Svend Robinson

[Foreign Aid, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today the Canadian Council for International Co-operation has called on the government to improve our foreign aid policies. Our international reputation as a caring country has been under attack for the past decade. Liberal government cuts have caused Canada's aid to fall to a shameful low of .27% of our GNP, a far cry from the UN target of .7%.

More money for the foreign aid program is not enough. Canada's aid program is not doing the job it should, to be solely focused on the elimination of global poverty. New Democrats have long called for a move from donorship to local ownership in aid relations, to involve Canadians in development issues and to spend enough money to meet our global obligations. We endorse the call today of the CCIC to cancel debts to the poorest countries and to rebuild our Canadian aid resources to .35% of GNP by 2005.

I salute the efforts of the CCIC and all Canadians who understand that fighting poverty, whether at home or abroad, is the hallmark of a truly civilized society.

Might I join my voice on behalf of my colleagues in congratulating the member for Edmonton North on her 10th anniversary in the House.

[Nuclear Weapons, March 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Today, former U.S. defense secretary Robert McNamara is in Ottawa urging that Canada push within NATO for a no first use policy on nuclear weapons. While the minister has called for a review of NATO nuclear policy, he has refused to say where he stands on present NATO policy. When will the minister show leadership and join former secretary McNamara and others in clearly calling on NATO to change its dangerous cold war, Reform supported policy and adopt a clear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons?

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police, March 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday three members of the RCMP commercial crime squad in B.C. executed a search warrant on the home of the premier, accompanied to his door by two journalists from BCTV.

In view of the seriousness of this matter will the solicitor general fully review the circumstances that led to the presence of the media with the RCMP and will he clarify the policy of the RCMP with respect to this apparent collusion between the RCMP and the media?

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, March 1st, 1999]

In the previous five fiscal years, and to date in this fiscal year, ( a ) what has been the cost to Canada of association with regional Development Banks in the following categories: (i) any annual dues by the way of membership or association, (ii) any contributions to loans or so-called rescue packages to foreign nations, (iii) any contributions to specific bilateral or multilateral development projects and, if so, to which ones, and (iv) any other costs incurred for any other purposes; ( b ) what has been the source of this funding (e.g. annual revenue, foreign loans); and ( c ) in each case, which departmental votes have been the source of payments?

(Return tabled)

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, March 1st, 1999]

In the previous five fiscal years, and to date in this fiscal year, ( a ) what has been the cost to Canada of association with regional Development Banks in the following categories: (i) any annual dues by the way of membership or association, (ii) any contributions to loans or so-called rescue packages to foreign nations, (iii) any contributions to specific bilateral or multilateral development projects and, if so, to which ones, and (iv) any other costs incurred for any other purposes; ( b ) what has been the source of this funding (e.g. annual revenue, foreign loans); and ( c ) in each case, which departmental votes have been the source of payments?

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the situation in Turkey.

While it is profoundly important that we debate in this chamber tonight the role of Canada in Kosovo and our possible role in Africa, it is also essential, particularly at this very crucial and difficult time, that we note another human tragedy unfolding, the tragedy of the Kurds. I want to take the opportunity of this debate to make a brief comment on that.

As members know, Kurds around the world have been voicing a sense of anguish, pain, anger, outrage and deep concern about the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan or Apo. Here in Ottawa today we unfortunately saw a violent confrontation outside the Turkish embassy. Fortunately it was ultimately resolved in a peaceful manner.

I want to take the opportunity of this debate to call on our government, the Government of Canada, to end its shameful silence on the plight of the Kurds, particularly in Turkey but also in Iraq, Iran and Syria. I fear that our desire to sell Candu reactors and military hardware as well as our membership in the NATO alliance have silenced us.

We cannot remain silent on this issue. It is essential that Canada play an important role. With respect to the arrest of Ocalan, it is essential that Canada and others in the international community take steps urgently to ensure an open and fair trial for Mr. Ocalan, to see that he is not tortured as the UN special rapporteur on torture has urged as well. I am calling on our government to send a delegation to Turkey to monitor this very serious question.

Most important, it is time that our government spoke out with respect to the underlying massive violation of the fundamental human, political and cultural rights of the Kurdish people which have led to the destruction of Kurdish villages, which have led to the murder, torture and killing of over 30,000 people.

In conclusion I take this opportunity to say that we face terrible tragedy in Kosovo and the Central African Republic, but let us not lose sight of the unfolding human tragedy of the Kurdish people that for too long has been ignored.

Biji Kurdistan

[Citizenship Of Canada Act, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

The document to which the hon. member has just referred was from the publication

Latin Trade

. I would seek unanimous consent of the House to table the document as requested by the hon. member.

[Foreign Affairs, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The United Nations development program reported last year that the world's 225 wealthiest people have a combined wealth that is equal to the annual income of half the population of the world, the poorest half, and the gap is growing.

Instead of wasting money on submarines and a new star wars missile defence system, will the minister support the call of the Jubilee 2000 Campaign to cancel the outstanding bilateral debt owed to Canada by the 50 poorest nations of the world and will he increase our foreign aid significantly?

[Petitions, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is signed by residents of a number of municipalities in British Columbia including Burnaby.

It draws to the attention of the House the fact that the multilateral agreement on investment or MAI will disproportionately expand and entrench unprecedented rights to transnational corporations and foreign investors at the expense of the Canadian government's ability basically to make decisions about our own future.

It calls on parliament to consider the enormous implications to Canada by the signing of the MAI, to put it to open debate in the House and to place it for a national referendum for the people of Canada to decide.

[Petitions, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions this morning. The first petition is signed by hundreds of residents of my constituency of Burnaby—Douglas and elsewhere in British Columbia.

It notes that a commission of inquiry into the quality of condominium construction in B.C. has concluded that condominium owners and residents are the victims of a systemic failure to provide quality accommodation and as a result tens of thousands of residents are suffering financially, emotionally, medically and domestically.

Therefore the petitioners urge parliament to provide a significant contribution toward homeowners affected by the residential construction crisis to ensure that the cost of all qualified repairs are deductible from income retroactively and in the future, to repeal and refund all GST on qualified repairs, and finally to permit RRSP funds to be used to undertake qualified repairs without penalty and to permit previously withdrawn RRSP funds used to pay repair specialist assessments to be income tax rebated.

Today on budget day I hope the minister heeds that call.