Andrew Telegdi

[Petitioners, March 20th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

One of the petitions contains signatures collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly. It draws the attention of the House to the following: That incidents of child poverty are becoming more and more frequent; that each incident of child poverty harms the public; that there would be fewer such incidents if certain legislative measures were taken. Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation to help alleviate child poverty by ensuring that child support orders are enforced and by removing the income taxes on those child support payments received by the custodial parent.

[Cuba, March 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Canada's unbroken diplomatic relationship with Cuba.

Canada and Cuba maintain a friendly and diverse relationship which includes political diplomacy, trade and commerce, scientific and economic co-operation, and tourism. In the area of fisheries, Cuba has supported our view on the need for measures to end high seas overfishing.

Cuba is a nation that is now in transition to a market economy, a nation with which we have significant trade, an area that we can and should expand upon. To enable Canadian businesses to compete for new economic opportunities in Cuba, I urge the Minister for International Trade to reinstate the $30 million line of credit to Cuba so that Canadian companies can take advantage of it to increase Canada-Cuban trade.

[Ontario Special Olympics, February 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this last weekend Kitchener-Waterloo hosted the 1995 winter games, the Ontario Special Olympics.

The Ontario Special Olympics are part of a worldwide charitable organization that helps meet the need for sport training and competition among 300,000 children and adults who are developmentally challenged. Two hundred and ninety-five athletes competed and they were true to their Special Olympic oath: "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".

Generous donations in excess of $156,000 and the efforts of over 700 volunteers helped to make this year's winter games a great success.

This spirit of compassion, caring and sharing was demonstrated by my community and exemplified by the 107 members of the Westvale Public School choir that sang: "Keep the Spirit Alive". This song was written especially for the opening ceremonies by their teacher Lorna Beam.

The very special athletes of the Ontario Special Olympics rose to the challenge and exemplified to all Canadians how to keep the spirit alive.

[Supply, February 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to glance at the budget presented by the Reform Party. It was not readily available until later this morning.

One of the concerns I have is that Reformers identify the debt as being a major problem. Certainly the government recognizes that. My concern is what their actions might do in terms of causing pressure on interest rates. They have done well in that regard because they have exerted upward pressures on interest rates. I returned from Calgary on the weekend. I had an opportunity to pick up Friday's edition of the Calgary Herald and there was a front page story about that.

It is important to reflect on the cuts Reform members are talking about because they affect very real people. This story talked about how the social services department cut off of welfare a 60-year old mother who was caring for her disabled 29-year old daughter. Given her medical condition, the daughter suffers from continual seizures. As a matter of fact, it talks about her having had 210 since January 17.

If the decision to cut off of welfare that 60-year old mother who has worked all her life were allowed to stand, it would have resulted in the 29-year old daughter being put in care at a cost of $100,000 a year. It seems to make little sense to have policies in place that would allow that kind of tragedy to occur.

I bring that forward because you can be penny wise and pound foolish. I think the Reform Party is rather light on analysis and is rather light on the fact that there are real people involved.

Does the member believe it is better not to pay $600 in welfare to a 60-year old mother so she can look after her 29-year old disabled daughter? Or does he think money is better spent by forcing the 60-year old mother into retraining and having the state support the 29-year old daughter in an institution at a very excessive cost?

[Canadian Flag, February 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House of the visit to Ottawa today by Mrs. Cathy Ingram, a teacher at the Fellowship Christian School, and her students from the city of Waterloo. I am pleased they are in Ottawa today as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Canada's maple leaf flag.

As a former refugee who came to Canada with my parents, brother and sister in 1957, I now have the privilege of represent-

ing the constituency of the federal riding of Waterloo. I bear witness to the idea of compassion, sharing and equity that Canadians represent and what our flag symbolizes.

Our flag represents a beacon of hope in a troubled world, a world that is too often torn by strife based on ethnic, race, religious and national intolerances.

Let each and every one of us appreciate the model that Canada represents and commit ourselves to working together to enhance what we have built-Canada.

[The Budget, February 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the constituents of my riding have given me a clear message to pass on to the Minister of Finance for the budget.

Eliminate waste in government. In particular, stop the rip-off of taxpayers' dollars by the military, by their inefficient management of government moves, and implement the government's own reports and contract out move management.

Stop double dipping by MPs and civil servants. Reform MPs' pensions. Deal effectively with the deficit to get Canada's fiscal house in order.

We must also reaffirm our commitment to our internationally renowned system of higher education, maintaining accessibility through an income contingent loan repayment scheme and support for our federal granting councils to sustain university research efforts in Canada. We need strategic long run investment in wealth creation through university research funding.

The University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College in my riding are existing testimonials of wealth creation for all Canadians through support for research and higher education.

[Quality Control, October 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Ottawa Valley chapter of the American Society for Quality Control is hosting its annual conference today at the Congress Centre in Ottawa.

The American Society for Quality Control is the largest quality control network in the world. The society is committed to promotion of total quality in the public and private sectors of our economy. The pursuit of total quality management will enhance Canada's national well-being and global competitiveness.

The session on total quality management in government will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. The federal sector is represented by Harry Swain, deputy minister of industry; the provincial sector by Premier Frank McKenna; and the municipal sector by Mayor Brian Turnbull. The fact that Brian Turnbull, the mayor of the city of Waterloo, is representing the municipal sector reflects the leadership that Waterloo has offered in the area of TQM at the municipal level.

As we strive to meet the deficit targets set by the finance minister, we must ensure that TQM is practised by all departments of the government.

[Petitions, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition collected by the Pentecostal Tabernacle dealing with abortion.

The petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Petitions, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition that was collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly deals with the issue of the sanctity of human life. The petitioners pray that Parliament ensure present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Petitions, October 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting petitions that were recently collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly. One with 308 signatures deals with sexual orientation. The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality.