Mr. Speaker, our next speaker is not prepared either.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 65% of the vote.
The Budget April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, our next speaker is not prepared either.
Junior Women's Worldcurling Championship March 18th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, March 16 thousands of Canadians watched the junior women's world curling final in Red Deer, Alberta. In an exciting extra end victory, Heather Godberson's rink from Grande Prairie, Alberta became world champions.
The people of my riding of Peace River are proud that their hometown team gave Canada its third junior women's gold medal in a row.
I ask that all members of the House to join me in offering hearty congratulations to Heather Godberson, Carmen Whyte, Kristie Moore, Terelyn Bloor, Rona McGregor and their coach, Brian Moore.
Well done, Canada!
The Budget March 18th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the comments of the hon. member for Hillsborough were along the lines that the deficit has been reduced year after year by the Liberal government. Certainly that is true, although we have seen the federal debt rise to some $600 billion. It has increased over $100 billion in the time of its mandate.
Given that the debt is rising so dramatically, could the hon. member for Hillsborough tell us what specific target date the government has for reducing the deficit to zero, to have a balanced budget, which will enable it to start paying down the debt? Can he give us a date?
Curling March 13th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Junior Women's World Curling Championships are being held this week in Red Deer, Alberta. I am pleased to say that the team representing Canada curls out of the Grande Prairie Curling Club which is in my riding. The Peace River country has many avid curlers and many teams have competed in national finals.
The Heather Godberson rink joins a long list of accomplished curlers from this region. The team is curling well and at last report is tied for first place. I would like to congratulate the skip, Heather Godberson; third, Carmen Whyte; second, Kristie Moore; lead, Terelyn Bloor; and spare, Rona McGregor on their performance so far.
Curling has played an important role in Canada's culture and heritage. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians enjoy this roaring game.
I wish the members of the Grande Prairie curling team the best of luck in their quest to be the next world champions.
International Trade March 12th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have seen how far the Prime Minister's cosy relationship with President Clinton got us. Not very far.
The government is telling Canadian businesses that it is up to them to create jobs. Yet, at this moment many of them are being forced to choose between doing business with the United States or doing business with Cuba. If the government really wants to create jobs, will it show some backbone and assure Canadian businesses that it is going to fight this bill on their behalf?
International Trade March 12th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have just learned the Americans are taking us to court at the World Trade Organization over Sports Illustrated . The Americans know how to play hardball with legislation they do not like. When will this government start playing hardball for Canadian businesses and take the legal route by taking the Helms-Burton bill to court?
Government Business March 4th, 1996
The neverendum.
Government Business March 4th, 1996
The PMO.
Government Business March 4th, 1996
What about accountability? They were here and they have to be held accountable.
Speech From The Throne February 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the minister's presentation. I was particularly interested in his comments when he was talking about Canada's place in the world and the importance of rules based organizations to look after Canada's interests. I certainly agree with him on that point.
Canada has been a world leader in trying to develop trade rules ever since the second world war and has been successful in pushing for a settlement of the latest Uruguay round of the GATT agreement. That is to our credit. As an exporting country it is certainly of interest to us. It is important that we have a rules based organization to rely on in areas of trade disputes.
We have had trade disputes with the United States on softwood lumber where we have won panel decisions three times. Is it not time to test those new organizations such as the World Trade Organization and ask them to make a ruling? I feel we have a very strong case. Instead of accepting caps on exports, such as we did on wheat and softwood lumber, is it not time to test the strength of those organizations that both ourselves, the United States and 120 other member countries have signed?
I would ask the minister to give consideration to asking a wider body for a ruling on this, rather than having the trade frictions that exist between Canada and the United States on these issues?