Jean Augustine

[Petitions, June 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my honour to present a petition on suicide prevention. Approximately 3,500 to 4,000 Canadians die each year by suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. In comparison to other countries, Canada does not have a national suicide prevention strategy.

The petitioners in Etobicoke—Lakeshore call upon parliament to pass legislation to create a national suicide prevention strategy.

[Micro Credit Act, June 12th, 2001]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-385, an act to facilitate micro credit for self-sufficiency.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this private member's bill.

The purpose of the bill is to encourage a greater availability of banking and other financial services to those with low or unstable incomes, and to increase the availability of credit in small amounts, up to $5,000, for small entrepreneurial enterprises.

The bill calls for an annual report to be published by the Minister of Finance showing the progress in improving micro credit by the financial institutions that agree to participate. The institutions that attain a certain level of activity could describe themselves as being recognized by the government as micro credit specialists.

This enactment would affect directly low income people for the purpose of increasing their ability to generate income. These small loans, made at a reasonable and commercially viable rate of interest, would enable them to start or expand their own businesses and to work their way out of poverty with dignity.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Petitions, June 8th, 2001]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have a petition which states that rural route mail couriers often earn less than the minimum wage and have working conditions reminiscent of another era. They have not been allowed to bargain collectively to improve their wages and working conditions. They therefore call on the House to repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.

[Hiv-Aids, June 8th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 20th year that the first HIV-AIDS was recorded. That one case has multiplied into a global pandemic.

A glance at the facts tell us that 95% of the 36 million people with AIDS live in developing countries. The epidemic is more acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where two-thirds of the HIV-AIDS cases are found with 0.1% receiving anti-AIDS treatment.

Drug cocktails have reduced AIDS deaths in the west by 75%. In contrast, AIDS sufferers in poor countries die in six months or less.

High drug prices and trade related aspects of intellectual property rights are making it extremely difficult for the populations of the developing world to have access to affordable HIV medication.

Arresting the HIV-AIDS pandemic cannot be done without strong leadership resolve.

I call on the Government of Canada to take that leadership role and work with like-minded countries to make drug pricing for HIV-AIDS a priority at the upcoming WTO session on TRIPS, the United Nations special session on HIV-AIDS and the upcoming meeting of the G-8. We must do this.

[Human Rights, May 29th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were shocked to learn last week that an edict issued by the Taliban in Afghanistan would force religious minorities in that country to wear special identification on their clothing.

Could the Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific tell us what the reaction of the Government of Canada is to this edict that religious minorities must wear identification?

[Supply, April 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the debate on the motion put forward by the opposition on the free trade agreement of the Americas. I will be sharing my time with the member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Aldershot.

At the summit of the Americas this past weekend my constituents and other Canadians witnessed an historic gathering. Thirty-four heads of state met in Quebec to discuss many issues of mutual interest and to create the largest free trade zone in the hemisphere. Thousands of Canadians, through demonstrations or by other means, have made their opinions known regarding the FTAA negotiations.

Weeks prior to the Quebec summit, I had the opportunity to hear from the people of my riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore on the issues. I also heard the views of various witnesses who appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, of which I am a member.

As a result of the federal government's commitment to ongoing dialogue and public debate on the issue, Canadians have a sense of the FTAA and what it will mean for them. The government is determined to make the FTAA negotiations as open and transparent as possible.

The government knows Canadians have a wide range of views on the issues. Many Canadians come from the regions with which we are looking to participate. Some of them fear their views might not find their way to the negotiating table.

However it is important to the government that its policy course advance the interests of all Canadians and that it hear from Canadians on issues of national interest. That is why the government wants and facilitates an informed public debate. What is happening today is part of that.

Canadians value transparency in government and the federal government would not have it any other way. In developing trade policies and agreements, the government makes every effort to facilitate the participation and input of all Canadians. Through the FTAA process, the federal government has shown its commitment to public discussion on this important issue.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Trade have consulted provincial and territorial governments, parliamentarians, civil society, environmental and labour groups, business leaders, academics and other citizens on the FTAA.

The federal government has taken a series of steps to facilitate such public involvement, and I will highlight a few of those steps.

The government contributed funding to the people's summit, where Canadian ministers were joined by high level representatives from 20 countries and five international institutions and met with more than 60 representatives of civil society networks, groups and associations. Most of us who watched the people's summit on television know it was successful.

As well, the government has repeatedly answered to parliamentarians through debates on the floor of the House, appearances by ministers before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, briefings by officials and co-operation with committees of both Houses of parliament regarding the FTAA and the WTO.

In May 1999 the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade established a trade negotiations and agreements website in order to use the Internet as the quickest and most efficient way to give Canadians the information they needed and the information they wanted on trade.

Since December of last year the website has been a valuable resource whereby thousands of Canadians can view Canada's proposal in the FTAA negotiations. Over and over the minister responded in the House that the website was up and running.

Canadians should know that our country was the first in the hemisphere to publicly release Canada's FTAA negotiating position. That happened about a year ago in response to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Report on the FTAA.

In doing so, Canada has led the way in citizen engagement and is encouraging FTAA partners to follow suit and make their positions public. Two of our trading partners took us up on this. Chile and the United States have followed Canada's example and released detailed summaries of their negotiating positions on their respective websites.

I am encouraged that Canada is reaching beyond all borders to ensure that the citizens of the hemisphere are also made aware of the FTAA negotiations. This is of particular importance to smaller nations of the hemisphere where there is no comparative advantage in technology.

Technological assistance from Canada in helping them to get their messages across to the people would be useful in ensuring that this dialogue on transparency taking place in the House today can also happen in all other parliaments. In addition to ensuring that those countries can have the benefit of technology in communicating to their citizens, Canada has offered assistance.

Much has been said in the debates on the FTAA about the text of the negotiations. Canadians wonder if they will ever get to see the text. By their nature, negotiations are formal discussions intending to secure an advantage or a benefit for those involved. Whether it concerns a commercial contract or a peace settlement among nations, negotiations often take place behind closed doors. Releasing the text beforehand is counterproductive to the interests of Canadians and would jeopardize the discussions by undermining the negotiating stands of participants or making available privileged information that could allow some to profit at the expense of others.

We know the House was informed that Canadians will see the text of the negotiations in the next few days once they are available in the four languages of the FTAA: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Thanks to Canada's leadership the negotiations for the FTAA have set new standards for openness and transparency in other ways. The engagement of civil society in the FTAA process is a result of Canada's effort from the very beginning.

I must express thanks to the Minister for International Trade. During his chairmanship of the FTAA negotiations from May 1998 until November 1999, Canada was instrumental in establishing the committee of government representatives on the participation of civil society.

We have worked very hard in several areas to ensure that participation. The committee of government representatives on the participation of civil society meets regularly as a consultative body in the negotiations and serves as a forum for input from citizen based groups, the business community and non-governmental organizations. This is an unprecedented step in international negotiations.

On February 23 of this year Canada's latest proposals were announced to expand and strengthen the mandate of the committee. They were made available on the trade negotiations and agreements website.

The summit itself was widely covered by broadcast media and Canadians were able to see a full session of the debates between the 34 heads of state during the morning of April 21.

These are concrete steps that demonstrate the government's commitment to openness and transparency in the FTAA deliberations.

In closing, let me reiterate that Canada's views on public input into the FTAA from the outset has been and remain in full support of transparency in ways that safeguard Canada's interests and reinforce the confidence in the government's ability to reflect its interests and priorities.

Parliamentarians in civil society play a major role in the process. Having this debate and using the mechanisms at our disposal such as committees ensures that Canadians understand the issues and are able to convey their views to government. The debate today is part of that transparency.

[Earth Day, April 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, April 22 was the 31st anniversary of Earth Day, the largest environmental event in the world. Earth Day gave all Canadians and others around the world an opportunity to celebrate the importance of a safe, clean and sustainable environment.

The health of our environment depends on decisions about the croplands, freshwater, oceans, forests, fisheries and other natural resources on which life depends. There are over six billion of us on the planet who are consuming the world's resources. The future of our environment will depend on the actions we take now.

I join with my constituents in encouraging the Government of Canada to continue to demonstrate strong leadership on environmental protection and to promote an international environmental agenda.

[World Health Day, April 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, April 7 is World Health Day. The theme of this year's public awareness campaign is mental health. The campaign aims to draw the attention of Canadians to the challenges that mental illness and brain disorders pose to individuals and families affected by them.

Mental illness accounts for enormous suffering, disability and increased mortality. An estimated 400 million people around the world suffer from mental and neurological disorders. It is often associated with violations of human rights, stigma, unemployment, social exclusion, poverty, shame and secrecy.

The solutions to mental illness can be found in communities through mental health services, scientific research and the health policies of government.

As we mark World Health Day, I call upon my colleagues to join in this World Health Organization campaign to make good mental health a priority.

[Foot And Mouth Disease, April 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in this emergency debate initiated by the hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

When he called for this emergency debate on foot and mouth disease, the hon. member gave credit and applauded the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its advertising campaign. I agree wholeheartedly that this agency is addressing this potential problem.

Foot and mouth disease does not have significant human health effects but it is easily transmitted by humans. It can travel on clothing, on vehicles, on the person and in prepared foods. An important line of defence in protecting Canada from foot and mouth disease must be to make people aware of the precautions that they can take to help keep this terrible disease out of Canada.

That is why the government has taken the initiative to provide Canadians and travellers to Canada with information about what travellers coming or returning to Canada can do to prevent the disease.

I want to focus my remarks tonight on the government's communications plan.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the CFIA as it is commonly known, has established a task force to co-ordinate the dissemination of information about foot and mouth disease. It is collaborating with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and other federal and provincial partners to provide veterinarians, producers and the public with information about foot and mouth disease and has provided a toll free number. Maybe I can use this forum to give that toll free number. It is 1-877-227-0677.

Many of my constituents travel outside Canada as tourists and on business. They need to be aware of the care they should take, so the government will increase its campaign to keep foot and mouth disease out of Canada with advertisements in the travel sections of major dailies across the country.

Last week, I am sure hon. members were watching the show, the CFIA had a five minute segment on CTV's Canadian Farm Show and more television public service announcements are planned.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also has foot and mouth disease related materials available on its website, including information bulletins and fact sheets on key topics.

Copies of those fact sheets are displayed at various locations in the airports. Most of us come through the Toronto airport and the Ottawa airport. The information is there for us. The agency has established a toll free information line to respond to Canadians' concerns. A travel advisory has been given to customs officers across the country to hand out at airports. There is signage at the airports informing travellers of disinfection procedures, and members earlier referred to those disinfection procedures.

In the print media two articles on foot and mouth disease have been placed in the Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association Journal and an article will be placed in a supermarket journal which is distributed to 10,000 supermarket retailers across Canada. Most of us, when we visit the supermarket on the weekend, can be assured that information will be there for us.

As well, an article has been prepared and will be electronically distributed to more than 1,000 community newspapers. Ads will also be run on inflight airline TV presentations and in agricultural trade publications. We want to warn travellers and farmers of the dangers of the disease. We want to send a clear message. It is up to all of us to keep this highly contagious disease out of Canada.

We have taken other steps. We plan to release travel information cards to passengers, alert travel agencies and increase content on the CFIA website.

These are some of the recent communication initiatives but others are being prepared. Communication activities such as information on the outbreak in Europe, we take very seriously. We recognize that everyone has a role to play to help keep the disease out of Canada. We want Canadians to be aware of the role they play in prevention. It is up to all of us. We must all be involved in prevention.

Canada has kept the disease out of the country for over 50 years. We will increase surveillance. We will continue to ask international passengers to walk through a disinfectant footbath. We will continue to educate the public and travellers. We will use communication as a powerful tool to prevent the disease from coming to Canada. We will talk about this in our communities, our schools, our churches and in our public avenues.

I am glad that we are in agreement on all sides of the House that prevention is really the route for us to go.

[Summit Of The Americas, March 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the debate this evening. I am splitting my time with the member for Vancouver Quadra.

Let me begin by saying that in my riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore there are many who have expressed concerns about this agreement and this summit and I hope these concerns will be addressed in the discussion tonight.

As we know, the Prime Minister and other heads of state will be discussing the FTAA at this very important summit. The FTAA is indeed a good news story. I think this is a good news story that we hear tonight from the members on this side of the House and others: the expanding of trade and investment and those advantages which will allow Canadian companies to grow, to innovate and to create better jobs.

However, much has also been said about the FTAA and the knowledge that the Canadian public has about the agreement and its potential impact on communities, and especially for some of my constituents, and smaller states. The discussion this evening is one which I hope all those who have expressed their concerns to me are watching and participating in with us.

The idea of the free trade area of the Americas was brought to the fore at the first modern-day summit of the Americas, held in Miami in 1994. At that summit, all countries, including Canada, agreed to conclude an agreement by 2005. At the Quebec summit, Canada will engage in negotiations with over 30 heads of state and government to bring this to fruition. The free trade agreement of the Americas will build upon and strengthen existing bilateral and subregional free trade agreements with countries in the hemisphere.

As we know, democracy and the expansion of free markets around the world are transforming the Americas. Canada has been playing a leading role in responding to the challenges of economic and social change.

At home, the government is committed to creating opportunities for Canadians in global markets and will work to foster favourable environments in which Canadians can take advantage of opportunities. Canada has a vested interest in the economic development of the hemisphere and will demonstrate leadership where it can to strengthen and integrate relations in the Americas.

We have heard from our Minister for International Trade that the small economies will be given assistance to participate not only in the summit but in regard to further participation in the discussions, which will go on until 2005.

Canada's economy depends on trade, which constitutes 40% of our gross domestic product and creates or sustains one Canadian job in three. The people of Etobicoke—Lakeshore should know that on a daily basis more than $2.5 billion worth of business occurs in two way trade with the world.

Today over 90% of Canada's trade is with the Americas, including the United States. Canada's foreign direct investment in the Americas reached $182 billion in 1999. Over the last 10 years, the value of trade has increased more than 170%.

These are advantages for us, but again we pose the question, what about the small economies? The summit of the Americas is about more than just free trade. It will be a forum where heads of states and ministers will engage in discussions around three broad themes: strengthening democracy, creating prosperity, and realizing human potential. Those three broad theme areas are where the small economies can see themselves moving forward and benefiting from whatever agreements are made.

Canada's position on strengthening democracy in the hemisphere is based on the premise of consolidating democracy, protecting and promoting human rights and enhancing human security.

In any trade liberalization agreement, democratic development has a place. It allows economies to become more open and countries to prosper, and it compels nations to create rules and institutions needed for global governance. The small economies need help in that specific area.

Creating prosperity for Canadians and the citizens of the hemisphere entails addressing issues such as poverty and promoting equality of opportunity. This principle is emphasized in the summit plan of action on key social initiatives that would support education and the acquisition of needed skills, improve the health of people, advance gender equality, promote cultural diversity and expand access to new technologies.

I am putting emphasis on those areas because I think of the islands of the Caribbean and the other states to which some improvements and some advantages could be given.

These initiatives will help the citizens of the Americas to live with dignity, realize their full potential and contribute to the economic and social development of their communities. These three themes are juxtaposed against several issues of concerns as raised by civil society and the small nations.

At the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade deliberations, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to hear the sentiments of Canadians on the implications of the FTAA on such matters as environment, labour standards and income disparity. Many witnesses appeared before us and spoke to those issues. From these hearings was a growing consensus that the FTAA could not ignore environmental and labour standards.

Canadians are concerned about economic disparities and the competition will make worse already poor environmental and labour standards among smaller countries in the hemisphere. The majority of these countries are at a disadvantage since they do not have the capacity to develop sustainable development strategies on the environment or improve upon standards of labour.

I can think of instances in Mexico where the results of NAFTA have come under intense scrutiny for problems relating to the environment and declining labour standards. I know we have benefited from those experiences and it is the hope that whatever negative was done will not be repeated here. Careful consideration must be given to these issues so that we will not repeat some of the challenges that NAFTA created.

Canada and other countries in the hemisphere must work to ensure that these issues are reconciled and that they are incorporated into the FTAA. I am encouraged to hear that the summit will provide an opportunity for environment and labour ministers to address these very important issues.

I would like to turn to the issue of income disparity. There is no doubt that the FTAA will have to raise the standard of living in the hemisphere. However, large income disparities between countries will make it difficult for small ones to implement the FTAA.

We must be conscious about how the benefits will be distributed. There are over 800 million people in the hemisphere, the majority in smaller states.

The issue of tariffs is of importance when we talk about income disparities. Economies of smaller states rely on tariffs as their main source of revenue. Social programs and debts are paid from tariffs. The elimination of tariffs as proposed by the FTAA could force small nations to introduce income tax systems in order for them to participate in the agreement. Many simply do not have the technical expertise to do so.

Small countries must have some kind of assurance that they too will benefit from the elimination of trade barriers and should be provided with the necessary assistance to help them to deal with the challenges of tariff elimination. I know that technology and connectivity are very important to those states and the Canadian minister has assured us that some assistance will be given to those small states.