Debates of May 4th, 2000

Joe Beelen

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I am proud to pay tribute to Joe Beelen, a resident of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, who took part in a one month volunteer assignment in San Petro Sula in Honduras for the Canadian Executive Service Organization, CESO.

Mr. Beelen is representative of CESO's highly qualified volunteers and has several missions to his credit.

His last assignment was to a company manufacturing and distributing pharmaceutical products.

He was of great assistance to the company, helping improve product quality, revising and modifying a number of formulations, and then implementing continuous product updating methods.

He recommended changes to the existing facilities and examined the plans for the proposed new facilities. In addition, he provided advice on administrative aspects of the company.

I congratulate Mr. Beelen and thank him for his devotion. He proudly represents CESO's motto, which is “Sharing a lifetime of experience”.

National Parks

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over the past 18 years, over 6,000 animals have been killed by trains, cars and trucks in Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. The victims include grizzly bears, a species classified as vulnerable in Canada, mountain lions, bighorn sheep and wolves. The explanation is that animals are attracted by grain spilled by trains. Then we have bighorn sheep and mountain lions taking refuge inside the Brulé Tunnel near Jasper.

There are solutions to stopping this wildlife carnage in the national parks. Canadian National Railways could repair leaking hopper cars, clean up spilled grain from the railroads and build fences near the Brulé Tunnel.

Wildlife must be safe and protected when moving in national parks and CN Railways has a responsibility to discharge in exchange for the privilege of using railway tracks through the pristine wilderness of our national parks.

Foreign Affairs

[Gurmant Grewal, Reform, Surrey Central, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's ill-fated trip to the Middle East on how to embarrass us and weaken Canada's reputation made headlines at home and abroad.

The Liberal member for Wentworth—Burlington has his own take on it. He said that the Prime Minister's Middle East gaffes were actually part of an extremely sophisticated policy testing strategy. He said “I believe the Prime Minister's visit and the remarks he made were a set-up. He was working from a prepared script on behalf of the parties to the peace process”.

The member also said that in March 1999 the Prime Minister and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, struck some sort of secret agreement during their private discuss in Ottawa. He said “The truth of this will emerge after the peace process is finished”.

When will the Prime Minister tell Canadians the truth about the secret plan?

Prevention Of Mental Illness

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the first week of May is Mental Health Week, devoted to the prevention of mental illness.

Everyone, regardless of age, income, sex, origin or occupation, must feel concerned by mental health promotion within the community.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as the ability to feel, think and act in such a way as to enhance our capacity to live life to the fullest and to cope with challenges. Mental health relates to positive emotional and spiritual well-being and respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, personal interaction and human dignity.

As an illustration of the significance of mental health, by 2020 it is predicted that depression will rank second among the illnesses representing the heaviest economic burden in Canada.

One thing is certain: mental health depends on solid community and family support networks. Each and every one of us, and all those we represent, are responsible for the quality and viability of these networks.

Government Of Nunavut

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to say that the Premier of Nunavut, Paul Okalik, is pleased to be back in Ottawa for a few days on government business.

As hon. members know, the Government of Nunavut celebrated its first year anniversary on April 1, 2000. One year ago the world watched as this historic event changed the face of Canada.

In these last 12 months the Government of Nunavut has demonstrated stability and strong leadership in establishing the policies, programs and partnerships to benefit the lives of Nunavut residents.

Despite the excitement of a new government, there are many challenges facing both the Government of Nunavut and the federal government toward improving the quality of life of Nunavummiut. The federal and the territorial governments must work hard to deal with such significant issues as lack of housing, unemployment and education.

I am very happy to see Premier Okalik in Ottawa meeting with federal government officials to dialogue on the opportunities and challenges facing his territory.

Health

[Michelle Dockrill, NDP, Bras D'Or, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today I had the privilege to join with the National Union of Public and General Employees Women's Committee in their call upon the federal government to invest in women's health care initiatives, in particular, funding a Women's health research institute.

In its recent announcements to provide $60 million this year for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and $500 million next year, the government ignored the majority of users of the system and 52% of Canada's population by not earmarking a single dollar for women's health research.

Lost in the rhetoric and television ads has been the real health concerns of women. Access to timely, quality health care for women is at an all time low while the provincial and federal governments play politics.

The money is there. The time to act is now to improve women's health care, and Canadian women demand it.

Bradley Gaskin Marshall Critical Care Fund

[Janko Peric, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, to celebrate their 100th anniversary, Bradley Gaskin Marshall Insurance Brokers Ltd. donated $35,525 to the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation. This represents $1 for every day BGM has been in business in Cambridge.

The Bradley Gaskin Marshall Critical Care Fund will support the emergency and intensive care units of our hospital.

Cambridge corporations and individuals have long been known for their compassion and giving. BGM managing partner, Mr. Fred Gaskin, has been generous with his time by providing astute insight and a broad perspective as a member of my Community Advisory Council since 1997.

I congratulate BGM on its centenary and I encourage others in Cambridge to adopt the “dollar a day” concept.

Opposition Parties

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

Mr. Speaker, the opposition parties are total cowards.

Before Easter, they did everything they could to undermine the credibility of the Prime Minister in the Middle East. This week, now that he is back, there is barely a squeak out of them.

The Bloc Quebecois feigned concern for Canada's reputation. Yet now that they have the Prime Minister right in front of them, how many questions have there been about his mission? Zero, nada, nil. What a fine example of courage.

With all their attacks while the Prime Minister was in the Middle East, how strange it is that the opposition has not even bothered to ask a single question directly to him about his trip. For example, members opposite, who were so eager to criticize the Prime Minister, were not so eager this week when he was sitting 10 feet across from them.

What does this show? It shows that when it comes down to it, the opposition is all talk and no action.

Quebec Tax System

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance said that if taxes were higher in Quebec it was because a sovereignist government was in power. Perhaps the minister, the pretender to the Liberal throne, has forgotten that the federalists, his Liberal cousins, were the ones to have taxed Quebecers so heavily, while Bernard Landry is lowering taxes.

Perhaps too, taxes are so high in Toronto because the mayor there is a sovereignist?

Or perhaps taxes are higher in Quebec than in Ontario because of the $2 billion shortfall in constructive spending by his government? Or because of the refusal to compensate Quebec in the amount of $2 billion for the harmonization of the GST with the QST? Or the cuts to transfers, a very large portion of which fell to Quebec? Or because the Quebec tax system is much more generous than anywhere else in Canada to the disadvantaged, students, seniors and low income families.

Or perhaps it is because the Minister of Finance is a Liberal, a federalist and rich that the level of taxation by his government requires certain shipowners, including himself, to sail under foreign flag in order to avoid paying tax in Canada?

Cidrerie Michel Jodoin

[Diane St-Jacques, Progressive Conservative, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1901, the patriarch Jean-Baptiste Jodoin bought 100 apple trees at the Sunday auction on the steps of the church in Rougemont. From very modest beginnings, this first orchard blossomed over the generations into a thriving business.

In Rougemont, the apple capital, the Jodoin family is known for the abundance and excellence of its apple crop. The art of cider making is passed on from father to son.

Michel Jodoin, the current head of the business, yesterday inaugurated the first micro distillery in Canada. Eleven years of hard work, red tape and research went into producing his very first litres of Quebec style Calvados.

Congratulations to Cidrerie Michel Jodoin, which I encourage you to visit this summer as you tour Rougemont in the riding of Shefford.

French Language Education In Manitoba

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government has once again invested in the future of our young people.

On April 27, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, and Manitoba's education minister, Drew Caldwell, reached an agreement in principle to implement special investment measures—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I want to know what the hon. member is saying.

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government has once again invested in the future of our young people. On April 27, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, and Manitoba's education minister—

[The Speaker]

That is what I thought. We will hear from the hon. member tomorrow.

The hon. member for Halifax West.

Reserve Force Uniform Day

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday throughout our land Canada's reserve force personnel wore their uniforms with pride as part of Reserve Force Uniform Day.

Reservists have served Canada for over a century and serve on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. On behalf of the federal New Democratic Party, it is my honour to commend all reservists on their commitment to their community and country.

In my riding of Halifax West, reservists played an essential role in the recovery of Swissair Flight 111. Elsewhere, reservists have played an invaluable service throughout Canada, including during the Manitoba flood, the 1998 ice storms, avalanches and forest fires.

I urge all Canadians to take time to say thank you to the reservists so committed to our country. I also urge the Liberal government to pass legislation offering job protection to Canada's reserve force soldiers called upon to serve their country. It is appalling that the government refuses to take simple measures to ensure reservists' jobs would be protected while they are defending the interests of our country.

I also call upon the government not to reduce or eliminate these most valuable components of the military who serve their communities and their country so well, but rather to resource and support them fully for the work they do.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, as everyone in the House knows, the Minister of National Defence steadfastly refuses to return memorial stained glass windows to the old St. George's Church in Cornwallis because the church is no longer consecrated.

Despite the fact that the church has now been transformed into a new naval museum, the minister continues to ignore the pleas of our veterans who themselves struggled and bought these windows to commemorate the naval personnel who lost their lives during the Battle of the Atlantic.

On May 21 the Royal Canadian Naval Association meets in Cornwallis. Many of these individuals made donations for these memorial windows. When will the minister return these windows to their rightful place?

Human Resources Development

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the HRDC minister said that if I had been at committee I would have seen that Deloitte & Touche had endorsed her six point plan. In fact, the minutes of the committee do not bear that out. They said no such thing. In fact, their representative, Mr. Potts, said that his firm never even saw the final draft. He said “We did not perform any review or analysis of that action plan”.

Why does the minister not just step aside and take up another profession that she seems to be getting so good at, something like writing fiction? How about it?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us go through this again. From the point of view of the department, making sure that we had an effective action plan to implement was a priority. We drafted a strategy. We contracted with Deloitte & Touche and asked them for their advice. They provided it.

We implemented their recommendation. We provided it to the auditor general. I would remind the hon. member that he said “The action plan prepared by the department represents an exceptional response, I believe”.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, on February 2 Deloitte & Touche came out with that scathing report. The minister says that she in fact implemented those plans. That is not true. There were no substantive changes between February 2—

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I am sure that members could use other terms. I would prefer that we would stay away from that kind of statement for today.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would beg that we would stay away from that kind of action, not just that kind of statement.

She thought that Deloitte & Touche's incredible credibility across this country might just rub off on her. That was a vain hope. It did not. Her claims were not backed up by fact. Deloitte & Touche never even saw the final report. She knows that there was no substantive difference.

Are any of this minister's words to be believed?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me clarify again that we implemented the recommendations of Deloitte & Touche.

From the point of view of the department, we have a plan that has been encouraged to be implemented by the auditor general and that is being done. On this side of the House we are prepared to take action. On that side of the House they want to stay stuck in the past.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

No, Mr. Speaker, we would like to move on to the future.

With that realization, and the substantive changes maybe that Deloitte & Touche talked about, this minister did not implement them and she knows it. Mr. Potts basically said that very thing, that they never even saw the final review. She did not seem to care about it because four days later, on February 6, she pretended that everything was going to be just fabulous in that department. She knew that plan had no credibility and she knew that it would fail.

Why has she told the House and Canadians that she took that advice when she knows perfectly well she did not?

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

Mr. Speaker, Deloitte & Touche said that individuals need to understand their responsibilities and expected timeframes. What did we do? Our final plan identifies senior managers as accountable for specific tasks and clearly states commitments and deadlines.

Deloitte & Touche said that the draft plan did not assign overall leadership and responsibility for implementing the plan, so we put in place a senior management team to lead the implementation. Deloitte & Touche recommended that we strengthen our information systems. In the final plan we will implement three new information systems, including a new financial tracking system.

We implemented the recommendations.