Debates of June 11th, 1998

Public Service Of Canada

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, next week Canadians pay tribute to the tremendous contribution of the federal Public Service of Canada.

With all the pain associated with downsizing in recent years, it is important during Canada's post-deficit period that we openly express the tremendous pride we feel for our public service.

We are at a crossroads in our history as the role and direction of governments around the world are being re-evaluated. Our public service is known as one of the best in the world. All Canadians benefit from the many services it delivers, which makes Canada the number one country in which to live.

Today I wish to thank our public servants for their dedicated quality service and their commitment to finding better ways to improve Canada.

Prostate Cancer Research

[Ted White, Reform, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Sunday, June 21, is Father's Day. It is also the day for Canada's first ever run for prostate cancer research in Victoria, B.C.

Volunteers have been working for months to organize and promote this event and have even managed to attract the sponsorship of major corporations like CIBC, a company which also supports breast cancer research.

Until recently very few people were talking about prostate cancer even though one man in eight will be struck with the disease during his lifetime. As a result prostate cancer research has struggled to attract research funding, just one-twentieth of the money going to breast cancer research and less than one-hundredth of the money going to AIDS research.

It is time for governments to begin distributing their research funding in a more equitable manner and to catch up with public awareness about prostate cancer.

Congratulations to the Victoria, B.C., organizers of Canada's first ever run for prostate cancer research. They have overcome enormous obstacles to help raise awareness of a very serious disease.

Michael Starr

[Ivan Grose, Liberal, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege on Wednesday, June 3, to attend a dinner in Oshawa to recognize the honourable Michael Starr.

Mike Starr was born in northern Ontario in 1910. He served as mayor of Oshawa and his other public activities covered three pages in his bio.

He became minister of labour in 1957 in the Diefenbaker government, but, as a I say at home, even the most illustrious among us sometimes has a shortcoming.

Mike Starr served in a Tory government but his work in anti-discrimination and fair labour laws would have qualified him to be a Liberal, maybe even NDP. Now he is an ardent supporter of the Reform Party which of course assures that his candidate in Oshawa will continue to lose.

After the foregoing unpaid ads, I will expect applause from all sides of the House.

Saeed Baghbani

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a young constituent in my riding of Scarborough Centre.

Saeed Baghbani is just 14 years old but he has already reached the pinnacle in the Canadian karate world. In 1997 Saeed became the Ontario karate champion and on May 6, 1998 Saeed went on to win the gold medal in the Canadian national karate competition. Saeed will now go on to represent Canada at the Pan American Games which will be held in September 1998 in Argentina.

In addition to these impressive accomplishments, Saeed has been selected as the best athlete for 1997-98 at Wexford Collegiate Institute in Scarborough.

I want to congratulate Saeed on his terrific accomplishments and wish him well with the upcoming games in September. This young man represents the great things that our youth can achieve with the proper support and encouragement. It is exactly the environment that our government is striving to create for young Canadians now and in the next millennium.

Congratulations, Saeed.

Iceland

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—Assiniboine, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of Canada receiving a new ambassador from Iceland, I want to share with members the strong ties that exist between Canada and Iceland.

My Icelandic ancestors first came to the shores of what is now Canada almost 1,000 years ago. Icelandic settlers immigrated to Manitoba as early as 1875 and established the republic of new Iceland on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Their descendants have made contributions in a wide range of fields, including agriculture, medicine, literature, business and government. They have helped build a better Canada.

Each year in August the Icelandic festival Islundingadaggurin is held at Gimli, Manitoba. I invite all Canadians to Gimli to share the experience.

We of Icelandic ancestry are proud Canadians who have not forgotten our heritage.

I offer my best wishes and full support as our two countries work together toward a closer and stronger relationship based on a longstanding friendship and mutual respect.

[The Speaker]

Like the hon. member, we are all very happy that the ambassador was able to be with us today.

Businesslinc Project

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the United States the unemployment rate is the lowest in 28 years. However the White House recognizes that there are marginalized constituencies and urban areas left behind in the rush to meet the challenges of global competitiveness.

Last Friday, Vice-President Gore announced several new private sector commitments to invest in low income communities. He launched an administration initiative to encourage large businesses to work with local small businesses in distressed areas. The BusinessLINC project includes such high profile partners as BankBoston, Prudential Insurance and Pfizer Corp.

As we in Canada struggle with similar realities of global competitiveness, I ask if there are aspects of this community reinvestment model which our large businesses such as bank merger hopefuls might consider as part of their contract with the people of Canada.

The Senate

[Howard Hilstrom, Reform, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party has long campaigned for a Senate that is equal in representation for all provinces, elected by the people and effective in operations. Our appeals for Senate reform seem to fall on deaf ears as the Liberals ignore the obvious problems in the Senate and continue to make patronage appointments.

Even the Prime Minister has begun to recognize the need for change. On June 3 the Prime Minister said “When there will be an elected Senate there will be an elected Senate for all Canadians at the same time. If we want reform of the Senate we need a complete one with equality and effectiveness”.

The Prime Minister has not yet seen the light. Canada deserves an equal, elected and effective Senate. The Prime Minister knows this but is unwilling to make that necessary first step of recognizing the democratic will of the people who want to elect their next senator.

Skylink Aviation Inc.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to a Canadian company that is playing a leadership role internationally through the provision of rapid deployment evacuation air services.

Skylink Aviation, based in Toronto with operations throughout the world including a freight service in Windsor, has demonstrated incredible courage moving people out of dangerous circumstances.

It provided evacuation services on behalf of UNICEF and the world food program in flood ravaged Somalia. On May 16 and 17, Skylink flew into Jakarta, Indonesia and evacuated 420 Canadian nationals. Skylink was the only cargo carrier to provide food and medical supplies to Afghanistan while evacuating seriously ill people and UN personnel.

Last Friday, Skylink undertook a most dangerous mission in Eritrea on behalf of the United States state department. During bombing and air fire resulting in the downing of an Ethiopian plane, Skylink landed and safely evacuated 220 people out of Eritrea to Frankfurt.

It is most gratifying to see a Canadian company demonstrating leadership and courage in the protection of human lives throughout the world.

S. Matte Hardware Store In Saint-Tite

[Réjean Lefebvre, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a page of history will soon be turned in Saint-Tite, in the riding of Champlain, when André Matte and his sister Odette will, for the last time, close the door of the family hardware store that has been part of that small community for 116 years.

The Mattes still have the basket and the snow-pusher that are associated with their business in Saint-Tite. One can still find many other items on the shelves of the family business that was started by Siméon Matte, in 1882.

André and Odette loved their work and did not count their hours. The S. Matte hardware store is closing not because of financial problems, but because there is no one to take over the business. André et Odette Matte, both in their 60s, will enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

On behalf of all the residents of the Mékinac region and the municipality of Saint-Tite, I thank them both. You will be sorely missed.

The Judiciary

[Reed Elley, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, political correctness and social engineering. These are just two of the loathsome byproducts perpetuated by judicial activism. Courts are no longer interpreting laws made by parliament but are instead making them on behalf of governments, derelict in their duty and void of responsibility.

The situation has resulted in the removal of parliament as the supreme law making body and given us court rulings that reflect the political agenda of precious few in this country.

This collective assault by the judiciary has meant an erosion of the traditional values held by Canadians. It has also trampled individual rights and freedoms while advancing collective rights to the detriment—

[The Speaker]

My colleague, your statements are coming very close to criticizing the judiciary as an institution. I would cut it right there.

Justice Louis-Philippe Pigeon

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a rare event is taking place this afternoon in Sainte-Foy, Quebec. The Quebec Minister of Justice will unveil a commemorative plaque to honour a former judge from the Supreme Court of Canada, Louis-Philippe Pigeon.

You will remember that Justice Louis-Philippe Pigeon was a brilliant lawyer and an eminent adviser to Premier Jean Lesage, before being appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and eventually becoming chief justice.

The building that houses the Quebec Department of Justice will now be called Louis-Philippe Pigeon. Let us hope that this will be a source of inspiration for the current minister and his successors in making decisions.

This is yet more proof that Quebec has a real and full place in Canada.

Davis Day

[Michelle Dockrill, NDP, Bras D'Or, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in coal mining communities across Cape Breton Island today, schools and businesses are closed and the streets are quiet.

Today is Davis Day commemorating the miner shot by coal company police during the strike in 1925.

Today Cape Bretoners remember when their island was the engine for the Dominion, when their blood and sweat fed the war machine of the British Empire. Today working people remember how they fought and died for things we now take for granted. Living wages, pensions, protection from bosses who would rather shoot to kill than bargain in good faith.

On Davis Day we remember our history. Cape Bretoners have reason to be proud and Canadians have reason to be thankful.

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

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

Mr. Speaker, today I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating this day of festivities for all the people of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

As a start to regional pride week, the people of our fine corner of the country want to share with you this moment of pleasure, which bears witness to the vitality of our community. Our people proudly raise the regional flag and with one voice sing the song of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

I will share one of the verses with you:

Once long ago a country wild, Oppressed by a conqueror Of courage far beyond the strength Of your unflinching majesty. Th'emboldened hand of ancestors Made you into their dwelling place And did create with strokes so sure Your vistas all magnificent.

Happy celebrations to all the people of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Indian Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government is actively involved in an important project for aboriginal people, namely self-government.

I find it unfortunate, however, that the opposition parties are calling on the government to rush such a complex issue through.

That is exactly what we do not want to do, for rushed solutions to aboriginal issues might well compromise all the groundwork that has been done so far.

We are trying to work together to find solutions that are appropriate and in accordance with the wishes of those who will have to live with the new reality.

To put it succinctly, respect for culture and ancestral conditions involve, first and foremost, dialogue and concerted efforts.

Senior Citizens Month

[Jean Dubé, Progressive Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the month of June has been designated Senior Citizens Month.

Seniors have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our communities and our country. They deserve our admiration and respect.

Yet the present government persists in launching an unprecedented assault on our older citizens. Its Canada Pension Plan reforms will reduce what Canadians will receive, while increasing their contributions.

Recently, Bill C-36 would have meant lower Guaranteed Income Supplement payments for needy seniors. We are still waiting to see the strategy this same minister will come up with in his reworking of the senior benefit project.

As we begin Senior Citizens Month, I wish to assure the senior citizens of Canada that we will be proud to be their staunch defenders. We in the Progressive Conservative Party will look after their interests.

First Nations Land Management Act

[Karen Kraft Sloan, Liberal, York North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the First Nations land management act which received first reading today will allow 14 communities to opt out of the land sections of the Indian Act.

I am honoured to represent the Chippewas of Georgina Island, one of the 14 communities. Georgina Island voted overwhelmingly to adopt their own land code. The speedy passage of this legislation is crucial for First Nations to respond to economic opportunities and create jobs. All members, men, women and children of these First Nations communities will benefit.

I congratulate Chief McCue, the council and the community for their vision and determination. I call on all members of both houses to support Chief Bill McCue, Georgina Island and the other 13 First Nations communities.

Great Britain

[Daniel Turp, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois wishes to acknowledge the open mind of the British minister responsible for relations between Canada and Great Britain regarding Quebec's sovereignty.

Yesterday, in the Vancouver Sun , Ms. Liz Symons was reported as saying that, if Quebec says yes to sovereignty, it will be very important that a good relationship be maintained with Quebec.

Such an open-minded attitude on the part of a foreign government on a political issue as sensitive as the future of Quebec is in sharp contrast with the Canadian government ministers' pattern of behaviour with their Plan B. Clearly, this kind of open-mindedness was not brought back home at the same time as the Canadian Constitution.

Liberal ministers must now understand that more and more states will no doubt be as realistic and open-minded when Quebec achieves full sovereignty.

National Capital Commission

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

Mr. Speaker the National Capital Commission is an unelected, unaccountable body which administers properties and events in the nation's capital. It has just announced a humdinger of a 50-year plan for Canada's capital. The idea came from none other than the Prime Minister himself.

The 50-year plan would involve demolishing at least two churches, five heritage buildings and Ottawa's main public library. Great vision. Some legacy. That amount of demolition is like clear-cutting buildings.

Speaking of vision, the same people at the NCC who intend to implement this plan have had to sell greenbelt area around Ottawa to raise cash to pay for their daily operations. Instead of such a controversial and big budget vision for our nation's capital we need democracy in the National Capital Commission.

I call on the heritage minister to dismantle the current unelected, unaccountable NCC board and replace it with elected representatives, a commission accountable to the people who have to live with their decisions. The beleaguered Canadian taxpayers always has to foot the bill.

Health

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this week as parliament comes to a close the government may be thinking that it can finally close the file on hepatitis C victims, but the hands of the Prime Minister like those of Lady MacBeth are stained with his treatment of tainted blood victims.

“Out, damned spot” is what she said. “This file is closed” is what he said. But the victims will not be so easily silenced.

Does the government really believe that it can get away with its shameless treatment of the victims of tainted blood?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is important for the Leader of the Opposition to remember that until the government came along, until the leadership of the Prime Minister was in place, those who sought recompense for tainted blood were turned away.

The one single answer from all governments was no. As a result of the leadership of the Prime Minister's government some 22,000 who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system have now been offered a reasonable recompense.

A process is now under way with other governments to determine whether a consensus can be reached for dealing with all victims.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government may think that the questioning of its conduct on this issue will stop when question period stops, but this summer these questions will grow louder and even more insistent.

For each Liberal MP out there trying to wash the stains of the government's record on this issue from the Prime Minister's hands, there will be hundreds of victims telling the truth.

What are Liberal MPs supposed to say at the barbeques and the town hall meetings when these victims ask “Why did you betray our interests?”

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I should think that the leader of the Reform Party had trouble enough on his own hands telling his own members what they will be saying all summer when all of them refuse to support the Reform Party.

We shall have enough to say. We shall point to the leadership we have taken. We shall point to the steps that we have undertaken to offer recompense to those who were injured as a result of the fault of those responsible.

Over the coming weeks I assure the Leader of the Opposition that governments will continue to work together to find a new consensus to deal with the interest of all those who contracted hepatitis C.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government thinks it has a dozen ways to wash these stains from its hands. The Prime Minister blames the provinces. The Prime Minister compares the victims to cigarette addicts and junkies using dirty needles. The Prime Minister uses party discipline to force his own Liberal MPs to vote against the victims.

However, there is only one way for the government to wash this stain from its record and this is its last chance before parliament rises. Will the government agree to compensate all victims of hepatitis C just as Justice Krever recommended?