Debates of May 30th, 2000

Supply

[David Collenette, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for interrupting my colleague from the Canadian Alliance at this stage. I am glad he will have the opportunity to finish his remarks after 3 o'clock.

There have been discussions among members of the parties about seeking unanimous consent to revert to the introduction of bills so that we may have first reading of the grain transportation bill. I understand there is agreement among all parties to allow this at this time.

We are doing this to facilitate an early debate at second reading this week so that we can get the bill to committee. This bill must be passed by both houses before the summer recess in order for the savings to farmers to come into effect August 1, the beginning of the crop year.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. minister have permission to put the motions?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Canada Transportation Act

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-34, an act to amend the Canada Transportation Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Brad Bowden

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the outstanding athletic accomplishments of Brad Bowden, a high school champion in my riding who has the golden touch in sports.

Even at his young age, Brad is no longer a stranger to winning gold medals. In March, he and his Team Canada teammates struck gold when they won the Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brad managed this incredible accomplishment while continuing his studies as a student at Westside Secondary School in Orangeville.

Recently, Brad helped to lead another team to gold winning victory. He was named the most valuable player when his Variety Village team won the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association's junior championship in Toronto. They also won gold in 1995 and 1996.

The year 2000 is shining brightly on Brad Bowden. I join with other proud members of our community in congratulating him on his great accomplishments in sports.

Corrections And Conditional Release Act

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, one of the cruel anomalies of our criminal justice system must surely be the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, which allows for statutory release and automatically paroles all inmates after serving two-thirds of their sentences.

A justice subcommittee studying this mockery of the sentencing system came close to recommending an end to the statutory release. That was before the Liberal MPs on the committee changed their minds after a short visit to the whip's office decided to give credence to the corrections commissioner that statutory parole was a great thing.

There is a litany of abuse of the statutory release, but none as glaring as Kelly James Bedard. In 1994 he was arrested for murder, having slashed the throat of his victim. His rampage came three months after being released from prison, having served the necessary two-thirds of his sentence for aggravated assault.

Today Kelly is on the street despite a parole board assessment that Kelly was at high risk for violent offences. I hope the Liberals are happy with themselves.

Blyth Festival Theatre

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, hark, what talent through yonder benches breaks.

Each year for the past 26 seasons the Blyth Festival Theatre has been delighting audiences with its world-renowned performances chronicling all the aspects of our national experience.

With this, I am pleased to inform the House that joining with the ranks of Shakespeare is one of our very own. I congratulate the hon. member for Dartmouth as this year her play, Corker , will be showcased at the festival. This satirical comedy pokes fun at our society and underscores the surprises that life often produces.

On behalf of the festival and the citizens of Blyth, I invite all members of the House to review the brochures I have provided to their offices and to then take the time to join me at the festival sometime this summer.

Culturelink

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

Mr. Speaker, on May 24 I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for Culturelink which recently relocated into my riding.

Founded in 1989, Culturelink is a non-profit community based organization that facilitates the settlement of newcomers to Toronto. It offers a wide variety of programs which promote self-sufficiency, positive interaction and understanding between the host and newcomer communities, and the overall well-being of all its participants.

Culturelink programs include the host program, English conversation circle and job search workshops. These workshops also include employment counselling, resumé clinics, TOEFL classes and youth programs.

Culturelink has been made possible through partnerships among the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario government, the city of Toronto, the Counselling Foundation of Canada, the United Way of Greater Toronto and the Trillium Foundation.

I would like to welcome Culturelink to Parkdale—High Park. I wish it continued success in its new location.

International Trade

[Denis Paradis, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in this era of globalization, our communities must make a place for themselves in the vast world market. Municipal politicians and those responsible for economic development are aware that they must be equipped to deal with the new challenges all of us are faced with.

We can help our small and medium businesses to become major players on the international scene by keeping them informed, and by providing them with needed support. For this reason, I organized the first International Day this past February, and I am doing it again now for the ridings in central Quebec.

This day offers an opportunity to discuss international trade, the contracting process, CIDA and Team Canada. It is a day for acquiring information on matters of an international nature, which may prove useful for municipal politicians and those responsible for economic development.

I congratulate my fellow MPs, particularly the hon. member for Beauce and the hon. member for Bellechasse—Etchemins—Montmagny—L'Islet. The dynamism of those attending today reflects the vitality of our communities.

Taxation

[Rob Anders, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Robert Mundell, Columbia University's Nobel prize winning economist, for recognizing and encouraging efficiency.

Mr. Mundell just received an honorary degree from Queen's University at its spring 2000 convocation. His endorsement of Estonian and Hong Kong tax systems is fitting. Single rate income taxes result in less complexity and greater productivity. That is why Alberta is adopting a 10.5% single rate tax.

The Canadian Alliance has adopted a 17% across the board federal income tax rate. Further, personal exemptions of $10,000 and ending tax discrimination against married people would remove thousands from the tax rolls altogether.

Congratulations to Robert Mundell and single tax rate advocates everywhere. May even Liberals one day learn to embrace less government and less tax. Vote Canadian Alliance for a 17% single rate tax. Praise Robert Mundell, a son of freedom and single rate taxes.

Rimouski Oceanic Hockey Team

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on winning the Memorial Cup played in Halifax last week. To win the Memorial Cup, emblematic of the best junior team in Canada, ranks as the achievement in junior hockey.

I am particularly proud of the Oceanic team members, not just because they won and were a great example of team play, skill and dedication, but also because the most valuable player of the tournament and one of his teammates both come from Prince Edward Island.

Brad Richards from Murray Harbour and Thatcher Bell from Gurnsey Cove played outstanding hockey and represented their league, their hometowns and province with enormous class and enthusiasm. Congratulations and good luck in their futures to Brad and Thatcher. Also to the Barrie Colts captain Sheldon Keefe who also hails from P.E.I., best of luck in his future.

Also, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, my first hockey hero, rest in peace. You were a great man and a first class Canadian.

Grain Transportation

[Roy H. Bailey, Reform, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, a growing number of motorists and truck drivers in Saskatchewan for safety reasons are choosing the municipal roads for travel instead of the provincial highways.

The provincial highways, handling the increased amount of grain transportation, are deteriorating very rapidly.

Within the proposed grain bill the $175 million to support grain transportation over the next five years simply breaks down to $35 million for the three prairie provinces. Saskatchewan would probably get 60% of that amount, or $21 million a year. If that entire amount were to be spent within my constituency, it would not even bring Highway 13 up to the standards for modern trucking demands.

Buffet Des Nations In Sherbrooke

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, May 27, I visited 40 countries and tasted the typical foods of many of them, all in the space of a few hours.

I managed this lightning world tour by joining some 800 other guests at the 29th Buffet des nations, organized in Sherbrooke by the Service d'Aide aux néo-Canadiens.

The purpose of this great annual event, unique in Quebec and in Canada, is to raise funds to organize activities to help new immigrants integrate. In Sherbrooke alone we had some 3,740 new immigrants in 1996, 370 more than the figure in the 1991 census. Immigration is, I feel, a source of great wealth for my riding.

In closing, I wish to congratulate the President of the Service d'aide, Nicole Robitaille, and her 300 or so volunteers who worked so hard to ensure the success of this great international festival of gastronomy.

Young Entrepreneur Award

[Steve Mahoney, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, May 25, at the Mississauga Board of Trade's 2000 Outstanding Business Awards, Ms. Kate Bird, president of Career Essentials Inc., received the young entrepreneur of the year award.

Career Essentials, with outlets in nine Ontario cities, provides a variety of assessment, training, tutoring and job search services through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, primarily to assist injured workers with reintegration into the workplace. It also offers a certificate course entitled, “Teaching English as a Second Language”, as well as one on one student tutoring, training options for the corporate market and a variety of career services to people searching for employment.

This is not the first award for Ms. Bird. She has previously received the young entrepreneur of the year award and the business startup award, both from the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to Kate Bird. Way to go.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the CBC announced that local TV news will be cut by two-thirds. Shame on the Liberal members who cut $400 million from the CBC and then feign outrage when the cuts are actually implemented. Do they not read their own budgets before they vote?

Shame on the Prime Minister for making the CBC slice up successful shows like 24 Hours , Here and Now , 1st Edition and Compass . His approach is the wisdom of Solomon gone horribly wrong.

The most cynical part of this whole affair is that the Liberals will promise yet again to support the CBC when they go to the people in the next election, and then will break that promise one more time, this time killing regional programs forever.

I call on the government to recommit to the dream of public broadcasting which truly reflects regions to regions, and take the CBC off life supports now.

Quebec's Week Of The Disabled

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, more than a million people have to overcome impediments to their involvement in society everyday.

Yesterday, May 29, in Laval and elsewhere in Quebec, we kicked off Quebec's week of the disabled.

Between June 1 and 7, through discussions, artistic and sporting activities, people with disabilities will have their say. By listening to what they have to say, we will perhaps understand that a disability is not necessarily a handicap. The real handicap is not being able to study, work, enjoy oneself, travel or communicate with others.

By working together to help people with disabilities integrate into society by implementing progressive measures to ensure their right to education, to work and to enjoy recreation, we will all come out ahead, and our society will be more humane, because it will be more just.

I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those volunteers who work to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Ottawa Centre.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week was designated Aboriginal Awareness Week across the federal public service.

I am pleased to inform the House and Canadians that across the national capital region there were many celebrations of aboriginal arts and culture. Aboriginal performers entertained and led demonstrations in traditional arts and crafts. Ceremonial songs and colourful workshops gave everyone an opportunity to experience the aboriginal lifestyle, from sampling traditional foods to participating in cultural workshops and listening to special guest speakers. These kinds of opportunities are very important for they recognize the contributions of aboriginal people to our country.

Next month all Canadians will have the opportunity to share in the celebration of National Aboriginal Day on June 21. I encourage all citizens to take advantage of that opportunity.

Crab Fishery

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last week we heard from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans that the crab quota for eastern Nova Scotia was being increased to three times the quota allocated last year, approximately a 6,000 tonne increase.

This is being done even though fishers have opposed such large increases in the quota and scientists acknowledge that there have been wild fluctuations in the snow crab population over the past 20 years. The minister is increasing the quota in the face of opposition simply to score some pre-election points. He is jeopardizing the long term sustainability of the crab fishery in order to make a good news announcement from a government with nothing but bad news announcements.

At what cost? When fishers applaud conservation efforts and smaller crab quotas, why is the minister providing a 240% increase in crab fishing area 23 and a 212% increase in crab fishing area 24? Obviously the election campaign for the government has already begun.

Huntington's Disease

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform members of the House and all Canadians that May has been proclaimed Huntington's Disease Awareness Month.

It is estimated that this disease affects one in every thousand Canadians. The Huntington Society is dedicated to finding a cure for Huntington's Disease.

I ask members to join me in wishing the Huntington Society of Canada a very successful Huntington's Disease Awareness Month.

Human Resources Development

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when 18,000 Canadians requested copies of their own files, the government shut down the database. Did the human resources minister have a conscience attack and realize that her massive files violated individual privacy rights, or was she afraid of how people would react when they found out how closely their government watches them?

Two weeks ago the minister denied there was a problem. Then she lurched into damage control with the all too familiar refrain, “Don't worry, trust me”. Canadians do not trust her. They were horrified to learn that the minister who cannot keep track of grant applications and bungled a billion dollars on job creation programs had their most personal information.

The Liberals' campaign team saw their re-election dreams going up in smoke. Shovelgate deeply wounded them and big brother was sure to bury them. With her image consultant coaching from the sidelines, the minister made a U-turn and became Ms. Privacy Protector.

Once again big sister is asking Canadians to trust her. Canadians are asking, “Why should we?”

The Environment

[Louise Hardy, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, recently parliamentarians attended an ecological summit and yesterday a forum on aboriginal health.

The summit included a presentation by Dr. Schindler from the University of Alberta who said that considering the importance of water to all life, it is strange that freshwater has been Canada's most mistreated and ignored natural resource. Canadian citizens are paying the price for governments not protecting our water supply and the environment.

The quality of drinking water is a major issue in Ontario. For the north the concentrations of PCBs and other pollutants in fish, caribou and birds are high enough to require human consumption of traditional aboriginal food to be restricted. The government is fully aware that in the north we have PCB levels five times higher than anywhere else.

It is time that the Liberal government changed its cavalier attitude toward the environment and enforced environmental laws and regulations. We demand action and remedies on the cumulative effects of organic pollutants. The government is responsible for the price that northerners are paying due to these pollutants.

New Member

[The Speaker]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Loyola Hearn, member for the electoral district of St. John's West.

Mr. Loyola Hearn, member for the electoral district of St. John's West, introduced by Mr. Peter MacKay and Mr. Norman Doyle.

Human Resources Development

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, more than 18,000 Canadians have written to the human resources department asking for copies of their files from the big brother database. According to the Privacy Act, the minister has 30 days to respond to that and comply.

Yesterday the minister suggested that Canadians who have asked for that information will have to write again and tell her that they really, really want copies of their file.

Why is the minister not complying with the Privacy Act?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should quit chasing headlines and get her facts straight. No one has to reapply. If they have asked us for the information, they will receive it.

She is right that it will take us some time because we have dismantled the files. We have been working with the privacy commissioner's office so that we will not have a significant delay. No one who wants the information will have to reapply.