Debates of March 7th, 2005

The Budget

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Speaker, I was just getting there. The problem is that 20 minutes is not enough. Frankly, I was just warming up.

I am pretty happy to see $222 million for the security and safety of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. I am pretty happy we have $433 million more for the security of our borders. I happen to believe that in the budget we have the elements to have a more safe and secure Canada, and we will work on that.

On the airport rent, there may be a page missing in the budget, but that will come. We are still working on it right now. He, his colleagues and stakeholders in the community are pushing hard and so am I. We know it is an unresolved issue, but the government will be here long enough to solve all those issues.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the minister about the issue of the Detroit-Windsor corridor which was mentioned in the budget speech, However, there was not a single dollar for the most important corridor to fix the gridlock for 42% of the nation's traffic.

The province of Ontario has agreed to the Schwartz report, which was produced by the city of Windsor. Also there is unanimous support from Essex county. The Premier of Ontario has endorsed the report. The only thing left is for the federal government to support the report.

Does the minister support it and why did the budget not have any money for the border? Why does the minister not get up and support the Schwartz report like the Prime Minister promised my constituency and Canadians?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Speaker, I thought the member for Windsor West was informed about what was going on in his own city. We have $300 million available to help the traffic flow at Windsor-Detroit.

We have $300 million that we are ready to commit in phase two. The hon. member should follow his files. The money is there. We will follow the province. We also support the Schwartz report. We will follow the province fifty-fifty on every expense. We have $300 million available. We will spend it as soon as possible. We need an environmental assessment on every project. He can count on me and on the Prime Minister. The Windsor-Detroit border will be improved substantially, and the money will be there to meet those requirements.

Health

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, when the results of election polls are published, the nature of the poll and its proponents have to be clearly stated. This gives Canadians a chance to assess the merits of the poll and the political bias of the pollsters. I believe there should be a similar rule for the publication of the results of research of all kinds, particularly health research.

If, for example, someone announces that research has shown that drinking beer is good for me, it is important that I know if the research was sponsored by a brewing company or someone else. If it was conducted by independent medical researchers, I can go on and drink beer with a clear conscience. If it was sponsored by a brewing company, it may still be pretty good news but I should take care to read the fine print about how the research was conducted.

Many medical and other scientific journals now require that the sponsors of research be clearly stated in any article that is published. Common sense suggests that this should be the case for all published results of research, especially health research. I urge that we move towards this as a standard practice, and I wish to thank Dick Jones for my fine Canada-Wales tie.

Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann

[John Williams, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Madam Speaker, Canadians from coast to coast were shocked last week by the tragic deaths in Mayerthorpe, Alberta, of four young constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Constable Peter Schiemann, Constable Anthony Gordon, Constable Leo Johnston and Constable Brock Myrol have tragically given their lives in the name of peace and order for Canada.

Our prayers and our thoughts go out to the families who have lost a son, a brother, a husband or a father and who grieve over this senseless crime.

On a personal note, I know the family of Constable Peter Schiemann and I wish to express my sincere and personal condolences to the Schiemann family.

The Parliament of Canada and indeed all Canadians express their heartfelt sympathy to all the families of the fallen officers.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

As Canadians, we will always remember their sacrifice.

Foreign Affairs

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, first it was the orange revolution in Ukraine. Now it is the Lebanese people demonstrating in the streets of Beirut after the assassination of their much loved former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, demanding the end of Syria's 30 year occupation of their homeland.

There is a democratic dawning in the Middle East, where the will of thousands of peaceful protestors has the power to bring down a government, a government that does not reflect the will of the people. This was precisely the case with last week's resignation of Lebanon's pro-Syrian government and its prime minister, Omar Karami.

Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with the Lebanese people. We strongly urge Syria's president, Bashar Assad, to abide by UN resolution 1559 and fully withdraw his 15,000 troops and all intelligence officials from Lebanon prior to the May elections. Anything less is unacceptable.

The courageous people of Lebanon are the harbingers, the first rays of a dawning of hope for democracy and peace in Lebanon and the Middle East.

Chrysotile Industry

[Marc Boulianne, Bloc, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, the people of Thetford Mines and Asbestos have just received some important news. At the conference of Rotterdam Convention member states to be held in Geneva in September 2005, chrysotile fibre will not be included in the list of hazardous substances.

In making this decision, the international community is definitively dissociating chrysotile from other asbestos fibres. It acknowledges that chrysotile can be extremely safe when encapsulated in cement, asphalt and plastic.

Finally, it recognizes the scientific value of the recent studies on bio-persistence demonstrating that many products used as substitutes for chrysotile show high levels of toxicity.

Today the chrysotile industry is enjoying new international credibility.

The Canadian government must take its cue from Quebec and implement a policy for promoting the safe use of chrysotile.

International Women's Day

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, March 3, over 160 very interesting women of all ages gathered in Burlington for our ninth annual International Women's Day Breakfast.

Mary Munro, who was mayor of Burlington from 1977-78, was our speaker this year. A community leader, child advocate, environmental commissioner, volunteer extraordinaire and mentor, Mary Munro reminded each of us that people who wish to win a lottery need to buy a ticket.

Her anecdote, of course, reminded all Canadians, particularly women, who are under-represented in this place, that we need to get involved. We need to make our voices heard, write the letters and support the candidates in order to create the communities, the country and the society we want to inhabit.

Once again, Roxanne Moffat of Botanical Traditions created beautiful arrangements for our tables. Our event was sponsored by Rosemary Fisher of the law firm Simpson Wigle, Diane Gaudaur of Royal LePage, and the Holiday Inn, which enabled us to welcome two young women from each high school in Burlington to come and network and celebrate women's accomplishments in our community and right across the country and the world.

Thomas Torokvei

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Thomas Torokvei was a proud Canadian. Last February 24, the chairman of IPEX Inc., a leading Canadian philanthropist, businessman, husband and father, passed away, but his legacy lives on.

Today I rise to carve permanently into the records of the House a tribute to this great man and the life that he lived.

When the people of Walkerton, Ontario, lost seven lives from tainted water, Tom quietly donated four kilometres of pipe so that water could be restored as quickly as possible.

This spirit of giving and generosity was nurtured from a long line of Estonian freedom fighters, including his beloved late father, who escaped communism in a small two-oar dory.

It is out of this long struggle for freedom and the triumph of finding it here in Canada that Tom and his family constructed a business that brings jobs to thousands and hope to us all.

Our hearts go out to his family and their friends as they continue to build on this legacy.

Health

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, diabetes is a leading cause of death in Canada. Over two million Canadians are affected. The number of Canadians with type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically due to a number of factors, including a sedentary lifestyle and rising obesity rates. It is even increasing in children.

In addition to the growing rates of type 2 diabetes in children, recent data suggest that a child born in 2000 stands a one in three chance of being diagnosed with this disease.

The financial and human burdens of these diseases are enormous. Direct costs for medication are between $1,000 and $15,000 a year. The cost to our health care system right now is a staggering $13.2 billion every year.

Way to prevent and even cure diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, are within our grasp. Therefore, we need to redouble our efforts to support the needed research in this area.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Diabetes Association for its continued work to promote the health of Canadians and one day find a cure and prevent these diseases from wreaking havoc--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Québec.

Colombia

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Colombia is the setting of more and more violent actions directed toward women by members of the security forces and paramilitary and guerilla groups, with complete indifference being shown by the government and the President, Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez.

To cite only one case, an adolescent girl was raped and killed in the village of Parreros, in the Arauka district, by members of the 18th Brigade. So far no investigation has taken place, even though this happened more than a year ago.

Amnesty International has begun a campaign to rally public opinion, calling on its members to write to the Colombian president, so that violence towards women will be recognized as a violation of human rights and treated as such.

I add my voice to those of many members of Amnesty International in my riding and all over Quebec to denounce the Colombian government's inaction and the Canadian government's indifference on this issue.

Employment Insurance

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and the Prime Minister for the significant improvements that were made to the EI program on February 23.

For more than three years now, I have been working with a group of seasonal workers, employees and community leaders in New Brunswick to promote the interests of our region with respect to employment insurance.

Last week, we met in Shédiac to look at the remarkable progress that has been made. These employees and seasonal workers told me that the federal government exceeded their expectations with its announcement 12 days ago. Moreover, the government gave us exactly what we had asked for in terms of improvements for New Brunswick.

The government has listened to seasonal industries and taken measures that will considerably help these workers—

[The Speaker]

I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member for Beauséjour, but the hon. member for Prince George—Peace River has the floor.

Agriculture

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as the member of Parliament for Prince George--Peace River for over 11 years, I have experienced many frustrating days but none more so than today.

I find it impossible to begin to express the frustration, disappointment and anguish of the livestock producers in my riding. That the U.S. border remains closed to live cattle is a national tragedy and irrefutable evidence of the abject failure of the Liberal government.

Further evidence is what is not in the Liberal budget.

There is no mention of the crisis devastating our agricultural industry. There is no mention of assistance to address the mountain pine beetle epidemic ravaging B.C's forests. There is no mention of when Mackenzie residents can expect an end to the discriminatory tax policy created by the removal of their northern residents tax deduction.

I call upon the government to do what is right, to do what is fair and to act now on these priorities rather than continuing its present policy of study, delay and dithering.

Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it was with shock and great sadness that Canadians learned of the tragic deaths of four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, last week.

These four brave officers, Constable Brock Warren Myrol, Constable Peter Christopher Schiemann, Constable Anthony Fitzgerald Orion Gordon, and Constable Lionide Nicholas Johnston, gave their lives in the daily conduct of their duties.

This tragedy reminds us of the dangers faced daily by our police forces in their efforts to maintain peace and order and ensure the safety of Canadians.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of these courageous officers.

Security Certificates

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats stand in solidarity with family members of those being detained under so-called security certificates.

Families are in Ottawa today pleading for their loved ones to be accorded rights supposedly guaranteed by Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Canada is a signatory.

Earlier today I tabled a motion calling on this government to charge or release these detainees, held for up to four years with no charges laid, no presumption of innocence, no due process and no opportunity to defend themselves in a fair and transparent judicial process.

I urge all members of this House to join me in calling for an end to these draconian security certificates, which violate the Canadian Constitution and our international obligations.

Let us end this practice that has torn families apart, separating these men from their parents, their wives and their children.

Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Mayerthorpe, Alberta is a small rural town in the riding of Yellowhead. It is where I was born. Last week this quiet community was jolted by the senseless deaths of four young RCMP officers: Constables Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Brock Myrol.

The officers were killed in the line of duty, paying the ultimate sacrifice in helping to bring peace and order to our communities.

The citizens of Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt are in mourning and they are responding as small towns can. They are reaching out to their families, to the RCMP detachment and to each other.

I know that Canada joins them in their grief. We mourn. We pray. We remember.

We in this House are reminded again of our solemn duty to pass laws that ensure the safety of our citizens and our police officers. The courts must uphold those laws.

On behalf of the citizens of Yellowhead, I extend my sympathy to the families and friends of the fallen officers and to the brave young men and women of the RCMP.

We thank them for their sacrifice. We will remember them.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, four members of the RCMP were murdered in cold blood in Alberta, simply because they were police officers.

However, this lack of respect for life must not lead to revenge but to vigilance. After we have learned to deal with our pain, even though, on the face of it, no professional mistakes appear to have been made, we must try to learn from this so as to prevent future tragedies.

With remarkable courage, the father of one of the victims said, “Even if I could go back six years knowing what I know now, I would not discourage my son from his chosen career, which he loved so much. If I let myself be overwhelmed by hate, I too would be a victim of this massacre”.

The Bloc Québécois extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of constables Schiemann, Johnston, Gordon and Myrol, as well as to the Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt communities and all police forces across Canada. We too share your sorrow.

[Art Hanger, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on March 3, 2005, Constables Anthony Gordon, Peter Schiemann, Lionide Johnston and Brock Myrol, four young RCMP officers, paid the ultimate price in service to their country.

To these slain officers I say, “You lived and died by a code you swore to uphold. You recognized your fundamental duty to serve and protect mankind, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression and the peaceful against violence and disorder, and to respect the constitutional right of all men to liberty, equality and justice. You recognized your badge of office as a symbol of public faith and accepted it as a public trust. Remaining true to the ethics of the police service, you strove to achieve the high objectives and ideals of the service and dedicated yourselves before God to your chosen profession, law enforcement”.

To the families, the friends and the law enforcement community, let me say that we as a nation mourn their loss and pray that all will find solace in knowing that the sacrifice of these four brave officers will not be in vain.

Liberal Party Convention

[Susan Kadis, Liberal, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Biennial Convention wrapped up yesterday in Ottawa. I am proud of the resolutions on early childhood education, preserving health care and many others introduced by the grassroots Liberal members across Canada. This demonstrates that the Liberal Party continues to be a forward looking party that promotes openness and unites people around a progressive agenda.

In contrast, looking ahead to the upcoming Conservative Party convention, we see that Conservatives are churning out policy resolutions that are divisive, regressive and rooted in the past. This explains why the Conservative leadership is screening out most of the policies being proposed by the so-called grassroots.

I am convinced that when Canadians compare the policy agendas of the Liberals to the Conservatives, it will be clear that the Liberals are the party of tomorrow and the Conservatives are the party of yesterday.

National Defence

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told President Bush that he had not made up his mind on missile defence but his foreign affairs minister told the U.S. secretary of state that he had.

The Prime Minister told this House that there was no decision but then his office told the press that there was. He promised Parliament a debate and then it never took place. He led both our ambassador and the American ambassador to believe the government was signing on when it was not. He then said that he had rejected the American proposal and yet claims that he had never actually received one.

Given all of those stories, how can anyone on either side of the border believe anything the Prime Minister says?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Leader of the Opposition does not understand how government works. Cabinet decisions are being made at the cabinet table.

When I met with Secretary of State Rice, I informed her of our intentions as a government but the decision was not made. It was made at the cabinet table.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it says everything that the Prime Minister is not here to answer for all of his stories.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.