Answer the question.
Lost his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Government Organization Act (Federal Agencies) February 8th, 1995
Answer the question.
Government Organization Act (Federal Agencies) February 8th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if in questioning the hon. member whether he would consider the appointment of the National Parole Board, for instance. The new chair of the National Parole Board is a career civil servant with no political connections. He came through the ranks, was appointed on the basis of his qualifications after being interviewed. I wonder if he would recognize that as something the government has started, and is that what he considers to be a patronage appointment?
Does he want us or the government to leave the Senate completely dominated by the Tories, holding back the Pearson airport deal as an example? Is that what he expects to do?
Also, does he not recognize that in some of the appointments the Prime Minister is making, such as Ed Broadbent and so forth, that there are no pensions, no double dipping, that with any new appointments by the Prime Minister people like Ed Broadbent are being asked? Does he not realize that Roméo LeBlanc, a man for all seasons, a fair, honest Acadian, a person who fits the Prime Minister's style was a good appointment?
Income Tax Act February 7th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to be able to reply to Bill C-282, moved by the member for Burin-St. George's, a most beautiful peace of the rock.
I commend the hon. member for his initiative. I only wish it were a votable item. I find there are a growing number of seniors moving into my riding of Victoria-Haliburton. As the population in my area grows, this bill will be a great asset to the people in my riding. In other words, all eligible medical expenses will effectively be income deductible for disabled seniors.
Elimination of the burden borne by disabled seniors with respect to medical expenses is indeed something to be commended. Disabled adults over the age of 65 have the highest medical expenses of any group in our society.
This bill, moved by the hon. member for Burin-St. George's will provide relief for over 170,000 seniors who qualify because of low income, and the number of those in that age bracket is growing every year.
The bill targets a very deserving group in our society and is designed to address the need for fairness in the Income Tax Act. Three million dollars will be available for 170,000 poor, disabled, deserving people who are seniors. Who could question this motivation? Fifty-six per cent of the group are women.
I commend the member. I promise to bring my concerns and the concerns of other members to the minister, and work for disabled seniors not only in Victoria-Haliburton but in all of Canada.
Petitions February 7th, 1995
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Victoria-Haliburton who are vehemently opposed to the importation of serial killer cards.
This petition adds to the growing list of Canadians who are opposed to the killer cards which glorify serial killers and send a negative, violent message to the youth of our country.
This petition calls upon Parliament to amend the laws of Canada to prohibit the importation, distribution, sale and manufacture of killer cards in law and to advise producers of killer cards that their product, if destined for Canada, will be seized and destroyed.
Petitions December 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present a petition from Little Britain, Ontario, constituents of mine in Cavan, Ontario, and Port Parry, Bowmanville and Oshawa.
It requests the government not to enact any further firearms control regulations or legislation or orders in council.
Conference On Security And Co-Operation December 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be in Budapest next week to attend the Conference on Security and Co-Operation in Europe. What does Canada hope to accomplish at this summit, in particular concerning the crisis in the former Yugoslavia?
Members Of Parliament Office Inventories November 29th, 1994
I cannot believe this member could stand and talk about accountability.
Members Of Parliament Office Inventories November 29th, 1994
-to Charlottetown, then on to New Brunswick and then on to St. John's how much his ticket was. Where was his accountability? Talk about the pork barrel.
Members Of Parliament Office Inventories November 29th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, although I am not scheduled, I keep hearing the word accountability from the member for Fraser Valley West. I wish it was question and answer period. Last summer I had the pleasure of attending the public accounts committee conference in Charlottetown. The total cost of my ticket was probably $700. I would like to ask the member for Fraser Valley West who flew from Vancouver with his wife-
First Nations Housing November 23rd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the House on the motion introduced by the hon. member for The Battlefords-Meadow Lake.
The hon. member has expressed some genuine concern about housing conditions in many First Nations communities. I know my hon. colleague's views are heartfelt and sincere. I commend him for bringing them to the attention of the House. I believe all Canadians share his concern that no group of people in our society should live in substandard housing.
I can assure the hon. member the government is fully aware that there is a serious lack of homes designed especially for seniors on reserve; as well there is a lack of nursing homes for those requiring special care. It is our belief that elders need an integrated housing program that encourages and enables them to stay in their own homes longer.
Health Canada's building healthy communities strategy which was mentioned by the hon. member for Peterborough a few minutes ago will support such a program. By supporting on reserve home nursing care for persons discharged from hospital and those with acute illnesses the strategy will help more First Nations people to continue to live in their reserve homes. The challenge now lies in ensuring that appropriate housing is available.
While I appreciate this special concern for the elderly I think the hon. member would agree that improvements must be made in aboriginal housing for the benefit of all age groups from newborn to seniors. We must keep in mind that the aboriginal population is an overwhelmingly young population. If we do not
focus as well on the needs of youth and young families we will face increasing costs to our social security, health and justice systems while failing to meet vital challenges for First Nations.
I know from conversations with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that they are both very concerned about the state of housing in certain aboriginal communities. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has witnessed these conditions firsthand in many of his visits to these communities. This is an experience which has strengthened his resolve to take action.
In a recent speech to the provincial treaty forum on housing in Saskatchewan the minister acknowledged: "Housing is one of the most critical problems facing aboriginal communities today". He went on to say that the conditions he has observed simply should not occur in our country.
I am therefore pleased to confirm that the government is working very hard to finalize a new policy and action plan to tackle the First Nations housing issue. We are doing so with the support of First Nations leaders and with input from a wide range of stakeholders. This action plan will provide a multifaceted approach to addressing the housing needs of First Nations, including the special needs of elders.
The housing crisis is not a new phenomenon. The situation has been worsening year after year for the past decade as the previous governments failed to take action. Make no mistake about it. This government is committed to action on this issue.
The problems are evident enough but the difficulty lies in finding solutions that will be effective, affordable and long lasting. These solutions must also increase First Nations control of the housing portfolio and contribute to the government's objective of building new partnerships with aboriginal people.
As hon. members are aware there are serious concerns about the quality and quantity of on reserve housing. A relatively high percentage of reserve houses require some form of rehabilitation and many must be replaced. This is largely a reflection of the overall poor quality of reserve housing constructed before 1983 when the national building code standards were not enforced.
There is also a serious shortage of on reserve housing. This shortage is becoming more severe each year as more and more First Nations families are formed. This shortage means that houses are overcrowded. In turn this takes its toll on family and community life and can affect the physical and mental health and well-being of family members.
The housing shortage and the poor condition of existing houses are the two key issues that must be addressed. They call for a range of innovative and resourceful approaches.
As the hon. member for Peterborough has informed the House, officials of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working closely with the Assembly of First Nations task force on housing and others to develop concrete proposals for a new aboriginal housing policy.
Among the concepts now being explored are a number of creative options that have come directly from First Nations. These proposals will be considered by the government in deliberations on a new aboriginal housing policy. A memorandum to cabinet is being prepared to seek support for such a new policy. Both ministers have instructed their officials that any new housing policy must encompass three key elements.
First, it must improve housing conditions while moving greater control and accountability for housing to First Nations. The Government of Canada believes that community control is critical to the success of future aboriginal housing initiatives. This position is shared by First Nations.
Second, the policy must provide greater employment and business opportunities for aboriginal people. First Nations people must have enhanced opportunities to build better houses for less money with more local supplies. We must also explore new avenues for financing First Nations housing by encouraging private sector investment in the housing portfolio. In the current environment of fiscal restraint and deficit reduction, government alone cannot foot the enormous bill for aboriginal housing.
Third, the policy must promote the development of skills that will facilitate First Nations control of housing and enable aboriginal people to pursue jobs in the housing industry.
A housing policy that achieves all those goals will also lead to improved health and social conditions in aboriginal communities. This in turn will reduce costs to government and will provide for a more equitable society. In other words all Canadians have a stake in improved aboriginal housing.
As hon. members well know, the challenges in developing a new aboriginal housing policy are significant but they are not insurmountable. I am confident, as are the Minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the minister responsible for CMHC, that the co-operative approach now under way offers the best chance for success. By working together with aboriginal people and making decisions that affect them we will arrive at solutions and approaches that can be supported by all Canadians.