Mr. Speaker, I will take the member's question under advisement and get back to her at a later date.
Lost her last election, in 2008, with 33% of the vote.
Irving Whale March 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I will take the member's question under advisement and get back to her at a later date.
Health Care February 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have much to celebrate. The additional $11.5 billion increase over five years in transfers to the provinces delivers on the government's commitment to strengthen the health care system.
In Ontario we will receive $4.4 billion, or 38% of the total increase in transfers. The move to per capita entitlement for all provinces means that Ontario will see a further $900 million transferred for a total increase of $5.3 billion.
Burlington residents, in particular seniors, should get some much needed relief from their Conservative government who made bad decisions, like spending more than $85 million in partisan advertising while cutting annual hospital budgets and introducing millions of dollars in new user fees for seniors and the poor.
With investments in research, emerging priorities and a $25 million nurse fund we will meet the challenges ahead. Canadians can continue to count on their federal government and on an affordable and accessible health care system.
Volunteer Organizations February 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, February is Big Sisters month in Canada. One of my joys as a member of parliament has been to support the work of this excellent organization that provides mentoring to young Canadians, one of our best resources and a key to our future.
Volunteer members of our communities help young people. The relationships that develop are a positive demonstration of the best sense of community: people looking out for other people, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Big Sisters and Big Brothers have a proud history in Canada. The nature of their work has changed over the past few years but like the children they mentor the organization has proven itself adaptable.
I am pleased that the federal government is providing funding for two innovative projects being launched under Health Canada's population health fund. An amount of $164,000 will be used to develop tests and programs to enhance and strengthen the self-esteem and self-image of adolescents.
Under the leadership of Michael McKnight, Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada continue to play a critical role in the lives of young Canadians. I am pleased the government financially supports programs to improve the lives of young Canadians.
Criminal Code February 11th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, let me say I agree with the hon. member that federal contaminated sites is an issue which must be taken seriously.
Like my colleague in the House, I concur with the auditor general's environmental representative, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, that there is a need for central leadership and a consistent framework to enable the federal government to address its contaminated sites.
To this end Environment Canada officials in co-operation with Treasury Board are currently working toward future options and will be advising the environment minister in the future. In addition I point out that we also agree with the auditor general's assessment that although a management framework is conspicuously absent progress has been made in dealing with the legacy of contaminated sites.
For example, we introduced a pollution prevention approach to environmental management right across the board to prevent further contamination. Over 4,000 federal sites have undergone some form of environmental assessment and 300 more are currently being assessed. To date over $130 million have been spent on the assessment and remediation of federal sites.
We have worked closely with other governments testing new technologies and developing management tools such as the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment national classification system. We have encouraged and supported the work of the interdepartmental committee dealing with federal contaminated sites and progress has been made by Environment Canada in addressing sites in its portfolio.
In addition to carrying out a comprehensive site inventory Environment Canada has completed phase 1 and phase 2 environmental site assessments at Environment Canada sites across the country. Clean up at two high priority sites has been concluded and remediation is under way at another four. Such work is integrated with Environment Canada's environment management system which underpins the department's sustainable development strategy.
I thank the member for her interest and encourage her to maintain a watchful eye on our progress. Improvements of this magnitude will not occur overnight. We are committed to developing a long term solution to what has been a long term problem. The minister will be happy to report back further.
Sexual Exploitation Of Children February 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, in September 1996, as a delegate to the World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and last year at Canada's “Out from the Shadows” conference in Victoria, I heard firsthand from young people the devastating effects of sexual exploitation.
I hope all members of this House take these issues seriously. Members truly interested in ensuring healthy choices and freedoms for Canadian children and the world's children might read the Declaration and Agenda for Action ratified by the youth delegates in March 1998.
They should talk to the youth who are abused on the streets of this city and cities across our nation. They should learn the language they would have us use and refrain from terms like “kiddie” that make the issue overly cute and accessible.
Child pornography has had our attention over the last couple of weeks. It exploits and abuses children.
I thank the attorney general for her work on intervening on the appeal in British Columbia and upholding the law and the rights of all Canadians to due process.
Canada-United States Days Of Peace And Friendship December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this is an important issue for the health of Canadians. The protocol we signed last June will be ratified by Canada before the end of this year.
While 16 countries need to ratify the heavy metals protocol before the obligations come into effect, this government is not standing idly by waiting for the support of other nations.
While Canada can or has met most of its obligations, one of the most significant gains from the United Nations heavy metals protocol is that we have commitments from UN ECE countries to reduce their emissions of mercury and other atmospheric pollutants which we know are transported by air currents from various countries to Canada's Arctic and eastern regions.
Canada has already developed extremely effective programs and initiatives that have greatly reduced the atmospheric loading of mercury in Canada.
The controls on mercury emissions imposed under CEPA and the Fisheries Act have convinced the mercury cell chlor-alkali industry in Canada to alter its technology to a non-mercury based process.
While there were 16 such facilities in Canada, only 1 remains and it consistently meets the strict emission control requirements of both acts.
In concert with Environment Canada's accelerated reduction on elimination of toxics program, the mining sector has shown considerable progress in reducing mercury emissions. New technologies developed by Canadian companies have reduced 18 tonnes of mercury emissions to the atmosphere.
Environment Canada officials have calculate that our most recent data show our emissions have been reduced by 64% and similar reductions are reportable for lead and cadmium.
Canada will not rest there. Our goal is to report further substantial national reductions by the year 2000.
As a fully participating member of the North American agreement on environmental co-operation, Canada is leading the development of a North American regional action plan for mercury, scheduled for submission to ministers by June 1999. Canadian, American and Mexican citizens will have an opportunity to provide input to this important initiative before the plan is adopted by the three countries.
Other mercury reduction programs important to Canada include the New England governors-eastern Canadian premiers mercury reduction plan and the ongoing work to further develop a mercury reduction program under the Great Lakes binational toxics—
Canadian Environmental Protection Act November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the member's question is a bit out of line. The clause by clause process has only just started and in fact we have not got to the very clauses he is referring to.
This bill is an important bill that puts the health of Canadians and the environment first as we head into the next millennium. It is an important piece of legislation. I hope the member will work with all committee members to see it is enacted.
Canadian Environmental Protection Act November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in fact Canadians are worried about the effects of pollution on their health and the health of their children.
The environmental protection act is currently before the House in clause by clause study as the member has mentioned. It will in fact give us important tools in addressing pollution and setting strict new guidelines for taking action on toxic substances.
I think the member is prejudging the clause by clause process and that would be inappropriate at this time.
The Environment November 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the member is not correct.
The government is working with scientists from across the country, with the provinces and with environmentalists to make sure that action we take on climate change will ensure that we do meet our targets set in Kyoto, and that is to become a minus six society. We will make those targets and we will make sure that we use clean development mechanisms and other mechanisms that will help us get there. I hope the member will join us in that work.
The Environment October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the government has been working with over 450 scientists from across the country to develop an appropriate plan to make sure Canada will join the minus six society and make some of the important changes needed for this country and the world. I hope the member will support the enforcement of health and environment standards in Canada.