Debates of Feb. 24th, 1998

Ministry Of Justice

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my statement today is a response to those actively lobbying against the appointment of Neal Sher as an adviser to the Ministry of Justice war crimes unit.

This government has had the courage to do what few others have and that is make a commitment to move on the deportation and denaturalisation of those convicted of war crimes.

Canada must not be seen as a haven for Nazi war criminals and others suspected of having committed war crimes 50 years ago or last week.

Our actions will speak louder than words and by appointing Neal Sher, a man with a proven record, this government is taking action.

Neal Sher's appointment as special adviser to the war crimes unit of the Ministry of Justice is good for Canada's international reputation and I hope that he succeeds in doing a very important job for Canada and Canadians.

Streptococcal Group A

[Steve Mahoney, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this House and the Canadian people about the tragic death of a young boy in my riding. Kyle Martin was only five years old when he mysteriously took ill at school.

He was taken to a local clinic and then to Credit Valley hospital. After waiting for several hours in emergency, Kyle was flown by air ambulance to Sick Kids hospital where he passed away.

A healthy, happy young life has been lost to a disease known as streptococcal group A, causing toxic shock. This is related to the flesh eating disease, with no known cause and no cure.

Kyle's father, along with the community, has established the Kyle Martin Fund at the Members Savings Credit Union in Toronto. The money will be used for research at Mount Sinai hospital.

The response from the community has been incredible and I ask members in this House to join me in extending our sincere sympathy to the family and to contribute to the Kyle Martin Fund. Let us all help put an end to this tragic disease.

The Senate

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have in our Senate a senator who finds the notion of an elected Senate offensive. He said he would resign if a Senate election were called.

We have in our Senate a senator who said that he thinks elections would be bad because it would mean that the Prime Minister could no longer appoint his friends.

We have in our Senate a senator who said that he would not have the energy to run in an election if one were called.

We have in our Senate a senator who said that he does not represent his region but instead does what his party tells him to.

Premier Klein, call a Senate election. Senator Ghitter, happy retirement.

André Nadeau

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, February 19 marked the end of one of the most prestigious and challenging dog sled races in the world, the Yukon Quest, in which Quebecker André Nadeau, from Sainte-Mélanie, in my riding of Joliette, competed.

This is a 1,647-kilometre race from Whitehorse, in the Yukon, to Fairbanks, in Alaska. The mushers and their dog teams must fight their way through horrifying blizzards in Arctic cold and climb over peaks up to 4,000 metres high.

André Nadeau was a first-time contender in this race. He came in second, with a time of 11 days, 15 hours and 13 minutes, roughly four hours behind the first-place winner. Thirty-eight 14-dog teams started the race. André Nadeau led the race until Mr. Lee, a veteran musher, passed him a few kilometres before the finish line.

I want to acknowledge this feat of strength and courage and extend my heartiest congratulations to André Nadeau and his helpers, Louise and Michel, and to his 14 dogs, of course.

Nagano Olympic Games

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us remember all our heros. The games in Nagano have ended and Canada has distinguished itself by leaving with 15 medals. Our athletes went to Japan to fulfil their Olympic dream.

A young woman from Sainte-Dorothée, in my riding of Laval West, saw her Olympic dream come true. Tania Vicent won the bronze in the 3,000-metre short-track speed-skating relay.

On behalf of all my constituents and of all Canadians, I wish to congratulate Tania and thank her for treating us to such an extraordinary performance. We are all proud of her.

Former Bc Mine Workers

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Canadian government announced an assistance program for former workers of the BC mine in Black Lake in the Thetford Mines region.

The targeted wage subsidy program being used is funded entirely by the Government of Canada, at a cost of $1,750,000. The government will pay all employers interested in hiring laid-off workers up to 60% of their wages, with no ceiling.

In the past, a number of former workers of the Davie shipyards in the riding of Lévis took advantage of this program. It enabled them to return to the work force and renew their pride in contributing to economic growth.

The Government of Canada is not just sensitive to the situation of workers who lose their jobs, but is working hard to find solutions that will restore pride and quality of life to Canadians experiencing difficulty on both an economic and a human level.

In closing, I would like to wish the former workers of the BC mine all the best.

Don Cherry

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Don Cherry's insults at Quebeckers on the CBC seem to have had little effect on the vice-president of the CBC's English network, who thinks that Mr. Cherry is being paid to express his opinions.

What tolerance all of a sudden according to the CBC's ethics, when a very different decision was made in December 1989 in connection with Pierre Bourgault, whose remarks on a public affairs program were deemed inappropriate.

The issue is not about justifying or approving remarks whoever may make them, but whether the CBC has a single code of ethics.

Don Cherry's broadcast sneers at Quebeckers are unacceptable and should not be tolerated by the CBC. For all those in English Canada who share the point of view of Don Cherry, please answer the following question. What has become of the people who loved Quebec so much in October 1995?

Multilateral Agreement On Investment

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, let us pass out the pom-poms and tutus to the Reform Party. It is hopping up and down, excited about its new role as cheerleader for the Liberals on the MAI. “Give me an M , give me an A , give me an I ”, say Reformers. Let us have a debate on the MAI as long as it does not involve the other side, the Reform Party says.

Yesterday the Reform member for North Vancouver admitted he preferred Florida's private health care system to the public system in his home province. In Canada poor people can get medical treatment. The member for North Vancouver slams that as no good socialist medicine, not deserving of protection under the MAI.

We need a reinvestment in health care so that everyone can get good care quickly. We need to scrap the MAI which would kill our health care system. We need the Reform Party to throw away its pom-poms and rah-rah cheers and act like a loyal opposition. Support money for medicare and nix the MAI.

Air Transport

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday Air Canada and Canadian Airlines were singing the praises of the liberalization of air services between the United States and Canada.

It has changed North American skies and has benefited Air Canada, which has increased its cross-border activities. It now operates over 1,300 flights a week on 72 routes between Canada and the United States.

This opening-up has meant many benefits for Canada and the Canadian economy. It has helped create jobs since 1995.

Canada is quick to welcome all forms of liberalization that will benefit Canada. While we must be cautious about the introduction of such measures, we must remain open to everything that involves relations between Canada and all other countries.

In short, measures of this sort are of interest to all international communities, in obvious contrast to the inward- looking approach of the sovereignists—

[The Speaker]

The member for Compton—Stanstead.

Annie Perrault

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to read a letter of congratulations to Annie Perreault.

“Dear Annie:

“I was so proud to see you climb up to the highest step on the podium on February 19. I avidly followed the Olympic Games. Not only was our country represented by its best athletes, but the riding of Compton—Stanstead had its own special representative: Annie Perreault.

“I congratulate you on the medals you so deservedly won. You are finally reaping the reward of years of efforts. Your talent and your willpower are a source of inspiration to all those who aspire to the Olympic Games.

“I thank you, Annie, for so ably representing our country. I hope in the weeks and months to come you may enjoy all the opportunities your exploits bring you.

“You, Annie, are one great Canadian”.

Richmond Hill

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 125 years ago the town of Richmond Hill had its first town council meeting. At that time Yonge Street was a dirt road, the tallest building in the town was a new church and the fastest thing on four wheels was a horse and buggy.

Since that time Richmond Hill has grown from a small village on a hill to become the fastest growing large municipality in Canada. The original village is still the heart of the community which covers over 99 square kilometres in York region.

On behalf of the town, Mr. Speaker, I invite you to come out and help us celebrate at any one of the festivities planned for this year.

As a former town councillor, I am very pleased to stand up in the House and congratulate the town of Richmond Hill on its 125th anniversary.

Canadian Census

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday a young Canadian cried out when the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism rose to defend her government's racial census.

Millions of Canadians share this youngster's anguish. Despite this government's best efforts the citizens of this country want to be recognized as Canadians.

Nineteen per cent of respondents proudly identified themselves as Canadians, with the highest percentage coming from Quebec.

Canada is a land of immigrants. It is by definition a multicultural society rich in diversity and tolerance. This census and this government's agenda to promote policies that do nothing but divide communities are shortsighted and a further threat to national unity and nation building.

Listen to the people and let Canadians be Canadians.

The Economy

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister once said: “We are moving toward the time when the budget will finally be balanced. When we reach that time”—

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

We are going to start again. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

He went on to say: “When we reach that time we will allocate every billion dollars of fiscal dividend so that one half will go to reducing taxes and reducing national debt”.

Can the Prime Minister state without qualification, without wriggling, without addition and subtraction, that this promise will be honoured in today's budget?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is 2.15 p.m. In 2 hours and 15 minutes the hon. member will be able to confirm what he said earlier, that it looks like we have balanced our books.

Again I can feel the jealousy of the Leader of the Opposition.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, you will notice that the Prime Minister did not answer the question.

The Prime Minister wriggles, the Prime Minister evades, exactly like he did before the budget when we were supposed to see the killing of the GST.

Why does the Prime Minister look and sound today just like he did before the budget in which he broke his promise to kill the GST?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, to make sure the hon. member did not miss it, we outlined in dark lettering on the side of page 28 the following: “We will allocate our budget surpluses so that over the course of our mandate, one half will be spent to improve our programs, and one half will go to tax cuts and reduction of the debt”. It is very clear.

When we have a surplus we will have about a billion dollars. Of course when we split it up there will be $500 million on one side and $500 million on the other side over the course of the mandate.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this has a familiar ring to it. He drags out the red book and says it is not quite here, it is on the side. He is qualifying, adding, subtracting.

Why is it that the Prime Minister looks and sounds today just like he did before the budget in which he broke his promise to kill, scrap and abolish the GST?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes we do not manage to do it exactly as we predicted. We said that we would balance the books over a period of five years and we have done it in four years.

I think I will call the Minister of Finance to ask him to change the budget in case we balance it this year. We should probably wait until next year to satisfy the Leader of the Opposition.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the only people smiling today are the well trained backbenchers in the Liberal government. That is because the surplus was given to them alone. What was supposed to be a surplus for all Canadians, a surplus for weary taxpayers, has turned into a surplus for big spenders only.

Why did the government break its red book promise again and donate a huge wad of this surplus to new spending other than debt and tax relief?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would rather have people well trained than not trained at all. I hope the Minister of Finance will have money for training so members of the Reform Party can use it to train themselves a little more on the finances of the nation.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to split the surplus 50:50 between spending and debt and tax relief. He knows it and the Canadian public knows it. Taxpayers are owed that surplus now but they are not going to get it. The Prime Minister says “I am really sorry. Not this year”.

Why is it that the Prime Minister stands in his place, shrugs, smirks and sings “somewhere over the mandate?” When is it going to be?