Rose-Marie Ur

[Agriculture, September 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we can have all the tax cuts and social programs we want, but if we do not have the ability to produce our own food we are not a sovereign nation.

We cease to be self-sufficient in food production if we allow the Americans to put our farmers out of business by artificially lowering the commodity prices through their huge subsidies. We are seeing it now with skyrocketing oil prices. We do not control the supply and are being held hostage by foreign nations. Just think what would happen if we had to depend on other countries for our food.

Ontario grains and oilseeds organizations sponsored 11 meetings across the province last month, with one of the largest being held in my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex. They reminded the provincial and federal governments that the low income situation is reaching crisis proportions.

The government has made some positive changes for the agricultural sector but recognize our work is not done.

[Petitions, September 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition on behalf of citizens in the Grand Bend-London-Kitchener area who urge the government to eliminate the gas additive MMT as it has negative impacts both on people's health and our ecosystem at large.

[Meridian Technologies, June 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the good news continues for the town of Strathroy as the doors to the world headquarters of Meridian Technologies were opened last Saturday.

The new global technology centre is 24,000 square feet of advanced engineering, planning and program design departments, serving all of its factories around the world.

The firm's CEO, Paolo Maccario, stated that the new Strathroy plant is the cradle of knowledge for Meridian worldwide.

The company has six plants around the globe, including one in Strathroy since 1980, producing a variety of aluminum and magnesium parts for the auto industry. A seventh plant is currently under construction.

For a town of 12,000 people, Strathroy certainly has something to celebrate, as Meridian's new technology centre is just one of several new factories and expansions that have been announced in the past year.

This is another outstanding example of global firms recognizing the qualities of a rural community.

[Natural Gas, June 14th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, on March 23 I raised the matter of the new farm safety net agreement announced earlier this year. My riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, the true heart of agriculture in Ontario with Lambton county alone producing more than the entire province of New Brunswick, the safety net agreement came as welcome news to those confronting historically low commodity prices and mother nature.

After meeting with the local federations of agriculture in Lambton, Kent and Middlesex, and hearing from many farmers, whether it was in a grocery store on a Saturday morning or calls to my three constituency offices, they were unanimous on one point. Farmers in my riding, indeed across the country, were looking for a solid, national, effective and equitable long term safety net program.

Whether it was the corn, wheat or soybean growers, or the cattle, hog or lamb producers, they told me that fairness must be the end result. No one province or no one region of the country should be treated differently than any other with regard to the farm programs. I heard that loud and clear from my constituents in the farm belt.

I am therefore pleased that our agriculture minister, with his provincial counterparts, established the new three year agreement that will be proportionately based on the size of the industry in each province. That is eminently fair and supportable by all concerned. Farmers need useful, long term safety nets.

The $3.3 billion agreement reached in March is a fine example of federal and provincial co-operation and is a step in the right direction, but we must keep up the fight on behalf of farmers in Ontario and across the country who are hit with the double effect of chronically low commodity prices and huge U.S. subsidies.

The announcement builds on the work of the standing committee on agriculture. We released our report in February entitled “Making the Farm Income Safety Net Stronger and More Responsive to the Farmers' Needs”. We heard from farmers and their organizations in every province. The input was from those most affected and the most knowledgeable about exactly what is happening on the farm today.

After two years of intense negotiations our federal minister of agriculture has shown great leadership by compelling all ministers to pull together and overcome the challenges of Canadian agriculture and the challenges of the federal-provincial discussions.

Reaching consensus with the provinces that represent such a diverse group of farmers is no easy task at any time. I am pleased that the agreement is designed to prove the maximum degree of farm income stabilization possible. By working together, the provinces, the federal government, members of parliament, farmers and their organizations can shape a truly national vision for agriculture in the 21st century.

[Petitions, June 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I wish to present a petition on behalf of the citizens living in Grand Bend, Port Franks and Thedford, who urge this government to eliminate the gas additive MMT, as it has a negative impact both on people's health and on our ecosystem at large.

[Petitions, June 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition on behalf of my hon. colleague from Parry Sound—Muskoka. Hundreds of his constituents are urging the government to reduce the tax penalty on early RRSP and RRIF withdrawals from 50% to 10% for senior citizens who may use the money to retire their mortgages.

[National Cancer Survivors Day, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 4 the Canadian Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day.

It is the 13th anniversary of the event in North America and is a day when we honour survivors who are living with and beyond cancer. It is a day to acknowledge the important role family and friends play in the lives of cancer survivors, and also to recognize the professionals who are helping fight the battle against cancer. In doing so we communicate to all Canadians the message that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

Cancer touches almost all of us. One in three Canadian women and 50% of men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Today, thanks to improved detection methods, more available information and enhanced methods of treatment, more than half of all people diagnosed will go on to achieve a full recovery in terms of work, recreation and family life.

[Committees Of The House, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have listened very diligently to my colleague across the way this morning and to his response to the last question. I am a member from southwestern Ontario. I welcome his great initiative to travel in my area. He obviously recognizes where the quality of land in agriculture is very vital.

I am a member of the agriculture committee, as is he. Yes, indeed, the motion was put that we travel west and to southwestern Ontario. Does he remember, in that particular instance, that yes, I voted against it, but the motion was to travel to Ontario and the eastern provinces? Was there a political motive in that he only wanted to visit southwestern Ontario?

How many meetings did the hon. member attend out west?

[Petitions, May 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am honoured to present a petition signed by residents of the Grand Bend and Dashwood areas of southern Ontario. They urge the government to recognize the adverse health and environmental effects of the fuel additive MMT with a mind to banning the substance as many other nations have done.

[Immigration And Refugee Protection Act, May 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on February 8 I raised the matter of illegal immigration with the minister in question period. My constituents had serious concerns about our current Immigration Act and whether it was as effective as it could be to both welcome legitimate refugees and immigrants and prevent those who would abuse the system from entering our country.

Three separate events in and around my riding serve to highlight people's concerns. In Windsor, Sarnia and Wallaceburg several people were captured by police as they entered or were already in Canada illegally. It was proof that our immigration policies had come under assault as some sought to jump the queue, mere pawns in the hands of Chinese criminal organizations.

My constituents urged me to take their message of fairness to the minister. People need to have confidence that our refugee system is working as well as it should be.

The system is now plagued by people who use phoney travel documents or destroy them on route to this country. Once here they certainly have the right to make a refugee claim but immigration officials are then hard pressed to positively identify them or assess their criminal backgrounds.

Alarmed with the prospect of Sarnia becoming a major jumping off point for illegal immigrants to try sneaking into the U.S., many have called for improvements to our laws for people who enter North America illegally.

As the daughter of an immigrant myself, Canada and its citizens can be justifiably proud of our compassionate and humanitarian nature. However we must not, we cannot, allow our nation to be taken advantage of by those who would disrupt and disturb our borders.

We should not be a haven for illegal immigrants. The criminal snake head organizations in China and others who would exploit the poor have to be dealt with in the harshest manner. They are not here to embrace our nation but to exploit it. The terrible plight foisted upon the young Chinese dropped in my riding comes from the multimillionaire crooks at the top using them for their own personal ends. I am pleased that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration went to China last month to express Canada's views forcefully and convincingly.

The minister's recent update to the Immigration Act is a significant step in the right direction. We tell the world that we welcome them and their families but do not manipulate the system and do not confuse our time honoured Canadian compassion with an acceptance of breaking the rules.