Sue Barnes

[Navy League Cadet Corps, April 9th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in the House today to praise the navy cadets and seamanship drill teams of the Navy League Cadet Corps Glorious in London, Ontario.

Both the navy and seamanship cadet drill teams won their area drill competition and will be heading to the provincial competition in London on April 26 and 27.

For the past six months these young people, aged 10 to 13, have given up their Saturdays and Sundays to train for these competitions. Through hard work and dedication they have made their city and their corps proud.

At a time when we hear many negative things about young people, it is encouraging to hear of young people with commitment, fervour and honour for the country's military heritage.

To the cadets and their officers, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes as they prepare for the finals. I encourage all of my colleagues in the House to do so also.

[Justice, April 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank all of our border MPs for raising this issue, especially the member for Erie who has been diligent, on a number of occasions, in bringing it to our attention.

We have acted as a government with the introduction of Bill C-89, which gives customs officers the first line of defence for safe homes and safe streets an ability to apprehend people under Criminal Code infractions and to do something about it themselves. This bill has the enthusiastic, vocal support I might add, of groups such as CAVEAT, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Child Find and others, including the customs union and border men and women who do a fantastic job and will continue to do so.

[Petitions, March 21st, 1997]

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, calls on Parliament to dedicate significantly more resources to the support and development of scientific research through programs such as the NRC and NSERC.

[Petitions, March 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, today I have two petitions from my electorate. The first is respecting the upgrading of our national highway system.

[Member For Beaver River, March 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, today is the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. The offhand comments about gender equality in the House of Commons made last night at a Reform fund raiser is an example of the type of misinformation and lack of sensitivity that can lead to discrimination, racial or otherwise.

As a legislator and as a woman I take offence at the Reform member for Beaver River joking about gender equality in the House of Commons, that it would spell trouble at certain times of the month. She said: "What would happen if we were all PMSed the same week"? I personally had a hot flash when I read this report and it was not hormonally induced.

Women definitely have a place in the House. We work hard and effectively every day of the month for the betterment of our legislature, our constituencies and society.

I now know what Reform women say. I shudder to think what Reform men think.

[Foreign Aid, March 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the 46th parliamentary seminar in the United Kingdom. Participants included legislators from all corners of the globe: Malawi, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda. The seminar coincided with Commonwealth Day, March 10.

Canada is held in high esteem abroad and is well served by its commitment to multilateral organizations such as the Commonwealth and la Francophonie.

One of the lasting impressions I will have will be the importance of our country's foreign aid to the well-being of fellow Commonwealth and la Francophonie citizens. I urge all members, as legislators in one of the richest and most senior members of both organizations, to recognize and promote the value of foreign assistance.

I call on the government during la semaine internationale de la Francophonie, specifically the Minister for International Co-operation, to continue our foreign aid activities so that we may look forward to a time when we will be members of organizations such as la Francophonie and the Commonwealth where wealth is indeed-

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Indian Act Optional Modification Act, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Waterloo for his question on the Canadian securities commission initiative.

The federal government became involved with the Canadian securities commission initiative as a result of the request from provinces. The objective is to improve on the existing system of securities regulation in Canada whereby the capital market participants have to deal right now with up to 12 different regulators. We are prepared, at the federal level, to facilitate the process.

Regulatory duplication creates uncertainty and adds to the cost of raising capital in Canada. It may be motivating some Canadian companies to raise capital in other markets. It may also be deterring some global issuers from selling their securities in Canada.

For some months now, federal and provincial officials have been developing a memorandum of understanding which would set out the possible parameters of a Canadian securities commission. We have been talking about a voluntary arrangement whereby participating provinces would delegate the authority to regulate securities in their jurisdiction to the Canadian securities commission. Provinces who do not wish to participate will continue with their existing securities regulations.

We are talking about a regime with one set of rules applied across all participating provinces, a single agency with a number of regional offices capable of providing one-stop service yet at the same time maintaining the strengths of our regional capital markets.

Work on the memorandum of understanding has now been completed and it has been forwarded to the provinces for their response.

While we believe that a Canadian securities commission would make an important contribution to the efficiency of Canadian capital markets, the decision to proceed further with the establishment of a Canadian securities commission rests with the provinces.

The Minister of Finance has asked the provincial ministers responsible to respond in the very near future regarding their interest in proceeding. If there is sufficient interest, a process will be established to ensure the timely implementation of a Canadian securities commission.

I hope this responds to my hon. friend's question.

[Medical Hall Of Fame, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome today to our nation's capital six members of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Although we are very pleased to have the physical presence of London as the hall of fame the talent comes from across our diverse land.

Dr. Henry Barnett from London has been recognized for his work in stroke and clinical trials.

Dr. Douglas Harold Copp from Vancouver discovered the hormone calcitonin which regulates calcium levels in the blood.

Dr. Jacques Genest from Montreal has been recognized for his research on hypertension.

Dr. Herbert Jasper from Montreal has been recognized for his work in electrophysiology and EEG.

Dr. Charles Leblond from Montreal has been recognized for his research in anatomy and cell biology.

Dr. Robert Salter from Toronto has been recognized for his work in orthopedic surgery.

These individuals are our best and brightest. It is a wonderful and fitting tribute that they are here today. We owe them an immense debt of gratitude. I encourage all members to show their gratitude.

[Petitions, February 14th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition signed by a number of constituents in my riding urging Parliament to dedicate significantly more resources for the support and development of scientific research through programs such as the MRC and NSERC.