Debates of March 21st, 2003

CIS Hockey

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to congratulate the new Atlantic conference hockey champions, the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds, on their dramatic 4-3 win over St. FX last weekend.

UNB has been playing extremely well of late which brings me to a matter of a friendly challenge that I have put to two of my colleagues. I have challenged the members for Edmonton West and Thunder Bay—Superior North that when UNB wins the University Cup this weekend in Fredericton, the member for Edmonton West will provide the Varsity Reds with a steak dinner and will come to Fredericton to serve it, and the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North will do the same but with a pickerel dinner. Should Alberta or Lakehead win I will provide them with a lobster dinner and go to Edmonton or Thunder Bay to serve it.

Mr. Speaker, in case you are concerned about the possible expense to me in providing lobster dinners to two entire hockey teams, do not worry about it. Go Varsity Reds.

Racial Discrimination

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations chose March 21 as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

On this day in 1960, anti-apartheid demonstrators conducted a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, and were shot and killed by police. In 1989, Canada became the first country in the world to have a national March 21st campaign to raise awareness about racism, and to encourage individuals and organizations to take steps to eliminate discrimination.

Around the world, Canada has gained the reputation of being a country that places high value on social justice, diversity and equality. We need to be vigilant to ensure that racism has no place in our society or in the world. The campaign is an annual reminder that every one of us has a role to play in putting an end to racism.

Let us renew our commitment to work with all Canadians to create a society where every citizen contributes to the equality of all.

Human Resources Development

[Mark Assad, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to a winter skills project, Mission Compétence Hiver 2003, 16 young people between the ages of 17 and 30 in the Saint-Hyacinthe area will be able to acquire the skills sought by today's employers in a work experience setting.

Human Resources Development Canada is proud to provide $15,000 in financial assistance to Gilles Poulin Consultant, a company that plans and carries out activities to assist the young people in that region in entering the work force. The project sponsor has a proven track record of successfully coordinating such projects in the past.

Good luck to all these young participants.

Iraq

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today I held a news conference with members of the Iraqi-Canadian community who detailed the long nightmare of Saddam Hussein's regime, which human rights groups call one of the most brutal dictatorships of the last 50 years.

Saddam is responsible for the deaths of over a million people, both in wars of aggression he launched, and torture and execution of his own people. He is guilty of genocide against the Kurds, Marsh Arabs and Shiites, killing tens of thousands through the use of poison gas and mass execution. His preferred methods of torture include: eye-gouging, electric shock, raping women in front of their families, acid baths, and feeding dissidents to wild dogs.

We hope that allied forces will soon bring him to justice. But if Saddam is captured alive, I believe that he and his henchmen should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity at a special international criminal tribunal created for that purpose.

Following question period I will seek unanimous consent for a motion calling for such a tribunal. I hope that all members will agree that the time has come for justice to be done for the Iraqi people.

Canada Games

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, in all parts of Canada, young athletes were returning home from the 19th Canada Games.

One young athlete, Alexandre Tremblay of Lachenaie, brought two golds home, one of them won in badminton doubles partnered with Mathieu Laforest.

I extend my congratulations and those of all the people of Terrebonne—Blainville to the athletes who competed so ably in the 19th Canada Games.

I hope Alexandre Tremblay will be able to continue excelling in his sport for many years to come, and I am sure that one day his Olympic dream will come true.

Claude Roy

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we want to pay tribute today to a great advocate for social housing, Claude Roy, an urban planning advisor with the Société d'habitation du Québec.

Honoured by one of the leading American housing associations, Claude Roy was awarded the John D. Lange award for the international impact of his work.

The first Quebecker and non-American to receive such an award, this man of conviction does far more than perform his role as a manager. Over the past 15 years, he has advocated the promotion of a healthy living environment and emphasized the need to recognize the connection between housing and the social needs of the disadvantaged, including the homeless.

On behalf of my colleagues from the Bloc Quebecois, I want to commend Mr. Roy on his social commitment and express our deep gratitude to him for his commitment to the advancement of wellness in our society.

Racial Discrimination

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is International Day for the Elimination of Racism.

I rise today to remind all Canadians about the meaning of tolerance and respect for one another. Particularly in these troubling and difficult times, when war and fears of terrorism are ever present, the issue of racial discrimination has become even more prominent.

Canada proudly stands as a model for diversity and openness, which has been a fundamental part of the Canadian mosaic since its beginning. Our national identity is linked to our cultural and linguistic heritage, where people from all backgrounds and cultures make Canada their home.

Threats to the physical and emotional safety of individuals cannot be allowed if we are to maintain the principles of acceptance that defines the spirit of our great nation. No one's identity or cultural heritage should be compromised.

I ask that all members of the House join with me to promote the fundamental belief that all Canadians are equal.

[Betty Hinton, Canadian Alliance, Kamloops, Thompson And Highland Valleys, BC]

Mr. speaker, today we join citizens around the world in declaring our support for the noble effort of eliminating racism.

Racial and religious discrimination have been the cause of too many wars and too much human suffering and any effort, be it by the United Nations or by individuals, to eliminate those two scourges should be applauded.

We pride ourselves in Canada on our ethnic racial diversity and tolerance, and well we should. Canada should continue to hold itself up as a shining example of what racial and religious tolerance should be like.

I am proud that in my constituency there are people from every corner of the earth and we live peacefully together and enjoy our differences.

I salute the United Nations and suggest the motto for Canada should be, “It does not matter where we came from as individuals. What does matter is where we are going together as Canadians.”

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call your attention to the fact that today, March 21, is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women will be presenting the young winners of the “Racism. Stop It!” national video competition with their awards.

This year we honour 10 teams of 12 to 18 year old students: from Quebec, le Collège Jean de la Mennais et le Cégep du Vieux-Montréal; from Ontario, Norwich District High School and Glendale Secondary School; from Manitoba, Shaughnessy Park School; from Alberta, Amiskawiy Academy and Southview Community School; from Nova Scotia, Bedford Junior High School; and from the Northwest Territories, Sir John Franklin High School.

I would like to congratulate these young people for their stand against racism and for expressing their view with such great creativity.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on this International Day for the Elimination of Racism, we remember the memory of those ant-apartheid protestors who were so brutally slaughtered in 1960 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This March 21st is especially important as the grievous and devastating consequences of war on Iraq begin to unfold. State instituted racial profiling at the Canada-U.S. border crossings, harassment, interrogation, new visa requirements by the U.S. based on country of origin and targeting of members of the Canada Arab and Muslim communities and other minority groups are intolerable violations of human rights.

Federal New Democrats will continue to speak out against this racism fuelled by a war and anti-terrorism agenda that has even seen innocent people incarcerated.

We call on the Canadian government to uphold human rights, both internationally and here at home.

World Water Day

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

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, March 22, has been proclaimed World Water Day by the United Nations.

It is an opportunity to remember that water is not something we can take for granted. It is frightening to think that, in this day and age, some people do not have access to drinking water. On this day, countries are invited to organize activities to raise public awareness of the importance and value of water.

This week, the Third World Water Forum was held in Kyoto. At the forum, which is also an important event in the International Year of Freshwater, the United Nations presented the World Water Development Report.

Each of us must do our part to preserve water quality. We must also realize that climate change, too, could have a serious impact on water levels. So, if the level of the St. Lawrence drops, pollutant levels will rise and water quality could be compromised.

Water is like the air we breathe; we need it to survive. Help us to preserve it.

Exchange Students

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the pleasure to welcome to Ottawa students from Guilford Park Secondary School who travelled here all the way from Surrey, British Columbia. They are in Ottawa this week on an exchange with students from D'Arcy McGee Secondary School.

These students have been given a wonderful opportunity to visit another part of our great country while practising their abilities in the secondary language.

I hope that they have a great stay here in Ottawa and I thank them for the great Vancouver weather that they clearly brought along with them.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Loyola Hearn, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, government giveth and government taketh away. In the budget the government bragged about all the money it was giving out for the various departments. While this was unfolding, it was asking departments to cut a billion dollars from existing programs.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been asked to find between $15 million and $20 million. This means significant cuts to small crafts and harbours, the science branch and the Coast Guard, all divisions currently in dire need of funding.

This is inconceivable. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans at present cannot afford to deliver existing programs and further cuts will be devastating.

Putting money into one's pocket with one hand is always popular but taking it out with the other is only an action the government would take. Government giveth and government taketh away at its own risk.

Prix Montfort

[Carole-Marie Allard, Liberal, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, the first Prix Montfort gala was held to honour outstanding contributions to the Francophonie. All the award winners deserve our thanks.

The Canadian Francophonie can certainly point to a remarkable trail of achievements. Consider the winner of the Prix Montfort for cultural diversity, Rwandan-born singer Corneille, who fled the genocide, who reminded us how war destroys the dreams of thousands of children.

Consider Antonine Maillet, winner of the Prix Montfort for literature, who constantly nurtures our hope for a better Canada.

The creator of the Festival Juste pour rire , Gilbert Rozon, who won the Prix Montfort for event of the year, expressed his great admiration for all of humanity in these troubled times.

And what about the mayor of Moncton, winner of the Montfort of the Year award. He reminded us of our ability to meet the challenges of bilingualism.

I want to thank all the artists who helped make this evening a success.

Iraq

[Peter Goldring, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Centre-East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as we speak, Saddam Hussein's Iraq is under siege. The “Butcher of Baghdad” has scant days left to his evil rule.

Saddam has for too long been a harbourer of terrorists, a killer of his own citizens and a user and purveyor of weapons of mass destruction. Saddam personifies the new world's most evil threat, post-September 11.

While Great Britain, the United States and Australia together do their part to rout Saddam, we do not stand with our allies today. We stand in the shadow of the United Nations' failure to act. We stand aside because of a Prime Minister who failed to help. We stand aside, due to a Prime Minister interested more in personal popularity polls than safe, secure world order.

Shamefully, our Prime Minister is more ready to continue the “Butcher of Baghdad” and his evil threats, than to accept and help the most and the best of the free world marching to end Saddam's reign. God save the Queen and God bless America.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, France has been one of the countries most opposed to military intervention in Iraq. It has said, however, that if Saddam uses chemical or biological weapons, it would change its position.

If Saddam uses chemical or biological weapons, will that change Canada's position?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we will analyze any situation of any change of any kind in the future and we will take action in the light of Canada's interest, bearing in mind our responsibility for peace and security, dealing with our allies and the preservation of the international framework and system that we have worked so hard to date to build. We will take action as is required in the light of all of those considerations.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, France did not have to analyze a thing. It was able to put its position out plainly for everyone to see.

I attended a state visit to Mexico with the Prime Minister three weeks ago. While there he said to give credit to the Americans and that any movement on disarmament by Saddam Hussein was a result of their troops at the border.

Why is that message not being spoken loud and clear here in Canada?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the message is being spoken loud and clear but it is very difficult to get a message through to people who are ideologically disposed not to listen to it.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

The arrogance is incredible, Mr. Speaker. Of the 10 missiles fired at Kuwait, 2 have now been identified as Saddam Hussein's scuds. He said to everyone, he said to the world, “But I don't have them. They've all been destroyed”.

Does that change Canada's position? Does Canada now regret abandoning our allies, when the evidence is there that Saddam Hussein had scuds all along?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it may well demonstrate that the work of Dr. Blix should have been continued and all these things would have been found out. We can draw many conclusions on what is taking place at this time. That is not the point.

It is that the United States has engaged itself in action today, and what we believe is we would like to see this action terminated as quickly as possible with as few casualties as possible. That is the important consideration at this time.

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a number of nations are now calling for the expulsion of Saddam's representatives from allied countries. This would further diminish Saddam, it would demoralize his lieutenants and raise the possibility of defections or maybe even early surrender.

The Liberals have decided to do nothing militarily to help disarm Saddam or to liberate the people of Iraq, but it is not too late to help diplomatically.

Why will the government not do the right thing and expel Saddam's front men from our country?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

The first point, Mr. Speaker, is we have received no request from the United States to expel the one--

[Carol Skelton, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Where is your backbone?

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Are you waiting for marching orders from the U.S.?