Betty Hinton

[An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to make Certain Payments, June 16th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, what can I say? I have chivalrous men in the same caucus with me who object to people harassing--

[An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to make Certain Payments, June 16th, 2005]

No it is not a big change in tone. I will talk to the member across the way afterward. I have a speech to make.

I came from a background of business and in business there is a very simple motto: one needs to have a business plan in order to survive. One can not just do it by the seat of one's pants and expect to thrive as a business and one cannot do it by the seat of one's pants as a government and expect to thrive as a country. One has to actually plan ahead.

When the government brought forward Bill C-43, the Conservative Party--

[An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to make Certain Payments, June 16th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we will try to tone this down a bit and I may bring a different perspective to this debate than has been brought forward so far.

I came to the House for a specific reason and that was to make life better for Canadians. I have been here now since 2001 and I have learned the hard way that this is not really the aim of government. The aim of the Liberal government is to stay in power.

[Veterans Affairs, June 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, routinely veterans have been turned down for benefits because they could not prove their disability was related to their service in the armed forces. Retired Brigadier General Gordon Sellar and his wife, Gloria, are a prime example. It took a pitched battle with veterans affairs that lasted 15 years before he won his award.

Would the veterans affairs minister commit to a review of all applications from veterans who are suffering from illnesses known to be related to agent orange and agent purple and ensure that they are compensated properly and without delay?

[Veterans Affairs, June 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, our Canadian veterans have served this country proudly through two world wars, Korea, and in peacekeeping roles throughout the world. They put their lives on the line for us and then have to defend themselves against their own government.

The chemical testing program in Suffield and Ottawa is a prime example of this. Now we have the spraying of CFB Gagetown with agent orange.

Are we going to have another long, drawn out process where elderly and sick veterans are put through the wringer in order to be awarded compensation?

[Kamloops--Thompson--Cariboo, June 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, my riding of Kamloops--Thompson--Cariboo is host to many wonderful events. Covering over 44,000 square kilometres, we are larger than some small countries and equally diverse.

During the most recent break week, I attended the Clinton Historic Ball. It is a tradition that dates back to 1867. This year's Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are Doris Ilingworth and Dr. Frank Campbell.

Up north in Clearwater, I rode a float in the annual May Day parade, followed by the grand opening of the 100 Mile House Emergency Services Training Centre.

In Kamloops, the South Central trucking and industry dinner and auction for Royal Inland Hospital was a great success. I opened the B.C./Yukon dog agility trials where over 300 dogs from across North America went through their paces. Parliament could take a lesson from their trainers.

I had the honour of reviewing the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Corps and visited with Chief Richard LeBourdais of the Whispering Pines Band prior to the opening of the Kamloops off-road track.

I pay tribute to all those volunteers and organizers who contribute so generously of their time and talent to make these events a success.

[Petitions, May 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the petitioners ask that Bill C-17 and any legislation designed to decriminalize the possession and use of marijuana be withdrawn.

[Petitions, May 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to present a petition in memory of RCMP officers Brock Myrol, Leo Johnston, Anthony Gordon and Peter Schiemann.

The petitioners state:

“We the undersigned residents of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following:

That the tragic deaths of four RCMP officers reinforces our belief that decriminalizing the possession of marijuana will only serve to increase the number of grow operations throughout the country; that the number of Canadian youth using marijuana will increase throughout our country; that the use of marijuana damages the health and well-being of our citizens; that the decriminalization of possession of marijuana signals to the--

[Veterans Affairs, May 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that I have brought it to her attention and I have no resolution.

An 81-year-old widow in Winnipeg is being denied her husband's chemical testing compensation. Veterans Affairs will not give her the $24,000 compensation package because her husband of almost 50 years died without a will. No will, no money.

It seems that any excuse will do when it comes to our veterans. Why would the minister not pay that war widow and the many others who cared for these men all of their lives?

[Veterans Affairs, May 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is dishonouring the legacy of our veterans by appealing a court ruling in favour of two World War II veterans who were denied retroactive prisoner of war compensation.

Both Norman Reid and Al Trotter are distinguished by their service and bravery.

Why does the Prime MInister continue to waste taxpayer money on legal action opposing the Federal Court ruling instead of honouring Canada's obligation to those veterans?