Walt Lastewka

[Youth Service Canada, March 31st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the House on a successful Youth Service Canada project conducted by the Institute for Enterprise Education in St. Catharines.

The program provided training and practical experience with local business people in entrepreneurial, interpersonal and labour market skills. It paved the way for a successful school to work transition.

With 19 full term students, seven have secured employment within their career path objectives working with other entrepreneurs. Nine have already begun business operations and three are finalizing their business plans and proceeding with their business start-ups.

I have worked with the youth enterprise program from start to graduation. I am very pleased with the accomplishments of the students.

We can all celebrate the successful program sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. I also congratulate the Secretary of State for Training and Youth for working with our youth and making this program such a success.

[Petitions, March 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I should like to table a petition signed by over 2,000 Canadians from the Niagara peninsula, Hamilton, London, Burlington, Toronto and surrounding areas, and other Ontario cities.

The petitioners call on Parliament to condemn the actions of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in its application to televise the Paul Bernardo trial.

[World Rowing Championships, March 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the St. Catharines-Niagara Class A World Rowing Committee on its bid for the world rowing championships.

Rowing Canada has endorsed the committee's bid and will be putting the St. Catharines-Niagara bid forward on behalf of Canada in Finland later this year.

In 1970 St. Catharines hosted world rowing. We know we can do it again. We are pulling together to bring the world back to Niagara. We have the facilities, the expertise and the experience to make the 1999 World Rowing International Championships a great success.

[Petitioners, March 20th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the second petition calls on Parliament to request that the government disallow the defence of extreme intoxication as used in the Daviault case and amend the Criminal Code accordingly.

[Petitioners, March 20th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition calls on Parliament to condemn the actions of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and to request that in accordance with its responsibilities as the national broadcaster, the CBC withdraw its application to televise the Paul Bernardo case.

[Walter Ostanek, March 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, St. Catharines' polka king, Walter Ostanek, has made us proud once again.

Earlier this month he was honoured with his third consecutive Grammy award at this year's 37th annual award ceremony in Los Angeles.

Walter Ostanek won his award in the polka album category for his recording called "Music and Friends". This is his 46th recording and his 7th time to be nominated for a Grammy award.

While many other talented Canadians were nominated for awards, the polka king was the only Canadian to be chosen for a Grammy.

Congratulations to Walter Ostanek. Our hats are off to him for his continued excellence in music.

[Cuvée 1995, March 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Cuvée 1995 is a three day celebration of Ontario's excellence in wine making. This weekend from March 3 to 5 wine makers and wine lovers from across the province will come to Niagara for the special celebration of Ontario wines.

The excellent reputation of Ontario wines continues to spread around the world. Ontario wines have received many international awards. Our own colleague, Gary Pillitteri, won a silver medal for Riesling best buy at the World Wine Championship in Chicago.

Last year, Cuvée 1994 presented a record number of wines for tasting from 30 of Ontario's wineries. This year promises to continue the great tradition which is now in its seventh year.

I invite all Canadians to Niagara to taste the excellent wines of Ontario.

[Petitions, March 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, once again I table hundreds of petitions to the House of Commons concerning the CBC.

The petitioners state that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is Canada's national public broadcasting service and an agent of Her Majesty. The CBC is funded by the federal government with taxpayers' dollars. The CBC has applied to televise the proceedings of the Paul Bernardo trial. Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to condemn the actions of the CBC and to request that in accordance with its responsibilities as a national broadcaster that the CBC withdraw its application to televise the Paul Bernardo trial.

[Petitions, February 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, 1,000 of the undersigned residents of Canada draw to the attention of the House that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is Canada's national public broadcasting service and an agent of Her Majesty; that the CBC is funded by the federal government with taxpayers' dollars; that the CBC plays a significant role in meeting the statutory objective set out for the broadcasting system of safeguarding, enriching and strenghthening the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada; that the CBC has applied to televise the proceedings of the Paul Bernardo trial and that this application does not support the role of the CBC and does nothing to safeguard, enrich or strengthen the fabric of Canada.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to condemn the actions of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and to request that accordance with its responsibilities as the national broadcaster, the CBC withdraw its application to televise the Paul Bernardo trial.

[Trial Proceedings, February 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the daily newspaper in my riding, the St. Catharines Standard , on its editorial calling for the media to examine the moral question of how visual evidence should be reported at the Paul Bernardo trial.

The editorial states:

Does the public have a right to know every single detail of evidence that will be presented during the trial? In principle, in defence of freedom of the press, the answer must be yes. But does the public need to know every gory detail? The answer surely is no, so long as the public is assured that such evidence has been seen and weighed by the judge and the jury of 12 who will represent us all in deciding the case.

While the media may have an obligation to inform the public, there is surely also a duty to respect the dignity of the victims and of the victims' family, neighbours and friends.

Canadians must ensure that the media coverage is handled in an appropriate and respectful way; in short, in a Canadian way.