House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaty.
Civil International Space Station Agreement Implementation ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
I understand we have had quite a morning. We will now have questions and comments. I will take one question and then a response and whatever time is left over we will go to questions and comments after the question period.
Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, I particularly appreciate what the member said in regard to his concerns for the working poor who have to pay taxes, the poor people of the country, over top of the space station.
This was signed on January 29, 1998 by Canada and a number of other countries with no consultation in the House. It was not brought before the people. Now we can look at the consultation that is supposed to be going on in British Columbia with regard to the Nisga'a agreement.
With regard to consultation by the Liberal government, which it likes to say that it has out there, is the hon. member aware that there will be four meetings in British Columbia, none in the Okanagan and only witnesses that the government approves with its okay stamp to appear with regard to the agreement?
Civil International Space Station Agreement Implementation ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
Order, please. I understand that we are going to try to tie this into the space agency, are we not? I will let the hon. member take it from there.
Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately you were not here for most of my speech, but I did talk about the connection between the negotiations with the provinces and the federal government with regard to agreements. I used, as an example, the space station, which was an agreement that I hoped the federal government had consulted with the provincial governments. I had to use examples of where the federal government had not consulted with the provinces, like the Nisga'a agreement and many of the other agreements that have come forward like the student loan program.
It is a tradition for the federal government to not consult with the provinces about these issues. It is just how it does business. It just rams legislation through, which is the unfortunate, but I am very aware of that.
What I am most concerned about is that not only is that an abuse of democracy, but when the government starts to say “We'll take this witness, but not that witness. We'll pick them”, that goes absolutely to the ultimate end in lack of democracy, which was the point I was trying to make.
Civil International Space Station Agreement Implementation ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
I do not want to cut this off because I thought that was quite interesting.
Civil International Space Station Agreement Implementation ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
Yes. Any time the opposition House leader stands I know it is going to be interesting. However, it is almost two o'clock and I want to save as much time as I can for the hon. member. The hon. member will have about seven and a half minutes left for questions and comments after question period.
Denis Paradis Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Speaker, I was recently a participant in a public consultation at Swanton, in Vermont, and Venise, in Quebec, on an issue that is vital to my riding of Brome-Missisquoi: the quality of water in Lake Champlain.
In the past three years, I have been in increasing contact with the political authorities on the American side to save Lake Champlain. An important step could be taken with the planned construction of the Swanton-Alburg bridge, but we are far from having settled the main problem, which is an earthwork that has been in place for 60 years now and is blocking the flow of water between Canada and the United States. It needs to be removed if our lake is to be saved.
Our neighbours to the south appear to have a lot of reasons for not doing so. They have even brought up the presence of soft-shelled turtles.
I will continue to make use of all possible forums to ensure that this natural treasure, our Lake Champlain, remains an important asset for future generations.
Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, last November, immigration enforcement officer Dale Lewis took a man's four year old son from him at gun point. This followed a one hour of investigation into allegations made by one source; the man's estranged wife.
Adnan Khan had legal custody of his son but Dale Lewis refused to even look at the evidence. The child has not been seen since and the father has no idea where his child is.
At a subsequent hearing, Lewis admitted under oath that if he had done his job properly he would never have taken the child in the first place. To avoid further embarrassment, Lewis disobeyed a summons to appear at a hearing on October 21. Furious, the adjudicator then ordered summonses for all the top managers involved in this case who have since indicated that they will not appear.
The department is clearly determined to see that justice is not done in this case.
I challenge the minister to attend tomorrow's hearings so that she can see how unfairly Mr. Khan is being treated by her department.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, prior to World War II there were no women serving in Canada's armed forces. The Canadian women who enlisted then in the army, navy and air force became a significant part of Canada's military history. They proudly served both at home and overseas. Women were numbered among the casualties.
Canada's women veterans of World War II have been recognized locally with memorials such as the tri-service statue in Winnipeg and bronze statues in Brantford, but there are few others.
National recognition of World War II women veterans is long overdue. It is high time our government recognized the women who served through a tri-service statue in Ottawa. I urge the government to see to it that women veterans of World War II are properly recognized and honoured while some are still with us. Would not this be a fitting Year 2000 project?
Aileen Carroll Liberal Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, ON
Mr. Speaker, in a few days we will celebrate the final Remembrance Day of this century. Throughout veterans week we will reflect with pride on the sacrifices made by our citizens over the past 100 years. The Canada we have inherited was paid for with the blood and sacrifice of its young Canadians.
The world wars had an impact on the lives of thousands of Canadians. Those who returned home were changed forever by these wars.
Those who returned home battle weary, often scarred in body and spirit, had a country to build. They picked up the lost years of their lives and got on with the job. They worked in the fields and the factories. They set up new businesses. They raised their families. They helped build a nation that has known only peace and prosperity throughout the last half of the century.
Today we thank those who served the nation for a job so nobly done.
Jim Pankiw Reform Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, equality begins with the truth. The truth is that the decision handed down in the Marshall case and supported by the Liberal government will cost non-Indian fishermen their jobs and their way of life.
The government's response tells the untold truth. A race based fishery will deprive fishermen across Canada of equal access to a resource they have shared with Indians for generations. The government talks of native rights but says nothing about the rights of non-Indian fishermen who must feed their families and make a living.
The Liberals hope that by throwing money at the problem it will go away. While the government and its fisheries minister continue to dilly-dally over what to do, Indian leaders are already exploiting the Marshall decision and expanding their Indian only policy into mining, forestry and crab fishing off the coast of Newfoundland.
The truth is that the Liberal government and the supreme court are responsible for pitting Indians against non-Indians and status against non-status Indians. As a consequence the equality rights of all Canadians have been crushed.
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Speaker, on Friday, Montrealer Abla Farhoud was awarded the France-Quebec literary award.
I know I speak for all my colleagues when I offer my most sincere congratulations to this author, known primarily for her theatre work.
She has written a dozen plays, including Les filles du 5.10.15 created at the Festival de Limoges in the early 1990s before being put on in Paris and at the Théâtre international de langue française.
An initial selection for this award was made by a jury of authors, academics and literary critics from France and Quebec. Twenty-eight regional associations took part in the vote.
We congratulate Abla Farhoud and wish her all the best in the pursuit of her work.
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Mr. Speaker, I rise in my place today to say to all my colleagues that Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, indeed Corner Brook and Deer Lake, western Newfoundland, is becoming one of the premier capitals for sporting and high performance athletics not just in Canada but internationally as well. I want to pay tribute and salute all the people who have provided this platform, this foundation.
It goes without saying that while we are building the infrastructure and building the reputation as one of the premier sporting capitals, not only nationally but internationally, part of the reason we are doing so is that we have high performance young athletes like Eric Daggett.
Eric Daggett is performing very well not only nationally but internationally on the mountain biking scene. He has proven himself to be a very capable young athlete. I want to pay tribute to him and his great successes. He has competed in Kamloops, B.C. He has represented Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte very well. Hats off to Eric; keep up the good work.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, a young actress in my riding, Karine Vanasse, has just received the Bayard d'Or as the best actress in the Festival international du film francophone in Namur, Belgium, for her performance in Léa Pool's film Emporte-moi .
Karine is now working on another feature film, L'instant fatal by Céline Baril, and playing in the new TV series Les deux frères , while continuing to act in the program Les Débrouillards .
This young woman, who is also the official spokesperson for the magazine Filles d'aujourd'hui , is now seeing doors open for her in the United States and new upcoming projects.
Karine Vanasse's career is now taking off in keeping with her talent, and we cannot but wish her every success.
Murray Calder Liberal Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, last night more Canadian families were pained with the news that their loved ones were lost on the fatal flight of EgyptAir 990.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the 22 families across Canada who are coping with this tragic event. On behalf of all members I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families and to let them know that our prayers are with them at this time of sorrow.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of Okanagan—Coquihalla to bring to the attention of the House a briefing note from the B.C. ministry of agriculture. This document states that Nisga'a used as a template for future land claims will cause significant disruptions to individual ranchers, orchardists and farmers in the Okanagan.
Over 1,000 farms in the Okanagan have crown tenures on land that will become the subject of Indian land claims. Not only does this threaten the commercial interests of those ranchers, orchardists and farmers, but it threatens the whole B.C. agricultural land reserve.
The NDP briefing note states that the majority of the crown agricultural land reserve would likely be consumed by land claims for a total of approximately 2.5 million hectares. Using Nisga'a as a template will not create economic certainty in B.C. The Liberals, NDP and Tories know this but insist that their extreme measures are best for all British Columbians.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval West, QC
Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to the actor Jean Coutu, who passed away last night at the age of 74.
Born in Montreal, Jean Coutu began his career in 1943. In September, 1952, he played a role in one of the first French broadcasts in Canada, a presentation of Oedipe Roi by Jean Cocteau.
Jean Coutu is quite rightly viewed as one of the pioneers of French language television. He played the title role in the television series based on Germaine Guèvremont's novel, Le Survenant, or The Outlander , one of our literary masterpieces.
As a member of the Compagnons de Saint-Laurent , the company directed by Father Paul-Émile Legault, he also helped to launch French language theatre in Montreal.
Later, in the 1950s, he played the role of Ti-Mé in the popular series Les Plouffe , by Roger Lemelin.
The artistic and cultural community pays him a resounding tribute, in honour of his talent as an actor, his untiring energy, and his role as a builder of French language culture in Canada.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, last night I was honoured to join labour leaders and trade union activists from across the country to cut the ribbon on a new exhibit at the National Museum of Civilization.
The exhibit is a full size accurate reproduction of room 10 of the old Winnipeg Labour Temple at the time of the 1919 Winnipeg general strike. This was the actual room where strike leaders like J. S. Woodsworth and R. B. Russell encouraged working people of Winnipeg to rise up and demand their rights, even at great personal risk.
Before the strike was over many were injured. Some were killed and the labour leaders were thrown in jail for sedition, but prison bars cannot contain ideas. Because of their spirit and courage they achieved things like the right to organize, the right to free collective bargaining, the right to a living wage and the eight hour day.
I encourage all members and all Canadians to visit this wonderful exhibit and to learn for themselves the contribution the labour movement has made to our quality of life.
Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon, we heard the sad news of Jean Coutu's death.
An entire generation of Quebecers who grew up during the early days of television and who watched the popular Radio-Canada series, Le Survenant , which ran from 1954 to 1960, will forever remember this talented and generous actor who left his mark on an era and on Quebec's cultural world.
Anyone remembering that time, when the new medium of television began to change the lifestyle of Quebecers, cannot forget the great popularity of Le Survenant and the role played with intelligence and sensitivity by Jean Coutu, who, for three more decades, pursued a career that took him from the theatre to the cinema and made him a familiar face on television for several generations of viewers.
The Bloc Quebecois offers its condolences to Jean Coutu's family and friends. His deep voice will resonate in our ears for a long while to come.
David Pratt Liberal Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, Nortel Networks is solidifying Canada's reputation as a global leader in high technology.
Today the company announced a $587 million global injection in its booming optical networking business, creating a total of 5,000 jobs and tripling overall production capacity by next year.
This strategic investment will expand and accelerate the development and deployment of the company's market leading optical Internet networks.
Montreal and Ottawa will come together, to borrow some words from a Nortel advertisement, as the greatest beneficiaries of this major capital infusion. New high tech facilities will be constructed in both cities, with approximately 2,300 new jobs shared between the two.
In total Nortel expects to invest $210 million in Ottawa and an additional $120 million in Montreal. This is a huge vote of confidence in Canada's high technology future and the future of the Ottawa area as Silicon Valley North.
This is a clear sign that globally renowned companies on the cutting edge of the new information technologies recognize that Canada—
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, on November 14 the world will recognize the birthday of a Canadian hero, Sir Frederick Banting. Dr. Banting's co-discovery of insulin in 1921 has saved countless lives. It is in his honour that November 14 is marked as World Diabetes Day, in the heart of Diabetes Awareness Month.
A million and a half Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes, but horribly it is feared that some 750,000 more suffer from the condition but are themselves unaware.
I am honoured to serve as the campaign chairperson for the annual fundraising campaign of the Canadian Diabetes Association Saint John Branch. The CDA has played a key role in maintaining and expanding diabetes research and has this year alone provided over $5.3 million to various projects nationwide.
I encourage all Canadians to think of those who suffer from this condition on November 14 and to give generously to this valiant cause.
Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government's decision in favour of voluntary labelling of foods derived from biotechnology is a good initial step in the right direction. That option is already available to food companies. So far, however, most companies are not labelling their genetically modified foods.
Last week 200 Health Canada scientists declared that they do not have the capacity to assess the safety of genetically modified products. At present labelling is mandatory only when Health Canada has identified a health concern.
I therefore urge the responsible minister to make labelling of all genetically altered foods mandatory because Canadians want to know what is and what is not genetically modified.
Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, yesterday former Liberal member of parliament and president of Canada's leading international human rights organization, Warren Allmand, joined with the Leonard Peltier Defence Committee in condemning the government and a recent report released by the justice minister justifying the extradition of Leonard Peltier.
Mr. Allmand conducted an internal review of the extradition under the previous justice minister and found the extradition was seriously flawed. He has compared Mr. Peltier's case to those of wrongfully convicted Canadians.
We urge the government to listen to the many human rights organizations, unions and concerned citizens from around the world and support their call for an independent inquiry into the extradition of Leonard Peltier.
