Debates of Feb. 5th, 1998

Youth Employment Strategy

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at this moment thousands of young lives are on hold as the future leaders of the country search for jobs.

Young people in Canada are the best educated, most literate and most technologically adept generation in history. Today's rapidly changing economy and competitive job market make it more difficult for inexperienced, undereducated or undertrained youth to find meaningful employment.

Many believe their education is deemed worthless by employers as they are caught in the vicious circle of no job without experience and no experience without a job.

Youth tell us they need improved access to education and training and more information about Canada's labour markets. The Canadian economy needs their energy and talents. They deserve a chance to prove themselves and a chance to acquire work experience.

In response, the government has created the youth employment strategy aimed at helping young people gain the experience necessary to find meaningful employment. While this initiative should be applauded, I challenge the government to increase the scope and visibility of the project so that tomorrow's leaders can have a chance to develop their full potential today.

Corinne Bourassa-Aubin

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to inform this House that Corinne Bourassa-Aubin, who was born in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès on January 26, 1898, and has been a resident of the riding of Champlain for 70 years, has just celebrated her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Bourassa-Aubin currently resides at the Luc-Désilets home, in Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Married on October 6, 1919, to Rémi Aubin, Corinne Bourassa gave birth to nine children, six of whom are still alive. Today, their family tree includes 20 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

My congratulations to Corinne Bourassa-Aubin. I hope she will have a great time with her family and friends, next Saturday, at the 100th birthday party they are throwing for her.

I take this opportunity to commend the management and staff of the Luc-Désilets home for the care they have given her.

Happy 100th, Corinne.

African Heritage Month

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, February is recognized as African Heritage Month. As the first black member of Parliament from the province of Nova Scotia, I am personally aware of both the challenges and opportunities presented to Canadians of African descent. I am pleased today that my mother, who taught me to be proud of my heritage, is watching on TV.

On behalf of all my colleagues in the federal NDP I wish to honour African Canadians who throughout Canadian history have played their part, large or small, in developing our community.

While the Reform Party introduces motions to deny multiculturalism in Canada, I am proud to strongly support Canada's multicultural heritage.

In particular, I would like to honour a unique and vital institution, the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia which preserves and promotes all facets of black culture.

Recognition of African Heritage Month is at the same time a celebration of all cultures which are essential to making Canada the diverse and vigorous nation it is. Such is what unity is all about.

Fishing Industry

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's Revenue Canada has opted to change the employment status of fishermen in West Nova.

Those owning fishing vessels, whether large corporations or individual fishermen, will now be required to make CPP contributions on behalf of their employees. These changes will mean significant increases in costs for these vessel owners of several hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.

In December 1997, despite ongoing negotiations with the fishing industry, Revenue Canada unilaterally set the start up date for these changes as January 1, 1997, followed by a demand for retroactive payments plus interest from the vessel owners to cover CPP contributions for this past year.

This request is very damaging to an industry that has already been decimated by quota cuts over the last few years.

On behalf of the people of West Nova I urge the government to cancel the request for retroactive payments on CPP contributions, return to the negotiating table with representatives of the fishing industry and help devise a more reasonable timetable for implementing these changes.

1998 Winter Olympics

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a number of athletes from my riding of Kitchener Centre who are at this time preparing for the opening of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Kevin and Cindy Overland, sibling speed long track skaters, will be competing in Nagano for Canadian medals. Scott Stevens whose family is from Kitchener will be playing hockey under the Canadian flag for Team Canada.

Through years of dedication and hard work they have arrived at this goal. When they participate in the opening ceremonies and their individual events citizens of Kitchener and Canadians around the world will feel a sense of pride in the accomplishment of these athletes.

To these athletes from Kitchener and those from surrounding areas and across Canada I extend on my behalf and on behalf of my constituents our sincere pride and best wishes.

Fred Burke

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I salute Richmond Hill's very own mountain man, a man with clear goals in life, a man who decided he would climb a mountain before his 40th birthday.

Mr. Fred Burke has done just that. He returned home from climbing Mount Kilamanjaro, but he did not do it just for himself. He needed one more reason to make that climb. He dedicated it and any proceeds to a charity, Sheena's Place, a Toronto based non-residential centre for people with eating disorders that offers community support services and programs at no cost to users.

By climbing Mount Kilamanjaro and achieving his goal Mr. Burke helped young people who face their own mountain, their own struggle with eating disorders ever day.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Burke on his climb and showing all of us the importance of goals.

Senate Of Canada

[Philip Mayfield, Reform, Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Fathers of Confederation founded our parliamentary system they viewed the Senate as a chamber of sober second thought distinct from the more populist House of Commons. It would give protection to Canadians from unreasonable laws and actions.

Given the recent track record of the government's appointments to the other place and the blatant disregard of some senators for the duties they are appointed to carry out, Canadians from coast to coast are raising their voices for change. Canadians are tired of their government using the Senate as its own patronage heaven.

It is time for the government to move toward the 21st century and reform the Senate so that it is accountable to all Canadians. By making the upper house equal and elected it will become the effective chamber of sober second thought that was first envisaged. We owe this to Canadians.

1998 Winter Olympics

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano, Japan, open this Friday. I am sure the athletes will be overwhelmed with a feeling of pride for their country. This is their opportunity to represent Canada among the best countries of the world at the highest level of competition.

I especially congratulate members of the Canadian women's hockey team on their accomplishments. I remember just a few years ago we were helping with the fight to get funding and recognition for a national women's hockey team, and now look at them. They are not only competing in the Olympic Winter Games but actually have an excellent opportunity in bringing home the gold.

Four members of the Canadian women's hockey team make their home in the city of Scarborough, now the city of Toronto. I wish good luck to Karen Nystrom, Geraldine Heaney, Vicky Sunohara, Laura Schuler and the entire Olympic squad. We want them to know we are all very proud of them as they do us proud wearing the Canadian colours.

Social Programs

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Tom Kent, one of the main architects of social programs under the Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson, is very critical of this government, accusing it of being largely responsible for the cuts in health and social programs in the provinces.

Here is what he had to say about the arrogance of his Liberal friends “Social programs were hard hit by the cuts made by the Chrétien government, not because of they were social in nature, but mainly because they came under provincial jurisdidction”.

The federal government's withdrawal from social program funding and its propensity for intruding in areas under provincial jurisdiction point to confusion in a government more concerned with promoting Canadian unity than with ensuring the well-being of the people.

That is why the Bloc Quebecois will continue to speak out on the need for Quebec to become sovereign.

Ice Storm 1998

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin, ON]

Mr. Speaker, upon hearing about the terrible ice storm in eastern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, Canadians in all regions pulled together to help the victims of the largest natural disaster in Canadian history.

Many of my constituents in the northern Ontario riding of Algoma—Manitoulin also helped, including the Manitoulin Rotary Club which organized a firewood drive. Staff and students at Manitoulin Secondary School, Randy Noble Trucking, McDougall Construction and Taylor Sawmill helped with the collection and preparation of the wood which was then transported to the ice storm victims in Kemptville, Ontario, with the assistance of Manitoulin Transport. Wood that could not be shipped will be auctioned off by the Rotary Club and the proceeds donated to the relief effort.

Elliot Lake businessman Réjean Cyr donated and loaded 100 cords of firewood from his logging business. The wood was shipped to St. Jean-sur-Richelieu free of charge by Genessee Rail One and Canadian Pacific Railway.

Canada has always enjoyed a reputation as a generous and caring nation. During this recent crisis, Canadians such as those in my riding and others from coast to coast to coast displayed why this is so.

Black History Month

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month in Canada. Across our country Canadians of African descent will be celebrating and reflecting upon their rich and diverse heritage.

To mark Black History Month I will be hosting a reception this evening to announce the launch of my private member's bill proclaiming Emancipation Day in Canada.

On August 1, 1834 the British parliament passed an act which abolished slavery throughout the Commonwealth. British and Canadian visionaries led the charge toward equality.

My hope is that Emancipation Day will serve as a time when Canadians young and old can learn from past injustices and continue our process of nation building. During the 19th century Canada offered a ray of hope to the millions who remained in bondage in the United States.

Let me close with a quote from a U.S. slave published in 1851:

O Righteous Father, wilt thou not pity me and aid me on to Canada, where coloured men are free?

Ice Storm 1998

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last night we listened to the speeches of the political leaders who on behalf of all parliamentarians thanked Canadians for their generosity and compassion during the ice storm. However I was stunned and disappointed by the partisan remarks made by the leader of the Bloc Quebecois.

Quite frankly, once again, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois has taken advantage of a tragic situation to minimize the contributions made by the Canadian government, Health Canada, the RCMP and, more importantly, the Canadian Armed Forces. Worse still, he minimized the contribution made by the human resources development minister, who announced a $45 million emergency fund to help in the clean-up. He chose to launch a regrettable partisan attack on the minister.

Once again the separatists have shown that every opportunity is good for cheap partisan politics. They do not represent me, my constituents or the majority of Canadians and Quebeckers who applauded the fact that the government did not play partisan politics on the backs of Quebeckers during this disaster.

Regional Development

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 30, the Secretary of State responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, announced good news for the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The Government of Canada is contributing $285,000 toward the creation of an entrepreneurship and enterprise development centre at the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi. This new centre is vital to the development of the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region, because it will provide a strong impetus for the creation and development of innovative businesses while adding real entrepreneurial culture to the university community. At the same time, the centre's activities will mean jobs in the future, for young people too.

This is another excellent example of this government's determination to support the development of an entrepreneurial spirit throughout Canada.

Heritage

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have in hand a calendar that was provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage, by the heritage minister. She said that it is to guide us to events and dates which have particular significance for our heritage and identity as a nation.

As I go over the calendar it is rather interesting that she guides us to International Artists Day, the anniversary of the Canadian flag and the week of solidarity with people struggling against racial discrimination. But, guess what? There is no Easter. There is no Good Friday.

I carry on. The World Book and Copyright Day is an important day. The World Telecommunications Day is an important day. International Children's Day of Broadcasting. But, guess what? There is no Christmas on this one either.

Yesterday the heritage minister told the newspapers that her department's omission of these days was just a mistake. To the minister I say yeah, right.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs invited grassroots aboriginals to tell her about the problems they face on reserve. However, when Bruce Starlight wrote about the problems on his Alberta reserve, his letter with the minister's stamp on it was sent by someone in the minister's office to the chief of that reserve. Now the chief is suing Starlight, using band funds.

My question is for the government. Does this action not clearly violate both the spirit and the letter of the Privacy Act?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development answered this question fully yesterday. We respect the Privacy Act. The matter is being investigated to the utmost. We will get to the bottom of this situation.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government acts as if this were some isolated incident, but Rita Galloway, president of the First Nations Coalition for Accountability, says differently. She alleges that when band members write letters to the ministry complaining about financial irregularities or human rights abuses on reserve invariably those letters end up in the hands of the band and council being complained about.

If the government does not condone this practice, what concrete steps will it take to stop it?

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the minister said that she is very concerned about this letter.

It was really beyond the department and the RCMP. It was so important that the minister appointed an independent senior official security investigator from outside the department to pursue the investigation and right now the investigation is ongoing.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Stephen Constant from the James Smith Reserve wrote to the Indian affairs minister in 1996. Ten days later he got a call from the band leadership that told him that they had a copy of his letter. They said that they always get such letters. As a result the band cut off Stephen's financial support. His child was taken away from him until a court intervened.

Is the government prepared to call in the RCMP to find out precisely who in the department of Indian affairs is violating the privacy rights of ordinary aboriginal people?

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, after making accusations and allegations in the House this week the Reform critic was forced to admit upon questioning that we do not have any evidence of what he said.

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how much more evidence the government needs. When Bruce Starlight wrote to the minister of Indian affairs to allege corruption on his reserve, that letter was immediately handed to band chief Roy Whitney. Chief Whitney is now using band funds, money contributed by the federal government for all band members, to sue Mr. Starlight.

Bruce Starlight's wife Deanna has a question. She wants to know how it is that money belonging to her and her children can be used to sue her husband. Could the minister explain this to Deanna Starlight?

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that—

[An hon. member]

You are corrupt and dishonest.

[Some hon. members]

Order.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am going to repeat in French what they probably did not grasp in English anyway.

It is essential to understand that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is currently conducting an investigation. A very competent investigator is currently looking into all the allegations brought to this House by the Reform Party.

So long as—