House of Commons Hansard #76 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was program.
The Speaker
As is our practice on Wednesdays, we will now sing O Canada, which will be led by the hon. member for Saint John.
Raymond Lavigne Liberal Verdun—Saint-Henri, QC
Mr. Speaker, Sunday, March 15 was the launch date for “La Dame, votre nouvelle carte d'affaires”, a contest to revitalize rue Notre-Dame ouest, a shopping street located in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri.
Congratulations to Andrée Alepins, Rhéal Lanthier, Pierre Trudel and all those who supported them. I am sure they will reap the rewards of their hard work.
I might add that the Government of Canada contributed to this project by providing a $15,000 grant from Economic Development Canada and a project coordinator, at the cost of $16,000, through Human Resources Development Canada.
I wish them all the best of luck.
Pat O'Brien Liberal London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my own city of London, Ontario, the Irish Benevolent Society held its 121st annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon.
The members of this society are Canadians of Irish ancestry and their friends. Although they come from a variety of different backgrounds, they celebrate together and raise funds for charitable work in our community.
Congratulations to them and to all similar groups that do so much good work throughout Canada. May the peace we enjoy here in Canada soon be a reality throughout all of Ireland, the ancestral land of so many Canadians.
Good luck. May the blessing of St. Patrick be on you.
Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Jack Edgar will have his day parole hearing. I quote from a copy of a letter from Linda Ryan, a constituent of mine, to the parole board and I appeal to this government to really listen to her own words.
She says: “On August 18, 1985, Jack Edgar murdered my mother and my aunt. That act began my life sentence of fear, grief and betrayal. This man was my stepfather.
“I know I cannot predict what Jack will do, no one can, perhaps not even Jack himself. I do know I cannot live my life and raise my children with `what ifs'. I cannot imagine being able to stay in my home near my family if Jack is released.
“I have not slept through an entire night since the call came to tell me that he is applying for parole. I live each and every day with what he did to them, their terror, their helplessness. My fears are real and grounded and shared by many”.
Will this government do something, anything, to prevent this despicable criminal from being released?
Judi Longfield Liberal Whitby—Ajax, ON
Mr. Speaker, in mid-September this member received her first parliamentary posting to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs.
Since then I have been deployed to northern, western and central Canadian Armed Forces bases to investigate quality of life issues. Our military men and women remain prepared to give not only their personal freedom but also their lives if need be in the performance of their duties.
Too often we, the parliamentarians of Canada, remain silent. We neglect to reassure and demonstrate to our military that we understand the need to reaffirm our commitment to honouring our moral responsibility to them.
It has been said that the fastest way to lose one's sovereignty is to lose one's defence capabilities.
Canada must never allow its sovereignty to be put in jeopardy. We must ensure that our military has the tools, the manpower and the support it needs to stand on guard for Canadians.
René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC
Mr. Speaker, eastern Quebec, and particularly Saint-Léon-le-Grand in my riding, has just lost one of its sons.
The Most Reverend Louis Lévesque passed away, and his funeral was held on Monday. Ordained in 1932, Monsignor Lévesque studied in Rome, Jerusalem and Paris. He was a teacher at the Séminaire de Rimouski for several years before becoming Bishop of Hearst, Ontario.
Following the Vatican II council, Monsignor Lévesque, then Archbishop of Rimouski, instigated the Diocesan Synod, a vast effort to bring church authorities closer to the community.
He witnessed the great changes Quebec underwent in the 1960s. During this period, both the church and society evolved considerably. Throughout all these changes, he proved his mettle.
To this renowned Bible scholar, all of Quebec says thank you.
Claudette Bradshaw Liberal Moncton, NB
Mr. Speaker, this week is National Francophonie Week.
I am therefore inviting everyone on Parliament Hill to La Francophonie en Acadie, an Acadian festival being held as part of the week's celebrations.
Participants will have an opportunity to taste such typical fare as poutine râpée, pets-de-soeur, fricot au poulet and poutine à trou, and to hear two well-known Acadian musical groups, the Quigley Ensemble and Les Méchants Maquereaux, perform.
This event will take place this evening, March 18, 1998, from 5 to 10 p.m. in room 237-C. I would like to thank all the volunteers in Moncton and on the Hill, my staff, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
I hope that everyone on Parliament Hill will join us to experience our lively Acadian culture.
Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, last Monday, Justice Avila Labelle, a veritable legal institution in the Outaouais region, died after a long illness.
Justice Labelle was called to the Barreau du Québec in January 1936, and was appointed judge of the Cour de district on January 9, 1959, where he remained until 1981. In October 1983, he assumed duties in the Tax Court of Canada.
Justice Labelle's legal knowledge was widely recognized. He left his mark on the legal history of the entire Outaouais district. Those who knew him appreciated his irrepressible humour and his cheerfulness, which were always evident even in court.
Everyone liked him, and called him by his first name. Even during his illness, Justice Labelle insisted on taking part in a Canadian Cancer Society fund-raising campaign.
We wish to pay our respects to the memory of Justice Labelle, and we extend to his family and friends our most sincere condolences.
Derrek Konrad Reform Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, prairie farmers and producers will gather in Saskatoon on Thursday to tell their MPs what is wrong with the government's agricultural policies. At the Saskatchewan Forum on Agricultural Issues, hundreds of farmers will present the minister responsible for the wheat board with their grievances which include grain transportation and amendments to the wheat board act.
The Reform Party, speaking on behalf of grain farmers, has repeatedly protested the recent changes to the wheat board act, only to have our farmer driven amendments overruled. Farmers deserve a wheat board that is accountable through the Access to Information Act and is audited by the auditor general. These and other flaws in the Liberal agricultural strategy will be raised by the farmers themselves.
We invite the minister to hear these concerns as he is the only prairie based minister. We urge him to keep an open mind and to evaluate what he hears based on merit. We ask that he respond to this call for change to make the wheat board open, flexible and accountable.
Reg Alcock Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, this week is la Semaine nationale de la Francophonie. It gives me great pleasure as a Canadian and as the member for Winnipeg South to say le fait français is indeed alive and well in both my riding and in North America.
In my riding the descendants of Louis Riel still communicate in their mother tongue. Le Centre culturel de St-Norbert also enriches the cultural tapestry of Winnipeg South.
In recent years thousands of Manitobans have gained an appreciation for the French language and culture by attending French immersion schools.
As we celebrate the French fact in Canada this week, I wish to congratulate all the francophones in my riding, and in Canada, and to extend my best wishes to them.
Initiatives like la Semaine nationale de la Francophonie help to bridge the two solitudes.
Long live the French fact in Canada!
Reed Elley Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, as the justice minister dreams about changes to the Young Offenders Act, violent acts among youth are escalating and reveal why the Young Offenders Act should be scrapped.
Recently in my riding 20 to 30 youths converged on a south Nanaimo home and attacked a 14-year old girl. While most of the cowards involved rampaged throughout the home, some of the more violent youth in the mob severely beat Cammy Hamilton.
Unlike Reena Virk, this young girl survived, but the beating was severe enough that the girl was wakened every few hours by her mother so she would not go into a coma.
This attack is another example of how some Canadian teenagers are taking violence to a new level. It is also further proof that 14 years of failed young offenders legislation is to blame. Young people know they will receive nothing more than a slap on the wrist when they commit such horrendous crimes.
Reformers call upon this justice minister to forget about tinkering with the Young Offenders Act and to come up with something that finally protects Canadians.
Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, children from across Canada are in our House today. They are visiting while on their March break. As members of Parliament we are indeed lucky to welcome them today and to have among those youngsters a special group, the Little Sisters and Little Brothers of Ottawa-Carleton.
My congratulations and thanks to all those people in our communities who work directly with these young Canadians, the future of our nation. Big Brothers, Big Sisters provides mentoring, friendship and a much needed break. As organizations they welcome Canadians from coast to coast to coast to take up the challenge and become a volunteer. Judging from the fine group of little sisters and little brothers we met, the rewards are infinite.
I thank the students who join us today. They remind us of our tremendous opportunity as a nation and of our responsibility to our youngsters. Have fun.
Maud Debien Bloc Laval East, QC
Mr. Speaker, the recent federal budget does very little to eliminate child poverty. There is nothing in it to alleviate the problem, except for a measure that will only come into effect in July 1999.
The $425 million earmarked for children through the child tax benefit program are a measly contribution to help children out of poverty, after this same government plunged their parents into it.
The Liberal government is far from fulfilling the commitment made in a motion adopted unanimously by this House on November 24, 1989, to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000.
The Liberal government has made its choices. With its millennium foundation, it opted for partisan visibility, instead of helping children get a head start in life. It is a shame.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, Canadian waters are protected from potential environmental disasters by the oil spill response program.
Canadians will be shocked to learn that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans may ignore the report of a panel of inquiry known as the Gold report and impose unfair oil spill response fee structures which will benefit the big oil companies at the expense of small independent competitors.
The investigation panel was highly critical of the proposed system, saying that the fee schedule would be unfair to those independents. DFO then squandered several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayers' money to dispute the recommendations of the panel.
The viability of the small independent competitors will be further jeopardized by the possible imposition of the fees being made retroactive to the fall of 1995.
If the minister allows retroactive payments to the major oil companies this could cause the death of independent gas stations across the country, thereby increasing gasoline prices for all Canadian consumers.
To protect our waters and coastlines and to hold the line on gasoline prices, Canadians and the NDP call on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to implement the recommendations of the Gold Report.
Nick Discepola Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to point out an example of community work and voluntary service provided to the community by inmates in the Canadian prison system.
Some inmates at the Bowden detention centre helped prepare the Canada Games, in Alberta, by shovelling snow on the ski trails in River Bend. The trail network had not received any snow, even though surrounding areas had got tons of the white stuff.
Under escort, six inmates worked seven days a week to prepare the trails. This effort is but one example of the services provided by inmates to the communities to which they will go back some day. This is a positive step for their social rehabilitation, which is a key objective of the Correctional Service of Canada.
André Harvey Progressive Conservative Chicoutimi, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary work done by Paix-Cible. This organization was set up in the Saint-Nom-de-Jésus parish, in the Rivière-du-Moulin area of Chicoutimi.
Its involvement is focused on social education and community action, and is aimed at people of all ages. Through concrete action, Paix-Cible wants to create a peace and harmony movement that will expand to the whole city, the whole region and, why not, the whole country.
The organization also created and inaugurated the Paix-Cible flag. The flag symbolizes the peace that the whole world longs for. The stylized dove covers the Earth from east to west, while its yellow beak provides light to the peoples of the Earth, which are represented by the five colours of the tail.
I am pleased to table this document, which confirms the creation and development of the organization.
Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, March is Red Cross month. For over 100 years the Canadian Red Cross has served our country with dedication and selflessness. Examples include work during the recent ice storm, the Red River and Saguenay floods and indeed probably every natural disaster that Canadians have endured.
Every day Red Cross volunteers and staff are in Canadian homes caring for the elderly and infirm. Last year they trained one million Canadians in water safety and 200,000 in first aid and CPR.
Annually Red Cross staff and the 130,000 volunteers touch the lives of two million Canadians, giving more than eight million hours of service.
During March let us extend our thanks to the Canadian Red Cross for its past and present service. The future of Canada is a future of continued partnership with the Canadian Red Cross.
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, for a week now Canadians have been waiting for the Prime Minister to fully disclose the nature of his relationship with Ross Fitzpatrick, the latest patronage appointment to the Senate.
Last week the Prime Minister said that when Fitzpatrick gave him a stock deal worth $45,000 it was not payment for any work that the Prime Minister did. We accept that.
Will someone in the government tell the House, if it was not payment for work, what was the $45,000 stock deal payment for?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the question has so little substance that it was not necessary for me to hear most of it.
I can say to the hon. member that what happened was done between two people in private life 10 years ago. There is no connection whatsoever with the appointment of the individual in question to the Senate. The hon. member knows it, and by keeping up these insinuations and allegations he is demeaning himself and his own party.
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the government pretends not to see the problem that the Prime Minister has created for himself by this latest patronage appointment to the Senate.
The Prime Minister receives a $45,000 financial favour from a B.C. businessman while out of office. Then, when he is back in office, he confers a political and financial favour on that businessman by appointing him to the Senate.
Is it not unethical for the Prime Minister to grant political appointments to people from whom he has received a direct and substantial financial benefit?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I noted yesterday that the hon. Leader of the Opposition, if I can call him honourable, was outside. He did not dare to repeat the words he used in the House of Commons. That is his type of politics.
I would like to quote something that he said some time ago that applies to the situation right now. “Canadians are fed up”, said the Leader of the Opposition on January 15, 1994, “with politicians who behave like baboons and jackasses in debate”.
The SenateOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would ask my colleagues on both sides of the House to be very judicious in their choice of words. We cannot use words from someone else that we cannot use here in the House. I ask you to calm the rhetoric a little and let us see what we can do.
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister challenged me to step in front of the TV cameras and ask my questions about his latest Senate appointment. So I did.
Now the Prime Minister should be willing to do the same thing if he has nothing to hide. Will the Prime Minister step outside the House and answer questions from the media about this $45,000 private stock deal from his latest Senate appointee?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, everything is on public record. All the facts are known. I would like to read to the hon. member what he asked his members to sign and he is not respecting that very much.
“I shall respect the personal dignity of my opponent and avoid partisan wrongdoing. With honest recognition that we both have the public good at heart. I see no reason to personally belittle and demean my opponent”. I think he should apply it in this case.
Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB
Mr. Speaker, we do not mean to demean anyone. We just want to ask hard questions to get true answers.
This is a story about friends. When the Prime Minister was down on his luck, friend Fitzpatrick gave him a stock deal that made him $45,000 profit. That is true. That is what Liberal friends are for. Now the Prime Minister is taking care of his Liberal friend by appointing him to the Senate.
The Prime Minister has said no more cronies and friends in the Senate but friends are friends forever. Let me ask the Prime Minister a question. Why does the Prime Minister not just admit this?