David Pratt

[Transportation, June 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the smog summit in Toronto, the Minister of Transport announced a commuter rail strategy to help increase services in the areas of Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.

I am both excited and delighted in terms of what this announcement means for my riding in Nepean—Carleton. Starting the Ottawa-Montreal service from south Nepean or Barrhaven means that both commuters and travellers to Montreal will enjoy a new service and new facilities. It is expected that a new station, estimated to cost between $2.5 million and $3 million, could be completed sometime next year. This station will also be a significant convenience for travellers to Toronto.

This particular project is a great example of the federal and municipal levels of government working together on a project that people of my area want and need.

In this regard, I would like to thank both the Minister of Transport and Mayor Bob Chiarelli in the city of Ottawa.

[Committees Of The House, June 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 81(7) and (8) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs on the plans and priorities of the estimates 2001-02 of the Department of National Defence. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests a government response.

The report takes advantage of recent changes in the standing orders which gave committees the opportunity to comment on the future plans and priorities of the departments under their responsibility.

I have been asked by members of the defence and veterans affairs committee to note that time constraints prevented us from commenting on the plans and priorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs this year. However it is our intention next year to provide full comment on the plans and priorities of both departments.

[Petitions, June 8th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present to the House a petition signed by over 500 Canadians, including constituents in my riding of Nepean—Carleton.

They call on the federal government to work with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to stop Algerian assaults on the Amazigh people and to end its programs of discrimination and repression.

[Health Care, May 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, our health care system in many parts of the country is under severe stress. Our hospitals are underfunded. Our nurses and doctors are overworked. Our residents are waiting in some regions for over a year for critical diagnostic tests. This situation cannot continue.

On June 28 I will be hosting a community forum on the future of health care in Canada. The results of our discussions will be summarized in a report which I will present to the federal government's Romanow commission.

This forum is about engaging in a dialogue with our citizens in search of constructive solutions. Our goal, as Mr. Romanow has indicated, is to ensure the long term sustainability of a high quality, universally accessible, publicly administered health care system for all Canadians.

I invite the residents of Nepean—Carleton to join me on June 28 at the Walter Baker Community Centre as we take a positive step toward better health care in Canada.

[Para Transpo, May 15th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour. The people in the national capital region who rely on Para Transpo service are completely fed up with the almost three month old strike, which has tried their patience and caused them immense inconvenience.

Could the minister tell the House what the federal government is prepared to do to ensure that Para Transpo services are restored?

[Tulip Festival, May 10th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, this is the time of year in the national capital region when we enjoy the brilliant colours of the tulips throughout the city of Ottawa.

This weekend marks the start of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Since 1953 we have celebrated the arrival of spring every year with this festival. This great event originated in 1945 when Princess Juliana of the Netherlands donated over 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada. This was a gesture of thanks for providing the Dutch royal family with safe haven during World War II and for the role Canadian forces played in liberating the Netherlands from the Nazis.

This year Great Britain will co-sponsor the festival which will be launched with a 46 metre tulip balloon on Parliament Hill. We invite all Canadians to participate in the music and activities and to enjoy the colourful display of millions of tulips.

[Petitions, May 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present to the House a petition signed by constituents in my riding of Nepean—Carleton and the surrounding Ottawa area.

They call upon the federal government to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides.

[Transportation, May 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour. Many of my local Liberal colleagues in the national capital region, especially the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier and me, have been very concerned about the tremendous inconvenience and dislocation caused by the two month old Para Transpo strike.

Could the parliamentary secretary tell the House what the federal government is doing to help end this strike and restore vital services to the users of Para Transpo?

[Heroism, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I too wish to extend congratulations on behalf of all Canadians to Peter Brown, Mark Cary and Sean Loutitt. These three brave pilots were successful in their heroic attempts this week to rescue an ailing American doctor from a research centre at the South Pole.

Using expertise and skills developed during their training with Kenn Borek Air Ltd. of Calgary, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cary and Mr. Loutitt became Canadian pioneers in their Twin Otter aircraft as they undertook an 8,000 kilometre flight from the southern tip of Chile to the South Pole.

Landing on a runway of solid ice during Antarctica's period of 24 hour darkness and minus 50° temperatures, these three Canadians were able to translate skills learned in their work in Canada's far north to bring the American doctor home for desperately needed medical attention. A flight to the South Pole at this time of year, under these extreme conditions, had never before been undertaken.

Once again the world has seen a demonstration of Canadian ingenuity, expertise and determination. I ask all hon. members of the House and all Canadians to join me in offering our congratulations, our thanks and our best wishes to these brave pilots.

[Para Transpo, April 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents and indeed many citizens of Ottawa are virtual captives in their own homes because of a local Para Transpo strike. The collective agreement between the two parties expired on December 31, 2000, and the union has been on strike since March 10.

Despite the federal government appointing not one but two mediators to assist the parties in their negotiations, Para Transpo drivers remain off the job. I applaud the excellent efforts of the Minister of Labour and her staff, but I encourage everyone involved to do more.

This strike is having a very real impact on the lifestyles and everyday needs of those who rely on Para Transpo services. This regrettable and unfortunate situation cannot continue. I strongly urge the union and the employer to return to the bargaining table and make every effort to settle this dispute.

I also strongly urge concerned residents to call Laidlaw Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279. Let them know that our community needs their services now.