Debates of Dec. 6th, 1999

École Polytechnique

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989, 14 women at École Polytechnique were killed on a battlefield they did not know existed. They were killed solely because they were women.

On the 10th anniversary of this tragedy each and every one of us should recommit to work to end sexism and violence against women and to effect real change.

The government has begun to work for change. We now have one of the toughest gun control laws in the world. Intoxication as a defence for violent crime has been eliminated, and this year we have passed three key laws improving the rights of victims of violent crimes, promoting personal security of women and children and making the justice system more responsive to the needs of those who experience violence.

This day gives us the opportunity to stop and think about those 14 young women as well as all women who live daily with the threat of violence or have lost their lives as a result of deliberate acts of violence. There is no way to make sense of their deaths. Our duty is to make sure that these women did not die in vain. The work to prevent another tragedy must continue.

The Late Claude Hardy

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the world of sports in Quebec has just lost one of its foremost representatives. Claude Hardy passed away yesterday as the result of an illness he had fought valiantly to the end.

For 45 years, Claude Hardy worked in amateur sport. He was first a national and international athlete in weightlifting, he then became a trainer and later on he became a sport adviser.

He was formerly the head of the Quebec delegation to the Canada Games. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Games Association and of the Canadian Olympic Association, from which he resigned following the delay in the decision on Quebec City's application for the 2010 Olympics.

The Bloc Quebecois shares in the sadness of the family and friends of Mr. Hardy and offers to them its sincere condolences.

Farès Bouez

[Yvon Charbonneau, Liberal, Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada-Lebanon parliamentary friendship group is honoured to welcome to Ottawa and to parliament the new chair of the Canada-Lebanon parliamentary group, Farès Bouez, a member of the Lebanon national assembly representing Kesrouan.

Having spent a number of years as his country's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Bouez has solid political experience in his own country and internationally.

In his meetings with our Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the members of our friendship group and with the Canadian Lebanese community, Mr. Bouez will stress the importance of strengthening co-operation between our two countries, the importance of finding a longstanding and fair solution to the situation in the middle east and the importance of implementing UN resolution 425 on Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.

We welcome Mr. Bouez and wish him much success in this mission.

Amateur Boxing

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

Mr. Speaker, a serious injustice has occurred in this great nation of ours which traditionally values the principle of freedom of religion.

Pardeep Nagra, who is deeply involved in many community associations, has had his liberty suppressed.

The Ontario and British Columbia Human Rights Commissions and the Ontario superior court all agree that Pardeep has the right to box in the national competition and should not be prevented from doing so just because he is a bearded Sikh.

I request that the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport withhold any funding to the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association immediately as its rules are contrary to Canadian fundamental freedoms.

Violence

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this 10th anniversary of the horrible and tragic murder of 14 young women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal compels all of us again to work toward ending violence against each other.

Life is indeed our most precious gift from our Creator. What a tragic thing it is whenever someone is out to get somebody else. It might be inconceivable hatred against women or men. It might be violence in our homes against moms, dads, spouses or our children. It might be gang violence against young people in our schools or parks. It might be criminal acts against our police officers serving on our streets. Whenever the evil of violence rears its ugly head we must repel it will all our might.

In memory of all those who have fallen as a result of violence or who continue to live daily in its dark shadow, let each of us rededicate ourselves today to attitudes and actions that will end this curse and allow us to live free from evil.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is a day for Canadians to reflect on the pervasive problem of violence against women in our society. There is a probability that we each know someone who has either committed an act of violence or is its victim.

Today we can ask ourselves: Have we identified this person or persons in our lives? Have we taken the time to become aware of violence, to recognize it when we see it? Have we listened to what others say? Have we heard when they ask for help? Have we acted to end violence? Have we changed our own ideas and behaviours in ways that prevent violence and promote safety?

Each of us must take personal inventory of how we have contributed to the public campaign to end violence against women and to make the commitment to change our attitudes and actions in the coming year. We must stand up to sexist and violent behaviour.

In my riding of Kitchener Centre the local community will be participating in a memorial to commemorate the 14 Canadian women who lost their lives 10 years ago today. We must not forget this anniversary and, as a society, we must take responsibility to eliminate violence.

Violence Against Women

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

Mr. Speaker, today all parties of the House stand in solidarity in the fight to end male violence against women. Today we remember the 14 people who were killed for being women. We also remember the hundreds of women, young and old alike, across Canada who have been hurt or killed.

Violence against women knows no boundaries. It affects women of all regions of the country, of all cultures and all ages. Too many women in this country live with some degree of fear in their daily lives. Until women can live without fearing violence at home and in our communities we have not achieved equality.

Yesterday in Montreal a monument was unveiled in memory of the 14 women killed at the École Polytechnique. The monument is designed to present a shock wave to those who see it because there are those who fear we are forgetting.

Today all of us in the House and all Canadians need to feel that shock wave because 10 years after that violent tragedy violence against women still exists. We must all renew the pledge made eight years ago to remember and to act in solidarity and create policies in the House that work toward ending the root causes of violence against women.

Anglophone Community In Quebec

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the member for Rimouski—Mitis referred to certain remarks I made as disgraceful.

What is disgraceful is the manner in which the PQ government has always treated the anglophone community in Quebec. What is disgraceful is that the PQ government has driven almost one-quarter of the anglophone population out of the province.

Members of the BQ and the PQ are forever talking about assimilation, but we have them to thank for a shameful example of forced exodus.

Was Lucien Bouchard acting in good faith in 1988 when he proposed the first Canada-Quebec agreement? Was he really acting in good faith in his so-called reconciliation speech on March 11, 1996?

If so, it is never too late to keep his promise and to say yes to anglophones and—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Longueuil.

Victims Of Violence

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

Mr. Speaker, December 6, 1989, is a date now engraved in our collective memory.

Ten years ago today, just after 5 p.m., a seriously disturbed individual entered the École polytechnique and took the lives of 14 young women.

Never before had Quebec witnessed such carnage and the reaction to the killer's reasons, when they became known, was complete shock. The only thing he held against these 14 victims was that they were women seeking to practise a non-traditional profession.

One result of this terrible tragedy has clearly been that society as a whole has taken a closer look at violence against women. Unfortunately, violence still persists, but it is my belief that awareness, education and law enforcement will help reverse the trend. We must continue to repeat that violence is unacceptable.

May the 14 victims of the tragedy at the Polytechnique never let us forget. Together, let us remember Geneviève, Annie, Hélène, Barbara, Anne-Marie, Maud, Maryse, Annie, Sonia, Barbara, Anne-Marie, Michèle, Maryse and Nathalie.

Today, let us take a moment to give special thought to all victims of violence.

Drinking And Driving

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD, I remind Canadians to be responsible and not to drink and drive this holiday season.

In Canada impaired driving is still the single largest criminal cause of death and injury. Over 83,000 charges of impaired driving are made each year in the country. On average, 4.5 Canadians are killed and over 125 injured daily in alcohol related crashes.

Approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related. This is simply not acceptable in modern society. The price tag for alcohol related accidents is estimated to be $7.2 billion each year. This year I implore Canadians to step back and think about the devastating consequences if they take the wheel under the influence.

As we celebrate the holiday season, let us adopt MADD's philosophies, adopt its ribbon campaign and tie one on for safety.

University Of Waterloo

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

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the University of Waterloo and its co-op education program.

According to this year's Maclean's university issue, in Canada the University of Waterloo pioneered experiential learning. It developed the country's first co-op program in 1957 and has now become an innovative and global leader, with 9,000 students in 80 co-op programs in partnership with 2,500 employers.

Co-op education is the educational model that combines and alternates formal academic learning in the classroom with practical learning received on the job. This type of program has nothing but winners. The students win since they get related work experience and the employer gets an enthusiastic and educated employee full of new ideas and a tremendous willingness to work.

University of Waterloo co-op students are placed in each and every province in the country and over 200 of them are employed internationally each year. Co-op education has been adopted by other Canadian universities and most high schools.

To all of the people involved in co-operative education in Canada, I say “well done”.

Fisheries

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, October 26 Mr. Dan Edwards, a Ucluelet west coast fisherman, began a hunger strike to protest the unwillingness of the federal government to negotiate a fair and transparent process to deal with the 1999 Fraser River sockeye crisis.

This desperate action was initiated after two months of due process when one of the largest alliances in the B.C. fishing community tried to move the federal government to establish a proper consultative process to deal with the disaster surrounding the worst collapse of the Fraser River sockeye in its 100 years of recorded history.

Mr. Edwards' concerns are consistent with the recent report of the auditor general and they are consistent with native and non-native fishermen in Nova Scotia. His concerns are founded on the fundamental struggle to achieve a fair, inclusive and accountable process for multi-stakeholder decision making.

The people in the communities he represents are already suffering from massive unemployment, almost total disenfranchisement from the nearby resources, and social and economic infrastructure collapse. Much of it is caused by—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary East.

Trade

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the suspension of WTO talks in Seattle represents a severe blow to Canadian farmers demanding the elimination of export and domestic subsidies.

Subsidies by countries like France, Korea and Japan have dramatically lowered the world price of grain and devastated our farmers. The U.S. anti-dumping laws also remain a crucial barrier to farmers in western Canada. Talks scheduled to resume at WTO headquarters in Geneva this January give our negotiators one more chance to end the log jam. However, there is little evidence to believe that anything immediate will occur.

It is time for Canada to take a leading role on this issue and enter into tough bilateral negotiations with the United States and partners in the Cairns group to force France, Korea and Japan to open up their markets. The time has come for the government to play hardball on behalf of Canadian farmers.

[The Speaker]

We are going to do things a little differently today because of the statements that will be made after question period.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in our gallery of a group of very talented Canadians. They are the members of the world renowned National Arts Centre Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Zucherman. They are celebrating their 30th anniversary and we invited them here to be with us today.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

Members wishing to meet with our guests are invited to join us in Room 216 after Oral Question Period.

Taxation

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I recently received a letter from a man whose family immigrated to Canada many years ago. He wrote to object to the Liberal government's high tax policies, which have confiscated over a third of his income over the last 10 years despite the fact that he is not in a high income bracket. He said that before coming to Canada he lived under an oppressive communist regime, but then he said—and these are his words, not mine—“These days I am living under an oppressive Liberal tax burden and at times I find it difficult to differentiate between the two”.

Does the government not think it has gone too far when getting a tax bill reminds immigrants of the wealth confiscating regimes they have fled?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as a result of Friday's numbers I will provide some further quotes. A headline in the Globe and Mail of December 4 read: “Good fiscal policy is now starting to pay for all Canadians”. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was quoted as saying: “The headline increase in new jobs conceals an even stronger picture below the surface”. “All signs point to a further decline in the unemployment rate”.

I am sure I will have the occasion to provide more citations in the questions to follow.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister quotes newspapers and the banks. Why does he not listen to what the taxpayers are saying?

Here is a letter from an oil patch worker in Alberta who said: “I am working very long days away from my family just trying to get a bit ahead while not seeing my four-year old baby girl or wife for extended periods of time. I don't mind working hard or the sacrifices for now, but I would like to keep more of my hard earned money. My money is being stolen from me twice a month and wasted on Liberal”—

[The Speaker]

Order, please. Notwithstanding the fact that the word “stolen” is no doubt in the letter, I would prefer that members not use words like that.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is the taxpayer's sentiment.

Why does the government continue to hurt families by confiscating so much of their hard earned income every month?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the reason the leader of the Reform Party quotes Canadian taxpayers is because last month 60,000 new taxpayers were created. In the last three months over 200,000 new taxpayers were created. Since this government has taken office close to two million new taxpayers have been created. That is what is happening in this economy and we are going to keep on doing it because they have jobs.