Debates of May 28th, 1998

Canadian Armed Forces

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, all of Canada welcomes the 340 men and women of the Canadian forces who are returning home from the Persian Gulf after three months of Operation Determination, a U.S. led force prepared for possible military action against Iraq.

The HMCS Toronto , part of a multinational naval force, will also be back in Halifax by mid-June. The vessel completed more than 90 haulings, boardings and inspections to help enforce UN sanctions against Iraq.

Two Hercules refuelling aircraft have returned to their base in Winnipeg. They provided air-to-air refuelling to the multinational air element enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq. They flew more than 140 missions and provided more than two million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft.

The Canadian forces have done an incredible job and all Canadians should be proud of their contribution in maintaining international peace and security in this region.

I welcome them home and thank them for helping to make Operation Determination a success.

Transitional Jobs Fund

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to set the record straight on the transitional jobs fund, one of the government's many achievements.

The transitional jobs fund is a three year, $300 million initiative that works in partnership with private sector employers, communities, workers and other levels of government to create much needed long term jobs for Canadians living in high unemployment areas.

Despite the ideological ramblings of the member for Calgary West and his dogmatic opposition to government action for job creation, the fact is that the TJF is an immensely successful program.

About 700 projects have been undertaken with the private sector to create over 30,000 longstanding jobs. That is progress. The $220 million in federal funding spent to date has leveraged over $1.7 billion from our partners. That is performance. For every dollar invested by the federal government nearly $9 is invested by our partners. That is value.

Contrary to the cynical members opposite, this government believes in job creation and is taking action.

Rail Transportation

[Roy H. Bailey, Reform, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Transport for months has been studying rail passenger travel in Canada. The emphasis has been on the core area from Windsor to Quebec City.

Recently the Lynx Consortium made public a plan to build a high speed service between Toronto and Quebec City. Obviously this group would not have gone public without having some private consultations with government officials. These government officials would be from the departments of transport, finance, the environment and probably others.

In order for Canadians to be more informed and before the parliamentary committee can make comment, it is incumbent upon this government to provide as many details as possible on its position, its funding and any other commitment it has.

If Canadians are going to be expected to contribute in a financial way then there should be openness and transparency so the public can understand it before—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Wentworth—Burlington.

Year 2000

[John Bryden, Liberal, Wentworth—Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, governments are spending millions of dollars trying to fix the so-called millennium bug. This is the glitch whereby computers have a two digit date code that cannot recognize the year 2000. Unless their microchips are reprogrammed the machines and the systems they serve will come to a crashing halt at the end of 1999.

The Reform Party has a similar millennium bug. Its constitution is like a microchip in that it contains the party's entire philosophy in a very small space and, like a microchip, also has a self-destruct clause that requires the party to dissolve itself in the year 2000.

Unless Reformers reprogram their constitution at their convention this weekend the party will soon be no more. If I may suggest it to the members opposite, don't do it. They should encourage their delegates to do nothing. Let the millennium bug bite. If they really want to unite the right, then they should let the party and especially its leader simply go “poof”.

Saint-Jérôme Employment Centre

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during the restructuring of Canada employment centres by the Minister of Human Resources Development, several centres in less populated areas were closed so that centres in larger towns could stay open.

This is what happened in Lachute. At the time, the government promised the community that was affected by this closing and that was at a disadvantage because of a lack of public transit, that an acceptable level of activity would be maintained. The Saint-Jérôme CEC therefore gave the contract for checking and forwarding EI applications to the Argenteuil literacy centre. But this service was recently cut, supposedly because of the potential savings to the Saint-Jérôme CEC.

We are asking for this service to be restored as rapidly as possible, so that the people in the Lachute area can have access to the services provided by the Department of Human Resources Development like everyone else—

[The Speaker]

The member for Dartmouth.

Tobacco

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, tobacco claims the lives of 40,000 Canadians every year. The World Health Organization has declared this Sunday “World No-Tobacco Day” in the hope of preventing this addiction in young people.

The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Cancer Society and others concerned about the health of young people point out that tobacco sponsorships of sporting and other events are a significant factor in getting kids to start smoking. Associating cigarettes with fun activities or sports heroes contributes to disease and death.

As culture critic for my party and as an active member of the arts community I want to see that arts, culture and other groups now dependent on tobacco sponsorships are given replacement funds.

The answer is definitely not, as the Minister of Health proposes, to water down the sponsorship provisions of the Tobacco Act. In so doing, he is going in the opposite direction to the rest of the world and it is a very dangerous direction.

For the sake of our children, I urge the Minister of Health to uphold the Tobacco Act and support arts, culture and sporting groups until they are able to find other sponsors.

Nelson A. Boylen Collegiate Institute

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome to Ottawa the students and teachers of the multihandicap program at Nelson A. Boylen Collegiate Institute from the riding of York South—Weston. They are here on a three day field trip to explore and learn about our nation's capital.

It is important to recognize the outstanding and valuable work of this special education program. The aim of the multihandicap program is to promote the student's physical, social, intellectual and emotional development in order to be able to manage in an open society as skilled, autonomous and purposeful individuals. The program graduates students with the skills and attitudes necessary to live with dignity in the larger community.

Congratulations to Amelia Cristinziano and her colleagues for their excellent work in helping these truly exceptional young Canadians in their pursuit of learning.

The students had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting the Prime Minister yesterday, but they assure me that they will still be voting for me in the next election.

Welcome to Ottawa, students.

Tobacco

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, last year tobacco claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Canadians and, despite these alarming numbers, it is predicted that more than 100,000 Canadian children will start to smoke this year alone.

We all understand that inaction on this matter kills. That is why on May 31 the World Health Organization's “No Tobacco Day” will be promoting the theme “Growing up without Tobacco”.

On this day I challenge all my colleagues in the House of Commons and their staff to lead by example and butt out for life. A healthy future for our youth depends on their support.

The Canadian Medical Association urges all parliamentarians to endorse strong regulations so our children can grow up without tobacco. Together we can build a smoke free future for all of our children.

Joliette Libellules

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the world school volleyball championship held in Greece from May 10 to 17, 1998, the Libellules of Joliette's Thérèse-Martin high school placed 13th, thus obtaining the best result for a Canadian team since the beginning of this sports competition.

Under the able direction of trainers Yvon Turgeon and Julie Lachapelle, these young girls, whose average age is 15 and a half, turned in an exceptional performance against athletes averaging 18 years of age.

With their 13th place position in school volleyball, the Joliette Libellules are a credit to Quebec and to Canada which, by the way, they represented for the first time in this world championship.

Theirs is an impressive achievement and they deserve all our admiration and congratulations.

I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Yvon Turgeon, who is retiring after 20 years of devoted service to the Libellules team.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is definite progress on the Ipperwash army base transfer talks despite Reform Party comments.

Last night in my riding the member for Vancouver Island North offered this advice: “The Canadian military should confront natives living at the former Camp Ipperwash and re-occupy the land”.

These careless comments are unfortunate and distressing. I am proud that the local residents, both non-native and native, have shown remarkable courage and patience as the talks continue, hopefully ending very soon with the official transfer of the land to the natives.

The Reform Party's extreme remarks may serve only to alienate people and raise emotions, hindering all of us from the real task of working together in true partnership.

Leadership is about seeking solutions co-operatively, in a spirit of mutual trust and respect. That is what the Liberal government, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and I strongly support. We are so near. I urge all of us to continue to work together.

Philippe Soldevila

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Council of the Arts John Hirsch Prize for 1998 was awarded to theater director Philippe Soldevila at the Carrefour international du théâtre.

Commemorating Mr. Hirsch's great contribution to Canadian theater, this prize is awarded each year to a promising director who has demonstrated original artistic vision.

A Quebec City native, Mr. Soldevila has already directed several successful plays. Apart from being artistic director of the Théâtre Sortie de secours since its foundation in 1989, he has worked with Robert Lepage, which gave him the opportunity to meet artists from various countries. The John Hirsh Prize is just the latest addition to the awards he has received over the last few years.

This young man is another one of those reputable creators from Quebec who are the pride of Quebeckers.

Congratulations to Mr. Soldevila, who is on the way to becoming a master of his art.

Foreign Affairs

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the situation in South Asia continues to deteriorate. This morning's detonation of five nuclear bombs by Pakistan has greatly increased tensions in this very volatile region.

Canada has enjoyed a unique positive relationship with all countries in the region and is therefore in the unique position to engage all of them in active diplomatic measures to help broker a resolution during this very difficult time.

Will the Prime Minister tell the House what specific measures the Government of Canada is prepared to undertake to help defuse this very difficult situation?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. I deplore the decision by the Government of Pakistan to proceed with the tests. When I was in Birmingham I called Prime Minister Sharif to ask him not to do it. I tried to persuade my colleagues to persuade Pakistan not to make the decision, because I was afraid that other countries would want to do the same thing.

Unfortunately Canada, Japan and the United States could not persuade the others to move more strongly with a statement on that Friday night.

For us, we will have to do what we did with India and impose the same types of sanctions that we had—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Fraser Valley.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that Canada's fingerprints can be seen on the nuclear programs of several countries in the region including Pakistan, India and China.

Canada should feel a special obligation to condemn the nuclear testing as the Prime Minister has done and at the same time use our influence to bring about a diplomatic resolution to this very tense situation.

Since Pakistan's actions have forced us to withdraw our ambassador among other actions that the Prime Minister has announced this morning, would he tell us what other measures he will use to bring about some sort of a negotiated settlement to bring these parties together to resolve this matter diplomatically?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, they have tested the atomic bomb. They did it in India and they did it in Pakistan. It is condemned by Canada. I hope it will be condemned by all nations of the world.

We have made a lot of progress in the last seven or eight years following SALT I and SALT II in the reduction of stockpiling of nuclear armament by the Russians and the Americans.

It is a very sad development but the tests have been done. We will discuss and put pressure on both countries to sign treaties where they will commit themselves not to proceed any more and follow the same rules that apply to other nations in the same circumstances.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the difficulty that we now face is that as countries withdraw their ambassadors and withdraw their diplomatic relations with Pakistan and India, it is becoming increasingly difficult to bring these people together to negotiate a settlement during this time.

Will the Prime Minister consider tabling an emergency resolution in the General Assembly of the United Nations in an attempt to bring all the countries together in as speedy way as possible to negotiate and to talk rather than withdraw our diplomats and disengage from a very serious situation?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have to consider the difficult question of the conflicts between those two countries, Pakistan and India, and the problems in Kashmir. Things are getting tense right now. There have been outbreaks of violence between the two countries, something we deplore. Canada has always tried to maintain peace between the two countries.

For now, we just have to wait and see. I thank the hon. member for his suggestion. If there is anything else we can do at the United Nations level, we will. The existing tensions are caused by the decision of the Indian authorities to conduct nuclear tests. We regret this and we also regret—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

Health

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that the health minister will now provide an ongoing package of $42 million to help all the victims of AIDS.

Once again I have a question for the Minister of Health. What about all the victims of hepatitis C? How long will the ones who were left out have to wait?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I can understand why the Reform Party would not support the strategy against AIDS. It has opposed it from the beginning. It appears its so-called compassion is for some of the sick and dying but not for the others.

The member for Macleod blames the victims by saying that those with HIV and AIDS have unhealthy lifestyles. What about those with HIV through the blood system?

The member for Calgary Northeast said that we should not have the AIDS conference in Vancouver. He asked the Minister of Immigration to close the borders. He did not want people with HIV to be in the country. He said that it would put an undue burden on our health system. This is sheer hypocrisy.

[The Speaker]

Once again, my colleagues, I would ask you to please stay away from inflammatory words such as hypocrisy.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House have never heard such nonsense coming from a minister in our lives.

The fact is all victims of AIDS are now being assisted by the government but somehow the rules are different for hepatitis C victims.

Why is a one tier system the right one for AIDS victims but a two tier system is the government's choice for hepatitis C victims? Do hepatitis C victims not deserve to be treated equally?