Jim Gouk

[Workplace Safety, April 30th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, if we go back in Canadian history we find that we had some very dangerous workplaces. A lot of people lost their lives through work practices. Conditions now are much better and we continue to improve yearly, but lives are still lost through workplace accidents. Even one life lost is one too many.

Conditions in other countries in some cases now ape exactly what Canada was like in its earliest years. It is very dangerous for workers in those countries.

When joining with them as trading partners, that is something Canada should take the lead on to ensure that there is workplace safety not only in this country but in countries around the world, particularly those we trade with.

We will continue to make an effort for the future of all workers in this country and others because it is critical that people be able to practise their occupation and know that they are coming home safely to their families. Families of workers who have lost someone in their family as a result of workplace accidents—

[Solicitor General, April 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general has implied that there is no way to stop it after she has served her full sentence. He is correct, but there should be and it is his job to see that there is.

Last year an all party committee reviewed the legislation governing paroles and prisons. The Alliance Party pushed for changes that would have dealt with the issue but it got no support from the government.

When will the solicitor general stop being the caretaker of inadequate Liberal policies and start doing his job? When will he put the rights of Canadians ahead of dangerous offenders?

[Solicitor General, April 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the parole board recently did its job by denying parole to Karla Homolka. It recognized she is likely to repeat what it referred to as her monstrous and depraved crimes. Clearly the parole board believes the public is still at risk after her eight years imprisonment.

Now that the parole board has protected Canadians from Karla Homolka during the first two-thirds of her sentence, what will the solicitor general do to protect them after she serves the remaining four years?

[Budget Implementation Act, 1997, April 2nd, 2001]

Kind of like a retroactive bill of sale.

[Petitions, April 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition today joins previous petitioners in calling upon parliament to implement a national strategy to create a non-adversarial marital separation code.

The object of the code would be to reduce tension and acrimony among the parties and particularly to protect the children involved.

[Petitions, April 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. The first is from petitioners in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

They join with thousands of other petitioners who have already petitioned the government to request the funding and training necessary for the provision of quality end of life care.

[Business Development Bank Of Canada, March 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the owner of the Auberge Grand-Mère was turned down for a Business Development Bank loan because the inn was deemed a bad risk, but was later approved when the Prime Minister intervened. In contrast, an inn in my riding was granted a BDC loan on its own merits with no political intervention.

The Auberge Grand-Mère missed 12 payments and the loan was not called. The inn in my riding missed three payments on a low ratio BDC first mortgage during an exceptionally slow winter season and the loan was called.

Why is the government's Business Development Bank so reluctant to take action in the Prime Minister's riding and yet so quick to take action in mine? Obviously there are two standards, one for the Prime Minister and one for the rest of Canadians.

The other question that begs to be answered is why the Prime Minister interfered with the operation of a crown corporation to force it to provide a loan it judged unworthy of consideration. That question has been asked repeatedly, and although the true answer has not yet been given, the truth will come out. Unfortunately it may be too late for a small western inn that does not happen to be next door to a Prime Minister's golf course.

[Petitions, March 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my petition is from constituents who are concerned that the present laws regarding divorce and child custody lend themselves to making worse the animosity between spouses and to increased tension among children.

The petitioners call upon parliament to ask the government to implement a national strategy to create a non-adversarial marital separation code. They list five specific and very worthy points and I look forward to the government's response to this petition.

[Petitions, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to once again present a petition on behalf of constituents not only in my riding but right across Canada, who are concerned about the lack of a quality end of life care policy. They point out that less than 5% of dying Canadians currently receive hospice palliative care.

The petitioners call on parliament to collaborate with the provinces to provide funding for home care and pharmacare for the dying, with provinces to provide for the appropriate education and training to all members of end of life teams, and for provision of financial assistance and job protection for family members who provide care for the dying, as recommended in the Carstairs report. This is yet another couple of thousand names to add to the thousands I have presented already.

[Hockey, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 40th anniversary of Canada's last world hockey championship win in Geneva, Switzerland.

The winning team was not made up of disguised professionals. Nor was it from a major population centre. It was the Trail Smoke Eaters from the small smelter town of Trail, British Columbia.

Much of the team was made up of local residents who learned to play along the banks of the Columbia River. Although the community and the Cominco smelter helped with their expenses, many players went deep into debt to pay for the honour of playing and representing our country.

The team was given little chance of winning but its plays defined the very word teamwork. I believe its winning spirit came from its small town environment. It caused a bonding that could only come from such a close knit community. The team proved it did belong in a world championship and demonstrated its pride in being Canadian.

Although some team members did go on to play in the NHL, most returned to their homes and families in Trail and the surrounding area. They are the ones who helped make Trail the true home of champions.

I am sure all hon. members would join with me on this special anniversary in saluting those champions who brought this honour home to Canada.