The minister participated in a discussion with 25 leaders of arts and culture in B.C. This is the first such encounter in B.C. to my knowledge. Our meeting was very productive and revealed a need for further discussion on Canadian culture. The people of B.C. want to have their say in creating the Canada of tomorrow.

The participants were delighted to speak on cultural issues. They value the minister's work as a champion for Canadian culture and her willingness to engage in discussion on this important topic.

Conditional SentencingStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Alberta court of appeal's scathing indictment of the Liberals' legal loophole called conditional sentencing is completely justified.

The court of appeal stated that the use of this skimpily drafted legislation undermines respect for the law. This scathing judgment is fully justified and here are just some of the reasons why.

Darren Ursel received a conditional sentence after abducting and sodomizing a young woman. Eric Robertson walked free after pleading guilty to 11 counts of indecent and sexual assault. Just last week a Montreal judge allowed two men to walk free after they were convicted of forcefully raping a teenage girl.

In the face of this unacceptable use of conditional sentencing, what has our justice minister done? Absolutely nothing, except to say “Leave it to the appeal courts”.

We on this side of the House implore the justice minister to immediately amend the law and plug the loophole. Deny rapists and other violent offenders the benefit of this legal loophole. Make the amendment before respect for the law—

Conditional SentencingStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore.

Black History MonthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, on December 14, 1995 the House of Commons declared February as Black history month. Canadians have recognized that African Canadian history is a part of Canadian history.

Across our nation community organizations, provincial governments and hundreds of individuals will be commemorating and paying tribute to the significant contributions which African Canadians have made historically and will continue to make to the economic and social development of our nation.

From the United Empire Loyalists to the newcomers of today, Canadians of African origin have worked in the domestic trade, the medical field, the agricultural sector and in the business sectors of our economy.

I am proud to take this opportunity to commend every organization and individual who is working to provide greater public awareness by sharing with the broader communities the diverse history of our country.

Ice StormStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Paul Marchand Bloc Québec East, QC

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the people of Québec East for their solidarity toward the victims of January's ice storm. Their generosity meant that a very large number of people were able to receive assistance.

I would like to draw particular attention to the initiative of Mayor Émile Loranger of Ancienne-Lorette, which provided assistance to over 3,000 victims.

The city hall served as the control centre for co-ordinating free accommodations for 1,025 people from Saint-Hyacinthe and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in more than 15 hotels. In addition, some thirty city employees and a number of volunteers were also involved in the operation, canvassing numerous companies for assistance.

Thanks to all those who were so generous with their assistance, Ancienne-Lorette's Operation Ice Storm Solidarity was a resounding success.

Congratulations to all those involved.

The Late Mark MacguiganStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Shaughnessy Cohen Liberal Windsor—St. Clair, ON

Mr Speaker, earlier this month Canadians lost a wonderful judge and former parliamentarian, the Hon. Mark MacGuigan of the Federal Court of Appeal.

Mark MacGuigan represented Windsor—St. Clair which was known then as Windsor—Walkerville in this House for 16 years. Others will speak of him later today. Some spoke of him yesterday at a memorial service. On February 14 there will be a memorial service in Windsor at which others, including his constituents, will speak.

Let me say this to those of us who are here and particularly those of my colleagues who did not know Mark MacGuigan. For those of us on the backbench who sometimes wonder what kind of an effect we are having, I suggest that you measure your progress by that of the late Hon. Mark MacGuigan. As a member of this House, he was the father of our Constitution. He led those debates and he led those committee discussions prior to 1982. As a civil libertarian and as a backbencher, he also became the father of our great charter.

Eating DisordersStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Bonwick Liberal Simcoe—Grey, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I rise challenging my colleagues across Canada to join the National Eating Disorder Centre in combating a quiet killer.

Eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, are affecting as many as 20% of young Canadian women. Imagine colleagues, young women in high schools, colleges and universities around this country, two out of every ten of them are showing symptoms of these diseases.

This unknown epidemic is destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Canadian women across this country. This disease knows no boundaries.

Colleagues, please assist in educating your constituents about these disorders, for recognizing these disorders is the first step in defeating them.

In my riding we have felt the agony of losing some of our young women to these deadly diseases. However organizations like the Simcoe County Eating Disorder Association are determined to make sure these tragedies do not occur again. Please take time to learn about this disease that is killing our young women in all parts of Canada.

February 1 to 7 is Eating Disorder Week in Canada. Please join in.

Eating DisordersStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

The Speaker

My colleagues, I hope you will always include the Speaker in any of your statements, rather than speaking just directly to one another.

The Other PlaceStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Reform

Cliff Breitkreuz Reform Yellowhead, AB

Mr. Speaker, the patronage packed parliamentary senior citizens home, called the other place, is due for renovations. The desks, paintings and chandeliers can stay in the red chamber but the mouldy Tory and vacationing Liberals must go.

Senator Ron Ghitter, the red Alberta Tory, should be the first. This hand picked appointee should be shamed out of office. Last year he only worked half time but still cost taxpayers a cool $155,000. Mr. Ghitter sits in the seat once held by Stan Waters, Canada's first elected Senator.

Senator Ghitter, do the honourable thing and let your name stand in a Senate election.

CesoStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON

Mr Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the contributions of two of my constituents to the Canadian Volunteer Advisors to Business, CESO.

Mr. Ernest Nemeth has recently completed a CESO assignment to Russia where he assisted in the development of export opportunities for a light aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Jim Murray was in Latvia assisting in the development and growth of a plastics manufacturing firm.

CESO is celebrating its 31st year of providing assistance to developing nations, emerging market economies and Canadian aboriginal communities.

Congratulations to my constituents for their valuable volunteer contributions.

Reference To Supreme CourtStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the prime minister and intergovernmental affairs minister received a basic lesson in democracy from two of their federalist allies.

Claude Ryan and Daniel Johnson publicly disavowed Plan B of the federal strategy, reference of the Quebec question to the Supreme Court. Loud and clear, they affirmed the right of the Quebec people to freely determine its own future.

What is important, however, is that these two former leaders of the 1980 and 1995 no campaigns clearly represent the emergence of a consensus in Quebec on this matter. They felt obliged to insist that the future of Quebec is in the hands of the people of Quebec.

The federal government must face facts: the strategy of going to the Supreme Court turned out to be a very bad idea. Since a Quebec consensus is in place, reference to the Supreme Court is pointless.

Ice StormStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, the people of Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle faced considerable hardship during the days of the ice storm. We also witnessed extraordinary generosity, and I would like to tell you today how great it was.

We will not soon forget the generosity of the municipal leaders and other representatives of social and economic groups. We will long remember the spontaneous acts of solidarity, not to mention everybody's incredible patience.

We have also realized that the spirit of self help is our community's greatest asset in a fight to ensure our survival—nothing less.

The Government of Canada will spend some $250 million to help the victims. We will remember that, at the height of the storm, over 15,000 regular and reserve military personnel were deployed to help local authorities in all the regions affected.

In short, while I hope that no one will ever have to face a catastrophe of such proportions again in the future, I want to thank everyone—

Ice StormStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I am sorry to interrupt. The hon. member for Athabasca has the floor.

Ice StormStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Reform

Dave Chatters Reform Athabasca, AB

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I and my colleagues from this side of the House toured the sugar bushes of eastern Ontario and met with many local producers.

The massive devastation that this ice storm has left on one of Canada's heritage industries is indescribable. These producers are feeling abandoned and neglected and need immediate assistance to prepare for the 1998 season. They also need long term professional assistance to evaluate the long term effects on the maple trees.

The maple sugar season is only 30 days away and action is needed to be taken right now. I urge this government to act immediately to save this unique Canadian industry from becoming a fatality of the ice storm of 1998.

Ice StormStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Bob Kilger Liberal Stormont—Dundas, ON

Mr. Speaker, residents of Cornwall and Akwesasne and the counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Russell will always remember the ice storm of 1998.

The government House leader and I join in congratulating the municipal leaders and their employees, firefighters, police, hydro crews, local radio stations and the numerous volunteers who gave unselfishly of themselves to serve others in need.

We salute the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces for their invaluable assistance. They were proud to serve and we are proud of them.

We could relate a number of stories of individual heroism arising from this experience, but the bottom line is that Canadians gave their all and were concerned for the welfare of others.

I agree with the hon. House leader and quote with sincerity, “Never before has the spirit of community and mutual responsibility been so deeply felt. Thank you all.”

Multilateral Agreement On InvestmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, more and more Canadians are coming to the view that the multilateral agreement on investment is not in the best interests of Canada. These same Canadians are also concerned about the secretive nature of the negotiating process and feel that there is a need for more input from the Canadian public.

Canadians do not trust Liberal assurances about culture, about the environment and other things threatened by the MAI that Canadians value, like public services and the power of democratically elected governments to act in the public interest.

The NDP stands with all Canadians opposed to the MAI and will be doing all it can to work with the national campaign against the MAI. The NDP calls on other MPs, a few of whom seem to be seeing the light, to join us in the effort to make the Prime Minister and the Minister of International Trade rethink their commitment to the MAI.

Let us not permit the MAI to change the golden rule into a rule that says those with all the gold make all the rules.

Tribute To Senator Guy CharbonneauStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

André Harvey Progressive Conservative Chicoutimi, QC

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to pay tribute to Senator Guy Charbonneau.

The Hon. Guy Charbonneau made an important contribution to Canada as a captain in the Fusiliers Mont-Royal regiment during World War II, as an entrepreneur and as a senator. Indeed, he held the position of Speaker of the Senate for nine years, longer than anyone else since Confederation.

His dedication to and involvement in democratic life in Canada cannot go unrecognized. For 35 years, he was an active member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He believed in democracy and in the need for Quebeckers to have an alternative.

It has been said that, with his passing, Quebec lost a faithful son and Canada a loyal patriot. I agree.

I join with my colleagues in expressing support to his family and friends and, on behalf of my party, extend my deepest condolences.

Ice StormStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to stand in this House to thank the people of Abitibi at the municipal level, in the health sector and the RCMs, the James Bay Cree and the Air Creebec airline, Transport Canada and community organizations.

During the ice storm and its disastrous aftermath, they provided unending support by gathering wood and donating funds, food and equipment for the storm victims in the southern part of Quebec.

I thank the volunteers, carriers, Hydro-Quebec and Telebec workers and others who did not spare time or effort.

I also thank the people of Abitibi whose generosity brings home to Quebec the strength and beauty of Canadian solidarity.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, a few hours ago Boris Yeltsin declared that the United States might provoke global warfare if it followed through with its threatened attack on Iraq. No one seems to know whether this was a calculated definition of the Russian position or one of those off the cuff comments the Russian president is inclined to make.

Does the prime minister have a more accurate assessment of the Russian position? And if he does, would he be willing to share it with the House?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I have nothing new to say. I have been informed of the statement made by the president of Russia. The situation remains the same for us. I guess it is also the position of the Russians that we should have a negotiated settlement.

As far as I know, Russia's position is that Saddam Hussein should respect the resolution of the security council. This is Canada's position also. Our efforts at this moment are to try to resolve it diplomatically. The Russians, the French and others are involved.

As for us, there has been no decision made by anybody at this moment to go beyond trying to find a negotiated settlement.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, despite the confusion on the Russian position it would appear that the Iraq issue is becoming more confrontational and urgent by the hour. Yet this Parliament has not received any in depth briefing on this matter and Parliament has not even discussed the principles which should guide us in supporting or opposing actions by the U.S. and the United Kingdom or the UN.

Would the prime minister agree that Parliament should have a debate on this subject as soon as possible? Would he be willing to ask the House to arrange a date and a time as expeditiously as possible?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier this week, if there is military intervention and Canada is asked to participate, there will be a debate in the House of Commons before a final decision is made by the Government of Canada.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Reform

Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, if it is demonstrated that Saddam Hussein is continuing to produce weapons of mass destruction, and if this is done in defiance of UN resolutions, and if diplomatic efforts fail to stop it, then Canada is going to be asked whether it will support or oppose military action to uphold the UN resolution. To properly make that decision Parliament needs an update on the state of readiness of the Canadian military for potential action in Iraq.

Would the prime minister commit to having that information available to Parliament at the earliest possible date?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, of course before we have a debate we will make sure people are properly informed of the readiness of Canadians forces to participate in a situation like that. There is no request for Canada to participate and so no decision has been made by anybody at this time. Everybody is working to convince Saddam Hussein to respect the decision of the security council.