Paul Bonwick

[Supply, May 14th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I find it somewhat ironic to hear the member bringing forward the word dictatorial. Just yesterday in this House I heard the Reform member speaking about how lovely democracy is on such a controversial debate and how it is working so well in this House and the very next day he is saying that there is no democracy and that in fact it is dictatorial. Maybe they should get their stories straight.

I have a question for the hon. member. I would certainly like to take this opportunity to make a comment to the minister and to offer my sincere appreciation on behalf of the men and women in Canadian Forces Base Borden for the excellent job he has done in representing their needs, in meeting with them and in trying to find proactive ways of handling military issues coming into the next millennium.

As I look across the floor I see a wolf in sheep's clothing. Members opposite are riding on the backs of men and women in the military. They sat here in the last parliament and constantly tore the military apart over the Somalia inquiry, offering no positive words of encouragement whatsoever. Yet today they stand here and run off at the mouth about issues that they know very little about.

With regard to money, I have a question for the hon. member. In 1995 the Reform proposed budget suggested slashing $1 billion from the armed forces or the defence budget. I am just wondering how the hon. member feels he could better serve the military by slashing $1 billion from the men and women in our military.

[Supply, May 14th, 1998]

Why don't you talk about what the men and women say?

[National Unity, May 13th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today I am putting two regional political parties on notice. These parties are the Bloc and the Reform. Both parties knowingly or unknowingly are negative forces in our government's attempt to resolve unity problems once and for all.

During this first session I have witnessed escapades like the Reformers screaming, Reformers throwing Canadian flags on the floor and Reformers driving around Parliament Hill in an old wreck of a car with the Canadian flag painted on it for no other reason than to excite emotion and gain a little publicity.

I see the Bloc members screaming. I see them abusing parliamentary privilege to promote the break-up of our great country.

Both of these factions should be ashamed of themselves. Bloc and Reform listen up. The residents of Simcoe—Grey want a united Canada. The vast majority of Canadians want a united Canada. Indeed the vast majority of residents of Quebec want a united Canada.

On behalf of all Canadians, enough is enough. Stop trying to break up our country.

[Canada Labour Code, May 7th, 1998]

Shame on you.

[Canada Labour Code, May 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my point was purely for clarification. There were some allegations made in this House and I simply wanted clarification on them.

I apologize for not standing and asking for a point of clarification rather than debate.

[Canada Labour Code, May 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted a little clarity from the member of the Reform Party. He made some allegations about some private companies that were either abusive or not taking care of their employees the way they should. More important, he made some accusations about some unions, that some, not all, unions were not representing the membership but rather the collective bargaining units themselves.

It is very easy for the Reform member to speak in generalities, to be very vague and to pull these things out of the air. Would the member name one or two of these unions? If in fact it is true, all I would like is for him to name one or two of these unions that are not properly representing their workers. It is that simple.

[Canadian Environmental Protection Act, May 7th, 1998]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-403, an act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (lead sinkers and lead jigs).

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased today to have the opportunity to present my private member's bill.

Specifically this legislation is an act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

I would be remiss if I did not thank Mr. John Phillips and Mr. Robert Anderson who brought this important issue to my attention. The eventual passing of the bill will represent the end of a long road travelled by both gentlemen after having spent three years trying to education Canadians and Canadian governments on the consequences of using lead sinkers and lead jigs in our pristine waters.

The legislation will ensure that lead sinkers and jigs are banned for both use and importation. The protection of our environment is of primary concern to the government and I am sure that every member in the House will support the legislation when it is tabled for debate.

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

[Port Moody—Coquitlam, March 31st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure I rise today to welcome a new colleague. The residents of Port Moody—Coquitlam have spoken loud and clear. They have sent us a member who cares and supports the same things they do. They have sent us Lou Sekora, the newest Liberal member of Parliament.

Mr. Sekora and our Prime Minister should be proud of the vote of confidence the people of British Columbia have shown in them.

The leader of the Reform stated last week:

A lot of people will be watching this riding, not just in B.C., but across the country, because it's the first chance for voters to say what they think of government policy.

For once we agree. Port Moody—Coquitlam has sent a message to the Reform. They have said no to the Reform style of politics. They have said no to the Reform mud-slinging. They have said no to Reform's attempt to set British Columbia against the rest of Canada. They have said no to the arrogant, guttural behaviour of not just the Reform Party but equally so its contemptible leader.

I say congratulations to Mr. Sekora, our newest Liberal member of Parliament.

[Reform Party Of Canada, March 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it never seems to amaze Canadians just how low the Reform leader and his band of merry jokers will go to grab a headline.

Take for example the Reform leader's shameful and inaccurate statements yesterday about government appointments which, by the way, are undeniably necessary.

Yesterday the Reform Party released a list of appointees, dubbing them “loyal Liberals” and also citing that“membership has its privileges”.

The Reform must have forgotten about people like Judd Buchanan for his supposed plum appointment as chairman of the National Tourism Board. This position garners a whopping $1 per year.

What about other so-called loyal Liberals such as Perrin Beatty, the Tory cabinet minister? Or better still, Jack Fraser was appointed to the Veterans Affairs and Appeals Board. By the way, he is a former Reform MP.

The Liberal government appoints people based on qualification, not party. The leader of the Reform Party and his band of jokers have it wrong again.

I think they owe their western supporters more than this. Shame on them.

[Parliamentary Immunity, March 19th, 1998]

I withdraw those words, Mr. Speaker.