Andy Mitchell

[Ontario Election, May 10th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, certain things always seem to go together: warm weather and barbecues, summer cottagers and Muskoka, an election in Ontario and a Liberal plan that works for the voters.

Municipalities across Ontario have benefited tremendously by our federal job creation initiatives, and specifically by the Canada-Ontario infrastructure program. When Lyn McLeod is premier of this province, Ontarians stand to benefit even more. Lyn McLeod and her Liberal team are committed to job creation and will work in partnership with the federal government to achieve the objectives of the infrastructure program.

The infrastructure program has been a resounding success. More than 14,000 jobs will be created in this province. All projects previously approved under the program will proceed fully funded and on schedule. That is the mark of good leadership, the mark that Lyn McLeod will bring to this province on June 8.

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, May 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there are four members of the third party who, using the definition of the last speaker, would be considered to be double dipping using the term the way we use it here. I had asked for an explanation as to whether those members will stop that practice that he finds so abhorrent. That would be the question.

Now the second question. We talked about that famous line, and those of you who know how to read a balance sheet know that an accrual figure is not a cash expense. I ask the hon.

member to say what is the cash expense to the government for the past fiscal year. That is debatable.

What I really want though is the answer to that question about those four members of the third party who are doing the double dipping, as he describes it.

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, May 4th, 1995]

I will ask my question again, because there were two questions. I got a part answer in one and no answer in the other. I will start with the one I did not seem to get an answer to.

There are four members of your party who are double dipping by the definition you used.

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, May 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I did want to have an opportunity to ask the hon. member a question and perhaps make a comment in advance of doing that.

He is quite right that MPs do make sacrifices. One of the sacrifices I have had to make is to give up one of my favourite pastimes of reading fiction. Fortunately, sitting in the House today has been some compensation for that.

Let us talk about the figure of $156 million that he bandied about. Let us understand what that is. That is an accrual figure. For those members who understand a balance sheet, it would be like counting depreciation as a cash layout. It is not any such thing. It is a liability that would suggest that if every member of Parliament lived to their actuarial age and if every member of Parliament qualified for a pension, that would be the lifetime expense of the pension. First, 50 per cent of MPs never receive it, so that figure is nothing but an accrual figure that is used by actuaries who are dealing with a pension plan. It is not a true government expense.

Let us get down to what the true government expense is. Right now, under the present regime, it is between $10 million and $11 million. That will drop by 33 per cent.

Let us put into context what this great party across the way is battling and why it is so worried about economic concerns. This represents six one-thousandths of one per cent of the total government expenditure. The party that has come here to control expenditures, the party that has come here because Canadians have told them that we are spending too much, has all of this outrage to deal with six one-thousandths of one per cent of government expenditure.

Let us put it in a better light. If a member was earning $40,000 a year and decided they needed to cut back on their expenditures, the amount the MP's pension would represent in equivalent terms of that $40,000 is $2.40. That is all they would be dealing with, and that is all we are dealing with in the cost.

So I think that when the member describes these expenditures he should do it accurately and in the appropriate context.

I have one other point. He talks about the fact that double dipping is going to continue. I point out there are four members of his party who are double dipping using the definition he just used. I ask the hon. member: Are those four members going to stop their double dipping? Will they stop drawing their pensions from the public purse while they sit in this House and draw the MP pension? Or are they going to continue with double dipping? It will be interesting to hear the answer.

[Elspeth Hogg, May 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate Elspeth Hogg of Utterson in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Mrs. Hogg has been selected as one of just 23 recipients of the 1995 Canada volunteer award medal and certificate of honour for her contributions to her community.

Mrs. Hogg is recognized for serving on the first board of the Muskoka Women's Advocacy Group and for serving as chair from 1984 to 1989. She is credited as instrumental in the establishment of Muskoka Interval House, a much needed women's shelter, and for recruiting countless volunteers and donators of supplies.

In addition to this work, Mrs. Hogg served the Elizabeth Fry Society, the Hospital for Sick Children, the YWCA and the Boy Scouts as well as volunteering on boards such as the Canadian Corrections Association and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

I wholeheartedly congratulate Mrs. Hogg for her tremendous achievement and for giving so freely of herself. We are all very proud.

[Bala And District Lions Club, May 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge a special undertaking in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.

The community of Bala, which is well known for its annual Cranberry Festival, is once again proving that its citizens have what it takes to launch worthwhile community initiatives.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bala and District Lions Club, an organization that time and time again has contributed to the positive development of this close-knit community.

Now, to commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Lions Club intends to build an open-sided community pavilion at Jaspen Park in Bala for use by families and groups who spend time enjoying the park. Fundraising has begun in earnest and a concept drawing has been prepared by local artist and historian Lorne Jewitt.

I congratulate the Bala and District Lions Club for this welcome and generous initiative. I applaud the Lions members for the warmth and spirit behind this move, because when it comes right down to it these are the gestures that truly define our communities.

[Financial Administration Act, April 24th, 1995]

Do you mean there were Reformers back then too?

[V-E Day Anniversary, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the special effort of a number of my constituents who have joined together to host a very special event in my riding.

On May 6 and 7 of this year the committee will launch High Hopes-Looking Back, Flying Forward, a special 50th anniversary celebration of V-E Day at the Muskoka airport.

This two-day family event brings together veterans, historians, aviation industry representatives, international dignitaries, pilots and aircraft enthusiasts to promote and foster appreciation for all things connected to air travel. The show features appearances by a Lancaster bomber, the B-25 Mitchell, World War I replicas, a C-130 Hercules, plus a Tigermoth and a Grasshopper among others.

The idea was given flight both as a tribute to those who served in World War II and a way to encourage economic activity at the Muskoka airport, which has long been recognized as an important link to our local economy.

My congratulations go out to the promoters of High Hopes for the energy and spirit they have brought to this project.

[Heritage Vision '95, March 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of a group of my constituents who have taken it upon themselves to make a difference in our riding.

They call their initiative Heritage Vision '95. It brings together the communities of Chisholm, Nipissing, Himsworth South, Powassan, and interest groups that have united for a common cause.

Heritage Vision '95 plans a community heritage park, including an interpretive centre, a tourist information centre, an agricultural centre and a refurbished eight-sided rotunda that will serve as a band shell. The historic Clark House will be the park's focal point.

Heritage Vision '95 chair Dennis Andrews and his hard working team of volunteers have what it takes to see the project through to completion: shared objectives, the will to work co-operatively and the desire to persevere with volunteer time, labour and motivation to accomplish the goals.

Community spirit starts and grows because small groups of people wholeheartedly believe that they can make a difference. Heritage Vision '95 will do just that.

[Firearms Act, March 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about Bill C-68, the firearms legislation.

As a representative from rural Ontario I have some concerns about the legislation which I intend to address in a minute. I want to express both my support and the support of my constituents for the minister's objective to curb violence in our society. That is the intent of the legislation and I fully share that. My constituents share that. It is a worthwhile objective. The debate on Bill C-68 is about the best method to curb violence in our society.

I support a number of the things the minister has proposed. I support increased criminal sanctions for the illegal use of a firearm. On average right now it is about 16 months for committing those 10 designated offences. Under this legislation it would be four years, an increase of 300 per cent in the sentence.

I agree with the sanctions individuals will have to absorb if they are caught smuggling firearms. I agree with his direction to provincial attorneys if they have evidence not to bargain away a firearms offence, go to court and find the individual guilty.

I agree with an enterprise crime for the smuggling of firearms. If someone is caught doing it, the assets they have gained can be seized by the crown and used for further criminal control. I agree with increased border controls, recognizing that we will not be able to stop every vehicle that crosses the border. If we are able to reduce it by 20 per cent or 30 per cent, it is better than not doing anything. I agree with his interdiction activities.

I was very pleased to hear that the minister agreed there are legitimate uses of firearms. He agreed that hunting is a valid pastime. He agreed that target shooting is a valid sport. He agreed that collectors have a right to collect.

He talked about the needs for pest control and the needs of trappers. I agree with that. I agree with his statement of the economic impact hunting has on areas like mine. Every fall thousands of people travel to Parry Sound-Muskoka to participate in hunting. They have a significant economic impact on my area.

I hope the committee studying the bill looks at ways of having that support better enshrined in the legislation because it is an important concept which should be in the legislation.

I do not agree with the comments by some of my colleagues opposite regarding self-defence. I agree fully with the minister that police officers and military officers should carry firearms for self-defence. I do not agree with arming civilians for the sole purpose of self-defence against criminals. We are not the United States. We do not settle our arguments at the end of a gun barrel. That does mean there are not legitimate uses like hunting, target shooting and gun collecting. We have to make the distinction between the two.

I have some concerns regarding some of the proposals, particularly related to registration. The minister has suggested we are going to spend $85 million to register firearms. I want to be clear that is the best way to control violence.

The minister said registration will not stop a criminal from using an illegal weapon. He indicated it will not stop somebody

intent on killing himself. It probably will not stop somebody intent on committing violence against somebody else.

I need the committee to demonstrate in its hearings exactly what the link is between universal registration and curbing violence. I want the committee to look at models from other countries to see how it has worked. I want it to come forward with statistical data showing that direct link between registration and the curbing of violence.

I want the committee to listen closely to witnesses, both pro and con, so we can understand how this works, registration and controlled violence. I want the committee to talk to the people who will have to enforce this legislation, the police officers on the street who will actually have to enforce this, handgun clubs which will be a big part of the enforcement, legal firearms owners about how this will work.

The committee has to compare the $85 million expenditure with some other options. Would $85 million spent on more policing be a better way of curbing violence? Would $85 million spent on breaking the cycle of poverty in our inner cities be a better way of curbing violence? Would $85 million spent on education for spousal abuse and protection of battered individuals be a better way?

In its report I want to hear that any system it eventually suggests will be effective. It must demonstrate that directly. It has to be efficient, not creating a large bureaucracy and not setting up ongoing and escalating costs. It has to be a secure system. I want it to tell me it will not be costly to individual firearms owners. Most important, I want it to demonstrate it is not the first step along the road toward prohibiting all firearms.

I support the minister in his objective of controlling violence. I support his sanctions against criminals. I support trying to stop smuggling. I want to see the benefits of registration clearly demonstrated by the committee.