House of Commons Hansard #174 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.

Topics

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Bloc

Gérard Asselin Bloc Charlevoix, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question to the member is the following: does she find it normal that the Canadian premiers Canada have to come to Ottawa and get down on their knees to the Prime Minister to beg for money that is owed to them? That money belongs to us; it was taken from us by the federal government. We are asking the federal government to give us what is coming to us and to trust us with health care management.

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

It is quite clear how I feel about it, that the federal government, the Prime Minister and the finance minister would even make funding returned to health care conditional is abhorrent to me. I cannot believe the government which has promised a return of funding to health care would use it as tool, would use it as a way of forcing the premiers to agree with a position on the social union talks. I cannot say enough how bothered I am that it would use this tactic.

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, the member did not once mentioned the aboriginal community in Canada in her speech.

With a motion of this nature, with medical concerns and care for our aboriginal people across the country would the member believe that it should fall under provincial control or under federal control?

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

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

Mr. Speaker, having worked in an aboriginal community for many years it was the provincial government that provided health care facilities for that community, not the federal government.

I would like to think aboriginal communities should be given better health care with facilities and services like every other Canadian.

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, I compliment les députés du Bloc québécois pour avoir introduit cette motion.

This situation is felt by members from across the country. All constituents will tell them that one of the greatest concerns they have is the state of affairs of our health care system. Every member in the House knows that and every member wants to fix the system.

Where we disagree perhaps is in how we want to do that. We have seen tragically played out under the parliamentary playground that exists a system where politics is taking precedence over reason and facts and where politics is taking precedence over trying to solve the problems.

If this were a petty problem were people's lives were not at stake this could continue with very little problem. The longer we wait to fix the problems within our health care system, the more Canadians will suffer and die. Members know this and also people in the public know it, sometimes from very personal experience.

The scope of the problem is massive. Across the country in hospitals, in clinics, in homes and in families we see that individuals who require essential health care services are not being provided with these services.

I will give some specific examples. In emergency rooms, 12 out of 14 bays where I have worked will be held up with patients waiting to get a bed.

Some of these patients need to get in the intensive care unit. Intensive care units have been blocked off because the hospital does not have enough money to pay for the nurses and the beds.

We have patients needing acute care services waiting in a busy emergency room for a bed. If a tragedy took place at that time, a motor vehicle accident, people would die because the services would not be there for them.

We have situations where children are put into the same rooms as dying adults. We have situations where men and women are put into large rooms with the only thing separating them being a thin sheet. All these people are sick.

We have people being discharged from hospital sick who need to be in hospital not because the health care personnel want to release them but because they do not have a choice.

We established that we have a problem with what we are asking for in terms of medical care and the resources we have. The government has money to put into health care. Understandably the government wants credit for doing that.

As my hon. colleague, the health care critic for the Reform Party, has mentioned, it serves the public not one advantage to have the political turf wars taking place preventing that money getting into the hands of the caregivers who desperately need it provide for Canadians in their moment of greatest need.

This is a turf war. It is not only taking place in health care. It is taking place in education and in areas across the country where problems are not being solved because the feds and the provinces cannot get their act together.

The federal government is in a unique leadership position. For the first time in recent memory it has an opportunity. It can call together the provincial ministers and their areas of jurisdiction to come together and say “what are you guys doing and what are we doing?”

Let us make sure the feds do what the feds do best and the provinces do what the provinces do best. Let us have a co-ordinated system where the left hand knows what the right hand is doing, not what is taking place now where there are so many levels of bureaucracy that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

Furthermore, that system is leading to political inefficiencies and therefore inefficiencies in the way we get those services to the Canadian public.

Money is being sucked out of the management of health care instead of getting to patient care in the trenches. That is a profound tragedy.

When there is somebody who needs bypass surgery, when there is an elderly lady who has been waiting over 12 months and is in severe pain, waiting to get a hip replacement, it cannot be said to that person that we are doing our job.

I can only implore, as my colleagues have done from across party lines, the federal government to work with and not against the provinces in making this happen and also to make sure the provinces put the money they will get directly into health care.

Health care is a provincial responsibility. That is in our Constitution. It does not preclude the government from funding.

The government, we have seen, has taken away money to balance its budget. It has taken money away from health care. The government now has money to put back into health care. The government should do that.

Furthermore, we should be making sure that money goes into the meat and potatoes, into the muscle and bone of health care. In the process of cutting budgets we have cut the fat but we have also cut the meat, the muscle and the bone of health care.

As a result, we are seeing a very compromised health care system. That is why under our current system people are leaving this country, the rich, to get health care elsewhere.

I am going to speak personally and not on behalf of the Reform Party. If we are to solve this problem of limited resources and an increasing demand for health care in the future, and it will increase as our population ages and medical technology becomes more expensive, we have to think out of the box.

We have a Canada Health Act that was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. That system was fine under the economic circumstances of that era. In 1999 we have a very different set of circumstances and we better realize that. We need to look at other models in other parts of the world such as Australia and in certain parts of Norway where they have managed to utilize their resources in such a way to ensure that people's needs are being met.

This entails getting away from the notion that the Canada Health Act has all the answers for us. Above all else we must ensure our health care system will be there for those who need it the most, the poor and underprivileged. They are the ones who are being compromised in the system today.

By preventing private services from taking place where private moneys are exchanged only in the private setting we deprive people from getting health care. Furthermore, we deprive the health care system of money without raising taxes. A private system completely independent of the public system where only private money is exchanged and no public money put into it would enable resources to get into the health care system without raising taxes.

In this system the rich would be subsidizing the poor. As it stands, people in the poor and middle class who are dependent on the public system would have services quicker and in a more efficient fashion because more public resources could be poured into the public system as individuals went into the private system. That solution benefits the poor and middle class and would seek to strengthen a publicly funded health care system that desperately needs fixing.

We do not want any kind of system that prevents the poor and middle class from getting health care services when they need them. The system we have now is preventing the poor and middle class from getting health care services when they need them. The government is rationing health care services to the public. We have created restrictions preventing people from getting the services when they need them, furthermore preventing the system from developing so it can be strengthened.

If we adhere to the current system and do not think we can make a made in Canada health care system, we are not only deluding ourselves but we are compromising the health and welfare of Canadians across the country.

All members, especially in the Reform Party, want to make sure we have a strong, publicly funded health care system for Canadians in the future. We are committed to doing that and working with whomever else wants to do the same.

SupplyGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

The Speaker

I know there are questions and answers to be broached after this discourse. I prefer to go to Statements by Members. That way I can give full time for the questions.

Harry MaclaughlanStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate a prominent Island businessman, Harry MacLaughlan, who will be inducted in the Prince Edward Island Business Hall of Fame on May 27 this year.

Mr. MacLaughlan, a native of Stanhope, P.E.I., first entered the business world as the owner and operator of a general store. Since then through hard work and perseverance his business interests have expanded to include Island Coastal Services, Island Petroleum Products, Island Cablevision, Commercial Properties Limited and H. W. MacLaughlan Limited.

A strong supporter of his community, Mr. MacLaughlan has been active in minor sports, recreation, tourism, health care and politics, as well as charitable and youth activities.

Congratulations to Harry for a job well done and best wishes and continued success in the future, another great Islander showing leadership to the country.

National DefenceStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Reform

John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, the civilian employees at our military bases have not had a negotiated agreement since 1989 and no wage increases since 1992. Their military counterparts have received small increases, which they do not begrudge, but it is a daily reminder of how poorly they have been treated.

Since 1997 they have had 15 days of direct bargaining and 7 days of conciliation. These civilian employees have been in a strike position since January 18. The conciliation board reports that while the union made its offers and counter proposals in full, the government did not.

It is plain that the government is relying on its established track record of legislating the workforce instead of bargaining in good faith. When will the government get back to the negotiating table?

Parkdale Community WatchStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Sarmite Bulte Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, in an effort to increase the safety of our community, Parkdale Community Watch has launched a three part project designed to enhance the safety of municipal laneways.

This initiative, Parkdale's people friendly laneway project, involves painting addresses on buildings that adjoin laneways, ensuring that adequate lighting illuminates the laneways and eliminating garbage and graffiti.

This project is especially relevant in my riding as two years ago a neighbouring area experienced repeated arson incidents in which the arsonist gained access to properties through laneways.

As a result Parkdale Community Watch has undertaken this action in order to prevent crime and increase the safety of our community. This project also makes it easier for emergency vehicles to access our laneways as well as increasing access for community and business purposes.

I applaud this community initiative and encourage other communities to take a lesson from Parkdale Community Watch.

Richard BeamishStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Lou Sekora Liberal Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, DFO was pleased to offer support to the nomination of Dr. Richard, Dick, Beamish to the Order of Canada. Dr. Beamish has contributed substantially to fisheries science and Canada both in his various roles in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and through his promotion of science in general.

Two of Dr. Beamish's very significant contributions include the discovery of acid rain and his innovative work relating climate change to fish reproduction. Acid rain is of concern to many countries in the world and Dr. Beamish's pioneering work has heightened awareness of this problem.

Many nations are now moving to reduce the factors contributing to acid rain. Climate change also impacts on many aspects of our lives including the production of fish in our streams, lakes and oceans.

Foreign AidStatements By Members

2 p.m.

NDP

Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Speaker, this is International Development Week, an opportunity to remind the government of the devastating impact of ongoing Liberal cuts in foreign aid.

At the same time I salute the dedicated work of those individuals and NGOs, groups like the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, OXFAM, Results Canada, UNICEF and Canadian churches and labour, in fighting global poverty.

I urge the government to significantly increase our foreign aid in the upcoming budget, especially that aimed at meeting basic human needs including education and that directed at the poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

New Democrats strongly support the Jubilee 2000 campaign urging the government to cancel the crushing $2.2 billion debt owed to Canada by the world's poorest countries. In a week when all parties have voiced concern about the rights of children, let us not forget that 32,000 children die every day of preventable disease and hunger. Canada must do much more to respond to this global crisis and set a clear timetable to meet the UN target of .7%—

Foreign AidStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Kitchener Centre.

YmcaStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride I rise today in the House to talk about an opening that will be happening in Kitchener Centre. This weekend the A. R. Kaufman family YMCA will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand reopening of its facility.

The YMCA has had a presence in Kitchener since 1895. It started out with recreational facilities as well as housing for soldiers during the second world war. Currently they are in partnership with the federal government providing day care, services to new Canadians as well as youth employment strategy programs. The YMCA is a sterling example of a community choosing the projects that it wants to make its place a caring and safe community.

I am very proud to have had a lifelong membership with the YMCA and I look forward to its reopening this Saturday.

Shearwater Development CorporationStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Reform

Lee Morrison Reform Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Mr. Speaker, on Monday I asked the Minister of Industry how much public money had been flushed out to sea by the Shearwater Development Corporation. The Minister of Veterans Affairs responded with some meaningless gobbledegook.

I now know that Shearwater received an initial payment of $2 million and a later top up of $600,000. The company is not only broke but is being sued for $660,000 for the cost of airport operation and maintenance. The only physical evidence of this so-called development program is a boardwalk and retail complex to which the company contributed about $200,000.

We can do the math. A handful of Liberals has frittered away more than $3.2 million in four years. This cries out for an independent investigation.

Science, Research And DevelopmentStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON

Mr. Speaker, much of our future depends on the insights and the capacity for innovation of our country's young scientists and engineers. Since 1964, NSERC has singled out more than 100 researchers for the prestigious title of E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellow. These are 100 of our brightest and most productive research stars, individuals who have made a profound contribution to their fields and to Canada.

Today my colleague, the Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development, announced the names of the four newest fellows. Like their predecessors they have distinguished themselves by rapidly acquiring at a relatively early stage in their careers an outstanding reputation in advanced research.

I ask members to join me in congratulating professors Norman Beaulieu of Kingston, Douglas Bonn of Vancouver, Mark Freeman of Edmonton and Barbara Sherwood Loolar of Toronto who are this year's recipients of NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship. Their achievements provide convincing evidence of our ability to develop and keep young research talent in the country.

As part of this award NSERC will contribute $180,000 to the recipients' universities in their names.

Alexandre MarchandStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay particular tribute to an individual in my riding, a 21 year old runner, who has already made a name for himself in international athletics.

In December, for the third consecutive year, Alexandre Marchand of Pointe-du-Lac was named athlete of the year by the Fédération d'athlétisme du Québec, a title he had also won in 1994, as well as earning the Fred Tees trophy awarded to the Canadian university athlete of the year.

He was ranked 12th at the latest Commonwealth Games. He has won countless gold medals over the years, and 1999 should be another record year. He has a competition this month in Windsor, the world university championship, the Pan American Games and the world championships.

As the Olympic Games of the year 2000 approach, I have no doubt Alexandre will represent Quebec worthily and with pride.

International Development WeekStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, this year's international development week has as its theme the celebration of Canada's actions in the world.

This is an opportunity to celebrate Canadians' contribution here and abroad to international development in co-operation with CIDA and its partners.

The main artisans of this sort of co-operation are the non governmental organizations, private sector groups, professional associations, colleges, universities and many others.

This movement for solidarity with the international community is especially important because it expresses the commitment of both the people and the Government of Canada to international development in the spirit of sharing, respect and co-operation.

In short, the Liberal government's vision clearly reflects the Canadian public's spirit of sharing and co-operation.

KosovoStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Reform

Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to issue our condolences to the people of Kosovo who are suffering such horrendous hardship. We watch daily in disbelief and disgust the slaughter and destruction. Like Bosnia a few years ago the issues are complex, emotional and rooted deep in history.

It is critical that we end the conflict and push forward in a long term solution to the problem. We must do everything in our power to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Kosovo leaders to the negotiating table tomorrow in Paris.

The Prime Minister's total disrespect for parliament by publicly announcing the commitment of ground troops to NATO is unacceptable. We must have a clear and open debate in the House of Commons followed by a free vote before we commit troops to any NATO action in Kosovo.

This issue is addressed in Motion No. 380 on which all of us will vote next Tuesday. It makes clear that when Canadian lives and resources are being committed it is the people of Canada who should make that decision through parliament.

Minister Of Foreign AffairsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with this House remarks made in September in Chicago by a person who is sold on sovereignty and selling the idea.

According to this unexpected sovereignist, we are witnessing the emergence of a movement for building a North American community where states co-operate more closely on regional and global issues while maintaining their distinct cultures and identities, which is a essential to allow a community to define itself as a nation.

The challenge, according to this speaker who might as well have been a member of the Bloc Quebecois, would then be to develop some common courses of action—let us call them partnerships—flexible enough to prevent crushing identity references and national cultures, which absolutely must be maintained.

The Bloc Quebecois is very pleased to welcome the Minister of External Affairs into the sovereignist camp, as he has just shown that we share many views on sovereignty.

Economic DevelopmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Claude Drouin Liberal Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, on January 13, 1998, the Canadian government announced that, over the next five years, $7.6 million will be invested in eastern Quebec to promote the development of tourism until the year 2004.

This government assistance plan is designed to support local and regional initiatives with a significant impact on the economy in eastern Quebec.

This is the fourth in a series of strategic initiatives for eastern Quebec, estimated at slightly over $22 million, put forward by the Canadian government.

Our government is clearly involved in economic development, and this is the best proof of its involvement.

Ethics CounsellorStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Jim Jones Progressive Conservative Markham, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals prefer to have a peekaboo ethics counsellor. In 1993 they promised to establish an independent ethics counsellor who reported publicly to parliament. In 1994 they delivered an ethics counsellor who reports behind closed doors at fireside chats with the Prime Minister.

This flawed approach to openness and integrity has resulted in an ethics counsellor who investigates the Prime Minister's business dealings in secret, an ethics counsellor who was unsure whether the Prime Minister should file a public disclosure, an ethics counsellor who makes decisions solely based on the information provided by the Prime Minister and his trustee.

When I tried to get the ethics counsellor to appear before the industry committee the Liberal committee chair toed the party line and ruled me out of order.

The Liberals need to stop covering up for the Prime Minister and his ethics confidant, Howard Wilson. It is time for the Liberals to prove their commitment to integrity, to live up to the red book promises and to establish an ethics counsellor who reports directly to parliament.

Heart And Stroke FoundationStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Lynn Myers Liberal Waterloo—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, February is heart month in our nation, organized by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The foundation, a federation of 10 independent provincial foundations, raised over $85 million in donations last year to support research and health promotion programs. Approximately 80% of these donations were raised during heart month.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in Canada accounting for 37% of deaths each year. The Heart and Stroke Foundation dedicates itself to funding critical research in the area of heart disease and stroke being the number one funder of such research in Canada.

During heart month I urge all Canadians to get in touch with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The foundation led and supported by 250,000 volunteers plans various activities across the country to educate and build awareness from coast to coast. It makes important efforts to encourage all Canadians to live healthy lives.

I commend the Heart and Stroke Foundation's efforts and ask that all Canadians take time this month and throughout the year to help support its undertakings.

New MillenniumStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, for the next millennium it might be useful for us to define a vision for Canada which may include the following.

Our system of justice should always promote a peaceful, just, tolerant and civil society governed with respect for the rule of law and for our fellow human beings.

Our health care system should be universal, comprehensive, portable, accessible and publicly funded.

Our social safety net should provide compassionate protection for those in most need.

Our economy should be internationally competitive with fair distributions of opportunity and returns.

In addition we should provide universal education and training based on the highest possible standards, welcome new Canadians to meet our needs and responsibilities, protect and promote the health and beauty of our environment, promote our official languages, maintain and improve our national institutions, and continue to promote international peace and co-operation by example and initiative.

These are the principles that should guide us into the next millennium and I believe will ensure that Canada will remain the best country in the world in which to work and live.

Grain IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Reform

Charlie Penson Reform Peace River, AB

Mr. Speaker, when Bill C-19 was brought in to deal with the grain handlers strike a couple of years ago we argued that the government could not legislate the problem away in a piecemeal fashion.

Because of the number of unions and companies involved in grain handling we suggested a process called final offer arbitration. Final offer arbitration works this way.

When workers and management reach an impasse that could result in a strike action an independent third party is called to intervene. Both sides make a final offer and a third party decides which of the two is the most reasonable.

That is supposed to be what is in place. Yet just two weeks ago western farmers were again held ransom as 70 weighers and samplers walked off the job at the grain terminals in Vancouver.

Although the rotating strike is now ended it may only be temporary. That is because the dispute between labour and management remains unresolved.

Farmers in Canada are demanding that this government get its act together in labour-management relations.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

Mr. Speaker, when our troops were sent to the gulf last spring they knew they might be in harm's way. After all, Saddam Hussein was known to possess anthrax. But as it turns out the real danger for our troops was the defence minister himself.

He ordered our troops to take a stale vaccine whose best before date had expired five years earlier.

Why did the defence minister order our troops to take a drug that veterinarians say is not even fit for dogs?