Debates of June 1st, 1998

Fraser Valley Constituents

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what is it about the Fraser Valley that turns out such good quality people?

Last week Mr. William Henderson, head of technology education at Robert Bateman Secondary in Abbotsford received the Prime Minister's Teaching Excellence Award.

That is not the only award the Fraser Valley has been winning lately.

On May 19 four Abbotsford students overcame stiff competition to win gold medals at the Skills Canada national championship. Yale student Don Poirier won a gold medal in the Architectural CAD competition. Robert Bateman Secondary students Mike Olson and Mike Thompson won gold medals in computer animation. Not to be outdone, Career Technical Centre student Cecil Leclair won first place in the Principles of Technology competition.

Technical expertise is not the only thing Fraser Valley students are good at. On May 17 and 18, 13-year old Mathew Pitts of Chilliwack Middle School took on all comers and won the Canadian Chess Championship for grade eight students.

I could go on and on. I will sum up by saying Fraser Valley is a wonderful place to stay and it is a wonderful place to visit, but it is the wonderful people of the Fraser Valley that make it the nicest riding in all of Canada.

Sydenham River Clean-Up

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the town of Wallaceburg and the dedicated community groups who are working together to clean up the Sydenham River.

On Saturday I was on hand when scuba divers entered the river in the centre of town to remove unwanted items. The clean-up project came about because of a very unfortunate accident. A year ago a young boy tragically drowned in the river as he was caught in some underwater debris.

My constituents and I praise the Wallaceburg Rotary Club, president Jim Tumelty and councillor Chip Gordon as they combined their efforts with the local police, firefighters, power squadron, volunteer divers, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 18 and the Environment Club from Wallaceburg District Secondary School. Together they are improving the safety of the river. Their hard work and enthusiasm are to be commended.

Teaching Excellence Award

[Claudette Bradshaw, Liberal, Moncton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the greater Moncton area, I rise in the House today to congratulate Mr. Andrew Campbell who was awarded the 1997 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

A teacher at the MacNaughton Science and Technology Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick, Mr. Campbell has been chosen for a certificate of achievement and has been awarded a cash prize of $1,000. This amount will be used to purchase resource materials, teaching aids and other tools to help enhance the teaching environment at the MacNaughton Science and Technology Centre.

We should always take the time to recognize and to thank our teachers for their dedication to promoting the development of our children.

Once again, I speak on behalf of everyone in the greater Moncton area when I say to Mr. Campbell, thank you for your wonderful contribution and congratulations on your well-deserved award.

Employment

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government is working hard to help unemployed Canadians return to work. Last year nearly 400,000 jobs were created and the unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in eight years.

Employment insurance represents a key element in our efforts to encourage job creation and economic growth for it removes the disincentives to work which existed under the previous system. It uses active employment measures to help unemployed workers to return to work, such as the $800 million investment in re-employment benefits and the $300 million transitional jobs fund which has created more than 300,000 jobs in the last two years in high unemployment regions.

Clearly EI is doing an excellent job of helping unemployed Canadians get back to work as quickly as possible. For this reason I want to express my support for this program and urge all members to work with us to make sure EI can continue to provide workers with the assistance they need and deserve.

Reform Party Of Canada

[Derrek Konrad, Reform, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend in the beautiful forest city of London, Ontario, the membership of the Reform Party of Canada constructed its bridge to the 21st century.

Based as always on the principles and policies which have taken us from protest movement to official opposition, resolutions to consolidate opposition to this weak and stalled Liberal government were passed resoundingly. More than 1,000 delegates from across Canada voted to forge a united alternative to form the next government and to begin nationwide discussions for a newly aligned federation in a new Canada act.

It is the innovation and the solid foundation laid by the early Reformers joined with the energy and enthusiasm of our youth that will provide a bright future not only for the Reform Party but for all Canada.

This weekend the leadership for a new generation was born in the actions taken by the Reform national assembly solidly based on the party's principles, its policies and its people.

Access Awareness Week

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week various communities will be celebrating the advances made by Canadians with disabilities in their communities.

Access Awareness Week reminds us that we are working toward a goal to enable people with disabilities to enjoy the full participation in the economic and social life of Canada. It also gives us an occasion to reflect on the work being done and to call on our partners to renew our commitment to Canadians with disabilities so they can create and build opportunities for themselves.

Just recently the Prime Minister received the prestigious Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award at the UN on behalf of Canadians. This award recognizes our commitment to work with Canadians with disabilities for their full participation in Canadian society.

But as the Prime Minister said, much remains to be done. I urge all members of the House to build on this award and to continue to work to enable Canadians with disabilities to take their full place in the economic life of this country.

Windsor—St. Clair Constituency

[Shaughnessy Cohen, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at the Reform convention this weekend the name Windsor—St. Clair became synonymous with the ongoing attempt by that party's elite to vest even more power in their leader and his Calgary gang. The so-called Windsor—St. Clair report was the vehicle they used to try to do this.

Let me tell say that the good voters of Windsor—St. Clair should not be associated with internecine Reform power struggles. The real grassroots in Windsor—St. Clair do not even support Reform. They vote for real representation in the House by voting Liberal.

Reform Party Of Canada

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend London, Ontario played host to the best example of democracy in Canada, a Reform Party assembly.

It was absolutely wonderful to see the grassroots members of our party overwhelmingly support initiatives like the united alternative and the new Canada act and other policies that would be beneficial in governing this country. Yet these independently minded individuals also rejected a number of resolutions that they felt would be detrimental to the country.

Our assembly once again demonstrated the difference between Reformers and Liberals. In the Reform Party grassroots members give direction to the leader, whereas in the Liberal Party independent thought is prohibited. Their leader rules with an iron fist, or sometimes a choke hold.

[Steve Mahoney, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every so often the Reform Party tries to put a new face on its tired old policies in the hopes that somehow it will be able to attract new members.

With its membership growth stagnated, its latest attempt is called united alternative but the big problem is that it looks exactly like the Reform Party. It will have the same leader, the same so-called principles and the same policy as the Reform Party. Some alternative. Canadians considered the Reform alternative in the last election and they turned thumbs down.

I cannot say it any better than an Ontario delegate to the convention who was quoted as saying that he wondered why anybody from another party would attend a Reform organized assembly knowing in advance the party's principles were untouchable and its leader would desperately try to remain leader.

The vast majority of Canadians know that no matter what kind of sheep's clothing the party wraps itself in, Reform's wolves are not what Canada needs.

Canadian Armed Forces

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Maclean's magazine reported on 13 women who were victims of harassment, sexual assault and rape in the armed forces.

Following this article, 11 other women came forward, bringing to 24 the number of women who have been victims of such abuse.

The Bloc Quebecois wishes to acknowledge the courage shown by these women in reporting experiences that bring back painful memories.

We urge all women in the military who suffered such abuse to come forward, to put an end to this situation and create in the armed forces a work environment based on respect, equality and dignity.

Veterans Affairs

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, 26 Royal Canadian Air Force officers were condemned to the Buchenwald concentration camp by the Nazi Gestapo in 1944. One of these was a constituent of mine, Mr. William R. Gibson.

Five months ago, I wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs demanding that the Canadian government seek reparations from Germany. Five months later it appears no action is being taken. These veterans are not getting any younger. Each day this Liberal government does not take action is a day it further disgraces itself to these veterans and all Canadians.

The German government has already made similar reparations to Britain. The United States is also actively dealing with this matter. I understand in all that veterans from 19 other countries who suffered the same fate have received some action from their governments. Australia and New Zealand have provided their own compensation for veterans in similar positions.

These veterans deserve justice today. Over half a century is an obscene amount of time to wait. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Reform Party

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—Cochrane, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the polls in Quebec are clear when it comes to the presence and role of the Reform Party. Nobody wants anything to do with them.

The only people interested in this political party are the Bloc Quebecois. It is truly strange. The Bloc Quebecois is the party that criticizes the Reform Party for its anti-Quebec stand. Now the Reformers are looking at them as possible allies.

It is the separatists who will welcome this shift. I can hardly wait to hear the new Sovereignist-Reform party line. As a third way, it is pretty sad.

Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, May 31 to June 6 has been designated World Environment Week. This is an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the beauty of our nation with all its forests, mountains, rivers and lakes, a landscape that defines a country. It is also a time when Canadians hope the Prime Minister will for once reflect on his poor environmental record and reconsider the importance his government gives to this portfolio.

I urge the government to tackle the problems reported by the commissioner of the environment and by the environment committee during the past few weeks.

This government has no plan to protect Canada's biodiversity. It has no viable plan to address climate change and it is failing to enforce its own environmental assessment guidelines.

I also urge the government to revisit its cuts to the department which will hamper our ability to meet our environmental commitments both at home and abroad.

This government must recognize that reducing the size of the environmental budget has a direct impact on the Canada we will leave to future generations.

Seniors Benefit

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here is a poem about this government's treatment of women over 65:

Her endless round of work complete, madame was much dismayed when, on retirement, it appeared that she would not get paid. The new reform, so brightly wrapped, ignored all she had done, and though they were her rightful due, of payments there were none. “But what about my kids,” she cried. “Is no allowance made? Without them you would all be lost, and others would need aid”. The man who held the purse strings said “Have I not been quite clear? You never drew a pay cheque, so you're on your own, my dear”

Calgary Declaration

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the British Columbia legislature has ratified by unanimous vote the nine premiers' Calgary declaration on Quebec's status as a unique society within the Canadian federal system.

The B.C. legislature, to secure unanimity, also cited several areas of prime concern in B.C.-Ottawa co-operation. These additions do not legally derogate from the ratification of the Calgary declaration.

While not a formal amendment of the Constitution, the Calgary declaration when ratified by the nine provincial legislatures will acquire its own constitutional legal quality of which judicial notice may be taken.

Reform Party Convention

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaking, last weekend the Reform Party held its seventh assembly meeting in London, Ontario. The Reform Party laid out a challenge to all Canadians, a challenge to come together, to work together and to build a stronger Canada; a Canada that lives within its means, where taxes are lower, where useless regulations are removed and job opportunities thrive; a Canada where all of its citizens, whether living in New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia or any of its provinces and territories have equal rights and equal responsibilities; a Canada where there is equality for all and special status for no one; where a social safety net is there for those who need it and is not used as a dependent system; a Canada where justice is put back into the justice system and victims' rights are put first; where parliamentary institutions reflect the will of the people and not the political leadership of a party; where aboriginal and non-aboriginal people work together with equal rights to build a stronger future for all.

Join Reform's united—

[The Speaker]

Oral questions.

Government Contracts

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government's purchasing rules say that whenever it buys anything costing more than $30,000 it has to go to competitive bidding.

Last winter, at a closed door cabinet meeting, this government decided to award a $2.85 billion contract to Bombardier without competitive bidding.

What possible excuse does the Minister of Public Works have for awarding a contract of this size and complexity without a competitive bid?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, first, the contract went to a consortium that included Bombardier and other companies. At the time it brought forward a proposal that was quite unique. The proposal was such that no other competitor would have existed in this country. There was absolutely no one else who could do something of this particular magnitude.

We proceeded with the contract that will save some $200 million over 20 years in providing this service and 90% of the jobs that will be saved or created will be in western Canada.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this contract is unique all right. Let me show you how unique it is.

Public Works' contracting guidelines expressly say that if the government is going to sole source a contract public notice must be given 14 days in advance of awarding the contract to give companies a chance to respond, to question or to express interest. In this case cabinet made a decision to bypass this rule and not advertise the procurement at all.

This is in the ballpark of the Minister of Public Works. Whose decision was it to bypass the regulations of his department? Was it his decision?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the fact that there was no other known competitor and that no other company could have matched a project of this magnitude, there was a timing problem. If we were going to be able to get other countries within NATO to become a part of this program, then a very timely decision had to be made. Otherwise we would have lost any opportunity, if we had gone through a very lengthy process, where there would have been no other competitors in any event.

Again, the government will be saving a lot of—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, with the usual banter back and forth it sometimes gets a little difficult to hear either the questions or the answers. I would appeal to you to be a little more considerate.

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is wrong on both counts. NATO has indicated that there was time flexibility on this contract and the assistant deputy minister of Public Works said that there were other companies that could have done the job.

We have a big contract, we have a military contract, where there has been bungling before, and we have it with Bombardier, whose people have been thick as thieves with Liberals at the highest levels.

Whose decision was it to bend the rules in favour of Bombardier? Was it the minister responsible or was it the Prime Minister himself?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, first of all there was no bending of the rules. Secondly, this was a decision taken by cabinet in light of all of the information that was brought forward and the capability of companies to be able to do the job.

It is not just Bombardier. Frontec Corporation of Edmonton, CAE Electronics of Montreal and British Aerospace of the United Kingdom are part of a consortium that is involved in this particular project. This consortium, together, can deliver on this project. It can save a lot of money for Canadian taxpayers. It can encourage foreign countries to send their pilots to this country. It can save the base in Moose Jaw and create lots of jobs in western—