House of Commons Hansard #44 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendment.

Topics

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Deepak Obhrai Canadian Alliance Calgary East, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am sure people will be surprised to see me get up for the third time within two hours. This is a unique happening in the House. I would like to remind people that this is happening because the governing party is refusing to debate these issues and is refusing to defend its bills. As such, the bills are going through more rapidly because only the opposition is pointing out what is wrong with the legislation. The government is refusing to defend itself.

It is a pleasure to rise on behalf of the constituents of Calgary East to speak today to Bill C-22, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, the Canada Pension Plan, the Customs Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act. This bill, like many dealing with the tax code, is an omnibus bill, meaning that it deals with a number of issues at once.

As mentioned in the title of this bill, acts included are the Income Tax Act, the Canada Pension Plan and the Excise Tax Act. While each of these acts deserves attention and has important consequences for Canadians, I would like to address my thoughts to how this act impacts on Canada's competitiveness.

I have been appointed chair of the advisory committee on globalization and competitiveness by the Leader of the Opposition. The mandate of this advisory committee is to advise and to get input from business leaders, academics, non-governmental organizations and Canadians from all across the country on the possibilities and pitfalls of globalization for Canada.

There are countless ideas about how to make Canada more competitive in a more interconnected world. These ideas need a voice in parliament and the public sector. It is hoped that the Canadian Alliance will be that voice.

For years the Liberal government has ignored the reality that Canada is losing valuable ground to our neighbours to the south and to our major international competitors. We know that the new U.S. administration won a mandate based on the promise of substantial tax relief and a targeted plan of debt reduction.

We know that income taxes are not the sole indicator of the tax divide between Canada and the U.S. Canadians face other taxes that push the total tax burden higher. The total tax burden includes sales taxes, payroll taxes and other levies by all levels of government, which create a Canadian tax burden that is up to one-third higher than that of the U.S. It is clear that if Canada does not follow U.S. tax reductions, the country will fall further behind.

Mexico, our NAFTA partner, also has vigorous plans to become a major centre for North American investment. Canada will face increasingly tough competition from Mexico in our plans to attract foreign investment. Mexico enjoys a unique position as a member of NAFTA. It is the only North American country that has a free trade agreement with the European Union as well as with Mercosur, the free trade bloc with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

The challenges presented by Mexico and the U.S. are just two examples of why Canada cannot afford to continue making negative public policy decisions that impact our competitiveness.

When the current foreign affairs minister was the Minister of Industry, while he was curtailed because he was representing the government, he did at times manage to raise warning signs about our country's tax bracket and competitiveness.

A survey of the world's most competitive economies by the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development has placed Canada at number 11, a drop of one place from last year. The institute praised Canada for its infrastructure, legal framework and human resources, but gave poor marks for its record in science and technology and for uncompetitive taxes. Just before speaking on this bill, I spoke on another bill in reference to welcoming the government's initiative in helping science and technology.

For years many of Canada's most successful companies and business people have argued that high taxation impacts Canada's ability to be competitive in a more interconnected world. High taxation discourages investment and innovation and it is a major cause of the brain drain. These issues have been pointed out time after time to the government.

John Cleghorn, former chairman and CEO of the Royal Bank, said that higher taxation has diverted savings into the government sector that would earn higher productivity returns for companies and societies at large in free markets. He went on to say that higher taxation also hits living standards more immediately by cutting off what is left in our pockets at the end of the day to spend on our families and ourselves.

Canadian business leaders and academics will agree that for Canada the challenge is to build a more innovative economy that is well positioned for competitive success in the new global market. To succeed, Canadian firms must take full advantage of the opportunities created by greater economic integration and increased cross border flows of goods, services, technology, ideas and knowledge.

The responsibility for building a more innovative and competitive economy falls primarily on Canadian managers and entrepreneurs. However, government has a role to play as well. Government can reduce taxes. It can ensure that Canadian students are some of the most highly educated in the world. It can provide the conditions necessary to make Canada the final destination of foreign direct investment from all regions of the world. The government can and must do all those things, but sadly the government does not.

The government claims in the bill that it has cut taxes by $100.5 billion over five years. This is what it is saying based on its list.

However, let us look at reality. The reality is that we must subtract $3.2 billion over five years for social spending. The child benefit is a spending program delivered through the tax system and it is an increase. It is not a tax decrease, it is a spending increase. However, the government says it is a tax decrease. It does not recognize that it is a tax increase. As well, indexation is accounted for separately.

Next we must subtract $29.5 billion over the five years for increased CPP premium hikes. We all know that CPP premiums have been increased, yet the government refuses to say that is part of its tax cuts and puts it separately. In reality, when we look at the competitiveness for everything, it is a burden. The burden comes out of the government's mismanagement of the CPP. I was part of the debate on CPP premiums. What is interesting is that when CPP was first introduced the government was saying the same thing that it is now saying after 20 years of CPP premium increases. Nothing has changed over that time.

As well, indexing personal income taxes is meant to hold the tax burden constant over time, so it should not be counted as a tax reduction.

Therefore, when we take out all these things, there is only $47.1 billion in net tax reduction provided over five years. Let me repeat that: it is only $47.1 billion over five years, not the $100.5 billion that the government is claiming. We can see innovative accounting here, with the government giving the illusion to Canadians that they are facing major tax relief over the next five years when in reality that is not happening.

I received a call from one constituent who was a little puzzled because he had heard about the government reducing taxes and he could not understand why his net take home pay had suddenly decreased. I asked him to take a closer look to see if his CPP premiums had increased. Sure enough, CPP had increased. That is why he is taking home a smaller cheque.

The government's current policy does not create the competitive environment that we need to position ourselves for taking advantage of the global economy. The Canadian Alliance has proposed further reductions in taxes, which would create an environment that businesses are looking for on behalf of Canadians in order to poise themselves to take advantage of the 21st century.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:40 p.m.

Etobicoke North Ontario

Liberal

Roy Cullen LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I am not sure if the member opposite has actually read the budget or the economic update but he seems to have missed a number of points.

Maybe I could start with some of them. The $100 billion tax cut announced in the economic update is the largest tax cut in Canadian history in dollar terms. Let me provide some examples.

The member opposite seemed to indicate that there is no real tax cuts or that they are minimal. Of course he mixes up, as the Alliance Party always does, the Canada pension plan. The Canada pension plan is a contribution based program, an investment in the future. It consists of contributions from employers and employees, so it is not a tax at all and the member knows that. Of course the premiums do not go to consolidated revenue. Let me read an example:

A two-earner family of four has a combined income of $60,000. Last year they paid about $5,700 in federal income tax. Next year, their taxes will fall by over $1,000—a first year tax cut of 18 per cent. In less than four years their taxes will fall by 34 per cent.

In another example, a one-earner family with two children that makes $40,000 will see income taxes decline by 59% from what otherwise would have been paid in federal taxes, which I think is a pretty reasonable measure.

I am wondering if the member opposite realizes as well that by the end of June the CPP contributions will have maxed out, as we say, as will EI generally. Any small impact of the increase in the CPP will of course disappear at the end of June. In terms of net disposable income this will be a huge boost to Canadians. They will have more money in their pockets and more again in the years to follow.

I wonder if the member has actually calculated that and what that would mean to Canadians in a very positive way.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Deepak Obhrai Canadian Alliance Calgary East, AB

Mr. Speaker, finally the government side has asked me a question. I have been up on three bills and this is the first time the government has asked a question. Obviously something is bringing them to this point.

The member across the way has brought up the same point I just mentioned when I said the government is claiming $100.5 billion in tax cuts while in reality the cuts are only $47.1 billion. Whether it is a CPP increase or whether it is the other indirect increases the government has put in, the examples the member cites are examples of ideal conditions, which impact a very small number of families.

I am sure that when the member goes back to his riding constituents will phone us and find out that contrary to what government members have been saying, that is not what the tax on their take home pay is. As a matter of fact they are taking advantage of provincial governments such as the governments of Alberta and Ontario that are reducing taxes. The take home pay increase is coming from the provincial governments and they want to take credit for it.

At the end of the day we should ask all Canadians what their take home pay is and they will say it is contrary to what government members are saying. That is not the reality out there. It is similar to the home heating fuel program they brought in which resulted in criminals getting the cheques. At the same time they were saying they were helping the poor.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Before I resume debate I would like to address myself to the hon. member for Elk Island. When I was last in the chair, I believe it was late Tuesday afternoon, he rose on a point of order.

We had conflicting views on the standing orders regarding the matter of the vote on the business of supply being deferred and whether debate should have continued. The member for Elk Island was correct.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:45 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

James Moore Canadian Alliance Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, since the very beginning of time it has been a practice for citizens to pay tax to support the services they receive.

The Book of Genesis tells us that both Abraham and Jacob paid a tax of 10% on what they owned and this tax was called a tithe. Later the Council of Vienne which sat from 1311 to 1312 approved giving the money from the tithe collected over a six year period to the King of France to finance the crusades. The concept of a simple tax on revenue has been with us for a very long time, as has been the concept of directing tax money to fund the costs of a war.

It came as no great surprise when the federal government in 1917 introduced the Income War Tax Act as a temporary measure. The act was 10 pages long and used relatively simple language. The basic obligation to pay income tax was clearly stated in subsection 4(1) where it said:

There shall be assessed, levied and paid, upon the income during the preceding year of every person residing or ordinarily resident in Canada...the following taxes:

(a) four per centum upon all income exceeding fifteen hundred dollars in the case of unmarried persons and widows or widowers without dependent children, and exceeding three thousand dollars in the case of all other persons.

At that time university educations were a rarity and one certainly did not need a degree to figure out whether or not one owed taxes and, if so, exactly how much.

Today the tax act is a case study in bafflegab. It stands in violation of one of the most basic rights of Canadians: the right to know and understand the laws that affect them.

Canada, like most other Commonwealth countries, has specific legislation requiring the publication of our laws. The Publication of Statutes Act requires that our laws be printed and distributed to the public so that the public may know the law.

Just as our legal system has long held that ignorance of the law cannot be a defence, it requires that citizens be able to access the laws and therefore know exactly what they are. This includes the Income Tax Act.

When we think about it, every citizen should know their rights and obligations. That is a basic tenet of a proper running democracy. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms meets this standard.

On the Department of Justice website the charter prints on to seven neat pages and can be downloaded in seconds. It has clear, concise wording. For example, subsection 6(1) says:

Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.

Canadians who have completed a grade three education will understand this sentence and, more important, will understand their rights and obligations.

By stark contrast the Income Tax Act is there as well. The Income Tax Act is also on the Department of Justice website. A warning lets would-be downloading taxpayers know that the act is a whopping 5.3 megabytes in size, relative to the seconds it takes to download the charter. One can only assume that this warning is so users can make room on their hard drive and/or prepare themselves for a lengthy wait by reading War and Peace or building a ship in a bottle.

When one finally receives the completed file one is also in for a very nasty surprise. Actually one is in for two surprises. The first surprise is that the act is not really written in either of our official languages. Turning to subsection 2(2), I will read the first paragraph which is written in both English and French:

In English it reads as follows: “The taxable income of a taxpayer for a taxation year is the taxpayer's income for the year plus the additions and minus the deductions permitted by Division C”.

I have chosen one of the more straightforward paragraphs. In order for taxpayers to answer the basic question “How much do I owe” or “combien dois-je au gouvernement”, Canadians who own mutual funds or who have invested in an RRSP need not only a profound knowledge of arcane English but a mind which is sufficiently powerful to follow the logistical gymnastics of the basic calculations. It is amazing how far we have regressed since 1917.

The version of the Income Tax Act which is on the Department of Justice website was last updated on August 31, 2000. That means that the web version does not reflect the changes to the act made by the October 18 pre-election mini budget. Even after wading through thousands of pages of linguistic fog, the taxpayer would still not have a clear answer to the question “How much do I owe?”

Fortunately the private sector is willing to help. The problem is that the tax act is so complicated that the books which try to explain it are nearly as thick as the act itself. Arthur Andersen's Preparing Your Tax Return is 1,264 pages with a 40 page index. Let us think about that. The index to the guide is four times the length of the original temporary Income War Tax Act. It is, however, the authoritative guide, the one that the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency uses to understand the act that it must administer.

The authors of this book accurately summarize the problems with the Income Tax Act in the book's foreword. They write:

Because of the complex nature of the Canadian Income Tax Act, the fact that relatively few of its provisions have been interpreted by the tax courts, and that some of its provisions have not even been interpreted by the CCRA, it has not been possible to provide answers to all of the questions which may arise.

The complexity of the tax act is such that an entire industry now exists to help Canadians navigate the minefield the act has become. Accountants, tax guides and online tax filing services multiply like yeast in a warm oven in an effort to help the average person answer that simple five word question: “How much do I owe?”

With the complexities of the tax code that Bill C-22 adds, just imagine if other government obligations were crafted with the same complications. For example, how many traffic deaths would result if the rules of the road were as complicated as the tax act?

How many Canadians would never travel abroad if a passport application form were nearly as difficult as a tax return? How many Canadians would watch Peter Mansbridge if he used taxspeak in his newscasts? How many Canadians would drink water from a public drinking fountain if the state could not affirm the cleanliness of that water in fewer than 120,000 words?

On top of the lunacy and the complexity of our tax code, I suspect that the fog the Canadians face in understanding their tax code is deliberate on the part of the Government of Canada. I think there is an agenda here, a hidden agenda.

The fact is the relief that average Canadians feel upon successfully filing their jungle gym tax returns probably acts to dull the rage taxpayers feel working eight weeks longer than their American friends to pay their federal taxes. Let us not forget that even as the finance minister postures and smiles in the House, American workers pay their tax bill on May 3 while it takes Canadians until June 30. Perhaps it is the relief of actually working for themselves on July 1 that puts so much of the glee into Canada Day celebrations.

The result of those taxes has driven the Canadian dollar into a downward spiral. It is now hovering between 63 cents and 64 cents. The tax cuts that President Bush is considering in the United States will both affect the value of our dollar and further widen the income gap between working class Canadians and their neighbours south of the border.

Government members continue to posture and smile around their mini budget's tax relief but it hardly gives them bragging rights. It is like the Trabant claiming to be the best built east German sedan. It may be true, but it is of little comfort in a world where other countries are doing much better.

It is of even less comfort when we realize that we are paying far more federal taxes today proportionately than our grandparents paid in 1917. In 1917, a family of two with a single income of $3,000 paid $120 in taxes. In today's money that is roughly $1,349 in taxes on income of $33,373.

In 1917 Canadians started paying taxes when they earned in today's dollars almost $16,800. Today individuals under the Liberal government start paying taxes when they earn less than $8,000. In other words the tax code has become more regressive: more Liberals, more regressive.

This year a Canadian family of two earning that same $33,000 will pay $3,422 in personal income tax after the finance minister's biggest tax cut in history. That means for every $3 in taxes in 1917 today's taxpayer will pay $7.61.

If we think back, in 1917 Canada was deeply involved in the great war. Hundreds of thousands of Canadian men were fighting in Europe. Canadians supported and subsidized 100% of their patriotic effort. Their existence was 100% subsidized through tax dollars. The government introduced the Income War Tax Act to finance the war and help those brave Canadians.

Today in times of unprecedented peace and stability the government needs more than twice as much tax revenue from the average person just to run the status quo, and it does not even run that very well or outside debt.

That is a scary thought and really demonstrates the need for genuine tax relief. Other countries have figured it out. The government has not but other countries have. Places such as Ireland have learned that cutting taxes means job growth, increased competitiveness and a higher standard of living. The Celtic tiger has outpaced Canada in both standard of living and competitiveness since 1989.

The government needs to do two things to convince my generation to stay in Canada and to lure other workers here. It needs to simplify the tax system and it needs to cut taxes overall.

Simplifying our tax system is needed because it lets people know directly how much they owe and because it focuses the debate not on the language of the act but on the amount paid in tax. In other words, how big is the government and how much do we have to ante up for it? That is a healthy debate for the country.

Once people get a clear avenue of calculating their real tax burden they will demand tax cuts with the same zeal they now demand for balanced budgets. When that day comes the government will have no choice but to limit its voracious appetite for tax dollars and offer meaningful tax relief. On the same day Canada's standard of living will rise and our international competitiveness will be boosted if the government shows this kind of leadership.

As a member of the most overtaxed and debt saddled generation in Canadian history, I will celebrate that day when it comes. In the meantime I will continue voting against and speaking against Liberal halfsteps and increased tax code complications such as we see embedded in the bill we are debating today.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Rick Casson Canadian Alliance Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that was the best speech we have heard from that riding in about three years.

On the weekend there was an article in the National Post . It was quite a lengthy editorial about the things Canada could do to get ahead of the U.S. as far as economic policy is concerned. There were a number of really broad based, thinking outside the box kinds of scenarios.

I would like to ask the member what he thought of a particular scenario. It was suggested that young people starting in the workforce should be able to earn the first $250,000 of their lives taxfree to give them a head start in building their homes, raising their families and educating their kids. What does the member think about a scenario like that?

Income Tax Amendments Act, 2000Government Orders

1:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

James Moore Canadian Alliance Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, a proposal allowing people to earn $250,000 before they owe their first nickel to the finance minister is the kind of progressivity we need.

I am a former student. Rather than giving a GST rebate cheque for home heating fuel expenses to students who do not pay those expenses, who do not need it and do not deserve it, why does the government not give broad based tax relief that really means something?

As the hon. member for Lethbridge knows, in modern Canada today a totally obscure bureaucrat who knows nothing, has invented nothing and has created nothing has more power in our economy than a Canadian who creates 10,000 jobs. That is the reality and we need to change it.

LandminesStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is fully committed to the implementation of the Ottawa convention to ban landmines, to assist landmine survivors and to prevent the devices from inflicting deadly harm sometimes well into the future and many years after military conflicts are over.

Canadian industry plays an important role in this effort, in co-operation with our Centre for Mine Action Technologies. Since 1981, for example, Med-Eng Systems of Ottawa has provided protective equipment to help save the lives of bomb disposal and demining personnel in over 130 countries worldwide.

With the assistance of this corporation and through the Department of Foreign Affairs and CIDA, Canada has proudly donated demining equipment for use in six different countries affected by anti-personnel landmines, including Ecuador, Peru, Jordan, Yemen, Bulgaria and Moldova. Soon Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia will be added to the list.

All Canadians can be proud of our efforts to help prevent further suffering from landmines.

The ConstitutionStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Roy H. Bailey Canadian Alliance Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Mr. Speaker, this morning in the House there was an interesting debate on Canadian elections, with reference to the current unelected Senate of Canada as laid out in the constitution.

For the most part, Canadians are totally unaware that our constitution is virtually impossible to amend. The support for successful change can only come from the central provinces. An amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the provinces and 50% of Canadians.

How long will Canadians tolerate such centralized power? Will one province, which is smaller than my province, continue to have four MPs and four senators? Will another province continue to have 75 members of parliament guaranteed, regardless of size?

The Canadian constitution was originally written to protect the political power of central Canada. Regionalism is a direct result of this central power. Constitutional change is long overdue.

Shipbuilding IndustryStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Tony Tirabassi Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, shipbuilding and the contribution of this industry to the economy of this nation is of highest importance.

From my part of the country, Niagara, in southern Ontario, we have the Port Weller Dry Docks and the Welland ship canal. Port Weller Dry Docks has operated its shipyard for 55 years and employs 500 people. The direct and indirect impact of the marine industry on the region of Niagara is in excess of $.25 billion.

Today the Minister of Industry received the Shipbuilding and Industrial Marine Report. Through this document, the four member team has outlined practical and workable recommendations to improve the competitiveness of Canada's shipbuilding and industrial marine sector and to capture opportunities for growth. I, along with everyone concerned with this issue, applaud the efforts of those who participated in the industry-labour team.

Shipbuilding is an issue of importance and of relevance not only to the region of Niagara but to all of Canada.

Prostate CancerStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Yvon Charbonneau Liberal Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC

Mr. Speaker, in men, prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the second greatest cause of death from cancer.

However, thanks to a recent breakthrough achieved with the help of funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, there is hope in the fight against this disease.

A team under Dr. Simard, working in the T wing of the Laval University CHUL research centre, and Dr. Johanna Rommens, of the Toronto children's hospital, have recently discovered the gene causing prostate cancer.

This discovery is important because of the difficulty in determining the specific genes causing diseases such as cancer. Although it is still too soon to develop a genetic test to screen for this type of cancer, this discovery will be a springboard to other very important discoveries.

Dr. Simard and Dr. Rommens are true Canadian heroes and I am proud to be a member of a government—

Prostate CancerStatements By Members

2 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore.

World Health DayStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, April 7 is World Health Day. The theme of this year's public awareness campaign is mental health. The campaign aims to draw the attention of Canadians to the challenges that mental illness and brain disorders pose to individuals and families affected by them.

Mental illness accounts for enormous suffering, disability and increased mortality. An estimated 400 million people around the world suffer from mental and neurological disorders. It is often associated with violations of human rights, stigma, unemployment, social exclusion, poverty, shame and secrecy.

The solutions to mental illness can be found in communities through mental health services, scientific research and the health policies of government.

As we mark World Health Day, I call upon my colleagues to join in this World Health Organization campaign to make good mental health a priority.

MulticulturalismStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, the disgraced junior multiculturalism minister's hurtful smears and remarks contradict her own government's foreign policy.

When she smeared Kamloops and Prince George she also compared Northern Ireland to ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Macedonia. She is seriously undermining Canada's efforts in the peace process in Northern Ireland. Canada has contributed over $5 million of our tax dollars to peace building efforts in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister must replace this minister before she does more damage. The minister is subverting international efforts in the peace process.

She is inflicting injuries not only at home but also on the world stage. Her smears not only contradict her own department's mandate but also work against the government's foreign affairs agenda.

The Prime Minister must not send this embattled minister to South Africa for the United Nations world conference on racism.

Member For Calgary—Nose HillStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Carole-Marie Allard Liberal Laval East, QC

Mr. Speaker, the official opposition has gone too far. On Tuesday in this House the member for Calgary—Nose Hill compared our Prime Minister to Slobodan Milosevic, the butcher of the Balkans. This former president of the former Yugoslavia is to face the international tribunal accused of war crimes and genocide.

Such insinuations are inadmissible. They discredit this House and our Prime Minister.

Our Prime Minister is a man of integrity who has served the Canadian public honestly for over 30 years. No comparison may be made between him and Milosevic. The member showed a lack of respect for him and for our institutions.

Member For Calgary—Nose HillStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. Statements by members may not be used to attack other members. This is contrary to the rules.

Cancer Awareness MonthStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, every year for the past 40 years spring brings back Cancer Awareness Month.

April 5 is Daffodil Day, a day that will in fact last three days and help cancer societies collect several millions of dollars to be used primarily to fund research on that disease.

Over the years, the daffodil, which looks both fragile and strong, has become a symbol of hope and determination against all types of cancer. That disease could affect one person in three by the end of the year 2001.

April is designated to bring awareness to this particular disease. That is what the Fondation québécoise du cancer, which works to alleviate the plight of those who are affected by the disease, is doing.

During the next three days let us stop at the daffodil booths and contribute generously to the fundraising campaigns of the Quebec and Canadian cancer societies.

House Of CommonsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday this week we debated an opposition motion calling for a public inquiry. That motion was defeated, but during the debate a most regrettable comparison was drawn between Slobodan Milosevic and the Prime Minister of Canada.

Many times in this House the passion of some members for the subject of debate causes them to personalize their remarks and say things they should not. This is an occupational hazard for people such as us, who spend a lot of our time in politics working with our mouths. Occasionally we make mistakes. The appropriate resolution of a verbal mistake, no matter why it has occurred, is a verbal apology, and our House accepts them.

Comparisons between our Prime Minister and Slobodan Milosevic should be seen as odious to all of us in the House and hopefully to Canadians at large. I ask the member to reconsider her remarks and to put this matter right in the way we all have to do here from time to time in this great place: with an apology.

Brant FestivalStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

James Lunney Canadian Alliance Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to announce a very special event that will be happening on Vancouver Island. This weekend the oceanside area of Parksville and Qualicum Beach is hosting the 11th annual Brant Festival. The festival celebrates the arrival of thousands of black brant geese migrating from Mexico to Alaska.

Birdwatching, nature hikes, art exhibits, wood carving competitions and lectures by renowned wildlife experts are all part of the festivities.

Highlighting this year's festival is the official dedication to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve. The United Nations has awarded official recognition to the unique ecological attributes, from the 1,817 metre elevations of Mount Arrowsmith, to the 300 metre depths of the Strait of Georgia, and our beautiful coastal communities.

The biosphere designation will help promote conservation and responsible development. I wish to extend congratulations to festival organizers and to Dr. Glen Jamieson, president of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Foundation, and his team on achieving the MABR designation.

House Of CommonsStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON

Mr. Speaker, the debate in this place has been acrimonious at best, but it hit an all time low on Tuesday when a member tried to draw a comparison between our Prime Minister and the butcher of the Balkans, Slobodan Milosevic.

That member may think that is just insulting Liberals, but in fact it is insulting to all Canadians who have moved to Canada from the former Yugoslavia and to Canadians in general.

The member should withdraw the words and apologize. The member has shown a total lack of morals, sensitivity and understanding in a blind zest to destroy our Prime Minister's reputation.

Canadians will not forget this repugnant example of a member who debases her party, herself and this place by making these scurrilous comments. The member—

House Of CommonsStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

The Speaker

The Chair is very concerned with the tenor of some of the comments. I urge hon. members to remember that Standing Order 31 statements may not be used for attacks. I recognize the hon. member did not name an hon. member but we are going very close to the line here. I wish hon. members would restrain themselves.

Canada PostStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post has announced that it is celebrating the summit of the Americas in Quebec with a special postage stamp.

This is ironic because Canada Post is one of our public services that is very vulnerable to challenges under these free trade agreements. In fact, UPS is suing it right now for $230 million in lost opportunity because it says Canada Post is a monopoly.

What exactly are we celebrating here? The loss of our economic sovereignty? What is the stamp going to show? Perhaps a nice picture of Hughie pepper-spraying a bunch of college kids would be appropriate, or perhaps a picture of riot police strong-arming peaceful protesters. How about a picture of a UPS truck delivering our mail? That would be the vision of the future.

Where does Canada Post get off being a cheerleader for what amounts to a charter of rights for foreign corporations?

I say it is nothing more than cheap political propaganda. It is using a stamp to celebrate a trade deal that threatens to stamp out democracy.

ShipbuildingStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Bloc

Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis-Et-Chutes-De-La-Chaudière, QC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Bloc Quebecois members, I wish to express our strong support for the report of the national partnership project committee set up by the Minister of Industry which is designed to make our shipyards more competitive.

This report is in response to the work of the shipbuilding coalition and to my Bill C-213. It is a major victory for Bloc Quebecois members, for the other members who supported me and for all the stakeholders in the marine sector.

While we are pleased that the government is finally doing something to make our shipyards more competitive with those of countries that subsidize this industry or continue to apply protectionist measures, we must deplore the fact that the minister intends to take six months to follow up on the recommendations contained in that report.

Since the Liberals have made a habit of postponing things, I will soon introduce a new bill to force the federal government to take quick and concrete action to help the shipbuilding industry.

Organized CrimeStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Devillers Liberal Simcoe North, ON

Mr. Speaker, in October of last year the House of Commons subcommittee on organized crime completed its study and issued its report on organized crime in Canada.

I am pleased to note that this morning legislation and comprehensive measures introduced by the justice minister and the solicitor general incorporated several key recommendations made by the subcommittee.

Among these were the recommendations to strengthen anti-gang legislation to provide prosecutors and police with more effective tools, to protect jurors, prosecutors, police and other participants in the justice system from intimidation, and to encourage greater co-operation and information sharing among the various agents of justice and law enforcement involved in organized crime investigations.

Parliament and Liberal government members are committed to fighting organized crime and I am asking all members of this House to support the measures announced today.

NewfoundlandStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

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

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland's terms of union of Canada transferred jurisdiction over Newfoundland's ports and harbours to the Government of Canada.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is currently divesting itself of 325 harbours nationwide and 136 of them, fully 42%, are in Newfoundland.

Given the harsh economic realities in many rural coastal communities in Newfoundland, that is not a fair move by the federal government. If the Government of Canada cannot or will not find the money to manage these harbours, how does it expect the harbour committees to do it?

First it was our airports, now it is the harbours and, according to today's news reports, tomorrow it may be our nation's water supply. Is nothing sacred to the government?

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