Bob Mills

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have followed this debate with interest.

Some of the quotes the hon. member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell used were interesting. Maybe I should reply to some of those with some quotes from the Prime Minister: "I have a plan and I have the people". We are still waiting to hear the plan. We are still waiting to see which people will carry this out.

He said we will have a government that will listen to the average Canadians and earn their trust with a balanced, realistic plan with concrete goals, not empty promises. He said that after nine years of broken promises and shattered dreams Canadians deserve a change. We are all still waiting.

He said that for nine years Conservatives have claimed to cut costs while they have been transferring them to the provincial and local levels but the same taxpayers keep paying. They still keep paying because we still keep transferring it to the provinces. We still keep hearing the phony thing that we have planned.

A lot of people have not heard about that plan and certainly do not see it coming from the government. In the past couple of weeks I talked to 400 farmers in Alberta. I have talked to people in Etobicoke. I talked to people in Regina last weekend. They are all waiting for that plan.

They are looking at what the Liberals are saying: "We have everything under control. Feel good, be happy, do not worry about anything". Everything is fine is what the spin doctors are telling the Canadian people but the Canadian people are way ahead of the politicians.

Albertans feel pride because now we are starting to pay down our debt. The pride and the feeling of accomplishment certainly are much greater than anybody feels from the lame duck budget the federal government has put forward now for a third year.

I have made up a little card which I have started handing out to people. People say the Liberals say everything is under control. We hear quotes from some of their henchmen saying everything is under control. We have a deficit that has gone from $42 billion to $30 billion to $21 billion to $17 billion; are we not wonderful? Really what we have done is set the target so low that anybody could hit it.

The hon. member from the Bloc said what the Liberals never talk about is the $600 billion of debt. They never talk about the $50 billion of interest accumulating every year which has to be paid down before we can provide any services.

What members have to look at is how that happened, which is on my card. We started in 1972 with approximately $16 billion and a Liberal government. In 1983 and we we up to $160 billion under a Liberal government.

In 1984 we said here is a guy who said he will not let this grow any more from $160 billion. By 1993 we all know the day we were elected it was $489 billion. When we go back to the people again, it will be $620 billion. It is going straight up, but the Liberals never talk about that.

The people talk about that. The people know what is threatening their programs, what is threatening their health care, what is threatening their jobs, what is threatening their pensions. They are all being threatened by that debt and by those interest payments. That is what is threatening the programs, and the people are smart enough to know that.

The people are asking where is the plan? Where are the targets that will actually achieve something? Do not simply offload problems to the provinces. The provinces are trying to do their job; at least seven will have a balanced budget. Then they will start paying down their debt.

I mentioned the pride when that is finally achieved.

Let us talk to the people. What do the people say? They say lower taxes to give them the incentive to create jobs. Give them some reforms to the systems in place so they can preserve what they all value as Canadians.

The Liberals are stuck on this slash and burn thing. Two or three years ago some speech writer wrote that down for them and they are not clever enough to come up with anything new that describes anything like what the people are saying.

We should probably start right here with ourselves. What are we doing with the number of members of Parliament? We are increasing it. We should be decreasing the number of members of Parliament and setting an example. We are over governed. We do not need all the government we have. We should be totally reforming that place on the other side of this building. That is a disgrace. I am embarrassed about it but nothing comes forward in that regard.

We do not have reform in this Parliament. We have members taking their pensions and justifying it. How can they do that when they are telling people they have a plan, that they will lower spending, that they will set the example for Canadians?

We are increasing the number of members of Parliament. We are taking a watered down pension. We are not doing anything about the GST. We are not doing anything about the debt. We have so little business to do in the House that it is embarrassing. We delayed the opening of Parliament because there is so little to do.

The people of Canada recognize this. They know the sham that is going on. They know the government has no plan. They know the government will not deal with the debt, will not deal with the interest payments, will not deal with threats to our social programs, will not provide jobs. It is just sitting there coasting along and hoping a miracle happens.

I do not believe that miracle will happen. Business knew what to do long ago to get its act together. Government has not even started. In this place nothing has happened. This budget is another disaster with no goals, no limits, no plan as we were promised.

The people know where it is at and the people again, as so often is the case, are way ahead of their leaders. They are ahead of their bureaucrats and they know what has to happen. They are prepared for it and they will take pride in it.

We need a government that has a plan, and yet there is no plan. Yesterday's debate was a perfect example: "We will get rid of the GST, that is a promise. We will kill it, destroy it, bury it". Yesterday in the House every single last Liberal voted to keep the GST. That is the plan and the delivery of the things they went door to door with and promised.

How can one feel any way but unhappy with this place? How can one feel anything but disgust when one hears the sorts of things we keep hearing? There are prepared speeches that people pick up. They do not feel it from the heart. They do not feel it from their people. They have not talked to their people. They are just doing what the spin doctors say will get them elected again. It is a disgrace.

We are talking about the most important thing we all have, our economy. We do not have jobs, we do not have anything and there is no plan here. We have MPs taking their pensions, we have MPs increasing the number of members in this place. We have no plan, and that is sad. It is sad for my grandchildren, for my children, for future generations. We should all have a moment of silence, and the members across should join, because of the lack of a plan. The budget only demonstrates that.

[Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is extremely difficult to sit here, coming from the same province, and listen to a message that I know the people are not conveying in our province. The people are saying: "What about the MP pension plan? You talk about setting an example and showing us that you really care about us. Are you taking the pension that none of us can get after only six years at age 55? Do you think that is fair? Is that setting an example"? I know what the people in Alberta are saying.

The member who just spoke had a meeting of 17 people and we had 800 people out to a meeting on the same evening. I know what the people there were saying. It is very difficult to sit here and listen to a misrepresentation of the grassroots. They care that their income is continually dropping.

The member is right. They care about medicare and so do we. They care about those terrible waiting lists that exist now. They care about the downsizing and the offloading that the Liberals are doing while saying that they are holier than thou. It is time they set an example instead of being all talk and no action.

[Petitions, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to present to Parliament a petition signed by 50 constituents of my riding of Red Deer.

The petitioners express their concerns that the availability of a low cost energy source is a natural advantage that Canadians have to offset the high cost of transportation because of the great distances required to reach markets. Therefore the petitioners request that Parliament not increase the federal excise tax on gasoline.

[Racial Discrimination, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, before I begin I would like to thank the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism for promoting this day in honour of the elimination of racial discrimination. At the meeting this morning we all heard wise words about what is happening around the world.

It is with pleasure that I join my colleagues from all parties calling for an end to racial discrimination. I agree strongly with the themes being presented today. On behalf of the Reform Party, I would like to say that racial discrimination in all forms is completely unacceptable.

It is important to say this because I know there have been several false allegations levelled against Reformers in the past. I have personally heard individuals who have tried to paint our party as one that tolerates racist beliefs. However this was just political mischief on their part.

I want the record to be perfectly clear. If there are any Canadians who think they can find a home for their racist beliefs in Reform they are dead wrong. Instead, they will find that they are not welcome and will be rooted out.

It angers me that I even have to deny this ludicrous image. But Reformers will not accept the slurs of our political competitors without reply. A perfect example happened last night at our rally in Etobicoke North, a very ethnic riding. People from all ethnic backgrounds were there and I was delighted to see the terrific mix of people, as everyone will see from the newspapers today.

I would like to give some advice to the government if it is willing to listen, and I know it is. In the quest to eradicate racial discrimination, it must be vigilant but it must not confuse the issues as it has often done in the past.

The elimination of racial discrimination means that everyone has the right to be treated fairly and equally. Everyone has the same rights, everyone is equal. This means that institutionalizing reverse discrimination through bills like C-64 is wrong. Overlapping one layer of unfairness with another is no solution to problems.

Instead, we have to make sure that Canadians of all ethnic backgrounds feel comfortable and proud to be who they are. All Canadians have to be given the chance to live up to their potential and this is done by looking beyond race and colour. It is done by judging the character and skills of people without regard to ethnic background. This is what Reformers believe and I think most Canadians would share this view.

The time has come to abandon the prejudices of the past and abandon the reverse discrimination quick fixes that have not addressed the root of the racial problem. Let us make this day a new beginning. Let us work together to stamp out racism.

I would like to quote what the Ambassador to South Africa said this morning at breakfast: "Racism can, should and will be defeated".

[Supply, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the constituents in my riding would not forgive me if I did not tell a story about what happened in my riding, in answer to the member for Calgary Centre.

A meeting was held there. There were 6,000 people in the Centrium and the message they gave to their member of Parliament at that time was: "Do not vote for the GST. The GST is a bad tax". That message came through loud and clear. Their member came back to this House and said: "The people of my constituency support the GST".

I remind the government about that. I remind government members that the same fate could befall them when they promised they would get rid of the tax. They said they would kill the GST. They said they would get rid of it and they did not deliver on their promise. Canadians know that and will reward them accordingly.

[Journée Internationale De La Francophonie, March 20th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, before I start my response, it is our position that we examine our membership in all organizations and certainly the francophonie is one of those.

I have listened to the minister say many wonderful things about the francophonie. I hope the minister's optimism is justified but I certainly have some doubts. My doubts really started last year during the francophonie conference in Benin when the member countries failed to condemn dictators as the Commonwealth had done during the meeting in New Zealand. Nigeria had been expelled from the Commonwealth because of its abusive government. This was action, not like what we saw in Benin.

At the Benin conference there was no action. There were not even strong words for the dictators of the world, some of whom are members of the francophonie. This made me wonder what this organization really does. Is there ever productive action or just an endless series of conferences that provides good photo opportunities for politicians? Is the francophonie about unveiling statutes and making warm, fuzzy speeches when it should really be getting things done? Is that not what international organizations are supposed to do?

Canada spends millions of dollars every year on the francophonie, but where was the francophonie when it came time to bail out Haiti, one of its members? Again there was no action. Instead Canadian taxpayers had to open their wallets to save the day. Why?

When the minister talks about the upcoming visit of the Haitian president to Montreal, I am surprised he can talk about it with a straight face. On the final weekend before the byelection in the riding with the highest concentration of people of Haitian origin, can the minister really pretend this has something to do with francophonie solidarity? It is about getting Pierre Pettigrew elected, plain and simple.

In the future the francophonie must shed its current image of an expensive forum where dictators mix with democrats to have

banquets and stage photo opportunities. This does nothing for the citizens of the member countries.

There are many poor people who live under repressive regimes and they deserve to have the francophonie working for their interests. These people need action, not meetings, discussions and political rhetoric. If the francophonie can provide this action, good, but the time for change is now, not five or ten years from now.

Being a forum for solidarity is no longer enough. The francophonie must become a functional tool to strongly press for democracy, peace and human rights.

[Points Of Order, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. party whip that the person I suggested was doing this is not a member of this House. As he is not a member of this House, I would assume then that the rules of this House do not apply.

[Byelections, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Canada are sick and tired of old line political patronage. Pierre Pettigrew has done everything except hand out free tickets to Montreal Canadiens' games in an attempt to win the byelection.

Also very interesting was his decision not to invite the Prime Minister to visit, but instead concentrate on more locally popular politicians like the Haitian president.

When the red book talked about governing with integrity, did that include unelected government ministers having a blank cheque to influence elections?

[Byelections, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, 12,000 people of Haitian origin live in Papineau-Saint-Michel. Coincidentally the new minister for spending money in Haiti, Pierre Pettigrew, is running in the byelection there.

First, Pierre toured Haiti, then he picked up a $24 million tab for Haitian peacekeeping and spent several million taxpayers' dollars on aid to Haiti. Now he has arranged for the president of Haiti to visit Montreal this weekend.

Is the government prepared to tolerate this blatant influence peddling just to win a single byelection?

[Petitions, March 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 50 petitioners who express a real concern that there will be an increase in gasoline prices.

Therefore the petitioners humbly pray and request that Parliament reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes and that Parliament not increase the federal excise tax on gasoline in any future budgets.