House of Commons Hansard #217 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cmhc.
The Speaker
As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing O Canada, and we will be led by the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan.
Brenda Chamberlain Liberal Guelph—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day of Mourning and I would like to remind my colleagues and Canadians everywhere of the role we can play in preventing work related accidents and occupational illnesses.
As a reminder of and in tribute to those who have lost their lives, the Canadian flag will be flown at half-mast today on Parliament Hill. The importance of protecting the health and safety of all Canadian workers must never be forgotten, especially given the recent tragedy that occurred at VIA Rail.
On behalf of the federal government I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and to the families of those injured and killed in work related accidents. Together we can work to prevent future tragedies through increased awareness of the need for accident prevention measures. After all, occupational health and safety is everybody's business.
Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Royal City Musical Theatre Company is alive and well in my riding of New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby.
Unlike the big production theatres, the Royal City Musical Theatre Company is primarily made up of volunteer talent. The theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a lavish production of Rogers and Hammerstein's classic The King and I .
My wife and I had the privilege to see this production. I can say that it is visually stunning, with colourful costumes, exquisite dancing and wonderful music with singing to match.
The spin-off to businesses that the Royal City Musical Theatre Company brings to New Westminster is worthy of accolades, but it is the quality and professionalism of the productions which have earned this amateur group the respect of patrons from all over British Columbia and the United States. It is estimated that over 19,000 patrons will see The King and I this year in New Westminster between now and May 2.
The theatre is certainly fit for a king and is testimony of what a community can do without much government help. Congratulations to director Ed Harrington, choreographer Dolores Kirkwood and musical directors James Bryson and Lloyd Nicholson for giving opportunity for Canadian talent and for New Westminster to shine.
Rey D. Pagtakhan Liberal Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta will serve as the stage for the RCMP's 125th anniversary of its historical 1874 March West.
From May 8 to July 25 the RCMP, with hundreds of volunteers, will re-enact their first crossing of the prairies by the frontier police and celebrate the contribution to the settlement of Canada.
This event will create the opportunity for citizens within the prairies and beyond to travel together the beauty of Canada's western landscape, thereby enhancing the RCMP's tradition.
The positive influence of the RCMP officers on the Canadian west has truly extended to include the whole nation. By their commitment to serve and protect they provide a symbol of pride and security for all Canadians.
Indeed, this anniversary, which is not merely of the past nor the present but of the future, deserves the jubilation of all Canadians.
Yvon Charbonneau Liberal Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC
Mr. Speaker, the new guru of the Bloc Quebecois, Jacques Parizeau, continues to discredit himself and to blow with the wind.
A few years ago, this wise economist swore only by a Quebec currency. During the last referendum, he placed all his faith in the Canadian dollar. Now, or the past two weeks, he has been proclaiming his faith in the U.S. dollar. He said “When one has set an objective one wants to attain, one pushes any obstacles out of the way. I will become an advocate of the U.S. dollar just as I was before of the Canadian dollar”.
Seeing the flip-flops he is capable of, I would recommend he join the Cirque du Soleil.
This same man claims that Canada is becoming centralist and refuses to allow Quebec to be part of Canadian delegations. Nothing could be more incorrect, as the Minister of Canadian Heritage has shown with her invitation to the Quebec Minister of Culture to join in the Canadian delegation for the next meeting in Mexico, and to speak there.
Once again, Mr. Parizeau has shown himself for what he is: a bad prophet and a bad adviser.
Carmen Provenzano Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian flag flies at half-mast on Parliament Hill today as we observe a day of mourning for workers killed or injured in the workplace.
According to the Canadian Labour Congress, nearly 1,000 workers die each year because of their workplaces. Another million are injured or acquire an occupational illness.
On this day of mourning I would like to pay tribute to all those who attempt to build safer and healthier workplaces. In my riding of Sault St. Marie, employers and employees of many companies have recognized that by working together in the spirit of co-operation and mutual responsibility they can help to prevent workplace injury and deaths and that they can together make healthier workplaces.
As we enter a new millennium let us renew our commitment to the safety and health of Canadian workers.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, today is the anniversary of a vote in the House on hepatitis C.
We listened to the excuses of the health minister, excuses that this would set a precedent, that it would break medicare and that there were too many victims.
Ontario, however, decided to compensate and now Quebec is moving down that same road. Over 60% of the victims of hepatitis C in this country will therefore receive some sort of compensation.
The Prime Minister says that everyone has forgotten about this issue. I want to let him know that victims have not forgotten, their families have not forgotten, the opposition has not forgotten and Canadians have not forgotten. Hepatitis C lives on.
Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Prime Minister's task force on youth entrepreneurship, I have had the privilege in the past few months of meeting some very creative and determined young Canadians.
They are entrepreneurs, they are techno-wizards, ice cream makers, wedding planners, private detectives and animators. Some of them were actually youth at risk who are now making positive contributions to their country and to their communities.
They have come before our task force, not with their hands out for cash, but with good suggestions on how we can encourage more youth to join their ranks.
They are our future and I want the young entrepreneurs of Canada to know how impressed we in the task force are with their accomplishments. We know that members in this House will look forward to our report to the Prime Minister this fall in celebrating youth entrepreneurship in Canada.
Hélène Alarie Bloc Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that, to mark the arrival of the third millennium, a scouting jamboree will be held from December 27, 1999 to January 5, 2000. The Jam des Neiges will bring together in the capital, Quebec City, on the Plains of Abraham, 10,000 scouts, both boys and girls, aged 14 to 18, from all over the world.
The scope of this winter camping event is a world first. We will be paying tribute to the world scouting movement by hosting young people from Europe, Africa, the United States, South America, Canada and Quebec.
The Jam des Neiges will house participants in five huge villages, each accommodating about 2,000. The scouts will be involved in some one hundred different activities, games, workshops, presentations, exhibits and exchanges.
Every day for 10 days, more than 45,000 meals will be served, and nearly 15,000 participants and volunteers will visit museums, movie theaters, observatories, outdoor centres, ski centres and other sports facilities.
The Jam des Neiges will be a unique event, and a major challenge. Let us prepare to welcome it.
Beth Phinney Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada's economy continues to grow under the strong leadership of the Liberal government.
Over half a million jobs have been created since December 1997. Nine out of ten of these new jobs are full time. Over 140,000 jobs have been created for youth. More Canadians over 15 years of age are now working than at any point in almost 10 years.
Short term and long term interest rates remain close to their historic lows. Inflation remains near its lowest rate in three decades. Also the unemployment rate has fallen to 7.8%, its lowest rate since June 1990.
Continued fiscal responsibility by this government and its Minister of Finance will mean one thing: Canada will continue to be an economic powerhouse.
Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, April 28 has been designated as the national day of mourning to recognize workers who have been injured on the job and to honour those who have lost their lives in work related accidents.
The importance of this day becomes clear when we learn that on average three workers are killed every day and hundreds of Canadians are injured on the job each year.
Despite new age technologies and an abundance of safety first warnings, there was a 50% increase in fatalities in the federal jurisdiction in 1997.
As we approach the new century, new challenges will arise and new diseases and workplace illnesses will emerge.
The unprecedented rise in workplace violence requires special vigilance. We cannot ignore the sufferings of our colleagues and we must learn to recognize the danger signals.
Let us use this national day of mourning as a wake-up call to identify and eliminate potential hazards. Workers help to make this country productive and we have a responsibility to ensure that workplace health and safety are a priority.
Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again the future of the federation will be the focus of major debate in the coming months.
My message will be a positive one. I want simply to mention that Canada includes all Canadians in a land whose wealth and resources we share in order to ensure an ever better quality of life for the present generation and for future ones.
In short, the Canadian federation offers Quebec every opportunity to occupy its rightful place. We must hope that governments will work in a spirit of co-operation to enable Quebeckers to enjoy all Canada has to offer. Long live Canada.
Peter Mancini NDP Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my party in respect of working people in Canada and around the world to mark the international day of mourning for workers who have been killed at work or suffered work related accidents and illnesses.
Over one million work related deaths occur annually, while hundreds of millions of workers suffer from workplace accidents and occupational exposure to hazardous substances worldwide.
In Canada, a thousand workers are killed on the job annually and close to one million will suffer some form of injury or illness. Many members of our federal public service still remain without even basic workplace health and safety protection.
On this national day of mourning, the NDP joins with workers and their families nationwide in urging the government and members of the House to stand up for working people and put an end to workplace tragedies.
Gérard Asselin Bloc Charlevoix, QC
Mr. Speaker, on this national day of mourning for people who have been killed or hurt at work, the Bloc Quebecois would like to point to the amount of progress that has been made in recent decades in work accident prevention and victim compensation.
However, accidents of varying degrees of seriousness continue to occur often. These accidents are always dramatic.
The measures and actions taken to prevent such accidents must be strengthened. In this regard, the wind of deregulation blowing across the world, including Canada, should give us cause for concern.
As regards financial compensation to accident victims, we regret that the federal government has yet to adopt a fairer universal system, like the one adopted by Quebec a long time ago. An effective prevention policy and a fair compensation system are the solution for the future.
To the families that have lost one of their members and to workers who have been in an accident and their families, we offer our sympathies.
George Proud Liberal Hillsborough, PE
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Charlottetown Abbies on their recent victory at the Fred Page Cup in Charlottetown.
As a result of their victory at the Fred Page Cup, the Abbies earned the right to represent eastern Canada at next week's Royal Bank Junior A hockey championship in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The Charlottetown Abbies eliminated the Hawkesbury Hawkes 2-0 last Sunday before a crowd that packed the Charlottetown Civic Centre.
A first period goal by Randy Taylor, a third period goal by Ryan Maxwell and the shutout goaltending of Mark Cairns propelled the Abbies to their first ever Fred Page Cup victory.
This marks the first time that the Charlottetown Abbies have won a chance to go to the Royal Bank Cup. It is the culmination of years of hard work and determination, and a coaching staff that is second to none.
I was reminded how thrilling Junior A hockey can be and it is a great honour to have a championship Junior A team within my riding.
I congratulate all members of this organization on their fine job and wish them the best of luck in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the transport minister stated that of the 27 million shipments of hazardous goods travelling through Canada annually, less than 1% is a problem. That would mean that approximately 270,000 shipments are dangerous to Canadians.
Firefighters who saw MPs on the Hill this week, who visited me yesterday, stated that to implement Operation Respond across Canada, the cost would only be $236,000. I believe that the lives of our firefighters are well worth that cost. These brave men and women need to have information before going into situations that can jeopardize their lives, as well as the lives of other Canadians.
Operation Respond will get that information to them quicker and, in conjunction with CANUTEC, will give our firefighters the necessary data to do their jobs.
We know through results in the United States that the system works well. I ask the minister to give these brave people the tools they need to survive and to do their jobs.
Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, the poorest countries in the world are being made poorer because they are increasingly having difficulty servicing their debts owed to developed countries such as Canada.
I was pleased to take part in the 101st conference of the Interparliamentary Union in Brussels. It dealt with this very point. The most highly indebted poor countries, or HIPCs as they are known, are increasingly redirecting their expenditures away from their own domestic populations in areas of health care and education in order to service their debts.
Canada put forward a resolution requesting that debtor and creditor nations quickly convene a meeting to work out an accountability framework which would see an enhanced acceleration of the forgiveness of these debts.
The gap between rich and poor nations is greater than ever before. Citizens of the richest countries, the top 20%, consume 86% of the world's goods. The poorest 20% consume a mere 1.3%. The ability of these nations to lift themselves out of poverty is being choked off by massive debt.
Early action on this recommendation is required to—
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, one year ago today the Prime Minister crushed the hopes of thousands of hepatitis C victims. He did this by forcing his members to vote against a motion calling for compensation for all victims of the tainted blood scandal.
It has been one year. What does the Prime Minister have to say to the families of the 800 hepatitis C victims who have died during the year without any financial help?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the court will shortly have before it for approval an agreement reached by representatives of those with hepatitis C and the governments, all governments, which will provide payments to those persons over many years to come.
In addition, of course, last September I proposed to my provincial colleagues that the Government of Canada share half the costs of medical expenses beyond what are provided by insurance over the lifetime of those with hepatitis C.
The government has responded in a way that is important. We have offered care to those who are ill.
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, after that vote a year ago the Prime Minister fell back on the two tier approach to caring for hepatitis C victims.
He promised financial compensation for those who got sick from tainted blood between 1986 and 1991, and he ruled out compensation for anyone outside those years.
Why has the Prime Minister broken even his limited promise and failed to pay out a single cent in compensation to any hepatitis C victim?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, those who will receive payments will receive payments over their lifetime if the court approves the agreement, depending on their level of sickness, which is exactly what they should receive.
The cornerstone of our approach to this tragic and difficult issue has been to respond to the medical needs of those who were infected, to make sure that everybody infected by hepatitis C as a result of the blood system will have access to the medical services and the care they need without making payments from their own pocket.
Preston Manning ReformLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we do not want to hear from the government's lawyer on this case. We want to hear from the Prime Minister.
Over the last year the Ontario government set up a program and started compensating victims of hepatitis C. The Government of Quebec is contemplating the same thing.
How much longer will victims of hepatitis C have to wait before the government calls off the bureaucrats, calls off the lawyers, and does something to compensate these hepatitis C victims?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this is an example of why our caring approach is far better than the political approach taken in Ontario.
Ontario offers $10,000 per person once in their lifetime. Ten thousand dollars is the approximate cost, if they are not covered by insurance, of one regimen of Interferon which the victims sometimes take for their treatment.
We have offered to provide care for their lifetime, for their whole lifetime. That is the approach Canadians want to see us take.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, behind closed doors here is the Prime Minister's response to the hepatitis C anniversary. He told Liberal MPs that they should be grateful to him for imposing the party line, because after one year nobody remembers what is going on.
Joey Haché remembers what went on. The victims of hepatitis C whom I met in Montreal on Monday know what is going on.
Why does the Prime Minister not just admit that he hopes everybody will forget what happened one year ago on hepatitis C?