Debates of June 2nd, 1998

Parks Canada Act

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Does the hon. member for Elk Island have the unanimous consent of the House to revert to questions and comments?

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I could not follow the hon. member's comment. I want to know what he said.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The member for Elk Island requested unanimous consent of the House to revert to questions and comments.

Does the member for Elk Island have unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I just assumed Liberal members opposite would have some piercing questions for my colleague. I was waiting for them to rise but none of them did. My apologies for not jumping up and trying to be recognized ahead of the Liberals.

I have a national park in my own riding. One thing that is a big issue in Elk Island, the home of Elk Island National Park, is that local people actually started that park. They got it going, organized it and eventually made a golf course in it. They have had a ongoing fight with bureaucracy in Ottawa as to how the park should operate.

Ottawa sent them a message that they had to close the road through the park. A lot of seniors were involved in that park from the beginning. Some of them are unable now to ride bicycles. They are 85 years old, for heaven's sake, but they still like to take a ride through the park and enjoy it.

There are others with limited financial abilities who want to participate in the park they helped to build. Lo and behold in their senior years the very park they built is closed to them because they cannot afford to go there.

We have control. We have taxation. We have limitations on the way these people can use their parks. In my view there is too much control from distant Ottawa over parks that we want to enjoy, that we have developed, that really belong to the people. Suddenly parks have become an exclusive domain of the rich and the mighty and government bureaucrats. I would like my colleague to comment on that.

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I tell my hon. friend that it is worse than he thought. The reason is that I am convinced the bureaucracy of Parks Canada is staffed and populated with radical environmentalists.

These people in essence are anti-human. That is why they do not want human beings in these parks. They care more about bugs and slugs than they do about people. That is the reality of it. David Suzuki, a leading light in the environmental movement, posited a few months ago that in order for the world to survive there had to be a mass die off of human beings. We invited him to lead the way but so far he has not taken the challenge.

That is the kind of attitude that pervades the bureaucracy at Parks Canada. It is the kind of attitude that pervades the environmental movement. These are largely far left political operatives who have lost the battle on the main front because communism as we know it is pretty much dead all over the world. They are trying to come through the back door and the environmental movement is a very effective way for them to do that. That is the reality of it.

Diocese Of Pembroke

[Hec Clouthier, Liberal, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Diocese of Pembroke in my great riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

It was on May 4, 1898 that Pope Leo XIII raised the Vicariate of Pontiac to the status of a diocese with Bishop Narcisse Lorrain presiding. Since Bishop Lorrain there have been five bishops appointed to oversee the Diocese of Pembroke: Bishop Ryan, Bishop Nelligan, Bishop Windle, Bishop Smith and the current Bishop Brendan O'Brien.

On June 7, 1998, this Sunday, a mass of thanksgiving will be offered at the Pembroke Memorial Centre to celebrate this very auspicious occasion, to recognize the contributions of pioneers such as Bishop Lorrain and to reflect on the courage and generosity of our diocesan ancestors.

I congratulate Bishop O'Brien, Monsignor Barry and all those connected with this centennial celebration.

Congratulations, my friends.

Ukraine

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as many as seven million Ukrainians were starved in Soviet socialist dictator Josef Stalin's artificial forced famine in Ukraine in 1932 and 1933.

This is approximately the total population of Manitoba, Newfoundland, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.

This month Canadians of Ukrainian descent commemorate the 65th anniversary of this socialist inspired genocide. Soviet socialist leaders used troops and secret police to seize every last scrap of food and grain. Ukrainian farmers were beaten, arrested and even shot for trying keep a few kernels on the fields of their collectivised farms.

We must never forget the millions of innocent Ukrainians who lost their lives. We must never allow a repeat of this terrible tragedy.

The Sonier Centre

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the opening of the Sonier Centre, a new partnership between Fanshawe College, the St. Leonard's Society, the Children's Service Network and Sir George Ross Secondary School. The centre is named after Pierre Sonier, a man who during his life was dedicated to the well-being of his family, his community, his friends and especially troubled youth.

In collaboration with the St. Leonard's Society, college students will help manage justice circles involving young offenders. The St. Leonard's Society is already co-ordinating justice circles in the London vicinity. The centre will also help in providing student resources to the Wrap Around Project under the direction of the Children's Service Network.

Both are innovative programs which show how constructive alternate solutions in the justice system can work in addressing the needs of victims and young offenders. Restorative justice principles are successfully incorporated into community based solutions and crime prevention strategies.

I applaud the London partners who are leading the way in my community to make a difference.

The Lighthouse Project

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate 20 teens and their police mentors for a tremendous job of community co-operation. On May 25 these young residents helped plant the seeds of crime prevention by planting flowers and corn in their neighbourhood of Sunnydale Place in my riding of Kitchener—Waterloo. This neighbourhood has been plagued with unemployment, poverty and daily incidents of violence.

The teens have had enough. The city is donating the plants. The youth are providing the labour. Most important, these young people have provided the initiative. Calling themselves the Lighthouse Project, these teens are also involved in a second project, restoring 75 bicycles donated by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group. The costs of the restoration are being covered by grants from the Twin Cities Optimist Club.

Congratulations to these 20 teens and their police mentors for all their hard work and hope for the future. They are another great example of how people of the Waterloo region work together through their community safety and crime prevention council.

Chiapas

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, from May 8 to 12, I had the honour of leading a parliamentary delegation to Chiapas, Mexico. Upon our return, I denounced the fear and destitution these people are living in on a daily basis.

I have the pleasure today of informing the House that the Government of Mexico has formally invited the International Committee of the Red Cross to resume its humanitarian activities in Chiapas. These activities include direct humanitarian relief to affected populations and will be conducted in co-operation with the Mexican Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

Furthermore, the Mexican government will give the international Red Cross direct and full access to all those jailed in connection with the events in Chiapas.

I should point out that the Mexican government's request to the Red Cross represents a major initiative in terms of human rights, one which will bring appeasement, peace and hope to the region.

Ted McCain

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate Mr. Ted McCain, a computer science teacher at Maple Ridge Secondary School in my riding of Dewdney—Alouette. He has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence. Mr. McCain is one of five B.C. teachers to receive this award.

Mr. McCain is a leader in his field. He has been involved in advocating and implementing new technology curriculum in his school and in the province of British Columbia. Courses created by Mr. McCain have become models for technology education across the country.

Being a former teacher, I can appreciate the impact teachers have on our youth. Teachers have the responsibility to prepare their students for life. Mr. McCain obviously excels at this aspect of teaching.

Allowing our students to be competitive in technological fields will prove invaluable as we enter the 21st century. I know the students of Maple Ridge Secondary are fortunate to have Mr. McCain as a teacher.

A Year In Review

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, one year ago I was elected the first member of Parliament for the riding of Thornhill. My constituents in Thornhill, along with other Canadians, honoured the Liberal Party with a second majority mandate. What a wonderful year it has been.

We have the first balanced budget in almost 30 years. In December we saw the creation of the one millionth new job since October 1993. The April unemployment rate was 8.4%, still too high but the lowest in nearly eight years. In the first quarter of 1996 Canada's gross domestic product grew at 3.7%, surpassing economist expectations. Canadians have recorded the largest personal income gains this decade. As the chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada said, this shows a healthy, robust economy.

I take this opportunity to wish all members of the Liberal caucus a happy anniversary. I also say a very special thank you to the people of Thornhill for allowing me to come to Ottawa and try to make a positive difference.

City Of Terrebonne

[Paul Mercier, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the City of Terrebonne is preparing to mark the 325th anniversary of its foundation with grand celebrations.

A seigneury under the reign of Louis XIV, a village under the municipal government, Terrebonne became a city in 1880. It has been developing harmoniously ever since, and its charm was never affected. It now has a population of more than 40,000.

As a thriving city with historic structures and vibrant people, Terrebonne is prominent in Quebec thanks to its talented artists, its aggressive business people and its diverse economy.

All Quebeckers are invited to experience or experience again, as the case may be, the hospitality of this friendly city and join in the celebrations, which will start on June 23, the day before Quebec's national holiday, and will continue until the day before Christmas Eve.

Happy anniversary, Terrebonne. We love you.

Liberal Government

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on the first anniversary of the second Liberal mandate and of my election in the riding of Laval West, I would like to present a outline of our achievements.

Not long ago, we inherited from the previous government a deficit that was a staggering $42 billion. This year, our government balanced the federal budget for the first time in close to 30 years.

In early 1994, the unemployment rate was 11.4%. Since then, it has come down by three points. Indeed, in April of this year, it fell to 8.4%, its lowest level in almost eight years.

Not long ago, the issue of Quebec's linguistic school boards remained unsolved. Thanks to our government's effective dialogue, a quick solution was found, to the satisfaction of Quebeckers.

Not long ago, the transfer of manpower training was an issue that could not be resolved. Now, the Liberal government—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Southeast has the floor.

Israel

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while Jews and Gentiles around the world are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the modern state of Israel, Liberal and New Democrat MPs are choosing to attack this brave outpost for democracy in the Middle East.

The NDP MPs for Vancouver East and Burnaby—Douglas and the Liberal MP for Gatineau all gave their blessing to a recent anti-Israel rally where the independence of Israel was maligned as a “catastrophe”.

The New Democrat MP for Burnaby—Douglas said that Israel's modern rebirth was not a happy occasion but was the start of 50 years of “injustice”.

Shame on these MPs. This is an outrageous affront to Israel's thriving democracy and its willingness to dialogue with Palestinians, some of whom still vow to destroy Israel.

These Liberal and NDP MPs claim to speak for democracy but instead of celebrating Israel's valiant defence of democracy in the Middle East, they have chose to malign it. What a disgrace to this House and to this country.

Reform Party Of Canada

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party will be kicking off its united alternative campaign to attract new members with meetings this Wednesday and Thursday. But these meetings will be people who are already members of another party, Bloc Quebecois MPs.

The Leader of the Opposition would do well to remember what happened the last time we had a party leader who was so desperate to win government that he formed an unholy alliance with a group of Quebec separatists. The man was Brian Mulroney and his gift to Canada was none other than Lucien Bouchard.

The Reform Party should remember that western Canadians thanked Mr. Mulroney for that gift by voting out of office every single one of his Progressive Conservatives in the west.

Unless Reformers change their strategy, maybe they will get the same treatment.

Canadian National

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, one year ago today the people of Saskatchewan defeated all but one of their Liberal MPs. It is not hard to see why.

One by one the Liberals have let the cornerstones of rural life in Saskatchewan slip away; no more crow benefit, no more post offices, fewer bank branches and abandoned rail lines.

When CN built its rail lines in Saskatchewan it received land, minerals and money in return for providing a public service for farmers. Now it has sold off the minerals, hived off the land to a separate company, taken the money and run.

CN wants to shut down the Imperial subdivision in Saskatchewan. The process set up by the Liberals allows it to shut down this branch line within 30 days of announcement then call a public meeting before that 30 day period expires.

CN will hold its public meeting tomorrow in Imperial, Saskatchewan and I will be there fighting to keep rail service for our farmers.

What we need from the Liberals is a commitment to farmers. I call on the member for Wascana to join me at that meeting and to join me in calling on CN to place a standstill on further rail line abandonments until Justice Estey has handed—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Beauce.

Reform Party

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we should take good note of the last move made by the sovereignists, a sovereignist-Reform strategic alliance or, if you prefer, a Reform-sovereignist alliance.

This is some union, some alliance between a party that advocates Quebec's separation and one that led an anti-Quebec campaign during the last election campaign.

These two parties will now even share the same meeting rooms. However, we still do not know which of the two leaders—the leader of the Reform Party or the leader of the Bloc Quebecois—will succeed in imposing his views on the Quebec situation.

Before the union is made official, let us say, as is the custom “If any man can show just cause why this union cannot be solemnized, let him speak now or forever hold his peace”.

Will Lucien Bouchard rise or will he forever hold his peace?

Alain Bélanger

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the request of the people in my riding of Shefford, I am calling attention to the participation of Alain Bélanger in the world-class competition for wine stewards, the Concours du meilleur sommelier au monde, to be held in Vienna on June 6 and 7.

Mr. Bélanger will be there officially representing Canada and I would like him to know how proud I, and all my constituents, are of him.

Mr. Bélanger came second in the Concours du meilleur sommelier du monde en vins et spiritueux de France, and holds the titles of meilleur sommelier du Canada en vins et spiritueux de France, and meilleur sommelier du Québec.

He is considered to be the most serious competitor for the favorite, Éric Beaumart, of France, who has already won this award for France.

We hope that he will be able to bring the world title of meilleur sommelier au monde back home with him, to enhance his career and bring honour to our country.

Good luck, Alain!

Jean Théberge

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of welcoming to the Hill today Jean Théberge, MP for Charlesbourg for a day. He will be here with us for 24 hours.

He won first prize in the MP for a day contest for Charlesbourg riding, winning out over nearly 1,200 other students in Secondaire IV.

During his time in Ottawa, Jean will have an opportunity to gain some familiarity with what MPs do, and will get a chance to see first hand the hectic lives we lead here on Parliament Hill.

He and his brother François will have the honour of meeting with our leader, the hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, and all of the members of the Bloc Quebecois caucus. Our Speaker will also have the chance to speak with this young man tomorrow morning.

Jean, on behalf of all of my colleagues in this House, welcome to Parliament Hill.

Class Of 1997

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, a year ago today, all of us here were quite anxious. I want to underline not only the anniversary of the last election, but I also want to salute the 100 parliamentarians who joined us. They are the class of 1997. This is their anniversary. Happy anniversary.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.