Debates of May 31st, 2001

Canadian Alliance

Carol Skelton Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, in today's National Post there is a story about Grey Alexander, an Alberta sheep farmer, who is upset that the local area census worker has access to personal information about him.

Mr. Alexander was contacted by a census worker after he failed to complete the long census form in full. The problem is the census worker is someone he knows quite well.

To quote Mr. Alexander, “Elements of my income end up with somebody I see twice a week. What if it's a business competitor or somebody you have acrimony with? This is a small town”.

In today's Saskatoon Star Phoenix there is a letter describing a similar situation. To quote the writer, “There is no one in our community to whom I knowingly would have provided all the private personal confidential information contained in the census form. Not even the loans officer at my bank in town”.

Statistics Canada clearly needs to do a far better job of protecting confidentiality of census data in rural areas.

Jean-Dominic Lévesque-RenéStatements By Members

May 31st, 2001 / 2 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Mr. Speaker, every year the United Nations Environment Program awards the prestigious Global 500 award to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to environmental protection.

I am extremely pleased to announce to the House that this year's Global 500 Youth Environment Award went to Jean-Dominic Lévesque-René, a young Canadian from Île-Bizard, which is in my riding.

Although only 17 years old, Jean-Dominic has been involved for some years in a personal crusade against pesticide use. His crusade is an intensely personal one, because he has overcome non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he links to pesticide use in his community.

I thank Jean-Dominic and all of the Lévesque-René family for their tireless work to raise Canadians' awareness of the danger of pesticide use.

Congratulations, Jean-Dominic.

Citizenship And ImmigrationStatements By Members

Liberal

Mark Assad Liberal Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, the member for Cariboo—Chilcotin raised a case in this place two days ago. Although the member was correct in saying that the Citizenship and Immigration Department had not sent him a written response to his query since last August, he conveniently omitted to mention that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration's staff had been in telephone contact with his office several times to resolve this matter to everyone's satisfaction.

This omission gives us the impression that he is playing politics with people's cases at the last hour. This is hardly the way to get the job done, especially when it involves very complex cases.

World No Tobacco DayStatements By Members

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, World No Tobacco Day, held every May 31, is organized by the World Health Organization.

This year's theme is “Tobacco Kills—Don't be Duped”. The aim of the campaign is to make the public aware of the harmful effect on health of exposure to secondhand smoke and to promote the use of strong measures to limit exposure.

Secondhand smoke is a real and significant threat to public health. Supported by two decades of evidence, the scientific community now agrees that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

On May 31, Health Canada is joining Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada in holding a seminar on federal, provincial and municipal legislation in this regard.

As well, Health Canada's youth advisory committee on tobacco issues will sponsor the national virtual blue ribbon campaign for World No Tobacco Day. The campaign will involve the dissemination of an electronic version of a blue ribbon featuring the slogan “Let's Clear the Air”.

HockeyStatements By Members

Canadian Alliance

Kevin Sorenson Canadian Alliance Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Camrose Kodiaks hockey team in winning the Royal Bank Cup national junior championship.

The Kodiaks became the second consecutive Alberta junior team to win the national championship. This was the fourth time in seven years Alberta has claimed the honour of having the best Junior A, tier II team in the country.

Camrose defeated the host Flin Flon Bombers 5 to 0 in the finals on May 13 and tonight they will celebrate their momentous victory.

When asked to explain why their team was victorious, the Kodiak players said that they had a great bunch of guys that were a tight knit group. Being friends and being close is what made them the better team. These guys know how to play hockey.

I take my hat off to the Kodiaks and to the great community of Camrose for its outstanding support. It has been a fantastic accomplishment and they have done us all proud.

Oxford Children's Groundwater FestivalStatements By Members

Liberal

John Finlay Liberal Oxford, ON

Mr. Speaker, this week over 3,100 elementary school students will converge on Pittock conservation area in my riding of Oxford. They are taking part in the Oxford Children's Groundwater Festival. As one of the original organizers of this event, I was very pleased to be present during the opening day festivities on Monday.

Through over 40 hands on activity centres, these students are having enormous fun while gaining insight into the vital role that water plays in our lives. They are learning about the water cycle and the importance of conserving and protecting our water resources.

In light of the recent tragic events in Walkerton and North Battleford, it is particularly important to teach our children respect for their environment and the clean water that sustains us.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the festival sponsors, organizers and 400 volunteers for making this wonderful event possible.

World No Tobacco DayStatements By Members

Bloc

Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC

Mr. Speaker, under the theme of “Tobacco Kills—Don't be Duped”, World No Tobacco Day has two aims: to encourage the authorities responsible to take specific steps and to make the public aware of the real problem that secondhand smoke represents.

It is not a minor irritation to non-smokers, but a real danger to public health in general. A smoker inhales only about a third of a cigarette, and secondhand smoke contains 43 cancer causing chemicals. Over half the population is exposed daily to secondhand smoke.

Tobacco smoke is a real health threat and ranks third as a primary cause of death, behind active smoking and the use of alcohol. There is no doubt that secondhand smoke causes a number of deaths each year.

Let us join together in our fight against smoking and particularly against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on public health in general.

Order Of CanadaStatements By Members

Liberal

Bob Kilger Liberal Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I bring the name of Mr. Jake Lamoureux of Cornwall to the attention of the House.

In this the international year of the volunteer, Mr. Lamoureux personifies the very word volunteer.

Over his lifetime he has served as president of six different organizations, has chaired 10 different events and served on fundraising committees for 11 different organizations.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the United Way, the Children's Aid Society, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Dieu Hospital Board Foundation, the Children's Treatment Centre and Medic Alert Foundation are some of the organizations that have benefited from the efforts of Jake Lamoureux.

Today he was honoured by being received into the Order of Canada as a member for his volunteer efforts.

For Mr. Lamoureux this award is not only for himself but it is recognition of the support he has received for his years of dedication to volunteerism, support from his family members, such as his sister the late Lorraine Robertson, his good friends, such as Angelo Towndale, and the community.

I offer Mr. Lamoureux my personal congratulations and that of the community for being received into the Order of Canada.

Memorial CupStatements By Members

Canadian Alliance

Bob Mills Canadian Alliance Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend the Red Deer Rebels won the Memorial Cup in Regina. Our last national cup was the Centennial Cup in 1980. The team finished first out of 55 teams. They won 79 of 105 games they played this year.

The Rebels have worked extremely hard to obtain this title and should be very proud of themselves. The Rebels' solid work ethic starts at the top with their coach Brent Sutter. Brent and his assistant, Dallas Gaume, and many others in the organization have done a fantastic job in bringing out the best in these talented players to build an aggressive and team oriented group of young men.

The Red Deer Rebels are an outstanding organization. The hockey club is very active in central Alberta and support many worthwhile causes. As the member of parliament for Red Deer constituency, I am proud of the Rebels as is all of our community.

I again congratulate the Rebels for a fantastic season and for making all of Red Deer and central Alberta proud.

BilingualismStatements By Members

Liberal

Hélène Scherrer Liberal Louis-Hébert, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, the Canada-Belgium parliamentary group held its first event of the season, a roundtable on the theme “Ottawa, a Bilingual Capital”.

Several distinguished guests, including the Minister and Vice-President of the capital region of Brussels and Chair of the European Union regions' committee, Jos Chabert, the Ambassador of Belgium, the Canadian Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Chairman of the National Capital Commission and the Commissioner of Official Languages, contributed to an eclectic evening that produced lively discussions.

These discussions stressed the importance of preserving bilingualism in our national capital and, more importantly, in our vast country. This meeting with Belgium officials made us appreciate their efforts to promote multilingualism.

They showed us that a country can thrive even more when its citizens respect their various languages and cultures, and those of their neighbours.

As co-chair of the group, I firmly believe that the vision presented to us at these meetings can help us promote our linguistic duality.

Law Of The Sea ConventionStatements By Members

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the House the fact that in 1994, 1995, 1996 and yesterday the hon. member for Davenport has raised this question to his own government: When is the government going to ratify the law of the sea convention? Four different ministers in six years have said the same thing, “It is our number one priority. We need to do it right away. We will do it right away”.

It was a 1993 red book promise that the Liberal government, if elected, would sign the law of the sea convention.

We are now hearing disturbing reports that the Atlantic salmon off our east coast is in very serious trouble and that other aquatic species throughout our coastlines are in very serious trouble. Thousands of fishermen and their families will lose their livelihood if the government does not get off its butt and ratify the law of the sea now.

National Cancer Survivors DayStatements By Members

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, the whole world will celebrate the 14th annual Cancer Survivors Day. It is the largest cancer survivor event.

It was organized for the first time in 1987 in Kansas City by Richard Bloch, a cancer survivor, and his wife Annette, to remind people that a diagnosis of cancer is not an automatic death sentence.

Since then, each year, on the first Sunday in June, we pay tribute to those who are undergoing or have undergone cancer treatment. Statistics show that in Canada one person in three will be diagnosed with cancer.

But it is reassuring to know that more than half of those affected by cancer can look forward to a full recovery. The great hope of researchers is to someday be able to cure all those who are diagnosed with cancer. Several colleagues in the House and myself are living proof that cancer can be beaten.

I encourage all those who are engaged in a battle against that disease to hang in there and to keep their hopes up.

National Cancer Survivors DayStatements By Members

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Order Of CanadaStatements By Members

Liberal

Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU

Mr. Speaker, today Mr. Ralph Ritcey will receive the Order of Canada for his commitment to education and the Inuit of Canada.

As superintendent of education for the federal department of northern affairs, Mr. Ritcey was dedicated to making sure Inuit could pursue further education in the south.

When I left my home of Arviat to finish high school in Ottawa, I was fortunate to meet Mr. Ritcey and be one of those touched by his work. For Inuit to leave their home to seek education in the south was often hard and the time and effort Mr. Ritcey spent in assisting the students helped in making the process easier for many of us.

The efforts of Mr. Ritcey contributed greatly to the creation of Nunavut as many of the leaders benefited from his educational policies.

Nunavut thanks Mr. Ritcey for his passion for education and the care he took of his students. I sincerely congratulate him on his well-deserved Order of Canada.

National DefenceStatements By Members

Progressive Conservative

Gerald Keddy Progressive Conservative South Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, the operational requirements for the helicopters that will be replacing the Sea Kings have been lowered to two hours and twenty minutes with a thirty minute fuel reserve. This allows Eurocopter's Cougar to qualify for the reduced endurance capacity, a capacity that is significantly lower than the four hour flying time offered by the Sea Kings when they went into operation in 1962.

In 1996 the Liberals decreased requirements to three hours with a thirty minute reserve. In 1999 the Liberals decreased requirements to two hours and fifty minutes with a thirty minute reserve. The government now has dropped to the absolute minimum accepted by military specifications to two hours and twenty minutes and the reserve.

When will the government make decisions based on logic and reason and not based on the Prime Minister's pride?

Assistance To VictimsStatements By Members

Liberal

Claude Duplain Liberal Portneuf, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the House about the Government of Canada's initiative to help victims in Quebec.

The Société de criminologie du Québec and the Regroupement d'étudiants: prévention et intervention touchant la santé et la sexualité de l'UQAM have received more than $50,000 in funding.

This funding will promote discussions among those working in the criminal justice system. It will also help to raise awareness of victims' needs.

In addition, through their assistance fund and work, these organizations help to build victims' trust in the criminal justice system.

French Immersion ProgramsStatements By Members

Canadian Alliance

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to Canadian Parents for French. Thanks to their efforts, a growing number of Anglo-Canadians express themselves well in French.

Today, over 300,000 Anglo-Canadian students are taking part in French immersion programs, and almost one quarter of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 29 speak English and French.

I am addressing the House in French today, and my sister is a teacher of French, because both of us participated in a French immersion program.

I am proud that the city of Coquitlam in my riding is the birthplace of French immersion schools in western Canada. I thank Canadian Parents for French and all the parents who make such an investment in their children's education.

I urge all parents to consider the benefits of learning a second language at school.

National DefenceOral Question Period

Okanagan—Coquihalla B.C.

Canadian Alliance

Stockwell Day Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, in 1993, when the government cancelled the helicopter contract previously negotiated by the Tory government, there was a cost of almost half a billion dollars.

Now we understand with a process that will involve splitting the contract, as we have just discovered, there will be a cost of another $400 million on top of the almost half a billion that has already taken place and there will be increased risk to military personnel.

Will the Prime Minister please tell us: With higher cost and higher risk, how does that add up to the best deal?

National DefenceOral Question Period

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, first, overall savings for Canadians in the combined purchase of maritime search and rescue helicopters were in the range of $1.5 billion over the EH-101 procurement of the past government.

Second, with one contract we had three potential bidders. With two contracts we have 13 potential bidders and they are Canadian companies. That means a better price, more competition, more Canadian technology development and more Canadian jobs.

National DefenceOral Question Period

Okanagan—Coquihalla B.C.

Canadian Alliance

Stockwell Day Canadian AllianceLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, it is not a better buy when we are purchasing a product that cannot do what the former one could do. It will not fly as far. It cannot do the job as well. It is not a better purchase.

In 1994 we understand that two servicemen actually perished when a Sea King helicopter caught fire in mid-air. Just last week a Sea King did an emergency landing on an Australian warship.

The government is not concerned about the extra risk. It is not concerned about the extra cost. Is it at least concerned about the extra delay in getting a good, safe product to our military?

National DefenceOral Question Period

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is talking about old cold war requirements back in the seventies or even the sixties. We need a helicopter for the current and future needs of the Canadian forces. That is why the military recommended a change in the specifications. It is entirely a military consideration and recommendation that the government is adopting.

Meanwhile we are putting money into the Sea King to make sure it is safe to fly. Accidents can happen with any age of aircraft. We are cutting down on that possibility, that risk, by investing more money and making sure it is safe to fly.

National DefenceOral Question Period