Murray Calder

[Canadian Wheat Board Act, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address two issues that have not been fully discussed in this debate on Bill C-72.

First I would like to put to rest, once and for all, an issue some have raised which really is a non-issue. I am referring to the notion that this proposed legislation either rescinds or intends to rescind the existing free interprovincial movement in the domestic feed grain market.

Grain farmers in western Canada have been able to sell feed barley and feed wheat domestically in designated areas on a private basis outside the Canadian Wheat Board since the government passed an order in council way back in 1974. It is not being changed.

This point has been made a number of times: in the policy announcement the minister of agriculture issued October 1996, in printed material circulated to all farmers in December, in comments the minister made in this House, in remarks he delivered at a meeting last month of Alberta's Wild Rose agricultural producers, and in a statement he made in Regina on January 21. Officials of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada also reiterated the point that the existing domestic feed grain market is not being changed.

The minister said in a statement on January 21: "Those who persist in raising this red herring are mistaken".

[Great Northern Exhibition, February 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I am pleased to share with the House the news that the Great Northern Exhibition in Collingwood has received at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions in Saskatoon the Local Fair of the Year award for 1996.

Additionally, Jim and Donna Fraser of Collingwood received the 1996 Industry Achievement Citation. Jim and Donna have been involved as volunteers in the fair industry for 35 years, Jim as an associate director, director and president of the Canadian National Exhibition, Donna as a volunteer and director of the Great Northern Exhibition.

This is a great tribute to the town of Collingwood, its surrounding communities and the many volunteers that have made the Great Northern Exhibition an annual event that draws visitors from all over Ontario.

I would like to remind one and all to set aside September 26, 27, and 28 for the 1997 Great Northern Exhibition.

[Supply, February 13th, 1997]

You just said it. Anyway, no matter what he says, I heard him distinctly make that statement.

[Supply, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have been sitting here listening with a lot of interest to discussions on a national transportation policy with which I totally agree.

Our colleagues from the third regional party have come up with their own fresh start. I think it is about the fifth or sixth time they have had a start on this. However, in this one they are talking about giving back $2,000 per family on income tax. The one colleague over here right now has just made a statement that he was going to increase income tax.

[Supply, February 13th, 1997]

It is a fair process.

[Special Olympics World Winter Games, February 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this past week Collingwood in my riding of Wellington-Grey-Dufferin-Simcoe co-hosted the sixth Special Olympics World Winter Games.

I was pleased to present medals to athletes and to witness Collingwood events, including alpine skiing at Blue Mountain and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Duntroon.

The mission of the special Olympics is to provide year round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with mental disabilities. Special Olympics gives these athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, to experience courage and joy and to participate in sharing gifts, skills and friendship with other athletes from around the world.

Everyone involved with the 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games should be proud of their success and inspired by the courage and talent of the athletes. A great deal can be learned from the special Olympics oath: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".

[Ontario Budget, December 9th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Dominion Bond Rating Service notes that Ontario's plan to balance its budget is extremely vulnerable to a recession. A 30 per cent personal income tax cut is the largest single threat to the objective of a balanced budget. Eighty-eight per cent of all extra tax revenues will be required to finance the $5 billion tax cut.

The Reform Party's "stale start" says that immediate tax cuts will help the economy. In fact, tax cuts will now cause more government cutbacks. Just look at the Harris government in Ontario. Already having cut billions, it still needs to make another $3 billion in program cuts to reach its targets. But Harris has not got a clue of what to eliminate next because his so-called plan lacked common sense to begin with.

The people of Ontario were hoodwinked by the Harris Reform-a-Tories. The people of Canada will not be hoodwinked by Manning's Tory-Reformers.

[Food And Agriculture Organization, October 23rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

According to the United Nations Agriculture and Food Organization, there are 800 million hungry people in developing countries. Next week at the world food summit what is Canada going to do to help the world's hungry?

[Petitions, October 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition calls on the Government of Canada to legislate a comprehensive ban on the production, export, trade or transfer of anti-personnel mines and to advocate strongly a worldwide ban on land mines.

[Petitions, October 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions that call on the Government of Canada to proceed with amendments to the Criminal Code to ensure that persons convicted of impaired driving causing death carries a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of fourteen years.