Debates of March 17th, 2000

Supply

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

I do not know. I will not say what they are smoking. They will have to tell me what they are smoking. There is a real problem and we have been saying that from day one. When the government has its priorities in that order then we are in a serious situation. We truly are.

Let us look at what has happened to the military health care system. They did not put enough money into that either in the budget. I have risen in the House many times to discuss the ill effects and dangers of depleted uranium. Has the government ever done anything for them? No. It is just like hepatitis C. No, it has not.

When we are talking about transfer payments, the minister of finance for the province of New Brunswick is telling us that the amount of the transfer payments it will receive from the budget will only look after health care for three or four days. Where are the priorities of the government? We feel very strongly—

[An hon. member]

The leadership race is the priority.

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

I do not know.

[An hon. member]

Where is Joe Clark?

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

Madam Speaker, as you can hear, my hon. friends on the government side still do not have their priorities straight. If they had their priorities straight they would be standing and telling us that they would fight for money for health care.

We have to establish national goals. That has to be done because the Prime Minister needs to sit down with the premiers as well, not just the Minister of Health. The Prime Minister needs to sit with them, and he refused to do it. We cannot understand why he would refuse to do it.

The government has to discuss this issue. It has to create a longstanding credible system, not one that is here today and gone tomorrow depending on politics. As I stated when I first rose today, people cannot work, cannot go to school and cannot study. It is a terrible burden on all families. It is a terrible burden on society when this happens, but it happens. They are under stress, the stress the likes of which I have never seen.

In my riding which has the largest city in the province all CN men have been laid off because the rail passenger service was taken away. The coast guard was cut from 365 down to 65. The oldest sugar refinery in Canada was told that it would be closed down. That amounts to stress for all families.

A little boy and a little girl from high school came into my office just the other day and asked whether I could find their father a job. He was going to Nova Scotia and they did not want to move. Another person came in who was going to the United States. They do not want to move. They want to stay home. The only way they can do that is with good help. I wish to move the following amendment to the supply day motion:

That the motion be amended by adding after the word “House” the word “strongly”.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Perhaps the hon. member is not aware of the fact that the same amendment has already been moved.

It being 2.15 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt proceedings and put forthwith any question necessary to dispose of the business of supply.

Is the House ready for the question?

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

The question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Pursuant to order made Thursday, March 16, 2000 the recorded division stands deferred until Tuesday, March 21, 2000 at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

It being 2.17 p.m., this House stands adjourned until next Monday at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2.17 p.m.)