Debates of March 31st, 2003

Grands Prix du Tourisme de l'Outaouais

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the18th gala for the Grands prix du tourisme de l'Outaouais was held Saturday evening, under the theme “Outaouais, Live it!”.

Today, I would like to congratulate the winners of this award. They are: Keskinada Loppet; Aux Berges des Outaouais; Camping Cantley; Auberge Viceroy; Chateau Logue Hotel-Golf-Resort; Ramada Plaza Manoir du Casino; Réservations Outaouais; Cartographie informatisée de l'Outaouais; Les Fougères Restaurant; Laurier sur Montcalm Restaurant; the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Train; the Canadian Museum of Civilization; the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival; Expéditions Eau Vive; Gatineau Park; Mawadoseg Kitigan Zibi; Michel Sancartier, of the Western Festival in Saint-André-Avelin. In addition, the Keskinada Loppet won the Canada Economic Development's international marketing award.

These winners are testimony to the energy and vitality of the tourism industry in our beautiful region. I want to congratulate Gilles Picard and Jean Tiffeault, respectively director general and president of Outaouais Tourism.

Congratulations to the winners and good luck at the next Quebec tourism industry gala.

Saskatchewan

[Gerry Ritz, Canadian Alliance, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday Saskatchewan's NDP government tabled a budget that would be considered voodoo economics from any credible source. Residents of Saskatchewan are again trying to decipher the half truth in this year's government initiative.

The NDP in Regina continue to pretend its crown corporations are not part of the government books although they represent 40% of public business in the province. The NDP claims Saskatchewan will grow at an unprecedented rate of 6.8% next year. That is amazing considering the economy shrunk by nearly 2% last year and experts are predicting another difficult year for agriculture.

The NDP promised to put more police on the streets during the last election. Instead, it wasted over $110 million on a land titles scheme that failed to deliver anything. In “next year country” we are used to holding out for a better tomorrow. The NDP refusal to address rural property tax reform or tax relief of any kind until after the next election is ridiculous and just crass politics.

Next year's election will bring sensible economic planning because a new government in the form of the Saskatchewan Party under Elwin Hermanson will be elected.

Veterans

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of my hon. colleagues a special presentation made this morning to a very special Canadian. Earlier today the Minister of Veterans Affairs was privileged to present the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to Mr. Paul Métivier, a veteran of the Great War.

Throughout the years, Mr. Métivier was very involved in the celebration of veterans' accomplishments and in the commemoration of their sacrifice. He represented veterans at commemorative ceremonies at home and abroad. Mr. Métivier participated in several documentaries, providing oral accounts of his personal experience on the western front. He continues to provide invaluable personal glimpses into his experience during those terrible years.

Canada is privileged to have 13 surviving veterans who are firsthand witnesses to the Great War. Each of them will receive a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal at ceremonies across Canada and the U.S. These veterans served our country during its time of greatest need. They helped build Canada, the Canada we love.

We wish to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Lest we forget.

Caregivers

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a growing number of people are leaving their jobs to help a family member who has a disability or an illness, or who is elderly. These individuals known as caregivers make a difficult choice in staying with a loved one 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without pay.

More often than not, they are women. Indeed, 80% of caregivers are women.

Sadly, last week, this House did not pass Bill C-206, which would have provided caregivers with financial support. Sadder yet, in voting against this bill, the Secretary of State for the Status of Women ignored one of the demands made by the International March of Women.

World Figure Skating Championships

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday evening in Washington, D.C., Canada's ice dancing champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz capped an impressive amateur skating career by winning the gold medal in ice dancing at the World Figure Skating Championships. This is Canada's first ever gold medal in the 51 years since ice dancing has been competed at world championships, making this achievement all the more impressive.

Chatham, Ontario, native Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Vancouver have been skating together since 1991 and have won 10 Canadian championships. They have also won 6 medals at world championships, including this year's gold medal performance. Throughout their amateur career these athletes have epitomized the beauty and elegance of their sport with poise and grace, both on and off the ice, and have proven themselves outstanding role models.

I wish to invite all Canadians to join me in congratulating Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz on this outstanding achievement and wish them all the best in their upcoming professional career.

Iraq

[Jay Hill, Canadian Alliance, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday at noon about 5,000 proud Canadians gathered in a cold rain on Parliament Hill to show their support for our traditional allies.

Their opposition to the follow-the-polls style of Liberal leadership was very evident from their placards, signs and chants. They wanted their government to know loud and clear that they believe our troops should be in Iraq under the maple leaf, not as foreign exchange soldiers under other nations' flags. Along with my leader and a few others I was proud to have been asked by organizer Debbie Jodoin to say a few words.

This rally was not a pro-war event, as some have stated. It was an appeal to our government that it is never too late to do the right thing by standing with Australia, Great Britain and the United States against the continued sadistic rule of Saddam Hussein.

Instead, the Liberals have chosen to position Canada on the sidelines with France, Germany, Russia and China. Is it any wonder our allies feel betrayed and Canadians feel ashamed of their government?

Newfoundland and Labrador

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, March 31 is a historic day for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and indeed for the country of Canada. It was on this day in 1949 that Newfoundland entered the Canadian Confederation as its 10th province.

On this day we all celebrate 54 years of Newfoundland and Labrador as a province of this great nation and all the benefits that come with being a citizen in the best country in the world in which to live.

Canadians look upon Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with great fondness. This has never been more evident than with the recent show of support for those who have suffered due to the terrible flooding in the small Newfoundland community of Badger.

As well, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have given so much to Canada: their infamous screech rum, the Torngat Mountains, Gross Morne National Park, Joey Smallwood, rich musical culture and their unmistakable sense of humour and brightness of spirit.

Of course the people of Newfoundland and Labrador did us all proud with the way they welcomed the passengers from diverted flights on September 11. They welcomed those people into their homes and into their lives.

On behalf of all members of the House, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

New Democratic Party

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after a very successful federal council meeting of the federal NDP held in Montreal this weekend, I am proud to say that we are the first federal party to retire our election debt, and not by borrowing from riding associations, as was done by the Canadian Alliance. Our debt is put to bed and we are ready to go.

We are ready to tell the Canadian people that there is a real alternative to the Liberal-Alliance agenda that has harmed so many people. We have put our fiscal house in order and, with our new leader, Jack Layton, we are on the move. We know that investing in our local communities, stopping the privatization of health care and standing up for the environment are the real priorities of Canadians, not fighting an illegal and unnecessary war.

We know where Canadians are at. We are there with them and we are ready to go.

Gilbert Corniglion

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight the work being done by one of my constituents, who is getting ready to take part in a major humanitarian operation in Iraq.

Gilbert Corniglion is currently working for the Red Cross. After spending a year in Sri Lanka, he arrived in Jordan at the beginning of the year, where he worked providing vital assistance to communities living in zones of conflict.

In an interview published in a riding weekly newspaper, he said, and I quote, “Arab-Palestinian opinion is massively and staunchly anti-American, and is flaring up in favour of Saddam. The same thing is happening in Amman, where the regime is walking a tightrope because of its support for the United States”.

Since there is a war being waged, we will have to look after those who pour into the refugee camps. How many will there be? Hundreds? Millions? No one knows. However, Mr. Corniglion said that one thing that is sure, unfortunately, is that there will be a great deal of work.

I applaud the work that Mr. Corniglion and all of the Red Cross workers are doing.

Health Care

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie—Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in February of this year Canada's first ministers agreed to a new health plan to improve access to quality care for all Canadians. Canada's health care renewal accord of 2003 is an important step to improving universal health care for all Canadians.

The premier of the province of Ontario recently stated that the $2 billion they expect to get for Ontario's share of the anticipated increase in federal health care dollars will be used primarily to reimburse the province for what it already has spent on health care rather than to provide new services.

My constituents of Erie--Lincoln support the Romanow report and have called on the Governments of Canada and Ontario to ensure accountability in provincial health care spending. They fear Mr. Eves is scheming to use new federal health care funding for his tax cuts and other unrelated expenditures rather than to improve the medicare system.

I urge the Government of Canada to ensure that federal dollars given to the provinces for health care spending is used for its intended purposes and nothing less.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is time to review the power of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency when it comes to imposing its heavy hand on Canadian taxpayers.

CCRA has the power to freeze bank accounts, the power to take funds from Canadians and the power reassess accounts and impose its decisions. No bank, no business and, in fact, no creditor has the power of the CCRA which can determine that Canadians are guilty until proven innocent. CCRA can reassess the account of any Canadian, then apply extremely harsh measures. The onus is then put on the Canadian taxpayers to prove their innocence, no matter what it costs in accounting and legal fees.

The CCRA concept of guilty until proven innocent begs these questions. Will the minister bring in legislation assuring that no penalties will be applied to a Canadian taxpayer until a third party has heard both sides of the story? Will the minister bring in regulations requiring that Canadian taxpayers be compensated for costs incurred defending the charges by CCRA if, in the end, the charges are proven incorrect?

Firearms Registry

[Garry Breitkreuz, Canadian Alliance, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in February 2002 the justice minister sent reports to my office confirming that they had already lost track of more than 38,000 licensed gun owners. It is still happening.

I ask members to listen to this story from B.C.:

Two years ago, I contacted the CFC to tell them I was moving and to arrange the paperwork to move my handguns. I duly received my temporary ATT that was issued for the day of my move and subsequently received the full time version at my new address a week later. Sounds very efficient so far. 18 months later when I got around to registering my long-guns I contacted CFC to find out why I hadn't received the registration paperwork. They said they had already sent out several reminders to me and a final warning letter. When I said I hadn't received the paperwork we established they had been sending them to my old address. I find this a little concerning given that they are threatening gun owners with jail if they don't report change of address within 30 days.

So much for a system that is supposed to tell police where all the guns are. It seems like it takes a billion dollars for the Liberals to make a real mess.

Iraq

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, for generations Canadian prime ministers fought for the recognition of our independence, including the right to have our troops fight under the Canadian flag and Canadian command.

Now we have Canadian military personnel in Iraq, but under the Liberal government our personnel are fighting totally under the command, direction and flags of other countries.

Why does the government insist on embarrassing us by having our soldiers fight a war only under the flags of other countries?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, how ironic that the Leader of the Opposition would be talking about independence so soon after he told Newsworld :

There has never been a time in our history where we have not been more dependent on the United States and its allies...So the government cannot claim independence now.

We are much less willing to concede Canadian independence than the Leader of the Opposition.

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, not only did the government sacrifice our independence, the government's only explanation for not standing behind our allies is that it could not get approval from the Security Council of the United Nations, a body on which Canada does not even have a seat. It is shameful.

Let me ask the government a very clear question. We have troops in the war against Saddam Hussein. Do our troops in the war against Saddam have the unconditional support of their government? Yes or no.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would think it is high time that people put down their partisan tools for just a moment and sent a clear and united message to all the troops that are today in the region of whatever the country and whatever their mission. The message is simple: We are behind them 100%. We thank them for putting their lives on the line. We wish very much that before too much time has gone by they will have completed their mission with honour and be home again with their families.

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for that commitment assuming that is meant for all our troops, including those who are fighting Saddam. If that is the case, how can the government so unconditionally support our troops and be behind them while they put their lives on the line when it is not with our allies who fight right along beside them? How can the government be taken seriously with a position like that?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, our position has been clear, if the Alliance members would listen. They speak of the importance of our alliance with the United States over many decades. That continues. These exchange relationships are part of that alliance with the United States, the U.K., Australia and other countries.

The government is satisfied by the fact that none of these people are in direct combat situations. None of them have been authorized to use force except in self-defence. We are very pleased to honour these longstanding exchange agreements with our allies.

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

Mr. Speaker, for months the allied coalition has alleged a link between Saddam and terrorism and finally Saddam's regime has pleaded guilty to that charge. Iraqi vice-president, Yassin Ramadan, has announced that suicide killers were preparing in Baghdad terrorist murder, he said, and I quote, “is routine military policy”.

Will the Prime Minister now admit that the war against Saddam is also part of the war on terrorism and that we should be there?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are part of the war on terrorism. We have made it very clear, with our ships that are in the gulf, with our commitment to go to Afghanistan and with our complete and utter determination to support our allies in every respect in the war against terrorism. We will continue those efforts.

I agree with the Minister of National Defence. Let us not politicize this issue here in this House in a way which confuses things for the Canadian public. It may be to the advantage of the opposition but it is not to the advantage of the long term interests of Canada and our development of peace in the region.

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

Mr. Speaker, what is political about Fedayeen Saddam terrorists deliberately shelling Iraqi locations? What is political about him executing unarmed Iraqis? What is political about innocent women being murdered, shot in the back as they try to escape?

The Prime Minister now has legitimate reasons for Canada to join its allies to protect innocent people and our friends from terrorists. Has the Prime Minister even thought about the powerful effect on our allies and the discouraging effect on Saddam if Canada were to announce that it would now join the war on terrorism and be there with our friends?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are part of the war on terrorism. We have been part of the war on terrorism. The way in which we sought to avoid this conflict, we worked hard to avoid this conflict. We sought to avoid the conflict and to have the very things that the member seems to take pleasure in describing to the House today.

Let us not take pleasure in these events. Let us work on trying to prevent them from happening in the way we have in the past, through the multilateral efforts for peace in the world and the way Canada has stood up for it in the past and will continue to stand up for it.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday we asked the Minister of Defence whether the Canadian soldiers lent to foreign units in the past had taken part in armed conflicts without Canada being at war. We got no reply. We asked the same thing on Thursday, still with no answer, but the minister said he would look into it. On Friday it was once around again, this time with the parliamentary secretary, who said it was still being looked into.

If the government refuses to respond, is this not because it wants to hide the fact that the situation in Iraq has set a precedent, because it wants to conceal the fact that this is the first time Canadian soldiers are fighting within foreign units while Canada is not officially at war?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that the research is still going on. Our historians are looking into this, and there is still no answer for the moment. As I have just told the Canadian Alliance, our soldiers are there in an exchange with the Americans. Such exchanges have been going on for decades. They are not in a direct combat role. The government is satisfied with this situation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand why he is asking the historians. Any minister who did not know the location of Dieppe and confused Vimy and Vichy would be well advised to consult the historians.

The minister also told us in this House last week that the Canadian soldiers were playing what he termed “a support role” and were not involved in combat in Iraq. Now we understand that Canadian Lieutenant Angie Little is taking part in the siege of Bassora and is involved with demining and explosives within a British unit.

Will the minister admit that, when a Canadian soldier is handling explosives, there is a good chance that person is involved in a war?