Betty Hinton

[Supply, February 20th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to the comments made on both sides of the House. The proportional representation being discussed today is very valuable, and it should have been raised. I appreciate the fact that everyone has been able to comment on this.

There were some things that were said that I take exception to though. One came from my colleague in the Bloc who paraphrased my caucus colleague's comments as freedom of expression is a waste of time. That is not the case at all. That is not what he was saying. He was saying why raise the expectations of the House if there will be no a vote on the issue.

Another thing I find very offensive is that part of this is saying there should be quotas. I do not accept quotas in any form. I do not think people should be put in the House of parliament based on their gender, disabilities or anything of that nature. People are put in the House to represent the public based on merit. That is the way it should stay.

I also took exception to some comments that were made by the government House leader when he said “force their own agenda on a nation as a whole”. I believe that is what we are talking about when we talk about having some sort of reform. There are people in parts of this country who rightly believe that they have had the agendas of one party forced on them. Any sort of parliamentary change that could lead to more freedom across the country would be a benefit to all of us.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago the Eskasoni Band of Nova Scotia was $13 million in debt. Today that band is more than $35 million in debt, thanks to the federal government's third party management.

I think it is a perversion of logic to call that successful. Third party managers do not get to the root of the problem; forensic audits do. When will the minister institute forensic audits whenever financial problems are so obvious?

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that the government paid the AMA native health agency in Manitoba twice for medicines and dental services it had not even delivered once. This means that children have gone without dental care and families have gone without the prescriptions they need.

The auditor general has been reporting about these problems for the past four years. When will the minister be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem?

[Heating Fuel Rebate, February 9th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have no problem seeing through the Liberal government's vote buying schemes. Unfortunately, they are now forced to choose between heating or eating.

The heating fuel rebates have gone to everyone but the people who actually pay the bills. When will the government offer a program that is about heating cost relief and not politics?

[Kamloops, Thompson And Highland Valleys, February 8th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise for the first time in the House of Commons to give thanks to my family, to my campaign workers and to the wonderful constituents of Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys. On November 27 they elected me as their representative by an overwhelming majority. I consider it a great honour and a great responsibility.

My riding is one of the most beautiful places in Canada, if not the entire world. It is an area of sage, pine forests, majestic mountains and clear, crisp rivers and lakes. My riding is home to Nancy Greene-Raine, a two time Olympic gold medalist and the Canadian female athlete of the century. It is also home to the Kamloops Blazers, winners of six WHL championships and three Memorial Cups. My riding is home to Helmeken Falls, It Lake, Shuswap Lake, Highland Valley Copper and some of the finest cattle ranches in Canada.

The fine people in my riding sent me here with a mandate and a very simple message for the Liberal government: Rome is burning and it is time to stop fiddling.