Betty Hinton

[Petitions, October 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first is from residents of Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys. The petitioners ask Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Forest Fire Relief Campaign, September 24th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute today to the “We Love B.C. Chinese Community Forest Fire Relief Campaign”, which has raised $225,000 for North Thompson forest fire victims.

The campaign is co-ordinated by Johnny Fong and Ian Cheung, along with provincial MLAs Patrick Wong, Kevin Krueger and Richard Lee, and includes seven Chinese community groups.

Mr. Fong said it best when he said “We feel it's an obligation to help each other... The fact that we are Chinese Canadians makes no difference. We are all Canadians, and this is a tragedy for the whole province”.

I was privileged to join in a standing ovation when the campaign made its generous donation to the North Thompson fire relief fund in Barrière last Saturday.

I am sure all members of the House will join me in extending yet another ovation to this group of generous Canadians.

[Government Assistance, September 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud too of our marvellous military and I am not questioning them for one moment.

This government likes to talk about giving full co-operation for disaster victims but talk is cheap. On August 21 I wrote letters to nine ministers regarding specific proposals to rebuild the North Thompson but so far not one minister has replied.

When will the federal government stop blowing smoke and start giving me answers for people whose lives are in ashes?

[Government Assistance, September 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the defence minister stated that federal aid to offset the costs of this summer's forest fires will come from the disaster financial assistance program. Unfortunately, that program does not apply to loss of income or the full cost of fighting the fires, and it takes years to deliver the funds.

Instead of making vague reference to a review, will the minister simply commit to giving real and timely assistance to B.C. fire victims?

[Petitions, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have petitions signed by constituents from my riding of Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys.

The petitioners are asking Parliament to ensure that Canadians have an updated food and drug act that is consistent with Canadians' inherent rights of informed freedom of choice and access to non-drug medicinal products of their own choosing, as protected by sections 1, 2, 7 and 15 of the charter of rights. This petition is in support of Bill C-420.

[Supply, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the last speaker and I have two questions I would like to ask him.

Would he agree that the majority of Canadians who agree with the change to the definition of marriage are actually unaware that same sex couples already enjoy the rights and privileges of common law couples?

I have to tell him that in my own riding three mainstream ministers have told me that they will no longer marry anyone of either persuasion if this is upheld in the House of Commons. Does the member think there would be any valid reason for people to feel that uncomfortable that they are going to refuse to marry any couples?

[Supply, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there were seven provinces and the territories that did not agree with the interpretation that is being put forward today. I would also like to point out that there is nothing stopping same sex couples from enjoying a committed relationship. They enjoy all the rights and privileges as common law couples do in the country.

For my part, rather than putting my own views forward, I put out a questionnaire to my constituents. Eighteen hundred people responded, and we must remember that was in the midst of my riding being on fire, so 1,800 responses is a pretty strong response. Ninety-three per cent of those people who responded are in favour of maintaining the traditional definition of marriage.

Therefore, I would like to ask the member, is she basing her views, the way she is going to vote, on the views of her constituents, or is she basing them on her background as a lawyer?

[B.C. Forest Fires, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to pay tribute to the people of Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys and the many other British Columbians who have endured and battled this summer's fierce forest fires.

Cohesion, compassion and a pioneering spirit are our greatest weapons against such adversity. I want to thank the countless volunteers and professionals who assisted both directly and indirectly in fighting the fires, as well as those who continue to devote their time and energy to the recovery effort.

I want to make special mention of the Mennonite Disaster Service, whose volunteers from the riding of my colleague from Provencher and other areas pitched in to clean up the aftermath.

I also want to thank the ranchers from the riding of Wild Rose, Alberta, who have come to the rescue with generous donations of hay and straw for the multitude of livestock whose pasture was destroyed in the fires.

I wish there were some way to appropriately and individually recognize each and every person. Unfortunately this is not possible, given the number of firefighters, military personnel--

[Supply, June 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the preamble of the question. As a former mayor, I think I can speak for some mayors who would be really happy if this were to pass. If we share at the federal level with the provincial level, that allows the province to share with municipalities.

We only have to drive around on some municipal roads to know how desperately money is needed. We are all getting the money from the very same pocket. It comes out of the pockets of taxpayers. It does not matter whether it is on the left side or the right side, that is from where it comes.

There is not enough left in the pockets of taxpayers to pay any more money. This is a logical way to move that money from where it really is not needed to where it is needed.

[Supply, June 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is a good thing I have a sense of humour. We are talking about vision and the only vision I have seen come from the Liberal side, in the last two and a half years that I have been here, is tunnel vision. The member mentioned that the Liberals have this infrastructure plan in place and the country is moving ahead, et cetera. Saying it and doing it are two different things.

The member for LaSalle—Émard spoke the other day in Winnipeg. He pretty much said exactly what this motion says. It is Canadian Alliance policy. He actually was quoting Canadian Alliance policy No.15. It would be wonderful if it would happen but we know better. We are putting an insurance policy in place today and we are asking members to do the right thing and save this country.

We need to have the money from the gas taxes to put the infrastructure in place for roads. If we are going to travel and if we are ever to meet eye to eye, we have to improve the roads in this country.

The member says that I have to have faith. Does the member think this is a motion of faith? I do not know why we should not have faith. If we do not, then we have a very good way of going around that by putting it into the agreement.

My colleague has just explained all of that. This is not difficult. It is not rocket science. It is written into the agreement that if the federal government gives back 3¢ to 5¢ on the litre, the provinces have to agree they will put that towards infrastructure for roads, and the federal government has to ensure that.

I do not think there will be any argument from any of the provinces. In my particular case, British Columbia is looking at the loss of an asset because it does not have the money to pay for the upkeep, and the government can fix that. The governments are supposed to be cousins. It is the Liberals in British Columbia and the Liberals in Ottawa. Do the right job, stand up for the family for a change and help these guys out because British Columbia will lose a road.