Debates of April 26th, 2002

George Marcello

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, each year 160 Canadians die while waiting for an organ transplant. Canada has one of the lowest organ donor rates in the entire world. Half of all usable organs are never transplanted as too many people forget to sign their cards and tell their loved ones.

George Marcello, only days from death in 1995 from liver failure, received a new liver as a result of a family's tragedy. Six people's lives were saved as a result of this gift of life. To draw attention to this, George has walked throughout Canada and will complete his Canada 769 Day Walk in Toronto this year. Thousands have carried his torch of life from community to community to educate people on our need to sign our organ donor cards and tell our family members.

George has given hope to the 4,000 Canadians awaiting the gift of life. I salute a Canadian hero, George Marcello, who is in Ottawa today.

Arts and Culture

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 22 the wealth and breadth of Canadian opera was featured and celebrated at a concert showcase at the Glenn Gould studio, CBC broadcast centre. A first for Toronto and indeed Canada, Opera Festival 2002 celebrated the exciting world of opera. Over 249 musicians, 169 singers and 24 dancers were featured on six different stages.

Collaborating in Opera Festival 2002 were: the Professional Opera Companies of Canada; the Canadian Opera Company; Opera Ontario; Opera Atelier; Tapestry New Opera Works; Autumn Leaf Opera & Performance; and Soundstreams Canada. At the heart of the festival was Opera Conference 2000. Over 500 delegates from around the globe gathered in Toronto to advance and explore the art of opera and opera productions.

I congratulate everyone involved in the festival for their outstanding contribution to Canada's arts and culture.

Non-Violence Week

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Mr. Rock Gilbert and the numerous volunteers who, this week, launched the second annual non-violence week in Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean.

Nowadays, violence takes a number of forms; it can be physical, verbal or psychological. It is becoming more and more of a presence in all spheres of our society.

During the week, the event's organizers will be meeting people in schools and shopping centres throughout the region in order to raise awareness of the issue of violence. The only way to eradicate this unfortunate phenomenon is to talk about it.

I urge the federal government to acknowledge the problem of violence and to put in place an initiative to eradicate it and to allow us to live in a world of joy, good humour and humanity.

Volunteerism

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to the hard work and perseverance of a number of volunteers in my riding of Laval West.

Thanks to the devotion of Mrs. Irène Mackriss and the generosity of Mr. Paul Champagne, as well as many legion members, Royal Canadian Legion branch 251 in Chomeday, Laval, is now equipped with an elevator. Now older or disabled legion members, which means the majority of the branch membership, have easy access to the legion premises, which are on the second floor and were reachable only by some very hard to manoeuvre stairs.

This initiative took a number of years to achieve. Once again, the volunteers continued their efforts despite numerous refusals. Their success reflects upon the entire voluntary sector.

I salute all of the people who helped this project to see the light of day through their efforts and their financial contributions, thus making it possible for the mobility impaired to gain easier access to the Laval Royal Canadian Legion .

Hepatitis C

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, four years ago April 28 there was an infamous vote in the House of Commons, Liberals crushing a motion to provide compensation to all the hepatitis C victims of tainted blood. Liberals chose only to help victims during the period of 1986-90.

A young victim, Joey Haché from the Ottawa area, became the hero of the debate. He asked the Prime Minister to explain and said “tell me the difference between someone infected with tainted blood on December 31, 1985 and January 1, 1986”.

I am sure that the forgotten victims outside this artificial legal window of compensation are still waiting and suffering. I am equally sure that Joey Haché is still watching carefully. On this issue he is the Prime Minister's conscience.

Centre for Research and Education in Human Services

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services, a Kitchener based group dedicated to social well-being of Canadian communities.

The centre employs over 35 community researchers who help build bridges between disadvantaged people, the government, the corporate sector and social services. The centre has prepared reports to combat racism and hate crimes while promoting social change in the areas of housing, health, and psychiatric care for those returning to communities after receiving treatment.

The centre was established in 1982 with a vision to create a place where research could be conducted in a different way than is typical in academic settings. Efforts were made to give a voice to people with limited access to power and opportunity.

I congratulate the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services for 20 years of innovative, community based research.

Day of Mourning

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this Sunday we will again observe the Day of Mourning for employees killed and injured at work. Last year 800,000 Canadians were injured at work while 882 died on the job.

When we pause again this April 28 we will remember the four Canadian soldiers killed last week in Afghanistan and the more than 200 Canadians killed September 11.

As someone who knows firsthand the agony of losing a family member through an industrial accident, we must do more than mourn. Sometimes these are just tragic accidents but some workplace accidents are indeed a crime. Next month is the sad anniversary of the 26 miners entombed at Westray. It is called the Westray disaster, but the other disaster is that 10 years on no one has ever been brought to justice for what the inquiry concluded was a preventable explosion.

No employer should have the right to knowingly put workers' lives at risk, and those who do must feel the full force of the law.

Workplace Accidents and Occupational Illness

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, April 28 is designated as a day of compassion in memory of workers who have been injured, killed or disabled as a result of a workplace accident, or are suffering from an occupational illness.

In Canada, in 1998 alone, approximately 800 persons died as a result of a workplace accident or an occupational illness, and almost 900,000 suffered injuries.

Beyond the direct and indirect costs, estimated to be around $10 billion annually, each life that is lost and every injury that is sustained represents a story of human suffering for the victims and those who are close to them.

We must work, individually and collectively, to fight the causes of this problem, and its effects. As elected officials, we must move beyond awareness and translate our awareness into improved legislation for workers.

The Bloc Quebecois will continue to make this issue a priority.

Youth in the Workplace

[Serge Marcil, Liberal, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the Châteauguay chamber of commerce and industry for the press conference it held on Monday, April 22, at which I announced the launch of the Youth Internship Canada project in Châteauguay. Under the direction of Isabelle Lareault, from the local Châteauguay employment centre, 15 young people, aged 16 to 30, will undertake a 16 to 30 week paid internship in the workplace.

In addition to taking part in preparatory workshops for four weeks, they will benefit from a structured program that will allow them to gain the skills that today's employers want, thereby helping them enter the workforce.

Human Resources Development Canada contributed $101,149 to this project. Thanks to the Youth Employment Strategy, the Government of Canada is pursuing its efforts and fulfilling its commitment to help the youth of Châteauguay participate fully in today's workforce.

Cancer Research

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, April is well known to Canadians as Daffodil Month, the annual campaign of the Canadian Cancer Society. This year the cancer society campaign is working hard to raise $18 million.

The funds go to research on all types of cancer; advocating for public health policy; promoting healthy lifestyles and strategies for reducing cancer; and in addition, supporting people living with cancer. This year the society contributed a record $43 million to its research partner the National Cancer Institute of Canada.

In 2001 an estimated 134,000 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer but many of these will live thanks to the Canadian Cancer Society.

April is almost over. However with the generosity of Canadians I am positive the Canadian Cancer Society campaign will exceed its fundraising goal.

Day of Mourning

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

Mr. Speaker, Sunday, April 28 will be a special day. It will mark the 11th annual national Day of Mourning. The day is a unique occasion to commemorate those who have been killed or injured in the workplace and to sympathize with their families and friends.

The significance of the national Day of Mourning becomes even clearer when we look at the staggering statistics for 1999: close to 800 deaths and nearly 900,000 injuries. That is an average of three workers killed every working day and one worker injured every nine seconds.

I rise today to ask all hon. members to take time to remember the workers who lost their lives or were injured on the job in the past years and to remind all Canadians that occupational safety is everybody's concern. We pay tribute to those we remember by putting forth our best efforts to strive for safer and healthier workplaces through continued education, awareness and co-operation.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I think the House should rise to observe one moment of silence to commemorate the national Day of Mourning and to honour the memory of workers killed or injured at work.

[Editor's Note: The House stood in silence]

Leadership Campaigns

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister wants specific examples to explain why 70% of Canadians say that this government is corrupt.

Here is one. The finance minister's secret fundraiser, raising funds for his phantom leadership bid, is also on the department payroll. That is unethical.

How many more examples does the Deputy Prime Minister need to understand why Canadians think this government is rotten to the core?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Leader of the Opposition said:

The ethics counsellor told us that he has no record of the minister asking for his advice on Mr. Palmer.

Not only did he not have that information from the ethics counsellor, he tabled a letter from the information office of Industry Canada, and in fact his statement is false.

How many more examples do the people of Canada need to determine that the party in opposition is shallow and empty and has nothing to say about anything of substance but just tries to scandalmonger?

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, let us clarify the letter that we did receive. We put in an access to information request for all documents from Industry Canada on the interchange between Mr. Palmer and the finance minister, and they said to us that there was no information in the department, none.

We were told by the finance minister that there had been consultations. That is why this government looks corrupt to the Canadian people.

What does the Deputy Prime Minister have to say to that?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, the letter they passed over yesterday was actually addressed to Mr. J. Murray, P. O. Box 657. I guess that is the nom de plume they use when they ask for information. They asked for a copy of the report prepared by the office of the ethics counsellor and took the fact that there was no written report prepared by the ethics counsellor to mean what the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday, “We have heard from the ethics counsellor that he has no record of the minister asking”.

What they said in the House yesterday was false.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, too many questions are raised regarding the ethics of this government.

Canadians want to see action taken. Taxpayers want the government to be accountable. People want things to change.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister promise to immediately introduce an act to appoint an independent ethics counsellor who will report to parliament, as was promised? Yes or no?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, will the Leader of the Opposition come into this place and admit that he made false statements, that he made false accusations?

How can we, in a parliament, have debates on issues that are fundamental to Canadians when some spend their time making accusations that are simply not true?

[Randy White, Canadian Alliance, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I know this is unpleasant for them but they will just have to bear with us and the rest of the 70% of Canadians who are unhappy with them.

What about an organization that gets a $1 million grant from the heritage minister? It is not a coincidence that the chairman of that organization just happens to be a fundraiser for the minister of heritage's leadership campaign.

What does the Deputy Prime Minister call that? Is that corrupt or is there another name for it?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, at least the member has clarified what he said yesterday when he accused the department of giving a grant to the person, not to the non-profit organization which the individual was helping as a volunteer and who in turn volunteered to help the minister.

Has it reached the point where people who are engaged in the volunteer or non-profit sector in Canada must stay away from also being supporters of or adherents to political parties? Why does the member for Langley--Abbotsford not get up and admit in the House that what he said yesterday was not true?

[Randy White, Canadian Alliance, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I know this is unpleasant for them but they have to get used to it.

Let us talk about the Deputy Prime Minister for a moment. In his former role the Deputy Prime Minister had the responsibility for the ethics counsellor. He had eight years to make good on the Prime Minister's promise to clean up and return integrity by appointing an ethics counsellor reporting to parliament. He had eight years to do that.

Here it is eight years later, there is no ethics counsellor and government integrity is a disaster.

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, not only has the ethics counsellor frequently appeared before parliamentary committees but also, as the hon. member knows, in the British parliamentary system--for which those members have very little respect; they prefer the American congressional system--the conduct of ministers is the responsibility of the Prime Minister.

We have listened to those members in election campaigns. They were going to do away with parliamentary pensions. They thought that Stornoway should be turned into a bingo hall. They did not believe that the leader of their party should have a car and a driver. They did not believe in a whole lot of things and once they got here, they changed their positions. They are just an empty hollow bag of wind.

Foreign Affairs

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, is warning Canada against the dangers that await it if it decides to enter into a unified military command with the United States. Mr. Axworthy also points out that this could seriously limit Canada's freedom to act, as well as its ability to maintain an independent foreign policy.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us whether the comments made by his former colleague correspond to his vision of Canada's foreign policy?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that the report to which my colleague refers will be tabled before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and that it will be considered.

Right now, there is absolutely no question of a threat to the sovereignty of Canadians or of Canada, because we have no agreement with the United States in this regard. The Americans have put in place certain provisions for their own security. We will examine those provisions and take the necessary measures to protect ourselves and to guarantee our own security and sovereignty.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois feels that the army must redefine its role and target its objectives in order to maximize its effectiveness both in Canada and abroad. A unified command with the United States could mean an increase in military spending of some $16 billion.

Will the government agree that we cannot embark on such a major undertaking without at least first holding a public debate?