Debates of April 29th, 1999

Youth Violence

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we were all shocked and saddened to hear about the senseless tragedy that occurred yesterday afternoon in Taber, Alberta.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Jason Lang who was killed yesterday during the shootings. Our prayers are with the family and friends of Shane Christmas who remains in serious condition in hospital.

As a parent I can only imagine the terror that is felt at hearing there has been a shooting at your child's school. I can understand the pain the people of Taber are feeling today.

As a parent I insist that our schools be what we intend them to be: places of learning, places where we can send our children knowing they will be safe.

As a member of this House I am reminded that we must all work together to ensure conditions that produce such horrific violence are eliminated from our communities. As Jason Lang's father said today, “Lots of things need to be changed and lots of things need to be healed”. Over the coming days and months I know that all members will work to ensure that what can be done will be done.

Gasoline Prices

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, gas prices are getting a lot of attention these days.

The truth is Canadians enjoy some of the lowest gas prices in the world. Without government taxes, gas is as cheap as it was 20 years ago. The only thing that has changed dramatically is the amount Canadians are being taxed at the pumps. The government is the real villain in gas pricing with over 50% of the price of a litre of gasoline going to government taxes, yet virtually none of that money is returned to my province for road infrastructure programs.

When I go into a grocery store or a restaurant I see the before tax price of the product. Why can gas retailers not do the same for their customers? Why do retailers not advertise their gasoline prices on a before tax basis so Canadians can plainly see how much of their gas dollar is going into the government's tax tank? Why are gas retailers willing to take the heat for government taxation?

Canadians need tax cuts now so they can get more distance for their dollar.

Youth Entrepreneurship

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recently hosted the Prime Minister's caucus task force on youth entrepreneurship along with my colleagues from the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

The task force spent its time in Kitchener speaking with young entrepreneurs, their mentors, service providers and members of the private sector. Topics such as education, finances, resources and government support were all discussed.

Task force members visited a number of companies run by young entrepreneurs from the Kitchener-Waterloo area. We visited Joe Merlihan of the Woolwich Observer , Jen Herzog of Distinctive Stamp Design and John Rochetta of The Beat Goes On. In addition, some members dropped by the Business Enterprise Centre and Kor Gallery and Studios.

The young entrepreneurs we met were dynamic, intelligent individuals who have used their talents in creative and unique ways.

I commend the many young entrepreneurs from across the country who are working hard to make their dreams come true.

Brock Employment Centre

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House that the residents of the township of Brock located within my riding of Haliburton—Victoria—Brock received a big boost with a $168,000 federal grant from the Department of Human Resources Development.

This grant created the funding to establish the new community employment resource centre located in the Beaverton town hall. The centre officially opens its doors to the public tomorrow, Friday, April 30, 1999.

The task of locating a job can be very difficult. This centre will assist residents looking for employment through a number of services. These services include employment counselling, job listings, free photocopying, faxing, computer use and the listing of college and university courses offered to upgrade their skills.

The centre was created through a partnership involving the federal government, the township of Brock, Durham College and other agencies. I would like to congratulate the individuals who made this project work. This centre will be a benefit not only to the residents but also to the whole community of Brock township.

National Volunteer Week

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week we celebrated the National Volunteer Week, to recognize the efforts of the 7.5 million Canadians who give generously of their time all through the year in order to help the less advantaged members of our community.

I take this opportunity to highlight an individual, a Canadian of Hellenic origin, who was honoured by the Quebec National Assembly with a volunteer award for her efforts and contribution over the years.

This person is Ms. Vicky Nicolakakos, a friend whom I consider to be a most deserving individual. All those who know Vicky know her commitment and her tireless efforts in responding to the needs of the underprivileged, the ailing, and the troubled of our society. She is an outstanding Canadian and a great role model for us all. Sinharitiria , Vicky.

Václav Havel

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the House has heard many great and eloquent speeches in its time. Few have been delivered with the moral authority we heard this morning.

Václav Havel is a very special individual. His conscience called on him to suffer the trials of being a dissident. A sense of duty demanded that he assume the highest political office in his country. However, the greatest contribution he has made is to warn us that evil can only triumph when good people look away.

Winston Churchill once said that the greatest virtue was courage. The life of the man who spoke to us today is a model of courage and is a great legacy to his country.

As a member of parliament, I was also pleased to hear an echo of many values that the Reform Party stands for and why I am here. I was especially moved by his demands that we recognize that the individual, regardless of status or wealth, is more important than the state.

I know the House will join me in expressing our profound admiration to Havel the man, and our respect to the President of the Czech Republic.

Aquatox 2000

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, clean and safe drinking water is a precious resource which many of us take for granted.

In my riding of Nunavut, students at Netsilik school in Taloyoak, Qiqirtaq Ilihavik in Gjoa Haven and both Takijulauk and Ulaajuk schools in Pond Inlet are participating in the Aquatox 2000 program launched by Canada's International Development Research Centre. Students in a worldwide network of over 100 schools test the quality of water using very simple yet effective methods and post the results on an interactive web site.

The participants gain valuable scientific knowledge and an appreciation of the importance of water while engaging in a positive dialogue with youth from other nations committed to a sustainable future. Keep up the good work.

Hepatitis C

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again this government has unabashedly given us evidence of its lack of judgment and compassion. The Liberal members do not like to be told that, one year ago, all of them, without exception, turned their backs on the thousands of people infected with hepatitis C.

Joey Haché and a group of Quebec victims were here yesterday, a year to the day after the Liberals' rejection of a motion, which had the support of all the opposition parties, calling for compensation of all hepatitis C victims. They reminded us that nothing has changed in the past year, except that several hundred victims have died, without receiving any support from this government, which continues to wash its hands of them.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health refused to meet with them and to listen to them. The Minister of Health even refused to accept a letter one of the victims wanted to hand him. So much for Liberal attention and compassion.

The Prime Minister wonders how he will go down in history. He need have no illusions. The arrogance and cynicism of his government and himself have given proof in this instance—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra.

International Dance Day

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Thursday, April 29, is International Dance Day. This event invites us to understand the universality of this art form.

The language of dance knows no borders. It embraces all nationalities and is used for many purposes, including to express the artistic, the spiritual and the mundane.

To the first nations, dance is a vital component of their ancestral heritage. Canadian dance artists are our country's cultural ambassadors, applauded in all the cultural capitals of the world.

International Dance Day affords Canadians an opportunity to take part in activities focusing on various styles of dance and to honour our dance artists.

Youth Violence

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, I express our great sorrow for the tragic shooting yesterday in Taber, Alberta.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two boys who were shot, to the community of Taber, and to Glenn McMurray, executive director of the Reform Party, whose nephew Jason Lang died as a result of that shooting.

I worked for many years as a high school teacher and this tragedy has affected me deeply. Next to being at home or in church, where else should young people feel more secure than when they are in school?

As the Leader of the Opposition has said, if we could legislate against these kinds of grievous acts, we would all do so tomorrow. But laws will not prevent random violence. We must look at the root problem. If we strengthen families, improve the support provided by social services and make it easier for police to do their job, perhaps troubled youth will feel that they have a place to turn before they turn to violence.

To the Langs, the Christmases and all of Taber, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Alliance Conseil En Marchés Financiers

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning in Montreal, the Government of Canada expressed pride in its involvement in the creation of the Alliance conseil en marché financier.

This organization is the only one in Canada working to promote Canadian know-how in infrastructure development and capital market regulation abroad.

The main goal of the alliance is to connect the financial world with the expertise in Montreal, a marvelous opportunity for our financial community to further expand its operations internationally.

This is another example of the Government of Canada's co-operation with Quebec's economic stakeholders. Co-operation is always the best approach to carrying out our projects.

Youth Violence

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the NDP, our thoughts and prayers today are with the family and friends of Jason Lang and Shane Christmas of Taber, Alberta. We share their grief over Jason and their anxiety and hopes for Shane and the shock that a fine Canadian community like Taber must feel at having this happen in their midst.

This event challenges us all. It should challenge the media to ask themselves whether the way in which they report such events is part of the problem. It challenges people of all ages and not just young people to treat our fellow human beings in such a way that no one feels excluded or like an estranged loser. It challenges all of us, politicians and citizens, to ask how we can free our collective psyche from the growing fascination with nihilistic violence and death that permeates elements of our mass culture from video games to music and movies.

The victims in Alberta and Colorado are like canaries in the mine. The cultural environment is toxic. Let us clean it up before it is too late.

Amateur Sport

[Maurice Dumas, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage stated that everyone supported the decision to let go women's hockey coach Danièle Sauvageau, which is patently false. Once again, the Liberal member's response was a shameless denial of the facts.

As for the hon. member for Bourassa, that staunch defender of professional sport, and feigned defender of amateur sport, his problems are far from over. While the Minister of Canadian Heritage is confirming that the recommendations in the report on the funding of amateur sport have been pigeonholed, how can he expect Hockey Canada to act on his suggestion that Danièle Sauvageau be appointed immediately as the coach for the 2002 Olympics?

According to the hon. member for Bourassa, Danièle Sauvageau was apparently let go because she was too pushy. In fact, all she was doing was claiming what was rightfully hers, and the Quebeckers in the Liberal caucus would do well to follow suit. At present they are not asserting themselves enough and not assuming their responsibilities when the time comes to defend Quebeckers.

Jacques Parizeau

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

Mr. Speaker, Jacques Parizeau, the new Bloc Quebecois researcher, announced this morning the holding of a Bloc forum on globalization.

By still toeing the line of promoting Quebec separation, the Bloc Quebecois has not in any way grasped the advantages for Quebec of belonging to the Canadian federation.

As far as the globalization of modern economies is concerned, it is in the best interests of Canada to be united in order to retain its margin of action and economic strength on the international scene.

What the new Bloc Quebecois researcher is recommending is nothing more and nothing less than the weakening of Quebec in the face of the new realities which are reducing economic barriers.

Globalization places great importance on Canadian identity and strength, for joint and co-operative efforts by all governments protect—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

Youth Violence

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend my condolences and deepest sympathies on behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party to the people of Taber and the victims families of yesterday's tragedy at W. R. Myers High School.

The families of Jason Lang and Shane Christmas are in our thoughts today. We pray that Shane will soon experience a full recovery at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital.

The small agricultural community of Taber has suffered a tremendous shock, which has resonated across the country. Yesterday Canada lost some of its innocence. Coming so shortly after the tragic shootings in Colorado shows that our borders are not immune to random acts of violence.

The actions of this 14 year old boy should be a reflection on what more we must do as a society to prevent such a senseless act from occurring ever again. We need to come to terms with how and why this happened. For now our focus must be on those who are suffering as a consequence of this tragedy.

National Defence

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the phrase reduce, reuse and recycle should not apply to Canada's military. Yet that is exactly what has happened after 30 years of neglect.

Things are so bad that even the defence minister is admitting that our forces are stretched to the limit. His military emergency fund is almost dry and we are only one month into the war in Yugoslavia.

If war is not a good enough reason to increase the defence budget then what is?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the government has in fact increased the defence budget. This is the first time in over a dozen years that budget has been increased.

We have increased it because we want to make sure that we look after the fine dedicated men and women who serve in our Canadian forces. We have given them pay raises. We are improving their housing conditions. We are doing a number of things that improve their quality of life.

Also, the government has been purchasing the equipment and the tools they need to do the job. The people who will now be deployed to Macedonia will be taking some of our latest and best equipment, all new and all fully compatible with our allies. That will help them to do the job of peacekeeping.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our fine dedicated men and women in the military have had $7.8 billion cut out of the defence department since the government took power in 1993.

Now that a war is on the defence minister is surprised. He tosses back a few dollars, but he is surprised to find out we are extremely limited in the support we could give to our allies. Our troops need money and more equipment and they need it now. We have invested $1 billion in this budget.

Will he commit today to an immediate 10% increase in the defence budget?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are providing a very significant contribution to this allied effort.

When I talked with General Short, head of the NATO air operation, he said our pilots were first teamers. He said they were among the best who serve there. They have CF-18s that are well equipped to do the job. The equipment we are giving to our people who are going to Macedonia will be state of the art equipment.

This kind of criticism coming from the Reform Party has to be borne in mind in light of the fact that in the last election it said let us cut defence by another $1 billion.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

No, Mr. Speaker. In the last election we said put $1 billion extra in. In 1994 we were operating a huge deficit. That was when we said maybe some cuts would be made. Our military is doing—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Edmonton North.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our military is doing a tremendous job in spite of the government, not because of the government, and we thank it for that.

Troops are ready to leave for Macedonia as we speak. These men and women deserve to know that their government will give them the money and equipment they need to do the job over there.

The finance minister may want to answer this question because his hands are on the purse strings. Will he commit today to an immediate 10% increase in our defence budget? Yes or no.