Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from people from the rural municipality of Etonia in Saskatchewan who wish to have the liquid strychnine for the control of Richardson's ground squirrel made available to agricultural producers.
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Petitions June 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from people from the rural municipality of Etonia in Saskatchewan who wish to have the liquid strychnine for the control of Richardson's ground squirrel made available to agricultural producers.
Saskatoon Police Force June 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the city of Saskatoon has recently embarked on a community policing initiative that is seeking input from all interested parties.
Policing involves everybody in the community. Individually we may be affected through the services that are provided, whether it is crime prevention, investigation, enforcement or through the payment of property taxes that are needed to deliver those services.
To ensure safe and secure communities, the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners is asking for help in determining priorities for policing in its neighbourhoods. The Board of Police Commissioners is encouraging input in a number of ways, including visiting its scheduled open houses, letter writing, online submissions and small group meetings.
On behalf of the constituents of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, I wish to commend the Saskatoon police force for embarking on this initiative. I know that the outcome of this process will produce a better police force and a safer community.
Census Records May 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, in today's National Post there is a story about Grey Alexander, an Alberta sheep farmer, who is upset that the local area census worker has access to personal information about him.
Mr. Alexander was contacted by a census worker after he failed to complete the long census form in full. The problem is the census worker is someone he knows quite well.
To quote Mr. Alexander, “Elements of my income end up with somebody I see twice a week. What if it's a business competitor or somebody you have acrimony with? This is a small town”.
In today's Saskatoon Star Phoenix there is a letter describing a similar situation. To quote the writer, “There is no one in our community to whom I knowingly would have provided all the private personal confidential information contained in the census form. Not even the loans officer at my bank in town”.
Statistics Canada clearly needs to do a far better job of protecting confidentiality of census data in rural areas.
Agriculture May 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the average Saskatchewan farmer earned under $7,000 last year. That does not include any wages or return in equity.
The wheat board minister claims that his government has provided $30 billion of passive farm subsidies. Saskatchewan farmers could not have received much of this passive money. They would like to know how much of this passive phantom money was used for advertising and administration.
Mining May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it is mining week in Saskatchewan. Mining contributes more than $2 billion to Saskatchewan's gross domestic product annually. Almost 20,000 people are employed either directly or indirectly by the mining industry today.
The total value of Saskatchewan's mineral sales was $2.4 billion last year. Saskatchewan is the world's leading producer and exporter of potash and uranium, accounting for almost 30% of world production in both of these commodities.
The opening of two new uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan and the growing momentum in diamond exploration will contribute to ensuring that mining continues to be a significant contributor to our provincial economy.
I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in the mining industry in Saskatchewan on a wonderful past and a very bright future.
Petitions May 15th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents in Saskatchewan concerning the use of liquid strychnine for controlling Richardson's ground squirrels. The Richardson's ground squirrels have been doing a great deal of damage to rural Saskatchewan. The constituents who have forwarded the petition to me wish to have the government take this issue very seriously.
Veterans Affairs May 10th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, by directing taxpayer money only at Liberals and even denying help to an aging veteran, the government consistently demonstrates a dangerous double standard.
The Prime Minister should be embarrassed by this despicable incident. He needs to commit to removing the double standard from all aspects of government operations, including his own backbench. Will he commit to treating all Canadians—
Veterans Affairs May 10th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Yesterday's revelations regarding the member for Scarborough Southwest reflect a pattern we have seen from the government for quite a while now.
The transitional jobs fund was well known as a subject of political manipulation. It is clear that TJF applications in the province of Quebec were subject to vetting by local Liberal MPs. If there was not a Liberal MP, the Liberal riding associations passed out Canadians' money.
Why is it that Canadians who do not vote Liberal are considered second class citizens?
Crystal Siemens May 8th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the talent and dedication of a young woman from Saskatchewan, Crystal Siemens. Crystal was recently named fashion designer of the year by the city of Toronto.
Growing up in rural Saskatchewan, Crystal moved to Toronto in 1985 to attend Ryerson Polytechnic in its well respected fashion program. Ever since she has been a force to be reckoned with, starting with her own signature line of clothing and following that up last year with her uniform 808 line.
Crystal is looking to expand this year by moving to Vancouver and then to Montreal. She hopes to move west to the rest of North America and then to the eastern and western hemispheres.
Crystal is the daughter of proud parents George and Pat Siemens of Fiske in my riding of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar. I join George and Pat in congratulating Crystal on her award and in wishing her the best of luck in what looks like a very bright future indeed.
Farm Credit Corporation Act April 30th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as a producer of lentils, chick peas, hay, wheat, oats, barley, elk and bison, I know a lot about marketing in Saskatchewan. I also know a certain segment of our economy looks to the Farm Credit Corporation. My problem is that the Farm Credit Corporation is not clearly defined in these changes. A large multinational corporation can come in and get a huge amount of money from the government.
I do not think the government sees the agriculture producers in Saskatchewan as being able to market their own grain. I would like to tell the hon. member that we have tremendous marketing people in our industries.
A previous member spoke about the Canadian Wheat Board. I want to mention to the hon. member that the Canadian Wheat Board is not a Canadian wheat board. It is a western Canadian wheat board because it is not the same in Ontario or in Nova Scotia. When the Canadian government expands the wheat board and makes it equal across Canada for everyone, not just the western provinces, then maybe we will have fairness in the system. Maybe then producers in western Canada would look at this more favourably. The neighbours I have spoken to are not in favour of this.