Carmen Provenzano

[Supply, October 20th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, I liked the reference made by the member opposite to Hallowe'en. It is the members opposite who are wearing the mask on this entire issue. None of the members opposite has touched on any issue that relates to payment to whom, how much and for how long. That is where they wear the mask. None of them wishes to be associated with open ended funding on this matter nor would they wish to be associated with funding with restrictions and conditions. That also brings its problems. So it is they who wear the mask.

[United States Immigration Act, October 9th, 1998]

I wish to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the leadership role he has played and his effective efforts in lobbying the American Congress and Senate for a Canadian exemption to this ill-conceived legislation. It appears that the American Congress is now listening, albeit in the 11th hour, to the legitimate concerns and objections raised on Canada's behalf by our Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[United States Immigration Act, October 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the United States Congress brought good news to residents of Canadian border cities yesterday when it decided to delay by 30 months the enforcement of its harsh new entry law.

Without this delay section 110 of the United States Immigration Act would have created massive lineups and a host of other problems for those crossing into the United States. This certainly would have impeded tourism and in doing so it would have had a devastating effect on the economies of border cities like Sault Ste. Marie.

I wish to thank Lloyd Axworthy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the leadership—

[Steel Industry, September 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Sault Ste. Marie and other communities dependent upon the steel industry are home to honest, hard working people who are proud of this industry and the role it plays in their communities.

Algoma Steel provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs in my riding. Yesterday the member for Edmonton North rose during question period and made a sarcastic disparaging remark designed to trivialize my question to a minister concerning the import crisis facing our steel industry.

The member's comments clearly show a total lack of concern for our steel industry and Ontario, home to Canada's largest steelmakers. Her remarks show why the Reform Party has found it necessary to seek a united alternative, or should I say a desperate alternative.

For Ontarians, especially those who depend on the steel industry, the remarks of the member for Edmonton North show why the Reform Party is no alternative at all.

[Steel Industry, September 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.

Is the minister aware that the Canadian steel industry is being seriously threatened by unprecedented steel imports at dumping prices from Japan, Korea, Russia and other foreign producers? If so, what action is the minister prepared to take to protect this important sector of our economy?

[Fednor, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate FedNor, northern Ontario's regional economic development agency, on a highly successful youth internship program.

Designed to promote the employment of recent college and university graduates, FedNor's internship initiative gives participants a needed chance to gain valuable work experience in community economic development, market research and the application of new business technologies.

Industry Canada through FedNor has invested nearly $1.5 million this year in northern Ontario youth internships. In fact, an investment of over $69,000 in internship funding was announced in my riding just last week.

The best news of all is that FedNor's funding was stabilized in the 1998 federal budget, meaning young northern Ontarians will benefit from this internship program for years to come.

[Small Business, June 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association have announced a joint initiative that will help make unincorporated businesses more competitive and improve health care coverage for up to one million Canadians.

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. This is why our government has produced a number of initiatives designed to ensure continued growth in the medium and small business sectors.

The government's 1998 federal budget introduced measures that permit unincorporated, self-employed business owners to deduct the cost of supplementary health and dental coverage as a business expense. This is a major step toward placing them on the same footing as other Canadian businesses.

The joint CFIB and CLHIA announcement brings this important initiative full circle.

I congratulate the Minister of Finance for his leadership in this regard. I commend the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association for responding so positively.

The result of this co-operative and innovative effort—

[D-Day, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Canada's important role in the D-Day invasion of France which took place 54 years ago this Saturday.

A number of men from my riding of Sault Ste. Marie fought in the battle of Normandy, including Bill Bentley, the honorary lieutenant colonel of Sault Ste. Marie's 49th Field Regiment.

Canada was assigned Juno beach, one of the five beaches targeted in the invasion. By the end of the first day our troops had advanced farther and reached more objectives than either the British or the Americans.

Canada's losses were considerable but our soldiers did not die in vain. Their remarkable courage and sacrifice helped ensure the defeat of Hitler and the liberation of Nazi occupied Europe.

On June 6, I encourage all Canadians to remember that the freedoms we enjoy today came at a high price, a considerable portion of which was paid in blood and horror on the beaches of Normandy.

[Navigating A Nation, May 14th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Sault Ste. Marie canal is being honoured in “Navigating a Nation”, a set of 10 stamps that pay tribute to Canada's inland waterways. The Sault canal is the final link in an all-Canadian water route that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the head of Lake Superior. It was the first inland waterway in the world to have an electrically powered lock.

Saultites recognize the importance of the canal to their city and to Great Lakes shipping. It is certainly welcome news in my riding that Canada Post has chosen to immortalize this world famous waterway in a beautifully designed stamp. The issue of these stamps could not come at a better time. The Sault canal lock which has been closed since 1987 is expected to reopen to recreational boat traffic early this summer.

Hats off to Canada Post for acknowledging the importance of our inland waterways and to Parks Canada for making possible the reopening of the Sault canal lock.

[Petitions, April 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise to present a very important petition signed by some 5,000 concerned residents of Sault Ste. Marie.

The petitioners strongly believe, as I do, that violent group crime by teenagers is a growing problem in Canada. I join these concerned citizens in calling on parliament to conduct a nationwide study of this very serious problem and to enact tougher penalties for participation in such criminal activity.