Debates of April 4th, 2000

Supply

[The Speaker]

We have five minutes left for questions and comments but rather than do that now I propose we wait until after question period.

Boralex Senneterre

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on April 3, 2000, with the Mayor of Senneterre and numerous representatives of the municipality, government, industry and local dignitaries in attendance, Boralex Senneterre held a sod-turning ceremony to inaugurate the construction of its future 32-megawatt thermal power plant at Senneterre, in the Abitibi region. It will be fuelled by residue from the forestry industry.

This project represents an investment in excess of $50 million, and is the highest capacity installation Boralex has built in Quebec to date.

According to Boralex President and CEO Jacques Gauthier, “This project fits solidly within our objective to make Boralex a producer focusing on renewable energy and green energy, an area in which we have already developed leading-edge expertise and have already earned our laurels. We are particularly proud that this project will be located in a dynamic community and will enable us to contribute to putting to good use a large proportion of the forestry residue from the Senneterre region, to produce energy”.

Agriculture

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, today the agriculture minister appeared before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. I was hoping to get some answers as to why the government was not getting the $1.7 billion it promised into the hands of struggling Canadian farmers. Unfortunately the only response I got from the minister was more Liberal rhetoric.

Farmers in my riding say AIDA is inefficient, rigid and filled with complicated forms and bureaucratic red tape. Frustrated farmers may not even apply for assistance this year as it appears hopeless.

AIDA must be overhauled. The whole program must be reviewed and revamped to help farmers. Taxes on fuel and other inputs could be reduced immediately. The Liberals have already broken their promise to get the money out in time to help farmers. Will they make a commitment to get the remaining $1.2 billion out in the next couple of weeks so farmers have the resources to put in their crops?

Farmers send a lot of money to Ottawa hidden right in their input costs. Why not refund it now?

Murder Of Haitian Journalist

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday morning we learned the sad news of the murder of Jean Dominique, a Haitian broadcast executive and close friend of President René Préval. He was killed in Port-au-Prince while on his way to work.

Mr. Dominique was one of his country's most respected commentators. He had been forced into exile on several occasions as a result of his fight against dictatorship.

I would remind hon. members that the atmosphere in Haiti at the present time is a very tense one, and President Préval is hesitant to hold a general election.

This death brings to mind what a difficult job journalists have in a number of places on this planet. In some cases, they are truly living on the edge.

Fortunately, Canada has a spotless reputation as far as freedom of the press and freedom of speech are concerned. Regardless of the country in which such a terrible event takes place, it is always a terrible shock for us to hear such news, as it runs counter to all charters of rights and freedoms.

Terry Fox

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the magnificent legacy of Terry Fox continues to grow year by year, country by country. A Terry Fox run is now being held in more than 50 countries worldwide.

On the eve of our Prime Minister's visit to the Middle East, it is heartwarming to observe the growing ties between Canada and the nations of the region. On the streets of Beirut, Lebanon, and Damascus, Syria, and throughout the Middle East, thousands of people have gathered each year for many years to walk, run, and roller blade in support of cancer research in memory of Terry Fox.

May the legacy of Terry Fox continue to serve as an ambassador for the spirit of Canada all over the world and may relations between Canada and the Middle East continue to flourish.

Prime Minister David Oddsson

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—Assiniboine, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Prime Minister David Oddsson of Iceland to our country. Prime Minister Oddsson is the longest serving prime minister among western countries today. He is an accomplished statesman, political leader and author.

Mr. Oddsson's four day visit will commemorate Iceland's unique historical ties to Canada. These ties stretch back l,000 years to the birth of Snorri, the first white child born in North America at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, 500 years before Columbus and Cabot.

These ties also include the founding of New Iceland in 1875 on the location of present day Gimli, Manitoba, and other settlements throughout Manitoba's Interlake region.

Today, there are thousands of Canadians of Icelandic descent spread across our country. I am proud to be one of them. My father came from there when he was 13 years of age.

On behalf of all members of this House, I welcome Prime Minister Oddsson to Canada.

The Senate

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, loyal Liberals are waiting by their phones as the Prime Minister mulls over his choices for the seven vacant Senate seats. The Alberta vacancy, however, is sending shudders through the Prime Minister's office.

Albertans elected Bert Brown as their choice for senator in October 1998 and now they expect the Prime Minister to appoint him to the Senate.

The problem is the Prime Minister would rather bypass their wishes in favour of a patronage appointee. What a change from those long forgotten days when he was opposition leader. Back then he said “The Liberal government in two years will make the Senate elected. As Prime Minister, I can make that happen”.

A year later, he said “To meet the hopes and dreams of those who live in the west and the Atlantic, a reformed Senate is essential. It must be a Senate that is elected, effective and equitable”.

Will this be just another in the long list of broken Liberal promises? The Prime Minister has a choice. Will he choose democracy over patronage?

Assisted Suicide

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, six years ago, Sue Rodriguez died after a long and courageous struggle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

Sue also fought another valiant battle before parliament and into the Supreme Court of Canada for a change to the criminal code provisions on physician assisted dying for terminally ill persons.

Even with the best of palliative care, too many Canadians are forced to suffer pain, anguish, indignity or pharmaceutical oblivion in their final days. Doctors must reject the eloquent plea of people like Terry Graham of Brampton or of Dr. Cohn Woolf of Toronto to allow them to die with dignity at the time they choose. Some, like Halifax orchestra conductor, Georg Tintner, jump from their balcony in despair.

I call today on the Liberal government to show compassion and humanity and listen to the eloquent call of Terry Graham, dying of mitochondrial myopathy, who recently said, “I'm just waiting to die. I'd just as soon shoot myself. It's quicker.”

I urge our government: Listen to the voices of three quarters of Canadians, amend this cruel and inhumane law now.

Vaisakhi

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this month the Sikh community in Canada and around the world are celebrating Vaisakhi, the 301st birthday of the Sikh nation, Khalsa.

Canada's Sikh community and myself are deeply grateful to the Prime Minister for his continued involvement at Vaisakhi celebrations on Parliament Hill every year for the last seven years.

I am sure all members will join me in congratulating Canadian Sikhs on the birth of the Sikh nation, and in recognition of their tremendous contributions in all spheres of Canadian society, like B.C.'s premier and minister of fisheries.

Finally, I thank all members of the cabinet and my fellow members for their continued support and involvement with me since 1993.

Hutchison Creek Fish Hatchery

[Lou Sekora, Liberal, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday I went to the Hutchison Creek Fish Hatchery in Port Moody with students from the Heritage Mountain Elementary School. The students had a hands-on educational experience.

Larry Cardus operates an eight year old hatchery that is monitored by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He has let over one million fish go in the 18 years of his involvement in fish enhancement. He is also a great firefighter in my riding.

First Nations Accountability Coalition

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last year the United Nations stated that the quality of life for Canadians living on reserves is a national shame. For non-aboriginal Canadians the quality of life ranking continues to be number one, while aboriginal Canadians tolerate a quality of life ranked 35th, below that experienced in Mexico and Thailand.

I would like to salute Leona Freed and her colleagues with the First Nations Accountability Coalition. In one year this group has brought aboriginal accountability to the forefront and has worked tirelessly to correct this inequity.

Leona held meetings for grassroots people last summer. The purpose was to hear concerns about living conditions on and off reserve. The grievances were many and were extensively documented. Many had proof of mismanagement of tax dollars, illegal and corrupt activities and electoral irregularities, just to name a few.

I encourage all members, regardless of political stripe, to obtain and study a copy of this report. In the words of Leona “unless the grassroots natives' concerns are addressed and thoroughly investigated, a new relationship with band members cannot exist and self-government will not succeed ”.

Leona, I salute you.

Globe And Mail

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Jeffrey Simpson, a so-called worthy and honest journalist, today used the pages of the Globe and Mail to deliver a vitriolic attack on the members of the Bloc Quebecois and on all Quebecers who even dare to consider voting for our party.

He said, and I quote “The Bloc Quebecois caucus is mostly made up of second-raters and shouters—not caring or knowing anything about the rest of Canada—. In this, too, they are a fine reflection of their electors”.

Rarely have we seen such contempt for Quebecers and their legitimate political aspirations spread across the editorial page of a respectable Canadian newspaper. This intolerant attitude verges on hatred and racism. This is an embarrassment to the Globe and Mail and to Canada as a whole.

Off come the masks. The constitutional general store is closed. The Montreal love-in has been forgotten. Now is the hour of Bill C-20, night sticks and “shut up and stay quiet”.

Quebec is of nobler spirit. When the day comes and it becomes sovereign, it will reach out to Canada.

Canadian Armed Forces Association

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on April 1, the Canadian armed forces association launched its first Internet site.

The site contains a host of information on military and civilian aviation with many links to museums, squadrons and organizations in the world of aerospace.

The launch date of April 1 was no chance matter. This date marks not only the 75th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force but the 50th anniversary of civil aviation as well.

The world of communications has never been such a vital element in the context of openness to the world and exchanges of information between people and organizations from all corners of the planet.

Congratulations to the Canadian armed forces association on its initiative. I invite everyone to visit this site full of interesting discoveries and surprises.

Gasoline Pricing

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government derives huge revenues from the sale of gasoline in Canada.

It rakes in over $6.3 billion annually just from excise taxes and the GST. If the $2 billion from taxing oil companies is added in, the government has over $8 billion from which to draw in tackling the hike in gasoline prices.

The recent increase in the price of gasoline continues to benefit the federal government by bringing in additional revenues.

As he often tries to do on many other occasions, the Minister of Finance is trying to duck the issue, and is shirking his responsibilities to taxpayers. He must take action immediately to improve the situation for taxpayers, and not try to shift the blame to the provinces.

Since we know that federal surpluses are much higher than the Minister of Finance forecast, the Bloc Quebecois thinks that he has sufficient leeway to do something about this problem immediately.

Canadian and Quebec taxpayers are not stupid; they know where the money is and who is in a position to take immediate action: Ottawa.

C.H. Tung

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Canada-Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Group, it is my pleasure to welcome Mr. C.H. Tung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, to Canada and to our beautiful capital of Ottawa.

The relationship between Canada and Hong Kong will only strengthen as Canada continues to expand and develop new partnerships through trade, education and through sharing of our cultural traditions.

I hope Mr. Tung has a wonderful time and will take back a good relationship.

Health Care

[Norman E. Doyle, Progressive Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance says he has more money for health care if the provinces agree to the federal government's plan for health care reform. While the government plays carrots and sticks with the provinces over health care funding, people are dying while awaiting operations, emergency rooms resemble war zones and patients are sleeping on stretchers in hospital corridors.

Canadians want us to fix the system that is already broken before we embark on any new schemes. That fix urgently requires putting back the $4.5 billion a year that the Liberals have already taken out of the system.

If the government is serious about building the health care of tomorrow, it must first help save the system that we have today.

Organization Of Women In International Trade

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on March 8 the Ontario Chapter of Women in International Trade was launched. Canada joined a worldwide network that aims to significantly increase international trade opportunities for Canadian businesswomen.

The Organization of Women in International Trade is comprised of over 5,000 members in countries around the world. With women-owned businesses significantly under-represented in the global trade arena, this organization seeks to change the situation by providing global business contacts, networking and educational opportunities.

The activities of the Ontario chapter are presently focused on electronic commerce. Women can now level the playing field by accessing the Internet and making contact, marketing or selling their products and services worldwide. With this technology, some of the barriers women often face, such as the inability to travel extensively due to family commitments or fears for their security, now disappear.

Women in International Trade of Ontario hopes to play a valuable role in assisting women exporters reach aggressive growth targets through skill enhancement seminars, networking opportunities, and by providing practical tips, resources and global contacts to foster Internet marketing.

Health Care

[Reed Elley, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge the Liberal government over its lack of foresight and inability to seek out solutions for the number one problem facing Canadians today, health care.

Funding is an integral part of the solution but the federal government now only provides 11% of public health care funding in Canada. Yet this government seems unwilling to work with the provinces in an effort to find solutions to health care problems it has caused.

As all of the provincial health care ministers showed last week, there is an overwhelming need for the federal government to get on board and join in the search for real solutions. The time for empty talk is over. The time for action is now.

As I have done previously, I challenge this government to co-operatively research and seek solutions to the health care problems facing Canadians today. Bring the provinces on board for this major task.

This afternoon the Standing Committee on Health will discuss future business and I urge all members of the committee to adopt my motion to study the state of health care in Canada.

Canadians expect solutions. The Canadian Alliance is actively working to find these national solutions.

Via Rail

[Dennis Gruending, NDP, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Biggar, Saskatchewan, in my riding, is a railroad town but you would never know it by the way it is treated by VIA Rail. The train arrives in the middle of the night and if you want to catch it, you have to stand shivering under a light pole.

The station that was built by VIA in the 1970s has been closed. I have had letters from CN pensioners, from the Biggar New Horizons project and from the Catholic Women's League asking that VIA Rail open the station so that people can wait for the train in comfort.

The transport minister said yesterday we are getting more money into the rail system and a new day is dawning for passenger rail in Canada. The people in Biggar, Saskatchewan, just want to have their station re-opened so they can wait for the train in comfort and safety.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, political accountability on our aboriginal reserves across Canada is a disaster.

The chief of the Eskasoni reserve in Cape Breton took honorariums and bonuses totalling more than $300,000 last year alone, and yet his fellow band members are plagued by a 50% unemployment rate and dire poverty.

Why will this minister not stand to protect the band members?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the reality of government to government relationships means that we have to honour the abilities of the first nations people to make their own decisions.

The reality is that the first nations people will decide what will be the wages of their elected officials. At election time they will make that decision. When they make the decision they will choose the best person on the ballot.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, if that is the case, I wonder why there is even a position for the minister of Indian affairs, if he is not going to give any guidance to these people who have such desperate situations on reserve.

Taxpayers have a right to know that their money is being put to good use, and so do the aboriginal grassroots band members.

Asked to comment recently on the $130,000 tax free salary of the chief of the Acadia reserve, the minister stood and said “I have no reason to dispute it”.

Why is rampant poverty and dire straits not reason enough to dispute greed at the top?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make this very clear to the member, because she may not understand what government to government relationships mean. When talking about government relationships, we allow governments which are duly elected by their memberships to make the decisions as to what salaries their elected officials will make. It is not up to the Government of Canada or this minister to make that decision for them.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the minister talks about government to government relationships. Surely there is some responsibility for government to taxpayers, the people who are footing the bill. The amount of $640,000 went to the Acadia reserve chief and councillors, over three times what it had been just two years before.

Over that same two year period social services to the people and the children on that reserve were reduced by more than $200,000. So much for helping the poor.

If the minister is in this position to actually help people, I would like him to realize that these are tragic stories. Why is he ignoring them?

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, as I have stood and said in the House a number of times in the last number of months, to make it very clear, we are the most audited department in the government.

One of the things we do is ask the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants to audit first nations. Those audits include information which any first nation can get. All they have to do is ask the department for the information and it will be supplied.