Karen Redman

[Tobacco, November 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, recently 17 young Canadians representing all regions of our country were selected to form a youth advisory committee on tobacco issues. They met over the weekend to discuss the government's tobacco strategy as it relates to youth.

Would the Secretary of State for Children and Youth tell the House what the youth advisory committee can contribute to address the serious risk of smoking among young Canadians?

[Cida, November 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this week in Ottawa, as part of the International Co-operation Days, the Canadian International Development Agency is meeting with over 1,200 representatives from all sectors involved in international development.

The meetings will enable the minister responsible to outline her priorities and to hear from Canadians and overseas partners about their work in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Through CIDA and its partners, Canadians can be proud of our contribution to creating a more secure and prosperous world for us all.

In my riding of Kitchener Centre, organizations such as the Mennonite Central Committee have worked with CIDA and have been able to assist individuals who are in need and living in devastated areas such as Kosovo.

I am pleased to represent a community that has a long and distinguished tradition of helping the citizens in the world in times of crisis.

In the Speech from the Throne, the government indicated that we will do more. For example, CIDA will support programs that educate young girls in Africa, assist women in Asia to start—

[East Asian Festival, November 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this month in Kitchener-Waterloo at Renison College we are celebrating the annual East Asian Festival.

This multicultural event is a wonderful celebration of the heritage of East Asian Canadians. The cultures of Taiwan, Japan, Korea and China are each represented throughout the four day festival.

This event gives members of our local community and students at the University of Waterloo the opportunity to experience and learn about East Asian traditions. Guests to the festival have the opportunity to experience lion dancing, East Asian foods and martial arts demonstrations, and to participate in business and educational workshops.

I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the volunteers who have given so much of their time to make this festival the great success that it is. In particular, I would like to commend Dr. Gail Cuthbert-Brandt, principal of Renison College, for her commitment to this very worthy project.

[Week Without Violence, October 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this past week was the YWCA's fourth annual week without violence.

In Canada this international event is exclusively sponsored by Clarica. In my riding of Kitchener Centre, the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Council joined with the YWCA of Kitchener—Waterloo to host a community leaders breakfast.

I commend these groups for their commitment to raising awareness about this important issue. Under the banner of “Share the Image of a Violence Free Society”, they have released a series of postcards in the Waterloo region with thought-provoking quotations and pictures.

Violent acts take place against all members of our society, in our homes, on our streets, in our schoolyards and even in the workplace.

Organizations such as the YWCA provide programs teaching men and women to express their feelings in a productive manner.

I encourage all members of the House to work with their communities to find local solutions to addressing violence, for, to quote Carl Bruehner, children “...may forget what you have said but they will never forget how you made them feel”.

[Foreign Affairs, October 21st, 1999]

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

Since the conclusion of the conflict in Serbia, we have witnessed attempts by many Serbs to build a democratic society. We have witnessed a pro-democracy rally, a budding opposition movement and many attempts to establish a free press.

What is Canada doing to encourage democratic development in Serbia?

[Oktoberfest Women Of The Year Awards, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to acknowledge and congratulate 10 outstanding women from the Waterloo region who were honoured in this past year's Oktoberfest Women of the Year Awards.

On October 18 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Persons case, which allowed Canadian women to be members of the Senate.

On the eve of the next millennium, women across the country are ready, willing and prepared to ensure this nation's success far into the 21st century.

It is women such as the ones who were honoured last Thursday in Kitchener who make a difference, who add to the strength and vibrancy of Canada as a nation.

I acknowledge these women by name and category: Hilde English, professional; Corry Den Duyf, senior; Arleen MacPherson, humanitarian; Aneita Brown, homemaker; Catherine Schwark, employee; Gita Morar, community volunteer; Helen Jowett, entrepeneur; Yvonne Tousek, fitness and sport; and Cheryl Muranko, young adult. I congratulate these women.

[Petitions, October 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition that was presented to me by my constituents in Kitchener Centre. The petitioners request that parliament halt the plans of Treasury Board to appropriate the surpluses in the public service, the military and the RCMP pension plans. They also ask that the Treasury Board end all actions that undermine the confidence and morale of the public service, armed forces and RCMP personnel.

This petition has been certified and I am pleased to present it today.

[Canada Post Corporation Act, October 18th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-229, an act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (letter that cannot be transmitted by post).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce a bill to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (letter that cannot be transmitted by post).

During the last session of parliament this bill was known as Bill C-409. Bill C-409 is an important piece of legislation as it protects the Canadian consumer from telemarketing mail scams. It will ensure that the Canada Post Corporation does not deliver contests, lotteries or prize cards that require individuals to pay out before they are able to claim their prize. The bill will also regulate the use of logos that mimic federal government logos.

Before the House prorogued, Bill C-409 was about to receive its first hour of debate at second reading. This legislation has not been altered in any way since prorogation. I trust it will resume its place on the order paper.

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

[Oktoberfest, October 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, during this past weekend Kitchener—Waterloo welcomed thousands of visitors from across the continent to kick off the 31st annual Oktoberfest celebrations.

In fact members of this House came to Kitchener to join in the great German tradition. This nine day festival is the largest Bavarian celebration in North America with the greatest Thanksgiving Day parade in Canada.

Oktoberfest has become an important cultural event for our nation. It symbolizes what it is like to live in a multicultural nation.

Through the celebration of this spirit of gemütlichkeit the local economy is stimulated and $18 million is raised annually with $1.8 million going directly to local charities.

I congratulate the over 400 volunteers who make Oktoberfest such a great success each year. In particular I recognize the hard work of Oktoberfest president Auggie Sherban. He should be commended for his outstanding commitment and dedication to this important cultural event.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for the temporary promotion to minister.

I had the pleasure this past summer of going to the Arctic region and the Northwest Territories of this land and was very proud to see the process in place for self-government. As recently as last April we saw the creation of Nunavut. I will tell the member that the government is working very hard with our aboriginal people, who do not speak with one voice, to come up with self-government and empower them to use their voices to create what the next century will look like for them.

I also point out for the member opposite, if he would like to look at the Speech from the Throne, that there is reference made to the social union. One of the things that the social union does is allow all levels of government, with the leadership of the federal government, to stop pointing fingers at each other and to engage in solutions of the kind the Minister of Labour has heard in communities as she crossed Canada looking at the homelessness issue and looking at a variety of ways that all governments can work together to solve this problem. It is a national concern of the government, but not one that merely demands having money thrown at it.

The social union structure allows Canadians to hold all levels of government accountable. The one thing the government will not do is risk financial gains by having a balanced financial picture and dressing down the deficit. We will not run deficits to give tax cuts, which is happening in Ontario.