Rey D. Pagtakhan

[Employment Equity Act, October 3rd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to debate the motions before us.

By way of introduction I call on the attention particularly of the Reform Party, which participated in the committee on human rights and the status of disabled persons, the committee I had the privilege to chair and the committee that looked into this issue. The members of the Reform Party on that committee have to admit as a matter of truth that the vast majority of witnesses who appeared before our committee were truly in support of the Employment Equity Act.

In other words, we strengthened what exists to include a wider coverage of the public sector and we instituted an enforcement mechanism.

We have called our report "Employment Equity: A Commitment to Merit" to give a very clear message. I submit the Reform Party has to be reminded that the cross-section of witnesses regardless of their position on legislated employment equity all agreed on at least four points, all of which we agree with. The skills and abilities to perform a job are essential. Fairness in employment practices is a necessity. Elimination of employment barriers helps ensure applicants can compete on an equal footing. In principle employment equity and therefore a realization of diversity is crucial.

However, we believe Canada, a country committed to social justice, must have these sentiments in policy. What better way to show that than to put these sentiments, that commitment, into a piece of law? That is the ultimate sense of a commitment to fairness and equality. We have succeeded in having a committee which included the participation of members of the Reform Party.

If I honestly believed the motions we are now debating would clearly improve and strengthen this act I would support them but I think we can see these are only attempts to emasculate this piece of legislation. I feel they are trying to mislead Canadians. No one is being discriminated against in this employment equity law. We would only ensure that discrimination does not happen. In other words, we have the force of law. If only employers would comply with the principle of equity, and the vast majority do, then there would be nothing to fear.

Here we have enshrined in our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms equality for all. However, even the charter in a subsection of section 15 ensures we must have the ability as the Government of Canada to adopt policies and programs and pass legislation that give teeth to the principle of equality for these disadvantaged groups: women, people with disabilities, people of First Nations and people designated as visible minorities.

I am really disheartened the members opposite could not see that we must have a centrepiece for our social equity, this piece of legislation on employment equity. This is really looked on as a hallmark by the people of the world, making Canada a unique nation where we exalt the importance of excellence in human endeavour while at the same time being committed to disallowing a retreat from that. This is not about reverse discrimination. This is not about redressing the injustices of the past. This is ensuring once and for all the injustices of the past do not recur.

[Information Highway, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I commend the Information Highway Advisory Council for its excellent report published Wednesday by the industry minister.

The council's vision for the Infobahn of the future is distinctly Canadian. It will be a powerful engine to promote Canadian culture and identity, make government more accessible and accountable, create new wealth and new jobs for the benefit of all Canadians, and make Canada's health and educational sectors models for the rest of the world.

I am also pleased to see that the council's recommendation for dealing with illegal content such as hate propaganda mirror the intent of the motion I introduced in the House last January, which was adopted without dissent.

No doubt when these recommendations are fully adopted by the government we will have a guarantee that the information highway will be a highway of harmony, not of hate. No doubt we will have an effective tool to forge a renewed partnership among all levels of government as we face the social, political and economic challenges of the 21st century. I ask all colleges in the House-

[Committees Of The House, September 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disabled Persons.

Your committee has considered Bill C-64, an act respecting employment equity, and has agreed to report it with amendments.

[Human Rights, September 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, 16-year old Sarah Balabagan faces the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates for the stabbing death of her employer.

Last June she was given a prison term but was awarded compensation for the rape she endured at her employer's hands.

It was shocking that last Saturday her sentence was changed to death. This is reminiscent of the hasty execution six months ago in Singapore of another Filipino nanny, an execution deemed unjust on subsequent inquiry, but too late.

I therefore urge the House to intervene on Sarah's behalf, to allow a full and impartial judicial review of her case.

Canada has long prized human life and championed women's rights worldwide, the theme of the U.N. conference on women held in Beijing. Canada's support may well be the saving voice for this young woman's life.

Canada's timely stand on this matter goes beyond the life of this one young woman to the lives of all women of the world.

[Committees Of The House, June 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disabled Persons entitled "Employment Equity: A Commitment to Merit".

[Agreement On Internal Trade Implementation Act, June 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am really amazed that the Reform member, in speaking to Bill C-68, said he would not be supporting the bill. At the beginning of his speech he indicated that this issue should have been a priority for the government and lamented that it had taken one year. Immediately thereafter he said it was a political facade.

I do not believe the member who just spoke really knows where he stands on the issue.

The government has fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities very carefully. It has shown that the best way to govern Canada is through consensus building, by bringing all the parties together. It is an approach that ensures acceptance and implementation of the agreement to its fullest degree.

It was only during the last 128 years of Confederation that these barriers to interprovincial trade had emerged. Therefore, we cannot expect by one stroke of a pen we can undo overnight what happened over the last 128 years of Confederation.

The Reform Party has to recognize that the government has demonstrated the triumph of practical statecraft that it is able to achieve agreement not through constitutional confrontation but through consensus building which truly will be more lasting in its effect.

In conclusion and by way of comment, I would really like the Reform Party to reconsider its position and support Bill C-88 which allows the freer movement of goods, services, capital and people. We have to recognize that Canada is a history of successive steps and this is an important one. We must build one at a time on a solid basis.

[Dial-A-Life Housing Corporation, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise and congratulate Winnipeg's Dial-A-Life Housing Corporation on the official opening today of its second housing project for people of native ancestry.

These individuals are five times more likely to develop serious kidney problems than other Canadians. Due to a lack of health care services on reserves they have to travel to urban health centres for dialysis treatment. The Dial-A-Life project will meet their needs during treatment in Winnipeg.

I salute the Dial-A-Life Housing Corporation under the leadership of Mrs. Winnie Giesbrecht for its hard work, voluntarism and dedication to seeing that its projects are initiated, developed and managed by persons of native ancestry. Their dedication is a source of pride for the Winnipeg North community and beyond.

I am proud to be part of a government committed through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to building projects such as this one.

Please join me in conveying best wishes to all residents of Dial-A-Life Housing Corporation on this proud occasion.

[Youth Service Canada, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian youth have a wealth of fresh insight, energy and intellect

to offer our national institutions, our workplaces, our society. What they require in return is opportunity. It is therefore laudable that this government is helping young people who are both out of school and out of work receive the training and experience they need for future success.

Through Youth Service Canada 850 young people nationwide are taking part in 63 projects which will help them gain invaluable work experience while making significant contributions to their communities.

In my riding of Winnipeg North the Maples Youth Justice Committee will target as a project racism, gang violence and fraud with crime awareness programs.

Indeed Canadians have much reason to take pride in Youth Service Canada. We take pride in the renewal, the hope and the vision our young Canadians offer our great nation.

[The Philippines, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians of Filipino heritage join the Filipino people in their celebration today of the 97th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Anniversaries like this give us an occasion to recall the immortal writings of her national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and the bloody struggle that led to the triumph, and to renew the commitment to defend it at any cost. That proclamation of independence has since been a source of pride.

The Filipino people have also shown that democracy, a tool to secure freedom and dignity for the citizenry, can be restored without a drop of blood; witness the peaceful Aquino revolution of 1986.

Freedom is not an end in itself. It is a challenge to a higher calling: freedom to do good and thereby ensure human dignity for all.

Filipino Canadians who are proud of their new home and who pledge their undivided loyalty to Canada are equally proud to share this noble heritage.

I urge all colleagues to join Filipino Canadians nationwide on this very glorious occasion in the history of the Filipino people.

[Student Exchanges, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development.

It is critical in an increasingly global economy that the Canadian workforce become more knowledgeable about other cultures. Student exchange programs and recognition of international credentials could facilitate the acquisition of this knowledge.

What action has the government taken in this area so vital to the economic and social well-being of Canada?