Debates of Feb. 17th, 2000

Supply

[Jean-Guy Chrétien, Bloc, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Speaking about democracy, in the last election in Quebec, in 1995, the riding of Beauce-Sud elected Mr. Quirion with a majority of 68 votes. In the riding of Beauce-Nord, Normand Poulin was elected with a majority of about 100 votes.

These are not overwhelming majorities, but it was democratic. We had judicial recounts and all citizens in Beauce accepted the verdict, even with such narrow victories.

I have two questions for the hon. member for Beauce. If Bill C-20 is so clear, why is he refusing to travel with the committee to his riding? That is what all his constituents want. Why is he refusing?

In Bill C-20, the majority is not indicated anywhere. From his seat in the House, can he tell us whether the majority will be 79%, 59% or 50% plus one? If he has any idea, let him tell us. If not, he should not say a word. But he should tell his constituents that he has no idea.

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in my opinon, it is deplorable that the president of Frontenac—Mégantic should try to think for the people of Beauce. They are quite capable of expressing themselves. Moreover, they did so in the last election, in 1997, by electing me.

[Jean-Guy Chrétien, Bloc, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. The member was elected in 1997, like most of us. He should know that we are here as members of parliament, not as association presidents.

[The Speaker]

I will give the member 30 seconds to answer.

[Claude Drouin, Liberal, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry if I have been disrespectful to you.

The hon. member for Frontenac—Mégantic mentioned there was an election where the member for Beauce-Sud won with a majority of 68% and the other with a majority of 61%.

I think he has a selective memory, because he forgot to mention that the member for Beauce-Sud who replaced the late Paul-Eugène Quirion, the member for Beauce-Sud, was elected in the next to last election with a majority of 5,000 votes and was elected in the last one with a majority of 3,500 votes, that the member for Beauce-Nord was elected with a majority of 2,000 votes, whereas I myself was elected with a majority of 10,000 votes, something I am very proud of.

The people of Beauce are very proud to be Canadians, Quebecers and inhabitants of Beauce.

Health

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our system of public health was created by Canadians who believed that all citizens deserve equal access to high quality medical care regardless of where they live in this great country. Canadians I have spoken to are proud of this accomplishment.

Today our health care system is under stress. Both service demand and costs are rising while hospitals and medical personnel are attempting to stretch their budgets to new limits. Clearly the realities of health care have changed over the last 30 years. While we know more about illness prevention, we continue to depend on technology and drugs to cure ailments that might be addressed at a lower cost with equal success.

It is time to engage in open, inclusive debate to address the challenges of our health care system. I believe we can continue to provide Canadians with the care they deserve by renewing our health care system and addressing today's realities.

Correctional Service Canada

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during the year 2000 it will be my personal mandate to educate the solicitor general on the nefarious activities of the Commissioner of Correctional Service Canada.

The first lesson is an easy one. Guards need weapons and inmates should not be served filet mignon. They are there to be punished. The more serious lesson today involves the commissioner's 50:50 plan. This policy is to reduce the inmate population by 50% regardless of the risk.

Both the commissioner and the solicitor general will deny this policy exists. However, in my possession I have a letter from the warden of the Grande Cache institute congratulating his staff for releasing 2,004 convicted offenders back into our community and therefore exceeding the commissioner's goal of 2,000.

Tonight's homework for the solicitor general will be to read this memo I have forwarded to his office and educate himself on what this bungling bureaucrat is really up to. My only hope is that the solicitor general will terminate the commissioner before my next lesson.

Flag Day 2000

[Hec Clouthier, Liberal, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week I was pleased and privileged to be with over 300 students at our Lady of Fatima School in Renfrew to celebrate a defining moment in the history of our great country, the 35th anniversary of the unveiling of our Canadian flag.

Organized by teacher Earl Bennett, the outdoor rally on a bright, beautiful winter morning was symbolic of all that Canadians hold near and dear to their hearts. We paid tribute to a shining, scintillating symbol that is recognized throughout the world as an icon for peace, prosperity, hope and tolerance.

The theme for Flag Day 2000 was “Take pride in Canada. The place to be in the 21st Century”.

When I looked out at these eager young students, I saw the future of our country Canada. Rest assured, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, that the next generation of Canadians will dare to dream. They will reach for the stars and they will build an even better country for each and every one of us as we march into the next millennium.

Student Summer Employment

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Henri, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is the time of year when students across Canada are thinking about finding summer employment.

The Canadian government is there to give them a hand with this, thanks to its Student Summer Job Action program.

The program offers the opportunity for secondary school, college and university students to acquire valuable experience during their holidays. The program has two objectives: to encourage employers to hire a student and to help students launch their own projects.

We wish all students who are seeking summer employment the best of luck. I would invite all individuals, companies and students in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri to take advantage of this project. Is our Canada not a fine country?

Stockholm International Conference

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to share with my colleagues the concerns and aspirations that were expressed at the recent international conference on the Holocaust, held in Stockholm.

First, the dangers of racist hate speech, which in Bosnia and Rwanda took us down the road to ethnic cleansing and genocide. As the Supreme Court of Canada put it in upholding the constitutionality of anti-hate legislation, “The Holocaust did not begin in the gas chambers, it began with words”.

Second, the danger of remaining silent, of indifference to evil, be it the killing fields of Sierra Leone, Chechnya or Burundi, “Dans ce temps-ci, qui s'excuse, s'accuse”.

Third, the importance, as Sweden has demonstrated, of Holocaust and human rights education as an antidote to racism, xenophobia and hate.

Fourth, the struggle against impunity; of fidelity to the Nuremberg legacy of bringing war criminals to justice.

Finally, the inspiration of a Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish non-Jew who saved 100,000 Jews in the Holocaust, who showed that one person can make a difference, that each one of us in our daily lives can make the world a better place.

Government Grants

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this government needs to add a new page for its famous binder boy. This page should be entitled “Accountability”.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I would prefer that we address each other by our titles rather than give each other nicknames.

[Inky Mark, Reform, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government needs to add a new page. This page should be entitled “Accountability”. Not only do we see the lack of accountability in Human Resources Development with the transitional jobs fund, but it appears more six point plans are required in departments like heritage.

The heritage minister, through the Canada Council, signs off on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of grants with little scrutiny or follow-up.

The auditor general should look into it: for example, $34,000 for an artist to reflect and develop his thoughts, $34,000 for an artist to work 18 months without the usual financial strain.

Farmers in my riding are asking for disaster relief. They are going broke. Yet the government finds $15,000 for year two of the continuous garbage project.

Canadian taxpayers have a simple question: Whose accountable in the government and where will the buck stop?

Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences

[Rick Limoges, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to congratulate all of the Canadians nominated this year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Two films by the National Film Board of Canada were nominated for an Oscar in the short film, animated category. They are: When the Day Breaks , directed by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis and produced by David Verrall; and My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts , directed by Torill Kove and produced by Marcy Page of the National Film Board and Lars Tommerbakke of Studio Magika in Norway.

Congratulations to the National Film Board for its 64th and 65th Oscar nominations.

Two other films in the same category have Canadian connections: The Old Man and the Sea , a Canada-Russia-Japan co-production, an IMAX animated film produced by La Maison de production Pascal Blais of Montreal; and 3 Misses , directed by Paul Driessen also of Montreal. The Red Violin , a Canada-Italy co-production that has received many awards in Canada and internationally, was also nominated for the work of composer John Corigliano for best original score.

The Economy

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have confidence in the economy and the future. This good news is directly related to the Liberal government's skilful management of social and economic demands.

There are many indicators that reinforce this positive attitude. For example, housing sales have reached record levels in many communities. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, new housing starts rose another 3% over the last year.

The news does not end here. The Canada gross domestic product is expected to grow by 4% in 2000. Also, the help-wanted index has steadily risen over the last three years and this trend continues to grow. Even factory shipments were up 9.3% at the end of 1999.

The numbers say it all. Canadians are confident in their economy and they are confident in their government. I am positive that the Minister of Finance's upcoming budget will result in even greater economic confidence for Canadians.

Health Care

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is responsible for the crisis in our health care system. It has cut over $10 billion in health transfer payments to the provinces and now fund less than 20% of medicare costs, a far cry from its 50:50 cost sharing promise.

In my home town of Mission, B.C., severe service cuts are being proposed at the Mission Memorial Hospital. Over 1,300 people recently attended a public forum to share their concerns about these proposed cuts. In addition, my office has received hundreds of letters and phone calls urging me to bring this issue to the attention of the Minister of Health.

The people of Mission are fearful that they may lose core health care services in their community. This is a fear that my constituents and all Canadians should not have to live with.

I want to tell the Minister of Health that his slash and burn approach to health care funding hurts real Canadians.

My constituents want the government to take immediate action to ensure that small towns like Mission can maintain adequate facilities to care for their communities.

Snow Sculpture

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, “Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver”, sang Gilles Vigneault. Last week, the Quebec team proved it once again by winning the third snow sculpture competition here on Parliament Hill.

Normand and Martine Rousseau, of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, and Camilien Belhumeur, the mayor of St-Guillaume, took first place with a magnificent sculpture of the “Rocket”, Maurice Richard, a hero to Quebecers and the ideal person to illustrate the passion of our people.

This trio from the Drummondville area is not savouring its first success. Martine and Normand Rousseau have just won for the second consecutive year the international snow sculpture competition at the Quebec City carnival. Camilien Belhumeur has participated three times in the Parliament Hill competition, coming second in 1998.

On behalf of the people in the riding of Drummond, I would like to pay tribute to the members of the Quebec team, past masters at their art.

Mr. Belhumeur and Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau, we are proud of you.

Human Resources Development

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Toronto Centre—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I share with the House the contents of a letter to the editor of the Globe and Mail sent by the executive director of Dixon Hall, an important social agency in my riding located near Regent Park, the first social housing complex built in Canada. Still today, a very fragile social environment.

Mr. MacDougall's letter challenges an editorial about HRDC which suggests that they are lining up at the trough for easy money and recommends that the fund be closed. It describes the much needed projects that this funding supports for women, for homeless individuals, and projects that train people for jobs and work in carpentry, child care, baking and small business development.

“For this money” he says, “we write extensive applications, sign contracts and report monthly to HRDC—The deep impact of HRDC funding cannot be so callously dismissed”.

Every week I visit worthwhile projects funded by HRDC in my riding. I want the House to know that the funding that HRDC delivers to my riding is well spent and is having a real effect on the lives of vulnerable Canadians.

Credit Unions

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, more and more Canadians are fed up with their banks and are switching to credit unions. Now the credit union movement is taking over rural bank branches deserted by the Bank of Montreal.

Can a bank change? Apparently not. Can credit unions save the day? I am pleased to say that they have been able to save 63 jobs in rural communities across Saskatchewan by buying up 17 branches that the Bank of Montreal wanted to close, plus 17 more branches saving 53 jobs in the province of Alberta. Former customers of the Bank of Montreal in both provinces will be able to continue doing business with a financial institution in their rural communities.

I salute the important role played by co-ops and credit unions as one of the three vital engines of the economy in our country. As the vehicle of their members, rather than their shareholders, co-ops and credit unions prove every day that people can run a successful business by serving their customers instead of milking them dry.

I congratulate the credit union movement for saving jobs and financial services in rural Canada and helping to revitalize the rural way of life. Well done.

Bill C-20

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, exceptionally, the Prime Minister has told us the whole raw truth: Bill C-20 is a “petty” bill. He did not think he was expressing it so well, since the sense of it can readily be extended to apply to the general attitude of the Liberals in this matter.

Tabling the bill just before Christmas, imposing closure in the House of Commons to prevent those opposed from speaking out; preventing the legislative committee from travelling or even from extending its deliberations in order to hear more witnesses: there are not a lot of great democrats on the other side of the House.

The federal Liberals from Quebec, far from defending democratic values, would be prepared to give the rest of Canada a veto on the people of Quebec's desire for change. There are indeed not a lot of great defenders of Quebec on the other side of the House.

Yes, Bill C-20 is a “petty” bill, another Liberal attempt to shrink Quebec and deny the existence of its people. What else could we expect from a “petty” government?

The Late Angus Maclean

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, this week Canadians mourn the loss of a true Canadian hero and a man of the people. Former Diefenbaker cabinet minister and P.E.I. premier, Angus MacLean, passed away Tuesday at the age 85.

In World War II, Mr. MacLean was shot down over the Nazi occupied Netherlands and managed, through his keen and resourceful intelligence, to survive for 72 days on the run in Holland.

This rural P.E.I. farmer and decorated airman decided to enter politics in Canada in 1951. He made his way to Ottawa to represent islanders with decency, loyalty and steadiness but without pretensions. For the following 25 years, Mr. MacLean became the most elected islander in P.E.I. history.

In the mid-1970s, Mr. MacLean decided to return home to P.E.I. to his farm. But, he still had politics flowing in his veins. He went on to win the leadership of the provincial Tory Party and brought the his party to government in 1979.

Angus MacLean was a true Canadian hero in war and a true Canadian patriot in his public service.

Northern Scientific Training Program

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Scientific Training Program, NSTP, has helped students study in Canada's north for more than 30 years. Each year the NSTP supports hundreds of students in valuable research projects and learning and living projects.

However, the NSTP has been cut back to a shadow of its former self. Today, when research in the north is more important than ever before and when the importance of young Canadians gaining life experience in remote parts of Canada is especially important, the NSTP is at its lowest level in decades.

I urge the government and the minister to restore funding to this unique and important national program. Let us help our young people help Canada's north.

Fisheries And Oceans

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is quite fortunate that the Atlantic fisheries crisis is being overshadowed by the troubles in HRDC.

The fisheries crisis may be out of the limelight, but I can assure the House that a serious problem still exists. I am telling the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, no. I am warning him that violence could once again erupt if solutions are not soon found to the problems.

We are hearing through the grapevine that the government is seriously looking for some kind of buyback program where it will purchase boats, licences and gear to help integrate natives into the commercial fishery.

I would strongly suggest to the minister that any such solution must somehow involve the elimination of the food fishery; otherwise, these resources may be used during the summer months to help non-status Indians to conduct their own fishery. If this should occur, we can surely expect serious unrest.

I can only hope that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will take these concerns seriously before finalizing any agreement in this dispute.

Amateur Sport

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians interested in sports have suffered the setbacks of watching some of their own athletes accused of taking illicit drugs. That is why I am pleased to acknowledge the hosting in Montreal by the hon. Secretary of State for Amateur Sport of the Montreal workshop on anti-doping in sports.

In this workshop commenced yesterday Canada is playing host to over 30 international governmental delegations in a meeting to advance the role of governments in the fight against doping in sports.

It is a great distinction for Canada to play host to such a prestigious event in the field of amateur sport. It speaks volumes about the government's commitment to enhancing Canada's amateur sport both here and worldwide.

Human Resources Development

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in order to qualify for Canada jobs fund grants a riding must have an unemployment rate of greater than 10% according to 1997 figures.

This past November 1, 1999, the HRD minister approved two CJF grants totalling $640,000 in her very own riding. Will the minister confirm these facts?