Lost his last election, in 2011, with 36% of the vote.
Petitions October 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to present a petition signed by many constituents calling on parliament and the Minister of Finance to stop the mega bank mergers.
The constituents are very concerned that if these mergers proceed they will adversely affect the jobs and social well being of our communities and small businesses across Canada and that they will change drastically the financial landscape of our country in a very negative way.
Volvo October 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, at 5.30 this morning Volvo employees in my riding took over the plant. It should never have happened.
This Liberal government planted the bomb, lit the fuse and walked away. This government planted the bomb when it decided in the last round of world trade talks to lower auto tariffs. It lit the fuse by fostering NAFTA and now Volvo says “Goodbye Canada, hello Mexico”.
This government walked away, making no contingency plans for what happens next. These workers are afraid for their future and their families' future.
Volvo told the workers that if they uttered a bad word about the plant closing they would lose their severance.
Now I understand Volvo plans to deny severance to compensate for years of work if an employee is lucky enough to find another job.
Now we have an occupied plant and police involvement.
In September I asked the industry minister to get involved in finding solutions to the Volvo mess. I and the people involved in this crisis are still waiting.
Kosovo October 7th, 1998
Madam Speaker, I will conclude very quickly. The kind of concern we must show for each other as we sit around a security table, as we sit at the United Nations, as we in the House debate this very important issue, must be the kind of concern shown by the man who looked after the person in need.
It is up to each and every one of us to do that if we are to build a better world for our children and our children's children.
Kosovo October 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share this opportunity to speak with the hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas. I guess I am as pleased as one can be to speak to a topic of this nature. We all know it is a very serious topic. It is a very sad event. It is something that most of us would rather not be discussing.
The motion before the House reads:
That this House take note of the dire humanitarian situation confronting the people of Kosovo and the government's intention to take measures in co-operation with the international community to resolve the conflict, promote a political settlement for Kosovo and facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to refugees.
As has been indicated by my hon. colleague, the NDP supports the motion. Interestingly enough it was just a few days ago that our federal council approved a resolution which read as follows:
Whereas the Serbian armed forces are continuing to attack the people of Kosovo, killing, injuring and driving away hundreds and thousands of civilians in their attempt at ethnic cleansing of the area;
And whereas massacres have been conducted by the Serbian authorities in Kosovo and that these massacres have been documented and confirmed by diplomats and journalists;
And whereas all diplomatic attempts by European and North American governments have achieved nothing to stop these massacres and ethnic cleaning,
Therefore be it resolved that the federal NDP in condemning the massacre of innocent civilians of Kosovo demands the federal Liberal government in Ottawa to use its influence in NATO and the United Nations to call for intervention to halt the killings and ethnic cleansing.
Be it further resolved that the federal NDP affirms and recognizes the right of self-determination for the people of Kosovo to decide their own political future without the fear of oppression and the military presence of the Serbian armed forces.
I find it very rewarding to see tonight that the motion the government brought forward takes into consideration the concerns expressed by the grassroots people who attended our council.
In reality it shows that the issue we are dealing with is not a partisan issue. It is an issue that cuts across all parties. It is a humanitarian issue. It is one that should be of concern to all of us.
I reinforce the point that I believe was made by the hon. Reform member who spoke earlier. He talked about the fact that this was a take note debate and that it might well have served us better if we had a gathering where we could have been informed as a body about what was really happening and obtained the appropriate information so that as we debated the issue we would be more informed.
I say with all due respect that since I started the political business far too often I have found—and I am sure there may be others who have found the same thing—that we as members are rushing from one topic to the next. We are dealing with all kinds of things that are coming at a very fast and furious pace. Quite often people are speaking on subjects in the House and using notes they made at the last minute. They do not have all the information at hand they would like to have to deal with the matters appropriately.
One might say this is the nature of the business, that this is the kind of life we are living today, that it is a very fast paced life and we have to be able to deal with it. Perhaps that is one of the problems with the world today. We are moving fast. Perhaps that is why we are seeing so much unrest and so many humanitarian problems in all parts of the world. We do not take the time to slow down and deal with issues appropriately.
That aside, this is a humanitarian issue. We read statements about the suffering that has taken place. One news article contained these words “the television pictures are bad. A toddler lying dead, pacifier still hanging from her purple snowsuit. The corpse of a man set on fire while tied to a tree. The crumpled body of another cut down by machine gunfire from a passing car”.
And then it went on to talk about 200 villages in Kosovo that had been destroyed. An estimated 250,000 people were homeless. Thousands had died as Serb forces rooted the Kosovo liberation army. It talked about winter coming on and the prospects for mass starvation.
These things are very disturbing to us. Perhaps years ago we would not have seen or heard these things, but today we sit in our homes and see those images in our living rooms as we watch television, as our young people and our children watch television. We can see the dire consequences of man's inhumanity toward man.
This is a serious problem. We know there is a long history between the two factions fighting in the area. When we look at it and we hear talk about ethnic cleansing, the wiping out of a certain group of people, we have to come back to the basics of what we as a human race are doing to one another.
The Serbian armed forces are continuing to attack, injure and kill people. Another news article talked about a family that was massacred. We read about the corpses of five women and two children, ages 5 and 7, lying in a narrow gully near a makeshift tent where villagers said the family had sought refuge from the shelling. All the victims had been shot in the head at close range, apparently while attempting to flee the attack. The bodies of several of the victims displayed clear evidence of mutilation.
We read about a woman aged 28 who was two months pregnant according to family members. Her belly had been cut open. We read about an older man, 65, who was found in a makeshift tent. His throat had been cut open and part of his brain had been removed and placed next to him.
It is hard to believe in this day and age in the 21st century we could be talking about such atrocities. Yet these things are happening. We all agree quite readily that action must be taken to stop these things. Ideally we would all like to see the action being other than military action, because we know that military action in itself creates problems.
The minister mentioned earlier that many meetings had been attempted to try to bring about a peaceful solution. There has been consideration of the matter by the United Nations and by various officials trying to bring about a peaceful end. These have been to no avail.
When push comes to shove we have to look seriously at how to make it stop. Also, as was mentioned by an hon. member, we have to be mindful that if we make a decision to move toward military aid we are looking at our own men and women going into a very dangerous situation. We must be assured that our men and women are adequately prepared with proper equipment as well as properly equipped emotionally and otherwise. There are many other things to consider as we look at the total picture and this very serious situation.
Questions have been raised around how such things can happen, why there are double standards, why we can allow atrocities in one area and not deal with them, yet look at them in another area and deal with them. Ultimately it comes down to the responsibility of each and every one of us as individuals.
The United Nations is comprised of individuals. The security council is comprised of individuals. In reality, it comes down to what each and every one of us as individuals feels in our hearts in terms of how we deal with our fellow human beings and whether we allow these atrocities to exist.
I am reminded of a story from a well known book about man who was travelling from one village to another. He fell among thieves, was beaten, was stripped of his clothes, was robbed and left lying by the side of the road for dead.
Along came a very highly educated person who looked, crossed over and walked by on the other side. Then along came a religious leader. I am sure we have lots of religious leaders and lots of highly educated people in our society. Along came a religious leader who also looked, crossed over and walked by on the other side.
Then we are told that along came a man, a Samaritan, one of the people who was despised in that day and age by others. He was perhaps an outcast. He looked at the person lying in need. He went to him, bound his wounds, put him on his own beast, took him to town, left him at an inn and said “Here is the money to look after him. When I come back, if you have spent more I will repay you”.
That is the kind of concern that we as individuals—
Merchant Navy Veterans October 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Thérèse Casgrain, former president of Voice of Women, once said “the only defence is peace”.
I am appalled at this government's callous attitude toward the Canadian merchant mariners who risked and often gave their lives during the second world war. It is time for this government to make peace with these veterans instead of waging a war of defensiveness and time.
In February the minister responded to an urgent letter of mine by writing “Canada is a world leader in the area of veterans benefits and that is a source of pride to our country”.
I am ashamed that this government finds a source of pride in denying justice to our merchant marine veterans. This government could and should finance a just benefit settlement instead of playing its heartless waiting game hoping that this issue will fade as our merchant mariners decline in numbers each year.
Canada Small Business Financing Act October 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I commend the member who just spoke in support of small business. It is very important that we all support small business.
Today we see what is happening with the very large corporations and institutions that are laying off people. In my riding of Halifax West the Volvo assembly plant is being shut down, putting about 250 people out of work. Volvo is moving to places like Mexico where it can profit from cheaper labour.
Many of the people faced with joblessness are going to have to resort to their own ingenuity to operate small businesses and to become self-employed to earn a living. Therefore, everything that can be done to assist small business is important.
When we see the large banks in our society trying to become even larger, we ask ourselves what the impact will be on small business people.
We are in support of the measures being taken to assist small business and on behalf of my constituents I will support the legislation. I commend the member opposite for her remarks.
Labrador Helicopter Accident October 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, once again Nova Scotia has been visited by an air tragedy.
A month ago it was Swissair Flight 111. This time a search and rescue Labrador helicopter returning to its home base at Greenwood, Nova Scotia crashed in Quebec, killing all six of the crew.
Some of the victims of the crash had been part of the Swissair rescue mission. They were angels of mercy. It is very sad. I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victims.
The CH133 helicopters are old. They have had a long history of engine related problems and a string of accidents over the last six years. Experts say that these copters are now too risky to fly.
As defence spokesperson for the NDP, I deeply regret the delay that has been shown by the government in replacing these helicopters. A number of replacement helicopters could have been purchased off the shelf for emergency use. Instead we must wait another two years before delivery of a new fleet.
I call upon the government to ensure that no more lives of our search and rescue squadron are risked in the meantime.
Petitions September 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I table a petition with over 200 names on it concerning Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act.
Criminal Code September 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on May 12 I asked the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada questions concerning the fiduciary responsibility of this federal government toward aboriginal peoples.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development clearly confirmed the government's honouring of the fiduciary relationship. But then, and this is when things get baffling, the Minister of Justice actually declared to this House that the government's recent actions were consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities. I am hoping the government can clarify the increasingly muddy waters.
This Liberal government's justice minister intervened on the side of the New Brunswick government to appeal a lower court ruling which exempted aboriginal peoples from sales tax. This government actually and explicitly took the position that aboriginal peoples in this case should not be exempt from sales tax. This clearly sets this government in opposition to the interests of aboriginal peoples.
How then can the Minister of Justice justify to this House that directly opposing the interests of aboriginal peoples is somehow supporting the interests of aboriginal peoples?
In the factum submitted to the supreme court, the Minister of Justice took a position adverse to the First Nations people of New Brunswick. The actions of the Minister of Justice appear to have been a gross betrayal of this government's fiduciary responsibility.
The 1993 report of the Canadian Human Rights commissioner states:
The fact that Canada seems to be moving in the direction of self-government in no way diminishes the responsibility that the Government of Canada at present has to “uphold the honour of the Crown” with respect to its fiduciary undertakings.
The present finance minister, then an opposition member, wrote a letter on June 11, 1991 wherein he stated:
My understanding of this situation is that the government must recognize the tax immunity of First Nations people. Upon proof of status, a First Nations citizen should not be required to pay the GST levy.
He then went on to state:
I urge you to rectify their present situation and honour the fiduciary responsibility of the federal government in relation to tax immunity to aboriginal Canadians.
I wonder why the finance minister did not stick to his word and come out strongly against the intervention of the justice minister against the interest of first nations people on this issue.
The Prime Minister himself took up the torch on this issue a year and a half after the finance minister made his views clear. The Prime Minister, then Leader of the Opposition, wrote on January 22, 1993:
I have pressed the Minister to amend the policy for off-reserve purchases, which are exempt from the GST only if they are delivered to the reserve by the vendor. This policy, as you can attest, has the practical effect of denying a tax exemption guaranteed by the Indian Act.
The Liberal government has done a real disservice to all aboriginal people and all Canadians. The Minister of Justice has failed to uphold the government's fiduciary responsibility to aboriginal people.
It also appears that either the Prime Minister and the finance minister did not know of the justice minister's actions and stance on the issue of taxation of first nations people or were willing to admit their earlier letters on the issue were little more than a pre-election ploy to curry votes from aboriginal Canadians.
I trust the government will admit that it has failed to uphold its fiduciary duty to aboriginal people and come clean with the public on where the government stands with respect to taxation on aboriginal peoples.
Swissair Flight 111 September 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is with both sadness and honour that I rise today in this House on behalf of my caucus to express our feelings concerning the tragic crash of Swissair flight 111.
Like many of you, the news of Swissair flight 111 came to me as a shock, a shock that such a disaster could happen so close to home, so close to the tranquillity of Peggy's Cove. Like many others, as I stood on the rocks of Peggy's Cove that first morning looking out at the ocean at the rescue scene, I was filled with hopes and prayers that there would be survivors. It was so hard for all of us to accept the fact that this hope was to be in vain.
While the sadness persists, there is also an element of honour. This country can be very proud of the professional and efficient manner in which this disaster has been responded to by the many volunteers and professionals who saw the need and reached out quickly with compassion: the fisher people who on that fateful night pulled on their boots and without thought of self rushed out to sea to help; the Emergency Measures Organization; the military and the Canadian Coast Guard; the RCMP; the volunteer fire departments and rescue workers; the Transportation Safety Board; the harbour master; the Red Cross and Salvation Army; clergy and parishioners of all denominations; provincial and federal fisheries officials; politicians; and especially all the community residents from all walks of life.
Over these difficult days since the crash, my pride has been reinforced over and over again as I have watched the people of my riding and of the South Shore riding conduct themselves with dignity and unselfishly offer their skills, provide meals, open their homes and their hearts to help in any way they could. Even a special memorial service originally planned by the community to assist the area residents in dealing with their sorrow and grief was unselfishly shared with the country and indeed with the world.
When the media cameras were turned off and the rest of the country went back to the daily routine, the residents in and around Peggy's Cove were faced with a grim reality. Not only did they have to deal with the aftermath of haunting images and raw emotions, but also they were left with an economic crisis. Many of these people rely on the ocean for their livelihood, a livelihood that had been suspended. Everyone accepted that there must be restrictions around the crash site. Efforts have been made to resolve this very real problem. I on behalf of my constituents will continue to work co-operatively in that regard.
I thank my constituents for all that they have done and given to assist in this tragedy. Thank you also to the many other Canadians who showed love, compassion and the common bond of humanity in this time of great tragedy.
I extend on behalf of my caucus our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to all who suffered and continue to suffer as a result of this disaster. May God bless and comfort all of us.