Debates of June 1st, 2000

Disability Awareness Week

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to bring to your attention that my home province of New Brunswick is celebrating Disability Awareness Week through June 3.

The overall theme for the week is “Full Citizenship for All”. It is intended to draw attention to the progress made to date in the community toward the inclusion of citizens with disabilities, and to highlight the barriers that still remain to be overcome.

Canadians with disabilities deserve to live life to its fullest. It is a fundamental human right and the responsibility of the federal government. Each day there are thousands of New Brunswickers who struggle to cope with their disabilities while trying to get an education, a job, have a family and enjoy living in the community. Remember all of those heroes by celebrating Disability Awareness Week.

Congratulations to Lynn Haley and Randy Dickinson at the Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons, who are co-ordinating all activities.

Berlin Conference

[Rey D. Pagtakhan, Liberal, Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will present at the Berlin Conference on Progressive Governance for the 21st Century, which begins tomorrow, Canada's way of governance to achieve the highest quality of life for Canadians and to promote our values internationally.

The governance of Canada is rooted in two democratic principles—representation in the elected House of Commons based on population and in the appointed Senate based on regions.

This reconciles Canada's vast geography with the uneven distribution of her diverse people and reflects our founding vision of a society committed to caring and compassion.

That is why we have entrenched medicare and equalization payments in Canada, where geography is no barrier to need and opportunity, prosperity is shared equitably, the poor are not oppressed and the rich are not privileged.

Therein lies the success of the Government of Canada, not in anything of itself, but in the attachment of a nation, and in the interest citizens feel to support it—the very essence of Canadian federalism that will help realize the human purpose in our global society.

Stephen Truscott

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 41 years ago Stephen Truscott was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. This young man lost his freedom, was almost executed, and spent many years under an assumed name.

Because this case occurred in Clinton, close to my home of London, Ontario, I have researched it thoroughly for many years on several occasions. I visited the scene of the crime. From all the evidence that I have read, it is my personal belief that Stephen Truscott is innocent of this heinous crime. Millions of Canadians also agree.

There are many questions that need to be answered and many problems surrounding this trial. The investigation of this crime has been less than thorough, to say the very least.

I add my voice to all those other voices calling on the Minister of Justice to review this case when the minister receives the application so that Stephen Truscott can reclaim his good name.

Canadian Alliance

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance enlightened us all when he said that it is not in the Canadian mentality to question this government's support for a group of Tamil rebels determined to destroy a culture.

I am proud of a country that is as diversified as Canada. I am proud of the vision the Canadian Alliance offers Canadians, a vision that celebrates our diversity in unity.

We will soon be proud of having a new Prime Minister, who knows where to find the Middle East on the map. The Canadian Alliance is proud to be an avant-garde party that puts forward new ideas.

If the Liberals want to question the Canadian mentality of some members of this House, the Canadian Alliance is quite willing.

Glendale High School

[John Finlay, Liberal, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate a group of students from Glendale High School in Tillsonburg who are joining students from four other schools of the Thames Valley District School Board to visit France for D-Day ceremonies next week.

Accompanying the students will be six veterans, three of whom fought at Normandy, and our colleague from London—Fanshawe, the chair of the defence committee. The trip's organizer, Robin Barker-James, a history teacher at Glendale, is to be commended for his efforts in making history come alive for his students.

I want to tell these students how proud we are of them for taking part in these ceremonies. They will better understand the sacrifice made by our soldiers—not much older than themselves—who fought and died on those beaches in a fight for their nation and for freedom.

In the words of their teacher “Freedom isn't free; it's bought”.

Gasoline Pricing

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the price of gasoline reached a new high. In Montreal it went up 10 cents within a couple of hours, to 85 cents. Yet the federal government sits on its hands.

For the past few weeks, the Canadian oil companies have been releasing quarterly reports showing record profits. Yet the federal government sits on its hands.

Consumers can no longer put up with seeing 14% price hikes in a single day, and 60,000 of them have signed a petition against exorbitant gas prices. Yet the federal government sits on its hands.

Since the Liberals seem to be running low on ideas, we are once again calling upon them to fill up their tank with suggestions from the Bloc Quebecois aimed at improving the situation in the short and long term. These are: suspending the federal excise tax, ensuring healthier competition within the Canadian oil industry, putting pressure on oil producing countries, and finally investing in research into alternative energy sources.

Skills Canada

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, more than two dozen Waterloo region high school and college students will be heading to Quebec City to participate in the Skills Canada national competition this weekend.

Recent studies suggest that in the new millennium 40% of new jobs will be in the skilled trades area.

Skills Canada strives to increase awareness about careers and skilled trades and technology, and underscores the important role for youth in filling the skilled labour needs of Canadian industry.

Skills Canada is a not for profit organization which receives federal support through the youth employment strategy. Student participants tell me that this competition raises self-confidence and opens doors for many of them. It is also an extremely valuable competition for many Canadian employers.

I would like to wish all students from Kitchener-Waterloo the best of luck this weekend. Bring home the gold.

House Of Commons Staff

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to the House of Commons staff. Without the hard work and dedication of the hundreds of staff, each doing their own part, this institution would not function.

We, the MPs, are the ones who present the finished product to the public. However, behind the scenes, technicians, translators, researchers, cleaning staff, catering staff, security guards, administration and maintenance staff, pages, clerks, messengers and legislative counsel work together in service to the Canadian public and their home of democracy.

This morning the official opposition hosted a breakfast for the House of Commons staff in the West block as a small token of our appreciation. The vast majority of the staff were in attendance. Unfortunately, some were bound by duty to work. To all the staff who were unable to attend this morning I say, thank you, merci. Their services do not go unnoticed.

The Late Rhéaume “Rocky” Brisebois

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

Mr. Speaker, Quebec has lost another sports personality. Rhéaume “Rocky” Brisebois died suddenly at the age of 75 at his home in Lac-Brome, after many years involvement in the community of Venise-en-Québec in Brome—Missisquoi.

“Rocky” Brisebois was a close friend of Maurice Richard. Well-known for his colourful expressions and his frankness, “Rocky” Brisebois worked for the newspapers Le Canada and Le Devoir , before joining the CJMS broadcast team in its glory days of the 1960s and 1970s.

I wish to express my sincere condolences to Mr. Brisebois' family and friends, and to all of his faithful listeners during all those years.

Cape Breton Development Corporation

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this week, while gearing up to discuss trade and democracy at the OAS meetings in Windsor, the federal government has been busy quashing democracy and workers' rights here at home. The government rammed Bill C-11 through committee after virtually no consultation and refused to consider any amendments.

The legislation not only delivers a serious blow to the coal miners and people of Cape Breton, but it has international implications as well. While Cape Breton miners lose their jobs, Canadian companies that once relied on Cape Breton coal will be buying more of it from countries like Colombia, where miners live in virtual poverty and over 900 trade union activists have been murdered.

The passage of Bill C-11 will result in the loss of jobs for Canadians, the underdevelopment of Canadian resources and financial rewards for Colombian murderers.

Single Currency

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last fall, the Bloc Quebecois launched a political debate on a single currency in North America. In May, the Bloc Quebecois initiated a debate in the Standing Committee on Finance on this issue.

Our concerns echo the discussions of a myriad of analysts, economists and financiers, who are debating the future of the Canadian dollar.

In this context, a new player, the winner of the Nobel prize in economics, Robert Mundell, waded into the debate last Thursday with the statement that a fixed rate between the Canadian dollar and the American dollar was only a question of time.

In the meantime, what are the Liberals doing? More concerned with their image than with real debate, they are hiring public relations consultants, funding their propaganda office, or keeping quiet so as not to add to their already long list of blunders.

But let us take heart: voters are not stupid. They will remember.

National Cancer Survivors Day

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 4 the Canadian Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day.

It is the 13th anniversary of the event in North America and is a day when we honour survivors who are living with and beyond cancer. It is a day to acknowledge the important role family and friends play in the lives of cancer survivors, and also to recognize the professionals who are helping fight the battle against cancer. In doing so we communicate to all Canadians the message that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

Cancer touches almost all of us. One in three Canadian women and 50% of men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Today, thanks to improved detection methods, more available information and enhanced methods of treatment, more than half of all people diagnosed will go on to achieve a full recovery in terms of work, recreation and family life.

Highways

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

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, as we have done so many times in the past, the Progressive Conservative Party called on the federal government to immediately enter into negotiations with the provinces to create a new joint national highway program. This program would give all provinces access to money that the federal government has collected through its fuel tax and use it toward improving safety on our highways.

Driving on our highways is fast becoming a growing concern for our safety. With more than 3,400 fatalities on Canada's roads every year, action must be taken to ensure safety on our highways. In Nova Scotia there have been some 50 fatalities on Highway 101 between Mount Uniacke and Digby since 1993.

The twinning of this section of Highway 101 would cost approximately $250 million, money the Nova Scotia government simply does not have. Yet Ottawa collects over $5 billion annually in fuel tax and spends a mere $300 million on roads. What is going on with the balance of $4.7 billion?

Each day that the government continues to ignore our deteriorating highway system another life is put at risk. I call on the Minister of Transport to immediately—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale.

Aircraft Appliances And Equipment Limited

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

Mr. Speaker, a firm in my riding, Aircraft Appliances and Equipment Limited, was the recipient of an award of merit at the 1999 Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards.

Founded in 1949, A.A.E. is a world-class supplier of aircraft and naval products in my riding of Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale. It provides expertise in design engineering and the manufacturing of products.

I would ask my colleagues in the House of Commons to join me in applauding this award-winning firm on its high level of commitment to both its employees and its clients.

Berlin Conference

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is off to Berlin at great expense to the Canadian taxpayer to focus test his next election campaign. According to news reports, he will present a paper prepared by Eddie Goldberg and senior bureaucrats called “Progressive Governance”. If that is not an oxymoron, to have the king of status quo presenting a paper on progressive governance.

The Prime Minister will be talking about how he shares opportunities with all Canadians in all parts of the country. That should be interesting. How about how the Prime Minister maintains a high quality health care system, yet ours is currently 25th out of 27 OECD countries?

On second thought, taking his message to Berlin where the people do not know the seven year record of the government is probably much safer than trying to sell his message to Canadians.

Jacques Parizeau

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour for me and for the Bloc Quebecois to draw to members' attention the presence in the gallery of a leading figure of contemporary Quebec.

A forerunner and visionary, he was for more than 30 years the tireless architect and builder of institutions which have, over the years, become powerful economic and financial forces in the development of modern Quebec.

His accomplishments include helping to establish the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the Société générale de financement, the effectiveness and usefulness of which are recognized both in Quebec and abroad.

His many achievements and public activities have instilled in Quebecers a confidence in their own abilities and a well-grounded determination with which they are today calmly taking up the challenges of an increasingly global economy.

I urge members of the House to give a warm welcome to the former Premier of Quebec, Jacques Parizeau.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Human Resources Development

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals on the human resources committee have dealt a body blow to their very own minister. They released a report today that recommends the dismantling of the human resources department in the wake of the billion dollar bungle by the minister. They want the department carved into several smaller pieces so the amount of damage that the minister can do in the future will be limited.

How can the minister continue in her position when even her own Liberal colleagues have lost confidence in her?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the report has just been made public. Under the rules of the House, we will study it and we will make a reply.

As a government and a caucus, we certainly have complete confidence in the Minister of Human Resources Development, an outstanding minister and an outstanding parliamentarian.

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I think the Deputy Prime Minister is the only who still has confidence in her.

The human resources minister has lost the confidence of Canadians, the opposition and now her own Liberal colleagues on the committee. Her very own colleagues think she is incapable of managing HRDC unless large portions of the department are taken away from her. It is a damning indictment.

In light of this, how can the minister justify keeping her job?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thought the hon. member was going to get up and congratulate this government, including the minister of HRDC, for the fact that the real gross domestic product was 4.9% in the first quarter, the 19th consecutive quarter of growth and the longest string of uninterrupted gains since the mid-1960s. These are achievements of this government, including the minister of HRDC. The hon. member ought to recognize this if he has any ethics at all.

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the Deputy Prime Minister picked up the wrong briefing note, that had absolutely nothing to do with the HRDC department.

The Prime Minister has come up with a new and innovative way of dealing with incompetence. Instead of answering the demands of Canadians and the opposition to remove the HRDC minister from her department, he intends to follow the urging of his very own caucus and remove the department from the minister, piece by piece, bit by bit until all that remains is her image consultant.

Why does the minister not save the Prime Minister from going to all this trouble and do the honourable thing, resign?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, after listening to that question I now know why the former Reform Party is hiding its incompetence by trying to change its name, but it will not get away with it.

Treasury Board

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

Mr. Speaker, access to information documents we have just received reveal that treasury board officials are more concerned about hiding the results of internal audits than about the fact that HRDC bungled a billion dollars.

A memo from a treasury board senior policy analyst to the deputy comptroller general warns about government managers' “backlash” in the wake of HRDC's damning internal audit. The senior policy analyst then states that managers are planning to be more careful about the wording of future audits.

Why are treasury board officials more concerned about the political spin than about fixing the problem of their billion dollar bungles?