Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government owned mint is bullishly proceeding with plans to build a new coin plant in Winnipeg. People in my riding are very upset with this politically motivated decision.
Westaim is a solid diversified company in my riding with a 35 year history of supplying coin blanks to Canada and other countries. Its success is now threatened by unfair competition from the federal government. Westaim can provide all the savings that the mint claims for its new plant and it can provide these savings sooner at no cost to the taxpayer.
Why would the government use $30 million of taxpayer money to put jobs at risk? Why would it so blatantly attack the successful enterprise of a well run corporation? Why would it build an expensive new plant to compete in an already saturated world market?
I call on the government to cancel this ill conceived project and avoid disrupting the lives of hundreds of people. I challenge it to save the $30 million and to enter into a long term agreement as offered by Westaim.
Carmen Provenzano Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Mr. Speaker, something must be done about the growing problem of group violence among young Canadians. My riding of Sault Ste. Marie, like so many across the country, has witnessed a recent example of this brutal and frightening phenomenon. Two immediate courses of action are necessary.
First, we must initiate an in depth study of violence by young people. We need to find out what dark motives compel groups of teens to commit such heinous acts and what anti-social impulses allow others to take a passive role as spectators to these gruesome events.
Second, we need to reform the Young Offenders Act to establish greater deterrents to violent group crime. The Minister of Justice is preparing a response to the government review of young offenders legislation. I ask the minister to pay special attention to the rise of group violence by young people. We need to send a clear message to Canadians that we recognize the seriousness of this problem and that we are ready to take decisive action to address it.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a poem entitled “Fortier at the bat”.
Before the court assembled Mr. Fortier had his say What was in the Constitution Was the order of the day Not discouraged for a moment The good people of Quebec Hastened forth to tell the lawyer That he simply looked a wreck For though Plan B he must help save And Lord he wished he could The ball was slipping from his grasp And heading for no good And though he argued loud and long The effort was to fail Before his very eyes alas He saw Quebec prevail The lesson learned, a hard one too Is this, there is no doubt Quebec knows what it has to do And will see its own way out
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, on February 10, the web site of Télévision franco-ontarienne, named “Perdus dans les étoiles”, received the prestigious Milia d'or.
This award is given by the international market of interactive programs to recognize the programs that combine originality and creativity, and that make interactive media progress.
It is to be noted that TFO's web site was competing against those of such multinationals as Disney and Sony, for the best youth web site.
I congratulate TVOntario and TFO for winning this award. I invite hon. members and their families to visit the site, at www.tfo.org/mega.
We can only hope that all Canadian households, including those in Quebec, will soon benefit from a little marvel, namely TVO's French network.
I urge all Bloc Quebecois members to support TFO's efforts in this regard.
Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is denying his commitment to an elected Senate. He is not making it happen.
In 1990 the Prime Minister said: “The Liberal government in two years will make the Senate elected. As Prime Minister I will make that happen”. But it did not happen.
Twenty-three times he has used Senate seats as political patronage prizes to pay off Liberal political hacks. He allows senators to live in Mexico. Will he refuse to recognize an elected senator?
British Columbia is the most under-represented province in the Senate. It needs to be addressed. The Prime Minister is not making it happen.
In 1991 the Prime Minister said: “To those who live in the west and the Atlantic, a reformed Senate is essential”. So we know that he knows Senate reform has to happen. The Prime Minister promised Canadians it would happen. When will it happen?
Aileen Carroll Liberal Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged to see the Globe and Mail newspaper taking a lead role in recognizing that the time parents spend with their new born babies is critical in child development.
The Globe and Mail reports that the International Labour Organization found that while Canada is generous with time off for maternity, the financial compensation is insufficient to permit many working mothers to take enough time to be with their newborns. Canada pays far less than any other industrialized country save the United States.
The growing evidence concerning the importance of a child's first three years is cause for all levels of government and businesses in the private sector to pay closer attention to how much time and choice are built into Canada's programs for parents and their children.
There are a number of ways to expand the options, including turning the child care deduction into a universal child credit which does not discriminate against stay at home parents, and have the private and public sectors increase—
FamilyStatements By Members
The Speaker
The hon. member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul.
MISSION
Rey D. Pagtakhan Liberal Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is with deep pride to know that Canadian astronaut Dr. Dafydd Williams will be on board the space shuttle Columbia as crew medical officer when the STS-90 Neurolab mission is soon launched from the NASA Kennedy Space Centre.
In addition, two Canadian scientists Drs. Barry Fowler and Ian Howard are responsible for 2 of the 26 experiments to be conducted on board.
The results are anticipated to have direct applications to our understanding of neurological diseases and injuries and their treatment and prevention.
We can all take pride that the Canadian Space Agency is very much involved in this historic endeavour.
Exploring the vastness of outer space is a shining example of mankind's tremendous accomplishments.
Exploring the vast inner workings of the human nervous system in outer space extends the limits of mankind's infinite potential in advancing medical science.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, today outside the House of Commons Canadians are demonstrating their opposition to the MAI, the multilateral agreement on investment.
Canadians are concerned about the MAI and are showing up in droves at town hall meetings and forums around the country. They want to know why the government is negotiating this deal in secret, behind closed doors and with no consultation with Canadian people.
They are worried when key spokesmen promoting the deal say that the MAI is necessary because there is a surplus of democracy in the world today which is interfering with the movement of investment and capital.
A surplus of democracy. Some of us were raised to believe there is no such thing as a surplus of democracy. My father went to war to fight for absolute democracy.
The more Canadians learn about the MAI, the more they oppose it. It is a bad deal for Canadians and it is a bad deal for democracy. This government should do more than delay the signing of the deal, it should say no thanks to the MAI.
Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada announced yesterday that Canadian businesses continued to benefit from the 1997 economic expansion. The corporations' seasonally adjusted operating profits increased by 3.1% in the fourth quarter of that year.
According to Statistics Canada, it is the first year since 1994 that profits increased in each of the four quarters. As we can see, Canada's economic life is not as bad as sovereignists would have us believe. In fact, economic growth would be even greater if separatists stopped spreading myths about Quebec's separation from the rest of Canada.
Twice, in 1980 and in 1995, Quebeckers chose to remain part of Canada. If sovereignists stopped trying to make us believe that Quebec is always the big loser, it would only benefit our country, both from an economic and political point of view.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, thousands of public servants across Canada did not enjoy a happy Valentine's Day last weekend thanks to the government's so-called refusal to honour pay equity.
While the Treasury Board president ponders salary increases for his former colleagues among the senior management class of the federal public service, he continues to provide steerage class treatment for lower paid public servants.
This is yet another example of the government's misplaced sense of priorities. The Liberal government spends billions of taxpayer dollars to suit its own political agenda such as Doug Young's highway robbery, Nova Scotia toll highway capers, helicopter fiascos and the Pearson airport debacle, not to mention the ill founded Airbus investigation. The recent reckless supreme court reference is another.
I urge the Liberal government to instead make the right choice for public spending and negotiate a pay equity settlement that is fair for long suffering public service employees.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, a historic agreement has been reached between the management and employees of Alcan that will ensure operational stability in some 10 plants and research centres for the next 18 years.
As the member for Jonquière, I am proud to join with the Quebec premier, Lucien Bouchard, in congratulating both parties and recognizing this rather extraordinary example of solidarity and partnership, which will both protect and maintain jobs, improve working conditions and enable employees to take a greater role in the affairs of the company.
My congratulations, once again, to the unionized workers and the management of Alcan.
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, in 1995, thanks to the efforts of the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Parliament passed a motion to designate February as Black History Month.
The Mathieu Da Costa Award was created to mark this designation and to honour black communities in Canada.
This year's award winners for best essay, short story, poem or art work come to us from across Canada and we proudly welcome to Ottawa, Julia Forester, Sointula, British Columbia; Kyla Burns, Duncan, British Columbia; Dorian Irwin-Kristmanson, Regina, Saskatchewan; Max Bennett, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Sylvia Mihaljevic, Burlington, Ontario; Caroline Vincent, Kanata, Ontario; Arianne Matter, Gloucester, Ontario; Micaela Sheppard, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Rita Dobosi, St. John's, Newfoundland.
We salute the accomplishments of these young people who inspire us all.