Debates of March 10th, 2005

Agriculture

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to express the importance of the cattle industry and the other equally important ruminant industries that were worth over $7 billion before the border closed. The entire agricultural sector has always contributed a great deal to Canada's prosperity.

I want to commend all of the proud agricultural producers who are fighting through these hard times waiting for the border to reopen. I also want to thank President Bush for his commitment to veto any legislation that crosses his desk with the intent to delay the border opening.

I also have to express my disappointment and the anger of all those in the cattle and livestock industries at this Liberal government that has failed to expand the packing industry in every region. Liberals have failed to find a Canadian solution that would ensure a healthier market and security for the future. I hope all Canadians join with me in condemning this Liberal government for its dithering approach.

I call on this government to immediately use the contingency fund to expand the slaughter industry regionally, access new export markets, reduce the herd, and deliver relief quickly and directly to primary producers.

Foreign Affairs

[Ken Boshcoff, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 46 years ago today the people of Tibet held massive demonstrations to demand that the Chinese restore the full independence of their country. These demonstrations resulted in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Tibetans by the People's Liberation Army. In the days that followed, the Dalai Lama and some 80,000 Tibetans fled to neighbouring countries for refuge from the Chinese troops.

In a statement this morning, the Dalai Lama indicated that he is encouraged by the support Tibetans are receiving from various parts of the world and within certain Chinese intellectual circles for their middle way approach. The Dalai Lama remains hopeful that this longstanding issue will be resolved.

Representatives of the Tibetan community are with us here today. I ask my fellow parliamentarians to join with me in a moment of remembrance of the Tibetans who gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.

Tsunami Relief

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to applaud the relief efforts of many people in and around the riding of Scarborough--Rouge River in response to the December 26 tsunami. In particular, I would like to recognize the following groups and individuals:

Mr. Mano Kanagomany organized People Helping People which collected clothing and food to be sent to the region. The Integral Yoga Centre made its premises available as a staging centre.

The Islamic Foundation of Toronto sent a team of doctors to Indonesia, and hosted a fundraising dinner with 10 other Islamic mosques that raised over $1 million.

The Laxmi Narayan Hindu Temple raised over $23,000 and sent a container of clothing to Sri Lanka.

The Chinese Cultural Centre coordinated a fundraising appeal with the Canadian Multicultural Council-Asians in Ontario and Citytv, and raised $60,000.

Canadians for Tsunami Relief was formed by several local businesses and cultural organizations to raise funds for the Red Cross and Oxfam. Dr. Joseph Wong of the Yee Hong Community and Wellness Foundation assisted there.

Sylvester Rajaratnam coordinated a group of local churches and businesses, and sent seven containers.

Many other people have similarly participated in the effort and I thank them all.

Agri-Food

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, more than 1,500 cash crop producers in central Quebec, 11,600 in all of Quebec and 80,000 across Canada are denouncing the federal government's withdrawal from an agri-food sector where prices have remained ridiculously low.

Syndicate president Werner Schur deplored the attitude of Ottawa, whose support to the agri-food industry in the federal budget dropped from 3.9% in 1991 to 1.6% in 2002, stressing that grain producers are at their wit's end.

An OECD comparative statement shows a clear disproportion between certain countries in terms of farm income support. In U.S. dollars, for the year 2000, Canada provided $182 per capita in support, as compared to $378 in the U.S., and $276 in Europe.

What is Canada waiting for to improve the situation of our grain producers, who are the first link in the agri-food chain?

Norouz

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this coming weekend I will be attending celebrations in my riding to mark one of the oldest and most traditional cultural celebrations in human history. I am speaking of Norouz, the Persian New Year.

The Norouz festival celebrates the awakening of natural life and symbolizes the triumph of good over the evil forces of darkness, represented by winter. It is the time when the oppressive presence of the cold winter ends with the commencement of the lively and hopeful spring.

Norouz is a time of renewal, and symbolizes rebirth, awakening, cleanliness and newness. All animosities are put aside to celebrate this event in peace. Many persons from Iran have chosen to make Canada their home and to add their rich ethnic heritage to the cultural mosaic of Canada.

To my friends in the Canadian Persian community in my riding of North Vancouver, and the vibrant Canadian Persian community across the country: “Norouz Mobarak”

Volunteerism

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to an outstanding constituent of Stormont--Dundas--South Glengarry and a great Canadian.

Sultan Jessa came to Canada from Tanzania in 1973 and settled in Cornwall. Since then he has been a tireless and dedicated volunteer, an outstanding journalist, and a mainstay of several service clubs. In 1979 he was named Cornwall's Citizen of the Year.

Sultan Jessa is renowned for his outstanding fundraising abilities, boundless energy and commitment to his community. His efforts have benefited such organizations as the Children's Treatment Centre, the Cornwall Regional Art Gallery and Big Brothers and Big Sisters, among many others. As president of the Cornwall Multicultural Council and the Ontario Folk Arts Multicultural Council, Sultan has fostered solidarity among diverse cultural groups.

I am fortunate to count Sultan among my friends, and the entire Cornwall community is blessed by his outstanding leadership and generosity of spirit.

Congratulations Sultan Jessa.

Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann

[Françoise Boivin, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the families of the four RCMP officers killed last week in Mayerthorpe, Alberta.

Canadians right across the country are shocked at this brutal act that took the lives of Constables Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Brock Myrol, four courageous Canadians killed as they carried out their duty in enforcing the law and protecting the public.

At this time when, in Edmonton, nearly 10,000 people are gathered to mourn the loss of these men and to pay tribute to them as well as to the men and women killed in the line of duty, I ask all Canadians to remember the sacrifice the members of our national police and all other police corps are making to ensure that Canada is a country where we can live without fearing for our safety.

Let our thoughts and prayers be with them.

Foreign Affairs

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today is the symbolic anniversary of Tibet's loss to China 46 years ago, but Tibetans are not rising up in defiance of China. They seek a peaceful means of negotiating with China Tibet's rightful place in today's world. It is reasonable and just that Canada help to make this happen.

It was my privilege to meet with his holiness personally during his visit to Canada last spring. When he met with the foreign affairs committee and the Prime Minister, the Dalai Lama urged Canada to take on a peace bridging role between China and Tibet.

Tibetans, Canadians and a majority of their parliamentarians urged the Prime Minister to seize the opportunity of his recent visit to China to urge an end to human rights abuses in China and the resumption of peaceful dialogue with Tibet.

We have yet to see evidence that the Prime Minister has acted on those requests. That is why today parliamentarians in every corner of the House once again call upon the Prime Minister to show leadership in doing what Canadians expect of their government, and that is to contribute to building peace and a meaningful place within China for Tibetans.

[Rob Anders, Conservative, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on this day in 1959 the Tibetan people voiced their united protest against the invasion of their country by the People's Republic of China. The Tibetan national uprising stood up against the Chinese invaders.

In retaliation, the Chinese government massacred thousands of innocent monks, women and children in the streets of Lhasa and elsewhere. A week later, 80,000 Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, were forced to flee their homeland for asylum in India. There are now more than 130,000 Tibetan refugees scattered around the world.

Today's 46th anniversary does not bring any joy in Tibet, as imprisonments and killings continue. The cultural genocide in Tibet cannot be ignored. The Communist Chinese legacy in Tibet includes 1.2 million Tibetans murdered, 6,000 monasteries destroyed, thousands of Tibetans imprisoned for their political beliefs, and the burning of irreplaceable Buddhist texts.

It is time for the Prime Minister to stop sitting down in Chinese boardrooms until he stands up for human rights.

Member for Terrebonne—Blainville

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as one of the many activities marking International Women's Day, the Milles-Îles chapter of the Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec yesterday revealed the winners in three categories: business women, women who care, and the younger generation.

In the women who care category, which honours a woman from the Lower Laurentian region who has shown outstanding community and social involvement over the years, the prize was given to my hon. colleague for Terrebonne—Blainville, the Bloc Québécois critic on international cooperation.

The hon. member for Terrebonne—Blainville is not only a woman who cares, she is also a woman of passion and action, with an indomitable will to serve her community and a commitment to build the Quebec nation.

All my colleagues, her staff members, and everyone in the Bloc Québécois applaud her determination, know-how and dedication, so eloquently recognized.

We also want to congratulate Josée Aubin and Carole Nantel, the other finalists in the same category. Bravo to all.

Foreign Affairs

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honoured to rise today to extend the warmest of welcomes to His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus to Canada on the occasion of his visit to Ottawa.

I also wish to point out that, in December 2004, more than six months after Cyprus joined the European Union, Cyprus has once again extended the hand of friendship to Turkey by supporting, along with the other 24 member countries of the EU, a definite date for the start of negotiations to bring Turkey into the EU.

Canada-Cyprus relations have a history of over 30 years. Canada has always supported a comprehensive and permanent settlement to the Cyprus issue and Canada will continue to work with the UN, the G-8 and others to resolve the island's divided status.

Having worked with other colleagues on the Cyprus issue for as many years as I have been a member of the House, including the presentation in 1996 of the motion on the demilitarization of Cyprus, and always in pursuit of a just and peaceful solution, I, along with my constituents, family and friends of Greek Cypriot origin, remain optimistic that Cyprus will soon be reunified.

Health

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on the same day on which we honour four RCMP officers, victims of a disturbed individual, I heard from a mother of a 32 year old man suffering from schizophrenia. He is doing well but relies on the Link Up program in Toronto, which for 12 years has helped people of all disabilities deal with employment barriers.

Link Up will close in two weeks. Why? Because HRSDC, as an answer to its billion dollar boondoggle, has rigid new guidelines that are killing community programs. Welcome to boondoggle chapter two. With the new rules, non-profits fight over contracts with other non-profits and better resourced private companies are winning competitions.

Not funding Link Up is outrageous. Shock waves are rocking the entire voluntary sector.

The government is so eager to stop civil servants from doing anything wrong that it makes it virtually impossible to do anything right. The human resources minister should listen to the community and announce a moratorium on this policy as the standing committee begins its investigation.

Forum for Young Canadians

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last night I had the privilege of attending the Forum for Young Canadians dinner here on Parliament Hill.

Mallorie Malone from Newtonville in my riding of Durham is part of the forum this week, witnessing the world of national politics and public affairs in Ottawa.

Since its inception, over 15,000 young Canadians have graduated from the forum, many of Canada's best and brightest students. I want to congratulate the Forum for Young Canadians, Canada's longest running program for youth focused on government and governing.

I am confident that Mallorie Malone and the other students in Ottawa this week will remember this experience and will make a great contribution to Canada in their future vocations and enrich their communities over the coming decades.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's hand-picked spokesperson on Canada-U.S. relations said the other day “let's embarrass the hell out of the Americans”.

The Prime Minister has promised Canadians on a number of occasions that he wants to do things differently, but comments like these are starting to remind Canadians of the old days and the Chrétien government.

Can the Prime Minister tell us how these comments do anything to reduce the trade tensions between our two countries or does he even care?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the House that Canada and the United States enjoy the largest trading relationship that the world has ever seen.

There are irritants that have arisen in our trading relationship in softwood lumber, BSE, wheat and live swine, but let me remind the House that 96% of our trade with the United States is dispute free and those of us on this side of the House are going to work to ensure that it is 100%.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

What has become apparent, Mr. Speaker, is that the Prime Minister is incapable of controlling the anti-American sentiment in the Liberal Party. That is too bad, because we have some serious problems, problems with agriculture, softwood lumber and border issues.

Can the Prime Minister answer a simple question? Does he agree with the comments of the parliamentary secretary? It is a simple question. Answer it.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition makes it a common habit to try to focus on little comments here and there and never tries to help build a strong relationship with the United States, as this government is trying to do.

We want to work well with the United States. The Prime Minister will be going to Waco and Crawford in Texas on March 23. He will be working with President Fox and the President of the United States on a new North American partnership. This is what counts.

We focus on the positive. The opposition should join us in trying to build a strong relationship with the United States.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after years of her anti-American statements, the Prime Minister finally got rid of the member from Mississauga. Now his personal representative on Canada-America relations is using the same kind of comments. Canada cannot stand for this kind of incompetence.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and fire the parliamentary secretary?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important to realize that the government is working very well with the United States. We intend to continue to enjoy and we have built with the Americans the best continent on the planet in terms of prosperity, quality of life and the level of justice.

We are now working closely with Mexico as well. We will, at the end of this month in Waco, Texas, continue to build on the relationship. We will do this because we like working with the Americans and we know that this is the right thing to do for the future of Canadian prosperity and the quality of justice on our continent.

[Belinda Stronach, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just last week in Washington, the Prime Minister's parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations was talking sweet to the Americans about building long term relationships. This week in committee, she proposed a plan that Canada should slander the name of the United States around the world, our friend, ally and major trading partner.

Have the Prime Minister and the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations approved a renewed strategic plan of embarrassment?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, let me say that in building a strong, positive relationship with the United States we are not going to do what the opposition does, which is to focus on every little negative aspect it can try to bring out. We are going to concentrate on what we have in common, that is, the security of North America, the world's largest trading relationship and the fact that 96% of that trading relationship is dispute free.

Why do the opposition members not join with us in emphasizing what Canada is all about?

[Belinda Stronach, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure those kinds of comments and irritants are not helpful to the good efforts of the Minister of International Trade.

The mandate of the parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations is to help manage and improve that most critical relationship. Suggesting that Canada should go around the world badmouthing and even embarrassing Americans is nothing but irresponsible.

Why does the Prime Minister accept this kind of behaviour and when will he replace the parliamentary secretary with someone who actually knows what they are doing?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about us going around the world and about what we are saying about the United States.

I will tell her what we are saying. We are saying that we are delighted to be working with them on the WTO in terms of trade liberalization and in terms of getting rid of those supports to agriculture in the EU and in the U.S. This is good for Canada.

We are happy to be going around the world talking about how we are going to help develop the Doha agenda, and that means bringing developing countries into the world trading relationship.

These are the positive things we talk about.

Sponsorship Program

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the Gomery Commission continues its work, we are discovering that the food chain involving the Liberal government's buddies is very long and that the dirty money which ended up in party coffers came from all over.

How can the government justify the fact that the Deloitte & Touche report, which was supposed to be a report of great transparency and shed light on the contributions made to the Liberals, is so incomplete and mentions only a few of the people implicated in the sponsorship scandal? What is the government trying to hide?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I must say this is not really a question that concerns the government. I am surprised that it was allowed.

In any case, I want to tell the hon. member that the Liberal Party has submitted documents to the Gomery Commission listing the names of all the agencies, directors and subsidiaries that might have been contributors. The list was available. It is the same list which was distributed to both Commissioner Gomery and the special counsel.