Janko Peric

[Diabetes, November 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in order to raise awareness of diabetes November has been designated international diabetes month.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that impairs the body's ability to use food properly and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney disease.

The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and improving the lives of people with the disease. This year alone the foundation will award more than $100 million worldwide and $5 million in Canada to research.

I ask the House to join me in congratulating the many volunteers and staff at the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

[Speech From The Throne, November 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to the rhetoric that has been coming from the Reform Party for the last six years the United Nations has declared Canada as the best country in the world in which to live.

The Speech from the Throne outlined the government's commitment to achieve an even better quality of life for all Canadians. This includes increased resources for early childhood development and targeted assistance for low income families with children.

Can the minister outline and expand a little on what is being done to improve the quality of life of members of Canada's armed forces?

[Transfer Of Offenders Act, November 15th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-316, an act to amend the Transfer of Offenders Act (removal of foreign offenders).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to reintroduce my private member's bill entitled an act to amend the Transfer of Offenders Act (removal of foreign offenders).

This is a companion bill to Bill C-292, the immigration enforcement improvement act, which I reintroduced on November 1.

The bill was first introduced in the 35th parliament following the 1994 murders of Georgina Leimonis and police constable Todd Baylis in Toronto. Non-citizens who had been evading deportation from Canada committed both murders.

Under the current legislation, foreign offenders cannot be removed from Canada unless they request to be removed and if their country of origin agrees to accept them. The bill would help to speed up the removal from Canada of non-citizens convicted of serious offences. I would encourage all members of the House to lend their support to this initiative.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Railway Crossings, November 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. This June several grade school students in my riding could have been seriously injured when a railway crossing arm apparently malfunctioned.

What is the minister doing to improve safety at railway crossings in Cambridge and the rest of the country?

[Immigration Enforcement Improvement Act, November 1st, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-292, an act to amend the Immigration Act (improvement of enforcement in the case of those who commit offences).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to reintroduce my private member's bill, which is known as the immigration enforcement improvement act.

I first introduced this bill during the 35th parliament, following the 1994 murders of Georgina Leimonis and police constable Todd Baylis in Toronto. Non-citizens who had been evading deportation committed both crimes.

The bill would eliminate bureaucratic red tape and speed up the deportation of criminal non-citizens. During the last parliament this bill was a votable item and had been undergoing a review by the immigration committee when parliament was dissolved in 1997.

I would encourage all members of the House to lend their support to this initiative.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Lisaard House Foundation, October 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Cambridge residents Val and Sheila O'Donovan recently donated $1 million to the Lisaard House Foundation, a new charitable organization establishing a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients.

Cancer patients who are too ill to be at home and who do not want to be in hospital will now have the option of staying at Lisaard House. The 6,000 square foot hospice located on 3.8 acres will provide large accommodations plus other living and meeting quarters making it easier for families and friends of cancer patients to visit and stay over.

The O'Donovans describe the donation as a gift back to the community. It is the generosity and kindness of people like Val and Sheila that has made Cambridge the caring community that it is. I call on all members to join me in thanking the O'Donovans for their incredible generosity.

[Petitions, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition with some 130 signatures of concerned citizens of my riding of Cambridge.

The petitioners are appalled at the existence of child pornography and are astounded by the legal determination that possession of such pornography is not criminal.

For this reason they call upon the Parliament of Canada to take measures to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a criminal offence and that police forces be directed to enforce this law for the protection of children.

I am fully supportive and on the side of the petitioners in my riding of Cambridge.

[The Late Charles Mercier, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on September 30, 1999 the life of 34 year old, senior OPP Constable Charles Mercier was taken in a tragic highway accident while he sat in his cruiser in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Anyone who knew the 13 year OPP veteran knew that he was a kind and gentle man, with a good sense of humour and keen negotiating skills.

But Chuck Mercier was not just a police officer. First and foremost, he was a loving husband to his wife, Joyce Pavelich, a dedicated father to his children Michelle and Nicholas, a loyal son to his mother Hélène, and late father Clermont, and a good friend to his brothers Pierre and Paul.

To the Pavelich, Mercier and OPP families, I would like to express my deepest sympathies. During this time of unspeakable grief and sorrow, may they take comfort in their memories of an honourable man who chose an honourable profession. He will never be forgotten.

[Ywca, October 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, October 17 to 23 is the YWCA's fourth annual Week Without Violence.

Each year the YWCA holds activities across Canada that help to raise awareness about violence in our communities and its impact on all of our lives. Last year local activities and initiatives touched over 20,000 individuals. This year's focus on youth is expected to touch even more lives.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the YWCA for its ongoing efforts on behalf of all Canadians. I would particularly like to congratulate the YWCA of Cambridge for its ongoing dedication to making our community a better and safer place to live. I would encourage all Canadians to participate in local activities during this year's Week Without Violence.

[Speech From The Throne, October 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, some 33 years ago I was a newcomer to this country. When I was growing up in Croatia I was poor. I came from a large family. I know what poverty is.

Listening to the speech today by the hon. member for Vancouver East I am a little confused. I do not know what country she is talking about, Canada or some other country.

This summer I had the opportunity to visit our RCMP officers in Sarajevo where I was taken to different parts of Bosnia and Hercegovina. That is where poverty is, not in Canada. I am really surprised to hear the bashing of the Liberal government that it does not care about children and youth in Canada.

I have four children. I did not expect any level of government to take care of them. I did not ask the government to provide me with early childhood benefits or whatnot. I had children with my wife because we wanted a family. We were and still are responsible parents.

No one can deny that there are children who deserve and need support from governments. Of course there are. However, it is not at the level that the hon. member for Vancouver East was saying. The hon. member should not portray Canada as the worst place to live when she knows, as well as many of us in the House, that there are millions of people who would rather live here than in their own country.

An immigration officer asked me how come he brought refugees to this country a year ago and today they are putting down payments on their homes. They are working and they are responsible new members of our society.

In the future, could the hon. member go across the country and see for herself how great the country really is?