Carolyn Parrish

[Status Of Women, December 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has been a staunch defender of women's rights as an integral part of human rights and has committed to do a gender analysis of all federal programs.

Since the budget is the principle policy document of any government, and as a good team player, what coaching is the Secretary of State for the Status of Women giving to the Minister of Finance on how do a gender analysis of this year's federal budget?

[Food Banks, December 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Daily Bread Food Bank is the largest food bank in Canada. It is a non-profit, non-denominational, charitable organization working to eliminate hunger in the greater Toronto area. With 800 dedicated volunteers, Daily Bread is supported by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and community groups. It receives no government funding.

One million, two hundred thousand meals are distributed per month to 170 food programs such as neighbourhood food banks, children's breakfast clubs, drop-in centres and hostels for the homeless. Thirty-seven per cent of those using food banks are children and 33% are women, many of whom are victims of family violence and breakdown.

Sixty-five per cent of the food bank resources come from the food industry, manufacturers, producers, wholesalers and farmers who donate surplus products.

I encourage all members in the House to open their offices and their cupboards to collect supplies and donations for the needy as we enter the holiday season ahead.

[Living Art Centre, November 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to note the successful official opening of the Living Art Centre in Mississauga.

It is a unique multi-purpose facility combining traditional art forms and leading edge technology. The centre will broadcast and receive worldwide transmissions of voice and video data and will utilize three performing areas, meeting, conference, studio and instructional facilities.

The $68 million project was completed under the Canada-Ontario infrastructure works program with the federal and provincial partners each contributing $13 million, the region of Peel $5 million, the city of Mississauga $20 million and a further $30 million being provided by the private sector.

The infrastructure works program is not only about bricks and mortar. It is also about people. The Living Arts Centre is a perfect illustration of the government's commitment to the enhancement of cultural life everywhere in Canada.

I am proud to see that arts, technology and community efforts work hand in hand in Mississauga.

[Banking, October 31st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Bank and the National Bank, three of Canada's largest financial institutions, deserve public recognition for a job well done. They have increased the numbers of loans granted to small and medium size businesses to fully one-third of all loans granted in the last quarter.

As we know, small business loans have traditionally been the most difficult to acquire. Banks have always considered small businesses extremely high risk. In the past, up to 80% of small businesses have failed in their first five years of operation. Consequently, established banks prefer the safe investment of large business. Small businesses, however, account for our most rapidly growing employment sector.

A 1995 industry committee report encouraged all banks to reach the one-third ratio for lending to small businesses.

Congratulations to Montreal, Royal and the National Bank of Canada. They are willing to do the paperwork and the in depth investigation required to safely invest in exciting new small businesses all over the country.

[Land Mines, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to be part of the Canadian delegation of NATO parliamentarians meeting in Romania last week which passed the following resolution: “Whereas more than 110 million anti-personnel land mines are placed in 65 nations around the world, aware that existing de-mining efforts and techniques clear fewer than 100,000 per year while 2 million to 5 million are laid yearly, the assembly urges member governments and parliamentarians to the North Atlantic Alliance to sign, ratify and implement a comprehensive ban on the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of anti-personnel land mines and to devote additional resources to the development of technologies intended to improve the efficiency of de-mining efforts and ensure they are rapidly made available to nations suffering the effects of the large scale use of land mines”. This passed at NATO.

I would also like to add my sincere compliments to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for all he has done and to the Prime Minister—

[Immunization Program, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for CIDA.

Ten years ago Canada began an international immunization program and immunized hundreds of thousands of children in 25 countries against six fatal diseases. It appears that the program is ending. Could the minister please explain why we have ended that program?

[Le Courrier Of Saint-Hyacinthe, April 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize national book day and to acknowledge the importance of Canada's printing industry to our economy.

The advent of the printing press changed the face of the world. It advanced math, literacy and the spread of information, paving the way for modern democracy.

In 1751 the first printing company opened in Canada and today most of us can name a friend or relative employed in this industry. The printing industry is primarily Canadian owned and employs more than 75,000 Canadians working in 3,200 establishments across the country. Another 85,000 are employed in the fine paper industry that supplies their presses. The printing industry is the fourth largest manufacturing employer in the nation, producing $8 billion in shipments this year. Exports to the United States alone increased by 13 per cent.

Canada's commercial printing industry is dominated by small firms, with 82 per cent employing fewer than 20 persons. They also use some of the most advanced technologies available.

We should be proud of this industry, one that continues to prosper, adding to a healthy Canadian economy.

[Land Mines, April 15th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been asked to present a paper to the North Atlantic Assembly this spring raising awareness of the worldwide problem of land mines. It will highlight the growing technological gap between land mines and the methods currently available for clearing them.

With 119 million anti-personnel land mines in 71 countries all over the world, 20 are being put in place for every 1 removed. Land mines prevent the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, keeping these countries dependent on foreign aid.

Canada has one of the most advanced technologies in mine detection and removal in the world and a foreign affairs minister who has been recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for his leadership in this area.

I thank David Saint, Major Harry Burke and Lieutenant-Colonel Normand Levert at the Department of National Defence and John Evans at DRE Suffield for their enthusiastic assistance in the preparation of the report. I also thank Susan Howell and Eric Walsh in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Canada must continue to lead the way in this subject.

[Canada Post, April 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, 45,000 Canadian postal workers are very distressed at renewed rumours that Canada Post is going to be privatized.

Could the minister responsible for Canada Post please tell us something that might reassure these workers?

[Health Care, April 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House today to announce the formation of a partnership between the Hospice Association of

Ontario and Glaxo Wellcome, a pharmaceutical company located in my riding.

Ontario's 78 hospices give people with life threatening and terminal illnesses the opportunity to be cared for at home. The demand for community based care continues to grow. It is estimated that hospices are the largest providers of direct services within Ontario's voluntary health care sector.

The survival of hospices in Ontario depends on the support and partnership of companies like Glaxo. Glaxo's commitment to hospices is in keeping with the recommendation of the National Forum on Health that private sector sponsorship is an important resource for communities.

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