Myron Thompson

[Budgetary Policy, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member a quick question. I have not heard any response other than the fact that we are going to meet this goal that is so easy to achieve, of 3 per cent of GDP. Three years from now we will only have a $25 billion deficit at which time we can bring in new ideas and all that sort of thing.

The IMF, the Globe and many economists nationwide indicated recently that it was not nearly good enough, that it was going to be a failure. They do not seem to read the newspaper or they do not pay attention to what they read. It is one or the other.

There does not seem to be any mention of the fact that in three years the debt is going to be another $100 billion deeper in the hole. They do not seem to take into account that the interest on the debt will go from $40 billion a year to probably $50 billion a year, unless interest rates keep going the way they are.

I would like the member to address the future in that sense.

[Petitions, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of approximately 300 petitioners from in and around the city of Calgary living in the Wild Rose riding, I present this petition today.

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 of homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase, sexual orientation.

[Gun Control, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a few sentences from a speech given by Mrs. Deborah L. Ure whose 19-year old son Wes and his friend Santo were shot and killed in 1992:

Wes and Santo are dead. It doesn't matter to me that they were killed by a gunshot wound. They could just as easily have been stabbed, beaten or mutilated. The end result is the same. Our children are dead. The gun didn't kill them. Two poor excuses for human beings did. Now, when these men came into possession of this gun, the murder weapon, did they have an FAC? Did they register it? Did they store it safely? Of course not. Criminals or wanna-be criminals don't respect our country's gun laws. Safe storage to them is having the gun stuck down the back of their pants or inside a boot until they need to use it. This is the problem that our justice minister should be addressing. We need criminal control, not gun control.

In response to the pleas of this mother of a murdered teenager, Reform does not support the registration of rifles and shotguns unless it can be shown to be an effective control for reducing the criminal-

[Members Of Parliament Office Inventories, November 29th, 1994]

It came out of his pocket.

[Indian Affairs, November 24th, 1994]

That's right, spend more.

[Protection Of Citizens, November 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the history of this government to protect our Canadian citizens has proven to be dismal.

Kenneth Walker, a Canadian businessman, is currently being hounded on dubious charges by the United States government and our government refuses to assist him.

Victor Ostrovsky, a Canadian author, listened while a zealot being interviewed on a morning news show called for anyone to murder Victor Ostrovsky.

Why is this government allowing death threats toward a Canadian author and a businessman to go unanswered?

When the British author Salmon Rushdie was threatened with death, the British Parliament rose in one voice to condemn the country that promoted violence in the death of the British citizen.

Not only has silence shown the world that our Canada does not care or show concern for its citizens, continuing silence will confirm to radicals, zealots and foreign powers that any Canadian can be intimidated or killed without action from this government.

This government must show some backbone and speak out against threats of any kind against our Canadian citizens.

[Young Offenders Act, November 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have looked into the eyes of a mother whose four year old child is gone forever. I have seen the tears created by the calling of her child's name. I saw this mother refuse to let go of her child's teddy bear as if the touch might keep her child alive.

Canadians stand on these grounds to protest this government's refusal to admit mothers and fathers cry every day because the current young offenders legislation is no deterrent to violent youth.

When will the minister admit some violent young offenders deserve closed custody for periods that are longer than the time it takes for the tears to stop flowing?

[Young Offenders Act, November 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the justice minister.

It is time this government ended the pain. Too many mothers live with tombstones in their eyes. They see the names of their children on gravestones because of the failure of this government to address the problems with the Young Offenders Act.

When will this government quit reviewing, consulting and debating changes to the Young Offenders Act and realize that some young offenders cannot be rehabilitated?

[National Film Board, November 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the National Film Board of Canada's mandate is to produce and distribute films for Canadian audiences and foreign markets, to enhance knowledge of Canadian social and cultural realities and in so doing contribute to the development of a flourishing film industry.

The National Film Board receives over $80 million from taxpayers. I would like to outline for the House where some of those dollars are going. A film board promotion for a video says: "Compelling, often hilarious and always rebellious, the 10 women discuss lesbian sexuality and survival in Canada during the fifties and the sixties. This video brings lesbian history out of the closet and contributes to the viable history of sexuality in Canada". It also states: "Due to the explicit nature of certain scenes, viewer discretion is advised".

This is another example of hard earned tax dollars at work enhancing Canadian social and cultural realities.

By the way the current debt is $536,656,634,487.41.

[Violent Offenders, November 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, while Reform with the support of grassroot Canadians is asking for more protection from violent, ruthless offenders proven in a court of law to be a threat to society, the Liberal government states that any bill seeking to keep sexual predators behind bars will not pass a constitutional challenge. The Liberal government is saying that it does not have the will or the courage to introduce legislation to protect our innocent children.

A learned lawyer stated that if the government contacted constitutional lawyers instead of bureaucratic bosses, whose only interest is keeping their departments running smoothly and not for the best interest of Canadians, legislation could indeed be drafted that would pass the challenge.

When is the Liberal government going to get some gumption, some concern for protecting grassroot Canadians and stop its do nothing, say nothing leadership? Using provincial health laws to keep offenders in jail is even a more stupid idea.

Learn the Constitution. Write the legislation. Do something for a change. Grassroot Canadians want what the government seems unwilling to give them: a safe and secure Canada.