Paddy Torsney

[Employment Insurance Act, October 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as some people will know, of course, my parents emigrated from Ireland, so I have a great number of aunts and uncles who live there.

Earlier this year I had occasion to talk to one of my uncles. He had had occasion to watch the House of Commons, since he was interested in his young niece, and he asked me to convey to members of the party opposite at the earliest possible opportunity their complete misrepresentation of what drove the economy of Ireland.

He is quite concerned, as I am sure most people in Ireland would be concerned, that it was not about lowering tax levels alone. It was about investing in people, about investing in post-secondary education, about the very programs that the hon. member and his party condemn every day in the House. If he had studied the full aspect of what in fact was the success in Ireland I wonder what he would say to his colleagues who get up and condemn the minister of HRDC for her initiatives to ensure that people do get a chance to get a hand up and a chance to get full employment. The reality is that he is comparing a very tiny country with a country that has great regional differences.

He is misrepresenting the fact that my province of Ontario and my workers who work in the construction industry have asked for this change. It is this caucus that has asked for changes to the current EI system.

[Ralph Shonk, October 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the tremendous volunteer efforts of Ralph Shonk of Burlington.

Mr. Shonk was awarded the Order of the Red Cross, Member Level, for his outstanding and exceptional service, the first time in the 61 year history of the Burlington branch that a local member has received such an honour.

Among other contributions during his 41 years of service, Ralph Shonk worked hard to acquire a wheelchair accessible van for the agency, delivered for the meals on wheels program and was involved in international Red Cross efforts.

He represented the Red Cross at award presentations in Burlington schools, is a former member of Canada's air force and a father of four. Ralph Shonk embodies the values of Canadians from coast to coast to coast, a dedicated volunteer and a proud Canadian.

Today I join his wife, Margaret Shonk, and his many friends and family members in congratulating him on his dedication and volunteerism. I am sure all colleagues join me in wishing him many more happy healthy years.

[Olympics 2000, September 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Mathieu Turgeon of Unionville, Ontario, an awesome Canadian athlete who won an Olympic bronze medal in the Sydney Games.

Born in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Mr. Turgeon competed in the first ever Olympic trampoline competition. He shares his experience and success with Karen Cockburn, another dedicated Canadian who also earned a bronze medal in last Thursday's women's trampoline event.

A kinesiology student at York University, Mr. Turgeon is sure to have a bright future on and off the trampoline. I am sure all of us in the House join Mr. Turgeon's family and friends in congratulating him on his outstanding performance in Sydney. All Canadians can take pride in this great Olympic moment. We are proud of him. Way to go, Mathieu.

[Volunteers, September 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the outstanding volunteer efforts of Dr. Jan Barica and Mr. Gary Norton.

These two Burlington residents have recently returned from working internationally with CESO. Dr. Barica provided her considerable expertise to the laboratory of applied ecology in the faculty of agriculture at the University of Southern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. Mr. Norton assisted the Peruvian Central Reserve Bank to develop a reporting system, train staff, review technologies, and ensure it has the best possible system.

These two bright, caring individuals demonstrated the best of Canadian values internationally. My congratulations to Dr. Barica and Mr. Norton for their incredible achievements. They are fine Canadian ambassadors. I am sure all colleagues join me and their family and friends in proudly celebrating their accomplishments.

[The Environment, June 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, today marks Clean Air Day 2000 in the middle of Canada's Environment Week.

Under this year's theme, “Community Action on Clean Air and Climate Change”, Canadians across the country are doing their bit for cleaner air and to reduce climate change.

Today 18 communities joined Canada's “Commuter Challenges”. They are adopting healthy and environmentally sustainable transportation alternatives to the single passenger car and reducing harmful air emissions. They are walking, cycling, telecommuting, carpooling, using public transit and making a huge difference.

More than 61 transit companies are involved in the campaign and it culminates today with activities to encourage the use of public transit.

Just think, one busload of passengers takes 40 vehicles off the road during rush hour, saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids 175 tonnes of emissions a year.

Congratulations to all those who are participating today and to Canada's Minister of the Environment for delivering on our Speech from the Throne commitment for action on environmental issues.

[Supply, June 6th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I would be happy to withdraw the word stupidity. I am sure ignorance would also qualify.

[Supply, June 6th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I wonder if the member might comment on whether or not he thinks it is intellectually dishonest for the members to come here and pretend that they are concerned about the paperwork administration. They go on about boondoggles instead of specifically talking about what these programs do.

In fact, are they not a bit intellectually challenged themselves when they do things like deny students jobs in the riding of Calgary West and do not approve funds for student jobs? They have internal fights among themselves. The local Conservative MLA agreed with the minister who had to override the stupidity of the member opposite in not allowing young people in our ridings to get the very jobs they need to get that start in the world.

[The Environment, June 6th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the issue of safe drinking water is important to all Canadians. The ministers who met in Quebec City yesterday, who are meeting again today, have discussed the issue of water.

All of us express our sympathy to the people of Walkerton and hope that the provincial governments will fulfil their responsibility to Canadians to ensure that environmental standards are enforced.

[Genetically Modified Foods, May 31st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the shipment of waste containing PCBs from U.S. military bases was not in fact off-loaded in Vancouver, but went on its way back to Japan.

We are pleased that the U.S. government has taken responsibility to dispose of this cargo outside Canada. Throughout we have maintained and continue to maintain that the cargo and its disposal are the responsibility of the U.S. department of defence and Trans-Cycle Industries. As a result of this incident we have asked the U.S. department of defence to inform us in advance of any shipments of PCB contaminated waste intended for Canada, no matter what the PCB concentration.

We would ensure that our obligations under the Basel Convention and all federal and provincial regulations were complied with before any decision on allowing such a shipment would be rendered. Under our regulations Canada ensures that hazardous waste imports and exports are handled in a manner that protects the environment and human health.

The new CEPA provides enhanced authority to control imports and exports of hazardous waste. We will continue to introduce new regulations to implement specific criteria to assess the environmental soundness of proposed imports and will refuse any import if these criteria are not met. The criteria will be developed in co-operation with the provinces and other stakeholders and will take into account the guidelines developed under the Basel Convention and the controls applied by the U.S.

We will continue to honour all of our international obligations and will take steps to continuously improve the standards for hazardous waste, whether these wastes are domestic or international in origin.

[Genetically Modified Foods, May 31st, 2000]

A Manitoba solution.