House of Commons photo

Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was fredericton.

Last in Parliament September 2008, as Liberal MP for Fredericton (New Brunswick)

Won his last election, in 2006, with 42% of the vote.

public complaints commission

Statements in the House

Canada Elections Act November 26th, 1996

Madam Speaker, I will use the opportunity to answer the previous speaker's question because he was wondering why we did not engage in more debate. The answer is because of the quality of debate just offered by this questioner. I did not mention a fresh start. I did not mention interest rates. I did not mention any of those things. Clearly it is good evidence as to why we can exhaust this debate as quickly as we will.

Canada Elections Act November 26th, 1996

Madam Speaker, the hon. member noted that because of comments made by members on this side of the House that obviously an election is looming. I would suggest that we knew an election was looming because all the Reformers are quitting. Clearly it is a matter that they know full well it is better to get out now than to be asked to get out later.

Saving money is very important. I appreciate the question because it distinguishes between us very well. The reason there is public money involved in the political process is to diminish the importance of private money in the political process. It is that simple. A poor person who seeks office does not have the kind of money to put together and run a campaign. Consequently the public interest is served by public participation in financing elections. It is that simple. Clearly that is the difference between us.

Finally, I have to acknowledge the irony of what the hon. member is saying. In one paragraph the hon. member is asking why would we not want to have more debate and at the same time he is asking if this is such a good piece of legislation, why all the amendments? Clearly those are two completely inconsistent observations but I am not surprised.

Canada Elections Act November 26th, 1996

Madam Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak on Bill C-63, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Referendum Act, in particular as it pertains to three elements. I would like to address establishing a permanent electoral list, implementing a shorter campaign period and staggering the voting hours across the country.

The first element of the bill deals with the question of a permanent electoral list. I believe that such a list will be better for Canadians because it will eliminate the recurring need to have approximately 100,000 enumerators going door to door and it will save hundreds of millions of dollars.

Just as important is the fact that by having a permanent list, one that we can all work with as members of Parliament, will include Canadians better in the political process and will provide the opportunity for us as members of Parliament to communicate better with our constituents not only during an election campaign but between elections.

For example, I can see the opportunity to keep track of all the correspondence, to identify areas of interest and really build an informed database that will allow us to seek the opinions of our constituents. It will allow us to provide the education and information to our constituents on various issues of the day. It will be much more reliable as a database than what is currently available to us.

What makes this even more important is that we are moving toward new technologies. I am sure as members of Parliament we are all going to be faced with more and more interventions from constituents who have access to technology like the Internet. People will use various types of mechanisms to contact a member of Parliament which is important. That makes it more important for us to ensure we can get to the people who do not have access to those technologies which is one of the things a permanent list would accomplish.

A permanent list will make it easier for us to keep track of information. It will make it easier for constituents to access the list, for example, younger Canadians who are moving a lot, people who live in rooming houses, people who live in places such that the current system does not accommodate them. Having gone through many elections, not necessarily as a candidate but at the poll level, there are always problems getting people on the lists. The

permanent register brings a lot more certainty to the process, a lot more consistency, and is much more democratic.

There is a second important element of the bill. We are going to have a shorter campaign period. This is good public policy for two reasons. First, a shorter campaign period de-emphasizes the importance of spending on the campaign itself. The issue of money, of the ability to raise it, of the ability to conduct an elaborate campaign will be less important. Obviously if there is less time, the advantage of financially well-heeled candidates will diminish, which is good for democracy.

The shorter campaign period also de-emphasizes the impact of the campaign itself. What we are talking about now is having a choice made by constituents that may be measured a little more by the performance of the candidates, the government or the party over a longer period of time. There will be de-emphasis of the campaign and emphasis on one's community record. There will be emphasis on the performance, good or bad, of the government. Those may be more important considerations for electors to apply.

If we de-emphasize the campaign by making it shorter, there will be a greater tendency for people to vote on broader issues. We all know that during the course of a campaign the measures that are applied have to do with a candidate's ability to function in front of a television camera or their ability to speak before the public. Members of Parliament also know that those abilities are not nearly as important as one's ability to get the job done. It is important that we be measured as candidates in those terms and not necessarily on the basis of the others I mentioned.

The third element is the staggered voting hours across the country which is only fair. Then the outcomes of the election will not be known in the west prior to people voting. It is a good proposal that brings a greater sense of inclusion to all parts of Canada.

There is a great sense of alienation, whether geographic, socioeconomic or gender based. Whatever the source of alienation it is obviously something that governments, political parties and this institution should be constantly trying to improve on. I see this provision as a fundamental response to the tenet that Canadians must feel the system works. If you are voting when you know full well that a government has already been formed, you may not believe the system works. I would find it personally offensive.

With the new rules in place the voting will be staggered. This will allow voting to occur in a way that lends itself more to everybody feeling included. I welcome the fact that those amendments were made in a fashion that would also be sensitive to the fact that no one in Atlantic Canada would want to be voting at midnight. A reasonable accommodation has occurred.

I also pay tribute to the member for Vancouver East for her many interventions. As a hardworking member of Parliament she deserves to be acknowledged for her efforts in this regard.

It is important to deal with the question of alienation and making our constituents feel included in the process. In my case over the past three years I have held a number of public policy forums, the 18th of which was held last Sunday. These are pretty elaborate affairs where people in the constituency have an opportunity to debate the issues of the day. A week ago we discussed the upcoming budget. I was given direction by my constituents as to how I should approach any opportunity I may have to influence the outcome of the budget.

The types of reforms we are talking about today are consistent with that inclusion for the reasons I mentioned. I know it is difficult for all of us because we are constantly caught up in the crisis of the day in this place. From time to time we all let our guard down or we become a little less conscious of the need to consult. Again we have to be reminded on occasion.

There have been other attempts at electoral reforms in the last couple of years and not all were as positive for the country. The boundary redistribution which is coming into effect was poorly thought out.

I presented a motion on July 12 last year to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs objecting to the provisions of the report as it related to New Brunswick. The commission failed to respect the community of interest by dividing the greater Fredericton area into urban and rural ridings.

The area that surrounds Fredericton is now lost to another riding, a wonderful riding that I am sure you, Madam Speaker, will well represent long into the future. However, there is no logical connection with the Saint John River valley as has been determined by the redistribution system.

The outlying regions of Fredericton feel a strong attachment to that city. They receive all their federal services from that city. It was not a useful exercise to detach them from their logical place. It does not lend anything to our desire to have people feel included and to have some sense of continuity in the political process, regardless of which political party those constituents support. I believe it was an honest attempt at improving the boundaries, but it failed miserably in that measure.

I very much support not only the idea behind Bill C-63, but also how it will implement those ideas. We need to do everything we can to enhance our ability as members of Parliament to establish an honest daily relationship with all our constituents. A permanent list will allow that to happen. Minimizing the campaign makes us more accountable for our activities between elections. It also minimizes

the impact of money on the outcome. Of course by having a permanent list it will save Canadians millions of dollars.

With that, I encourage all members of the House to support the bill.

Task Force On Disabilities November 4th, 1996

Mr. Speaker, last week the report of the ministerial task force on disabilities issues was presented to the Ministers of Human Resources Development, Finance, Justice, and National Revenue.

I want to thank all the people who participated, from colleagues to the operation centre at HRDC, the Library of Parliament, the reference group members, officials from minister's offices and observers who placed their trust in the process. Most important, I want to thank the thousands from across the country who came out to the public forums.

The essence of our report is simply that we believe that wherever you live in Canada as a citizen who happens to have a disability, you have the right to expect of your government the necessary interventions to make opportunities available to you as equal as possible.

I look forward with optimism to the government's response to the task force's recommendations.

Human Reproductive And Genetic Technologies Act October 31st, 1996

Madam Speaker, in response to the question, I can only say that the exercise of the federal government in areas of health and safety is well-established.

I need only recall how many times the hon. member has called on the federal government to take action. There seems to be some inconsistency in calling on the federal government to take action and, at the same time, to suggest that by taking action it is trying to somehow centralize a power. It is not at all unusual for the federal government to be engaged in areas of this nature. I can think of many that we discuss as members of the health committee.

On that point, the member has also mentioned, in questioning my colleague earlier, the fact that the legislation is somewhat inconclusive. That will lead probably to a more meaningful debate in committee as we look at the legislation. I am sure if it was more definitive then the accusation would be, what is the point of looking at this bill since the decisions have all been taken.

Consequently, I do not think it is at all unusual for the federal government to take a leading role in acting in the health and safety interests of Canadians. There is a lot of precedent for that. I welcome the government's attention to this matter.

Human Reproductive And Genetic Technologies Act October 31st, 1996

Madam Speaker, I am happy to rise today to speak to Bill C-47, the new reproductive and genetic technologies act.

It is not often that legislative measures come with an explicit ethical framework attached. Bill C-47 addresses issues that touch our most basic beliefs about the nature of human life, the value which we attach to it and the role of reproduction and parenthood in our society.

Following the lead of the royal commission on new reproductive technologies, the federal government developed an ethical framework to guide its policy development in the area of new reproductive and genetic technologies. These principles are outlined in the

petition paper that the government released at the same time it tabled Bill C-47. The government did this in the belief that ethical principles must be open to public scrutiny and debate if they are to have any meaning. I would like to touch on some of these now.

One of the ethical principles guiding the government's policy making is the need to balance individual and collective interests. Individual autonomy is a value that Canadians espouse but decisions are not made in a vacuum. Every individual is part of the larger society and decisions made by individuals can have repercussions for that society.

Individual autonomy does not include the freedom to harm others, to coerce them or to undermine social stability. Those seeking assisted reproduction or prenatal diagnosis, gamete donors and the children born as a result of assisted reproduction, are all individuals whose interests are affected by policy making about new reproductive genetic technologies. Their interests must be balanced with the interest of society as a whole, as well as those of identifiable groups in society.

For instance, the provision of prenatal diagnosis has implications for how we as a society view people with disabilities. Women as a group are of particular importance since it is women who experience the technologies most directly. Women from ethnic or racial minorities have special interests that must also be considered. Individual interests do not automatically take precedence over collective interests nor can the collective tyrannize individuals.

We must protect those who are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of the technologies while respecting the rights of infertile individuals or those who are at risk of passing a genetic disease to their children to seek the intervention they see as being of most help to them.

Canada is committed by the charter of rights and freedoms to the principle of equality between men and women. This is the second principle in the government's ethical framework. This does not mean, however, that men and women must be treated equally. Rather we must recognize that the physical and social burdens and risks of reproduction are borne primarily by women.

The prohibitions contained in this legislation reflect the careful consideration given to the special needs and interests of women. Practices and procedures that leave women vulnerable to exploitation and coercion such as commercial surrogacy arrangements or egg donation for payment have been expressly prohibited in no small part because of the negative impact on women's equal status in Canadian society.

Protecting those who are vulnerable is a priority for the government. It is the third element of our ethical framework. Society has a responsibility to ensure that those who are vulnerable are not manipulated or controlled by those in positions of power and authority. Any individual or group who does have the power or the resources to adequately represent themselves is in need of special protection. Women are vulnerable to such exploitation in part because of social and economic factors that limit their power. Individuals or couples seeking to use these technologies are also vulnerable. They need technology to help them have a child, technology to which access is limited and determined by others.

That is why the government is prohibiting the use of their embryos for research purposes without their express informed consent. Children born through the use of these technologies are particularly vulnerable. Technology such as sex selection and commercial surrogacy demean the value of children in our society and have been prohibited because they make children into commodities.

With Bill C-47 the government is also seeking to protect the health and safety of Canadians. This requires a commitment to the appropriate use of medical treatment. Currently we would like to help all people who are infertile but in a world of diverse needs and finite resources it is our responsibility to ensure that decisions about the provision of medical treatment be made in accordance with clearly defined health care priorities.

The first step in ensuring an appropriate use of health care resources is to minimize the number of people requiring medical treatment by emphasizing prevention. In its position paper on a comprehensive management regime for new reproductive and genetic technologies, the government has outlined non-legislative initiatives it is taking, including the establishment of a framework for sexual and reproductive health. This framework will, among other others, provide the basis for a comprehensive strategy for the prevention of infertility. Even with the best preventive efforts in the world, there will still be people who suffer from infertility. The principle of the appropriate use of medical treatment requires the simplest and least invasive intervention should be used first to assist those people in conceiving a child.

Non-commercialization of reproduction and reproductive materials is the fifth tenet of the government's ethical framework. By commercialization I mean the introduction of a profit element into reproduction, the buying or selling of reproductive materials or reproductive services. Commercialization is contrary to the basic values we hold about the inalienable rights of people not to be bought or sold. It disregards the importance of reproduction and its significance in our lives as human beings.

Finally, the government is committed to the principle of accountability at all levels. Individuals have a responsibility to safeguard their own reproductive and sexual health to help prevent infertility in the first place. Canadian society has a right to regulate and monitor how the technologies are used to ensure that our values and priorities are being respected.

Governments and practitioners have a joint responsibility to protect the reproductive and sexual health of their communities and the individuals they serve. These ethical principles provide one pillar of the government's approach to our new reproductive and genetic technologies.

Other important aspects are concern for the health and safety of Canadians, a perspective on infertility and a consideration of the well-being and the interests of children. These are also essential components of the government's approach. Together these pillars make up the framework that has guided the government in prohibiting certain practices and procedures. They will continue to guide us as we develop our regulatory components.

The Senate October 30th, 1996

Mr. Speaker, let me take this occasion to say how happy I am to see you in your place.

I propose that Motion No. 221, tabled by my colleague, the hon. member for Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup, be rejected for a number of reasons. However, let me say how pleased I am that by proposing an amendment to this fine institution the Bloc is recognizing the legitimacy of the Canadian Constitution.

Opening up the constitutional debate at this time, even for the purpose of abolishing the Senate, is far removed from the concerns and aspirations of ordinary Canadians. Indeed it is unfortunate that the Bloc is ignoring the real needs of its constituents who are looking for jobs, who want to achieve a decent standard of living, who are concerned about the future of social programs and who want their governments to work together constructively.

On this side of the House we firmly believe that job creation, economic and social development should be the top priorities of all elected members. They are the top priorities of Canadians.

Since the Liberals were elected we have kept our commitment to work toward the creation of a climate for opportunity for Canadians. We have put forward tangible measures to help make government more efficient, renew the federation, keep the country united and forge new partnerships with the provinces. All Canadians, including Quebecers, want change. They want Canada to work better. They want the different orders of government to be more efficient and to fulfil their respective roles more effectively. Much of it can be done without constitutional amendment.

Accordingly, the government has made a commitment to modernize the federation step by step, focusing on co-operation with the provinces and territories to serve Canadians better. Canadians have said they want to see government roles and responsibilities clarified, and the government has responded. We are withdrawing from areas of activity that are more appropriately the responsibility of the provinces or the private sector, forestry, mining development, recreation and some aspects of transport.

In the area of labour market training the government submitted a proposal to the provinces in May and this enables them to takeover responsibility for active employment assistance measures. The provinces can therefore, if they wish, manage the approximately $1.9 billion per year the federal government currently spends on active employment assistance measures and implement their own programs such as wage subsidies, income supplements, self-employment assistance and private sector job creation partnerships, as well as many other labour services such as screening and job counselling.

The framework we are putting in place will provide a maximum flexibility for the provinces, making it possible to meet local and regional needs more effectively.

At this June's first ministers meeting, new avenues for partnership with the provinces were explored, including initiatives in the fields of social housing, freshwater fish habitat and environmental management.

In the area of social housing, negotiations have started with the provinces including Quebec on the orderly transfer of social housing management and the billions in grants that go with it.

In the sector of freshwater fish habitat, the federal government tabled a bill in the House of Commons on October 3 to amend the Fisheries Act. This bill will substantially modernize and update the legal framework for fisheries, conservation and habitat management in Canada. It will allow industry, including fisher people, to participate directly in fisheries management through partnership agreements. Discussions are under way with interested provinces.

With respect to the environment, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment adopted a work plan on May 31 which was approved by the first ministers meeting on June 20 and 21 to strengthen co-operation and eliminate duplication while maintaining the highest standards. Progress was made on developing a framework agreement, setting out principles and objectives for co-operation between the federal and provincial governments. Progress was also made on negotiating two subsidiary agreements on effective inspection and high environmental standards.

With the Canada health and social transfer we have also ensured that the principles of the Canada Health Act will be respected throughout the country. In this way we will ensure the universality of health insurance and social programs in line with our commitments and the values that Canadians cherish.

The government has also for the first time in history made a commitment to limit its spending power. We have said that we will no longer use that power to establish new, cost shared programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction without the consent of the majority of the provinces. Provinces which do not wish to participate but which nevertheless choose to implement a comparable program will be compensated.

The Bloc should acknowledge that our plans for renewal are serious, concrete and affect the day to day realities of all Canadians including those it represents.

A bill has been tabled to bring all food inspection services, comprising 4,500 employees, under one body. This move is yet another step toward working more effectively with provincial agencies to set up a co-operative Canada-wide food inspection system that will lessen the regulatory burden on the food industry.

Discussions are continuing with those provinces interested in this project and in other federal-provincial joint initiatives such as a national revenue collection body and a national securities commission.

All our initiatives will help eliminate overlap and duplication, thus yielding substantial savings and more efficient services for Canadians.

Canadians from coast to coast want their government to make the country work better. They want their governments to put their public finances in order, improve economic growth and bring about an economic climate conducive to job creation. In fact, I am surprised to see that Bloc, in tabling this motion, is out of touch with the concerns of the very people it represents.

For its part, this government is already working closely with the provinces and all its social and economic partners to explore new options and find new ways to do things so as to serve Canadians better and respond to their immediate concerns.

I therefore consider the motion tabled today by the hon. member from Rivière-du-Loup to be inappropriate. For that reason, I call on the House to reject it.

Human Rights October 24th, 1996

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour.

Last fall the government passed Bill C-64 which strengthened the Employment Equity Act by extending its coverage and giving the human rights commission a mandate to ensure its compliance. As it comes into effect today, could the minister advise the House how this legislation adds to the basic human rights of Canadians?

Youth Internship October 21st, 1996

Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to attend the recent open house reception and information night hosted by the Youth Internship Canada program in school district 17 in Oromocto, New Brunswick. The federal government is providing more than $100,000 for this important initiative.

The youth internship program provides students and employers with opportunities to work together by developing skills and knowledge that can lead to employment. Students participate in on the job and in class training which will be applied directly to specific jobs.

In preparing the students for work readiness, they will be taught basic employability skills along with anger management and social skills training. The program is designed to include special needs students, youth at risk, learning disabled and native students.

I applaud the federal government for funding this innovative program and I congratulate all the students, teachers and businesses involved.

Marianne Limpert September 26th, 1996

Mr. Speaker, this summer was marked by the Atlanta Olympics. I want to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to Marianne Limpert from Fredericton who did our country proud by winning a silver medal in swimming in the 200 metre individual medley.

Marianne is the first New Brunswicker ever to win a medal at a summer Olympic Games, and her hometown gave her a hero's welcome when she arrived back, even naming a street after her, Limpert Lane.

She now holds the Canadian record in her event and there will be a Marianne Limpert scholarship fund launched on October 4. It is important that we continue to support amateur athletes so they are able to follow their dreams. I know Marianne has inspired many young Canadians to attain their personal bests.

I look forward to meeting with Marianne when she and Fredericton's Hal Merrill, Paralypmic bronze medalist, meet with the Prime Minister next week.