Rey D. Pagtakhan

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act, December 4th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the comments of the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre whose riding is close to my riding of Winnipeg North. I certainly share her passion for social dignity, as the hon. member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul equally professes. I am sure she will agree with me that the CPP reflects the soul of Canada.

In beginning her debate she alluded to the profoundly undemocratic process used by the government in reforming the CPP. Is it undemocratic for the government to follow the CPP rule which says that it can only be amended with the consent of two-thirds of the provinces reflecting two-thirds of the Canadian population? That was done. Two-thirds of the Canadian population agreed.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act, December 4th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to congratulate the member for Kitchener Centre for the very lucid presentation that she gave. I wish the members of the Reform Party would have listened attentively with an open mind.

One member of the Reform Party was talking about speaking for the common people. If the Reform Party offered only the super RRSP, only the very rich could afford to make those kinds of contributions. In fact, such a plan would have no benefits for people who may be left behind by a deceased husband and father, the women and children.

I ask the member for Kitchener Centre what she thinks will be one of the greatest benefits of the CPP for the women of Canada.

[Anti-Personnel Mines Convention Implementation Act, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, first I thank my colleague from Brossard—LaPrairie for sharing the time with me.

I rise in the House in support of Bill C-22, an act to implement the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction.

The member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul is assured this House will rise to the challenge. Indeed this bill also known as the anti-personnel mines convention implementation act is a defining moment for the Canadian Parliament and therefore for the Canadian people.

The bill when enacted will implement Canada's obligations under the convention. It will put in place not only domestic laws necessary to fulfil our convention obligations but also charter of rights safeguards. It will provide Canadian courts with greater ease of interpretation to facilitate prosecution of any alleged violation.

May I at this juncture salute the government for this historic initiative and in particular, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs for his perseverance and persuasive prowess.

The minister of course has the full support of the government caucus. In fact, the Prime Minister himself has pursued the issue with great will and determination as well. May I remind the House that the Prime Minister brought the subject matter to the attention of leaders of eastern and western Europe in his recent trip there a couple of weeks ago. Just a few days ago on the occasion of the APEC forum in Vancouver, he again brought the issue to the ears of President Clinton of the United States.

This government's commitment is resolute. Its determination to succeed is unwavering and the government sees full success on the horizon.

Already we see China which has agreed to extend a moratorium on exports and will attend in December as an observer, marking China's first ever attendance at a land mines conference. We see the United States which has extended its moratorium, actively seeking ways to replace the mines it now uses and has announced new action on demining and victim assistance. We see Russia which has committed to signing at the earliest possible date. These are very laudable developments.

In two short weeks, Canada by hosting the Treaty Signing Conference and Mine Action Forum, dubbed the Ottawa Process 1, will show to the world Canada's diligent stance on seeing the insanity of anti-personnel land mines is ended.

As Canadians we have reason to be proud that our country has taken a leadership role in an issue that has climaxed to international heights because it is an issue that touches the soul of humanity.

I am proud to inform the House that in my province of Manitoba, NGOs such as the Council for Canadians with Disabilities, the Centre for Disability Studies and Disabled People's International have assisted other disabled people's organizations in countries around the world in acquiring the advocacy skills needed to press governments and communities for support of the issue. The efforts of a global movement have been made possible as NGOs, experts and officials come together to address the vast dimensions of the problem.

Truly we cannot forget the real tragedy of land mine victims, the incomprehensible loss of innocent children and youth, the victims for whom we are to speak. It is the young people of today who will continue the anti-land mine legacy of our present generation if they are to see a future without deadly armaments of war that inflict harm and kill more civilians than military targets, that killed more than lives claimed by nuclear and chemical weapons combined.

Addressing the Canadian Conference on Humanitarian Demining and Landmine Victim Assistance held in Winnipeg on January 31 this year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “We are making a difference. We must continue to work together, taking full advantage of the momentum we have generated in Canada to help the world rid itself of these intolerable weapons”.

We in Parliament and through us, our constituents can be part of that difference. As the Prime Minister said recently: “We have worked with others of like-minded beliefs and showed doubters that Canada can make a real difference as a force for good in the world—. The job has been well started, but it will not end until we persuade even more countries to sign on. And we will keep working until the last moment and then beyond”.

Beyond the Ottawa Process 1 so we can gather the necessary minimum number of ratifications, 40, that will allow the full force of the convention binding in international law. Beyond, so that we can help ensure a future if not totally free of war, at least free of the unnecessary loss of civilian lives, free of amputated limbs, blind eyes, scarred bodies, emotional shock, and preventable human sufferings due to anti-personnel land mines.

In conclusion, this bill is a historic one and calls on all of us to play a historic role. I am pleased that we in Parliament on behalf of all Canadians can rise to the call with resolute confidence.

[Asia-Pacific, November 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this week and next the eyes of the world will be fixed upon Canada when it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, the culmination of Canada's year of Asia-Pacific.

The forum is a golden opportunity for Canada to help APEC move in a direction which reflects the needs and values of Canadians and to expand its influence in the region.

APEC members have a combined gross national product of $16 trillion U.S., which is about half the world's annual trade. Last year Canada's trade with APEC members, excluding the United States, reached $58.6 billion.

The Prime Minister has underlined the importance to Canada's economic future of bringing APEC to Canada for developments in Asia-Pacific touch the lives of Canadians more and more as a result of growing business, immigration and cultural ties.

Canada must commit itself, in addition to continued economic engagement, to learning more about the cultures of our neighbours thereby reinforcing economic co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region on the basis of shared partnership, shared responsibility and common good.

[Supply, October 30th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member on her presentation. I support the intent and essence of this question. When the protection of human life is involved we have to do everything we can.

Let me just add my observations. When an issue like this one is present in society we have to recognize at all times it is not a simple problem. Failing to understand that could lead us to a wrong approach in the total management of the issue.

Earlier I heard the member for Prince George—Bulkley Valley say that changes in the past had happened. Yet we continue to see ongoing problems. I agree with him but to conclude we therefore only need changes to the Criminal Code aspect of the approach may be seriously flawed. It may blind our eyes to another approach which can be equally as effective, if not more.

I listened to the debate. The member told us about the tragic picture of victims. We all share the sentiments of that loss or tragedy.

I am raising a question in all sincerity. Maybe we should pursue a public education approach more aggressively. Painting a tragic picture of victims appeals to the hearts of those tempted not to drink, seeing the tragedy of the loss of human lives rather than Criminal Code amendments alone.

I raise this issue to say that we should not blind ourselves to an integrated approach. I am pleased the Minister of Justice and the government have assured us that the issue has already been raised with provincial counterparts. I would like the Reform Party to support the government on this initiative as I support the intent of the motion.

[Newfoundland School System, October 27th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pursue that question further. If you pursue the voucher system and all the students who receive this decide to transfer to another province, how will that catastrophe be responded to?

[Supply, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, that is beautiful application of the analogy of the bird with two wings. On the one side the traditional NDP suggest that we spend more. That is why I alluded to not returning to deficit spending. Admittedly, we have not quite balanced the budget yet, as I said in my speech. It is only projected to be balanced by the year 1998-99. My optimism tells me that it may be sooner.

The Reform Party has suggested in its platform to spend everything on the reduction of taxes. That would not be the right approach.

The Liberal government would like a balanced approach using the right and the left so that it can fly beautifully.

When we have a surplus we will continue to spend half on social and economic programs and the other half will go toward the reduction of taxes and reduction of the national debt.

[Supply, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his kind words. It is that independence which tells me that when we look at an issue, just as when we look at a patient, we cannot only evaluate one symptom to be the basis of the total diagnosis. We have to look at the total picture. Therefore, when we look at interest rates we cannot only look at the short term interest rates, we must look equally at long term interest rates.

The hon. member would admit that short term interest rates have somewhat increased. Of course, we wish it had not happened. However, we must realize that the long term interest rates which have continued to remain low are an indication of the economic confidence that investors continue to have. They have that confidence in the country or they would not have allowed the long term interest rates to go down.

That side of the equation indicates that although there has been an increase in short term interest rates, the fact that long term interest rates have remained low and that Canadian interest rates are lower than those in the United States by five percentage points indicate that we are on solid economic ground. We should continue the track we are on and when we show a surplus, have a balanced approach, but never again to go back to deficit spending, as the NDP premier of Saskatchewan said. That is what this motion seems to indicate we should do.

[Supply, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Hillsborough.

It is truly lamentable that the federal NDP motion before us sees fit to condemn but does not offer any creative solutions to the remaining challenges that confront our people today. By its motion it would like us to believe that deficit and inflation should no longer be of concern. It would like us to believe that the federal government has made no appropriate investments in health care, education and training. It would like us to believe that the federal government is blind to the plight of the unemployed. Far from it.

Let it be said that this member for Winnipeg North—St. Paul and this government on whose side this member sits have been concerned with unemployment since we took office in 1993 and remain determined to continue working so that any Canadian who wishes to find work can find it.

Since first taking office in October 1993 this government has created close to one million jobs distributed around the regions of our country. In fact, 279,000 jobs were created in the first nine months of this year alone.

In October 1993 the unemployment was 11.4%. Today it is at 9%, decreasing despite the increasing demand for jobs. Consider what would have happened had there not be a surge in job creation. Canadians recognize this, but they equally recognize that this government has achieved a level of success that points to the direction of continued success.

We appreciate that Canadians renewed their confidence and trust in this government last June. This is the government that reduced the interest rates to record lows, thereby easing the burden on our national and personal debts through reduction of interest payments.

This is the government that has continued to contain inflation, thereby protecting the buying power of our hard earned Canadian dollars. This is the government that inherited a crushing deficit of $42 billion or 6% of the gross domestic product in October 1993 and reduced it to $8.9 billion in four short years. This is the smallest federal deficit as a proportion of our national economy, 1.1% of GDP, in over two decades.

This deficit reduction should be known. It has been achieved not only by improving government efficiency but by stimulating the growth of the economy with resulting increase in revenues.

No later than the fiscal year 1998-99 this government pledges the crushing deficit of 1993 will be turned ultimately into a fiscal dividend. This means Canada will enter the new millennium with more than a balanced budget; with a surplus, thereby clearing the way for future generations. We can do no less for our youth.

We should never forget that the government has been able to restore fiscal health only because Canadians shared the discipline and sacrifice and the common determination to so succeed. How can the federal NDP be so blind and deaf as to fail to see and hear this good news?

Good government does not stop at its economic and fiscal success. As the finance minister aptly said in the last budget, a government relieved of the deficit burden is not a government relieved of its obligation. It is a government able to exercise its obligations. It is awareness of this duty no doubt that prompted our prime minister in his address in reply to the Speech from the Throne to say we owe our greatest obligation to the future of Canada.

That future is best ensured when we invest in health care, child benefits, education and training and research and development, all of which are essential in maximizing opportunities for the economic and physical health of all Canadians.

That is why this government has increased the CHST cashflow to $12.5 billion for health care alone. This means that in 1998-99 provinces will receive $700 million more for health than currently budgeted, and this will further increase by at least $1.3 billion every year until the year 2002.

That is why this government has invested $800 million for the Canada innovation fund to help universities and hospitals in their research and development requirements. That is why this government has established and will be enhancing the national child benefit program.

In addition, the prime minister has announced the creation of the Canada millennium scholarship endowment fund to ensure access to post-secondary education.

Only time limits for debate prevent me from cataloguing the many government initiatives aimed at easing the human tragedy of unemployment and preparing Canadians, particularly our youth, for tomorrow.

We realize our work is not complete and that is why we are asking all Canadians and provincial governments to be partners with the federal government in its pursuit of our common challenge.

We also firmly believe that a balanced approach is the way to go. This balanced approach has enabled us to restore fiscal health and at the same time sustain our national priorities. Thus we have been able to maintain our standing in the world community as the number one nation in which to live while at the same time just about balancing our national budget. Certainly this is not the time for condemnation, for retreat into the unworkable federal NDP approach of the past.

Why do I say this? Allow me to quote at some length from one provincial NDP premier. In his state of the province address delivered before the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce on February 10 this year, Premier Roy Romanow of Saskatchewan declared with pride:

Our economic and fiscal picture is looking brighter than it has in a long time—. Now I wish to stress that this doesn't mean we'll be taking any wild swings at the established tracks. We are not going to derail this train. What it does mean is making careful, targeted investments to prepare for the next century. It means a balanced approach—keeping an eye on debt and prudent fiscal management. We have come too far and worked too hard to restart the cycle of careless spending.

I hope the federal NDP is not about to condemn their provincial counterpart. If the quote so far is not enough, may I continue?

Now there is no magic well where the money came from. The unfortunate truth is this. If we take a larger portion from our budget for health we have to reduce elsewhere. However, as the economy continues to grow we will be able to broaden our choices in a balanced and fair manner.

May I be permitted at this juncture to share with my colleagues a pearl of wisdom I recently heard from a former senior distinguished colleague. He said, and I paraphrase “A bird has two wings, the right and the left. It needs both to fly”.

Canadians can be assured of our commitment to look forward on our agenda, to make Canada not merely a participant but a leader in the modern economy and thereby assure them access to the greatest range of opportunities available. Our priorities are clear, as the finance minister in his economic and fiscal update of October 15 last week so clearly articulated:

First, we must preserve and improve the valued programs on which all Canadians depend such as our health care, education and pension systems.

Second, we must work together to enhance the learning and training opportunities available to Canadians, focusing on accessibility and addressing the wide range of needs that begin at early childhood and extend through working life.

In light of the time remaining that you have just indicated to me, Mr. Speaker, let me conclude. Let no one doubt our resolve to remain the number one nation in the world as we enter the new millennium. I urge the NDP and all colleagues to join Canadians in their great sense of optimism in the future for Canada, thanks to the superb and caring leadership the government has given to all Canadians.

[Foreign Affairs, October 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to rise in the House. Today I am particularly delighted to note the meeting of our Prime Minister with the President of Russia.

Meetings like this among or between leaders of the world serve to enhance international goodwill and thereby help advance mutually beneficial social and economic agendas which are ultimately instruments of peace.

Today I would like to highlight the initiative of our Prime Minister to develop a shipping route between northern Russian ports and the port of Churchill in northern Manitoba. This is a fine example of an initiative which is good for both countries.

Projects such as this are a considerable boost for both nations.

As Canadians we can take pride in the efforts of the Prime Minister and the government and our partners in the private sector. As a Manitoban I feel an added sense of pride.