Pauline Picard

[Housing, February 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take part in this debate. I congratulate my NDP colleague for introducing this motion in the House.

The subject at issue is no longer a secret to anyone. Recent years spent fighting the government's budget deficit have hit society's disadvantaged the hardest. It is therefore appropriate, when the first fruits of this new budgetary era are gathered, to think right off of those who have suffered most at the hands of this government's policies.

The problem of social housing is one specific and eloquent example of this government's approach in recent years.

Barely a few months after it took office, during its first mandate, the Liberal Party decided unilaterally to get out of social housing as of January 1, 1994.

This is when the government began negotiating with each of the provinces and territories to move away from this responsibility, knowing full well that these agreements did not meet the provinces' real needs.

For Quebec, this arrangement comprises essentially a transfer of management to the Société d'habitation du Québec for all social housing funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. To fulfil that mandate, it gets nothing more than the funds required to meet the CMHC's existing commitments regarding existing housing units, which in no way meets the current needs of the poorest households.

The provinces that have already signed on are getting a share of CMHC's budget that is equal to or in excess of their demographic weight or needs. As for Quebec, based on CMHC's budget expenditures for 1995-96, it only receives an 18% share, while its demographic weight is 24.5% and its needs amount to 27.4%.

Why is it so important to invest in social housing?

Between 1990 and 1995, the number of Canadian households spending more than 50% of their income on housing went from 583,710 to 833,555, a 43% increase. We know that single-parent families, persons living alone, young people under 25 and older couples are very affected by the lack of affordable housing.

It is urgent that the federal government realize the scope of the needs and give new moneys to the provinces, so that they can set up an investment plan for social housing that will reflect the realities of the neighbourhoods, cities and regions.

The federal government's withdrawal has had a negative impact, particularly on women. Indeed, in the area of health, employment insurance and other areas, women were hit particularly hard by the cuts made by this Liberal government. Social housing is no exception.

Being a woman and a tenant often means being unable to find good quality housing at an affordable price. A recent document prepared by FRAPRU shows the housing situation as lived by women. The Liberals would do well to read that document.

Let me give two examples. I was stunned to learn that in Drummondville, which is in the centre of Quebec and which is the largest municipality in my riding, there are 2,370 households with an average income of $20,640—with women being the primary source of income in 44.7% of the cases, that are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Moreover, 1,105 households, or 20.9%, are spending more than half of their income on housing.

Let us not forget that, according to the government's criteria, a household spending more than 30% of its income on housing is paying too much for housing. Imagine when this figure climbs to 50% and higher.

Yet the economy of the city I represent is in good shape, proof that housing is not just a problem in certain less fortunate regions. It is a problem throughout Quebec, throughout Canada. But there is worse—and I will give two examples—because, in the Prime Minister's own riding, the situation is catastrophic.

Instead of favouring certain rich promoters in his region in order to buy votes, the Prime Minister should look after the poor, the least fortunate in his riding.

In Shawinigan, the main city in the Prime Minister's riding, the average income of households where women are the primary earners is $16,072. The figures show that 1,635 of them, or 55.5%, spend over 30% of their income on housing and that 870 households, or 29.5%, spend over half.

I think that the Prime Minister cannot honestly be proud of the situation of poor women who rent housing in the municipality of Shawinigan, which he represents in the House. Their average income of $16,072 is the lowest of the 59 cities studied by the Front populaire pour le réaménagement urbain, or FRAPRU.

On October 27, 1999, the Bloc Quebecois asked the minister responsible for the homeless the following question:

—the Minister of Labour, who is responsible for the homeless, is the first to admit that the federal government has made cuts that hurt the most disadvantaged.

Could the Minister tell us, of the cuts the government has made, which ones most hurt those most disadvantaged in our society: cuts to employment insurance, cuts to social housing or cuts to the Canada social transfer, which forced the provinces to cut services?

And here is her answer:

—in travelling across Canada, what we notice most with respect to the homeless is that the provinces have closed psychiatric hospitals. Former residents of psychiatric hospitals are turning up at food banks.

This is unbelievable. It is really hard to understand that, in her visits to food banks and self help groups, the minister did not realize that a large majority of people who go there do not necessarily have psychiatric problems, but are simply poor. It is unfortunate that the minister should make political hay on the backs of those most in need and the homeless instead of giving them back immediately the money her government has taken away from them.

As if this contempt for the homeless were not enough, the government has more than once used the Prime Minister's ways to repel protesters who want to show how desperate they are and to ask for assistance. On the hill, the RCMP pepper sprayed protesters, and, a couple weeks ago, force was used against several people who were trying to deliver their message directly to the Prime Minister's office. Some compassion.

Action is urgently required. Ten years ago, the federal government promised to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000. The year 2000 is here.

To make up for its broken promise, the government has to understand that child poverty means there are also women and men living in poverty. Some families have to cut back on basic necessities and food to pay the rent.

Social housing is a crucial weapon in the fight against poverty.

[Petitions, February 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I table a petition signed by 1,380 constituents of the riding of Drummond, in the heart of Quebec, that I represent.

The petitioners are calling on parliament to quickly pass legislation making it mandatory to label all fully or partially genetically modified foods.

[Point Of Order, February 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have here an article from Le Droit, dated December 11, 1999, stating clearly how the government intends to deny Quebecers the right to fully chose their own future—

[An Act To Give Effect To The Requirement For Clarity As Set Out In The Opinion Of The Supreme Court Of Canada In The Quebec Secession Reference, February 7th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to take part in this debate, following the speech by the NDP member.

I would like to quote from an article written by Manon Cornellier, which appeared in the English press. The headline reads “Progressive Canadians Opposed”.

The article states as follows: “Support for the federal clarity bill is not unanimous outside Quebec, particularly among those who usually back the New Democratic Party. Over 80 intellectuals representing unions and activist groups have already indicated their support for an open letter denouncing the project launched by a Laurentian University professor, Gary Kinsman, and I quote: 'We are calling for the withdrawal of the clarity bill and an end to threats and intimidation with respect to the right of Quebecers to decide their own future'. We are also affirming the right to self-determination of the aboriginal peoples in Quebec and in the rest of Canada”.

A bit further on, the article mentions a source of concern. According to these same intellectuals who usually back the New Democratic Party “This authoritarian bill is a source of concern for anyone defending democratic rights because it denies Quebecers the right to decide their own future”.

They denounce the fact that the Parliament of Canada will reserve the right to decide on the clarity of the referendum question and result and they say: “This means that parliament is taking away the historically recognized right of Quebecers to make their own decisions”. I would like to hear what the member has to say about this.

[Francophone Games, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, what a surprise this morning to learn that the federal government is refusing to give French a clear priority status at the Francophone Games to be held in Ottawa and Hull in 2001.

According to our information, these games were held in French in Morocco and in Madagascar, where French is not even the official language.

Is it too much to ask of the minister responsible that the Francophone Games be held in French, please?

[Petitions, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a petition signed by several hundred inhabitants of the riding of Drummond, who are unhappy that the members of the public concerned were not consulted with respect to Via Rail changes, and who hope that the management of Via Rail, which is a crown corporation, will never again make any decisions that are not in their best interests.

Given that Via Rail receives millions of dollars in subsidies, and given that this is taxpayers' money, taxpayers are entitled to receive the services for which they have paid. I support this petition.

[Points Of Order, December 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, following the Prime Minister's announcement that he wants to table a bill denying Quebecers their basic rights, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table a paper that will enlighten the House.

It is a paper prepared by the Library of Parliament on the basic rights of Canadians and Quebecers. The study, released in 1992, is entitled “Human Rights Legislation and the Charter”.

No doubt that—

[Points Of Order, December 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have here the text of a speech given by Joseph Facal, the Quebec minister, on the right to democracy and sovereignty, in response to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table this document now.

[Drummond Chamber Of Commerce And Industry, November 30th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, at the gala evening of the Drummond chamber of commerce and industry, recognition was given to a number of people who contributed to the development and visibility of Drummond in 1999.

The young actress Karine Vanasse was named personality of the Year, jointly with a couple, Marielle and Pierre Tremblay, who were named Quebec's jewellers of the year.

The Distinction award was given to Jacques and Louis-Jacques Laferté for their business.

André Jean, president of the Caisse populaire de Drummondville, was named 1999 builder of the year. Napoléon awards were given out to a number of other people in a number of other categories.

On behalf of all the people in my riding of Drummond, I wish to extend my congratulations to these personalities and entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves over the past year.

[Supply, November 30th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, rumours are based on a report that is hard to get, and which may have been handed out to just a few people who have told us about its recommendations.

The report did recommend that RCMP detachments be closed in the areas of Drummond and Saint-Hyacinthe and in part of the Eastern Townships, near the border.

The RCMP detachment in my area was set up about 15 years ago, and officers are posted for good reason. They do an excellent job. Everybody, the chamber of commerce and the municipalities included, has passed a resolution asking the federal government to maintain this detachment, because the officers there have a close working relationship with the other police forces.

The situation is similar in the Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot area and in other communities near the American border, in the ridings of our PC colleagues.

There had been rumours that there would be closures, but we have now learned that these rumours were based on an actual report. We are now being told that the Saint-Hyacinthe and Drummond detachments could be maintained, but, for the time being, there is no guarantee to that effect.