Lost his last election, in 2004, with 43% of the vote.
Questions On The Order Paper March 16th, 1999
Concerning children who have contracted the hepatitis C virus from blood transfusions at birth, what provisions does the federal government intend to make in order to: ( a ) ensure a decent future for these children; ( b ) ensure that required medical services can be obtained in a province other than the child's province of residence; and ( c ) reimburse travel expenditures incurred to obtain these medical services since the blood transfusion?
Agriculture March 10th, 1999
According to recent studies, an average of nearly 200 people end up in hospital every week because of accidents relating to agricultural activities.
Can the secretary of state tell me what the federal government is doing to promote Canadian farm safety?
Agriculture March 10th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Agri-Food.
According to recent studies, an average of nearly 200 people end up in hospital every week because of—
Puvirnituq Co-Op Hotel March 8th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the official opening, on March 6, 1999, of the hotel of the Puvirnituq co-op marked the beginning of a new era in tourism development for the community of Puvirnituq and Nunavik's Hudson Bay coastal region.
The convention centre, located in a warm environment, provides all the necessary services for business meetings, receptions or tourist activities.
Puvirnituq is located 1,1445 kilometres north of Montreal, along on the east coast of Canada's Hudson Bay. Air Inuit has regular weekday flights between Montreal and the community.
The co-chairs, Peter Ittukadlak, from Puvirnituq's co-op association, and Wellie Ittok, from the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, wish to thank Aboriginal Business Canada, Industry Canada and Tourisme Québec for their involvement in this new “Inuit Adventures” tourist project.
Together, we share the common goal of making Puvirnituq an increasingly popular international destination for tourism, culture and adventures.
Economic Development February 9th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, on February 2, the Canadian government announced an investment of close to $1 million in the regions of Quebec, under the Canadian Rural Partnership Program. Of that amount, $475,000 will got to 11 regional projects in Quebec.
Our government is committed to strengthening rural communities and helping rural citizens take advantage of new economic development and employment opportunities.
This type of governmental action has a direct impact upon the communities concerned. We hope to continue this partnership with as many rural communities as possible, in Quebec as well as in the rest of Canada.
First Nations Land Management Act February 1st, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to speak to Bill C-49, the First Nations Land Management Act, tabled sometime around June in the House of Commons by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
It is also an honour for me to be speaking this evening because we have chiefs with us here in the House of Commons, who come from Ontario among other places. They are Chief William McCue, of the Chippewa of Georgina Island, Chief Austin Bear of the Muskoday First Nation in Saskatchewan, Chief Bill William of the Squamish First Nation in B.C. and Robert Louie, acting chair and former chief of the Westbank First Nation in B.C.
This bill will apply to the 14 First Nations that developed this initiative and that signed the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management in February 1996. It will allow First Nation participants to establish their own land and resource management regimes.
This government-to-government agreement puts an end to the discretionary power of the minister under the Indian Act, by allowing the 14 first nations to opt out of the sections of the act governing land management. As well, it allows the 14 first nations to implement a community consultation process for the development of general rules and procedures respecting, in cases of breakdown of marriage, the use, occupation and possession of first nation land and the division of interests in case of marriage breakdown. At the present time, the agreement and the legislative measure apply solely to participating first nations.
This initiative, a significant component of self-government, was drawn up totally in conjunction with these first nations. These communities are opening up the way for changes to land management by implementing a new land management regime and by opting out of the Indian Act. This legislative measure will return administrative powers to the communities and will do away with the minister's participation in the day-to-day decisions on land management and in the activities of these first nations.
According to Austin Bear, Chief of the Muskoday First Nation, “the framework agreement and the legislative measure recognize our fundamental right to manage our reserve lands and our resources. As well, they ensure protection of our lands for future generations, by banning any transfer or sale, or any expropriation by provincial or municipal governments, both of which are now possible under the Indian Act.”
Chief William McCue of the Georgina Island First Nation said: “I strongly urge all parties in the House to support this bill and to pass it quickly. Once the framework agreement has been implemented, we will be in a position to respond to economic opportunities and to generate jobs and income for our members. Georgina Island will then truly be open for business.”
The present government's message “Gathering Strength: Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan” establishes the direction of a new relationship between governments, native groups and organizations, and the private sector, founded on the principles of mutual recognition and respect, responsibility and sharing. This initiative is built on the kind of partnership that makes a positive contribution to the lives of aboriginals.
The land management initiative will promote economic development on reserves, as well as make it possible to acquire experience in developing other self-government approaches in the future.
In addition, environmental assessment and protection regimes will be established by each first nation. These regimes will be harmonized with federal and provincial environmental regimes.
As chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, I call on the members in the House this evening to support this bill so as to help our aboriginal friends in Canada.
Kangiqsualujjuaq Tragedy February 1st, 1999
Mr. Speaker, January 1, 1999, will always be a sad day for the people of Kangiqsualujjuaq, in the Nunavik. We are not about to forget that, on that day, an avalanche destroyed the school's gymnasium, injuring many people and killing nine Inuit.
Seconds after this tragedy occurred, without hesitation, dozens of members of this Inuit community rushed out to get the search and rescue operation under way in the middle of the night to prevent further loss of life.
I wish to draw the attention of all Canadians to the magnitude of the work done since this tragic event and the difficult conditions in which it was performed following the avalanche.
The constant co-operation of experts from various Inuit organizations and from provincial and federal departments throughout this operation must be commended.
We must also commend Mayor Magie Emudluk and the Inuit staff of Nunavik, of the Kangiqsualujjuaq health center and of Kuujjuaq for their contribution. Their tireless efforts have brought great comfort to the affected families.
We will continue to support your efforts to help the families affected, to rebuild and to get back on your feet.
Monique Sioui December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, “Pay equity is very much in the news these days. Monique fought for equity, plain and simple”
Those were the words of Richard Kistabish, the husband of the late Monique Sioui, who was awarded for the first time the rights and freedoms award for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Wanaki, the couple's daughter, accepted the award on behalf of her mother, who died last year from an illness.
At the award ceremony, we were reminded that she was the president of the Quebec native women's association in the mid-1970s. It was also pointed out that “Monique Sioui addressed acutely sensitive issues such as native children being adopted by non-natives and discrimination against native women under the Indian Act”.
According to Richard Kistabish, Monique Sioui got involved to bring about some changes: “She worked very hard at changing the status of women. She also worked with neglected children. She fought against discrimination by getting involved in the community. She wanted to act as a bridge between the white and native cultures.”
It is an honour for us all to say thank you to Monique Sioui.
Salaries For Stay At Home Mothers And Fathers December 3rd, 1998
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all the members who spoke on this motion. I honestly believe all contributions are important. I want to thank the Liberal member for Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies, who seconded this motion.
I would like to pick up on a few points. The member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve talked about the province of Quebec and mentioned 1994. It is true that, on September 18, 1994, the Premier of Quebec presented the major elements of the government's employment program. This program is aimed at reforming social security and creating a healthy fiscal environment.
He said:
Any contribution to the discussions is welcomed. It is only with everyone's participation that we will succeed in developing a system that is efficient, fair, flexible and affordable and that will meet the existing and future needs of Canadians.
According to the Quebec Commission of Inquiry on Health and Social Welfare, the first official proposal to provide an annual guaranteed income in Canada was made in 1971 by a provincial commission in Quebec, the Castonguay-Nepveu Commission, which proposed an income security program for that province.
Right now, Quebec is part of the Canadian family, that is very important, but I did appreciate what the hon. member said about pay equity. Pay equity is a much talked about issue in the public service. However, nobody talks about pay equity in a family setting, for those who raise children, the mothers who stay home to take care of the children. They too should get a pay cheque and pension for that work.
Pay equity for work done at home is the fight of every Canadian woman and many Canadian parents today. It is a fundamental right. That is my position. We must find a way to help families. Giving more money to the poor will contribute to the eradication of poverty.
In my documentation I read something on Newfoundland income supplement program that was set up in 1993. I quote:
The commission believes that an aggregate guaranteed annual income, however modest, with an income supplement program based on an earnings test can be financed through savings made in our EI program and the replacement of the provincial welfare system, without any new taxes or increased deficit.
Finally, I want to remind the House that we seem willing to grant tax breaks to hockey teams, to all of the Canadian hockey teams and hockey players who are earnings millions of dollars.
Clémence Côté, from Val d'Or, always told me that there is a serious deficiency in the Canadian tax legislation, because it penalizes families with children, in the sense that the Government of Canada does not take into account the number of children a family has.
In conclusion, I think we need to set up, on an experimental basis, a Canadian annual basic income program. This is the only way to assess how a guaranteed income program can help to eradicate poverty.
I have listened to all the members who took part in this debate. The time has come for a new solution, for a commission of inquiry on poverty and the family. As Réal Caouette used to say all the time “A guaranteed annual income would help families out”.
Salaries For Stay At Home Mothers And Fathers December 3rd, 1998
moved:
That, in the opinion of this House, the government should legislate to grant a salary to mothers and fathers who stay at home to care for their children.
Madam Speaker, I have tabled this motion many times already. In 1970, the royal commission on the status of women said that women who stay at home provide as much goods and services as women who have paid employment. And if they had paid employment, we could help our children and get some regions of Quebec and Canada out of poverty. We could review our approach and develop legislation that is most of all fair for all families, that gives back parents their primary responsibilities and allows them to choose the method they prefer to raise their children.
Since the guaranteed annual income system is much superior, we could provide an income supplement for all those who need it, not only for low income workers. Our findings reinforce the idea of implementing a guaranteed annual income to eliminate poverty.
As an example, I will read a letter from Julie Dupont, of the Montreal area, dated September 10, 1998. She says:
I am not in the habit of writing letters to newspapers to complain or to make comments. I must say I do not have much time for that—my husband and I have five children between 18 months and nine years of age.
On July 20, the day of our wedding anniversary, we received a nice gift from the federal government: a reduction in our child benefits. The notice was related to the new Canadian child tax benefit.
Some gift! While our 1997 income was $11,530 less than our 1996 income, we were told that our tax benefits would drop by $82 a month.
She is not the only one in this situation. In my riding, there is a couple, Germain and Clémence Côté, whose child tax benefit was reduced by $280 a month, and, furthermore, they are not even entitled to a GST refund.
I will get back to Mrs. Dupont, whose tax benefit was reduced. Here is another quote from her letter:
For a family of seven, I do not think one could say that we have a very high income.
Because I could not believe it, I reread the whole notice and the pamphlet that was sent with it. It says that this new benefit “... includes the basic benefit plus a new supplement. This supplement is the Canadian government's contribution to the national child benefit program”. It also says that the program's goals are “to reduce child poverty and to help the parents of low-income families to return to the work force”. I might also add that it discourages middle income parents who work to stay in the work force.
Of course, we chose to have many children. And we live adequately on one salary. We live adequately because we are very frugal and because we have different strategies to save money and to get the basics in life without becoming the victims of the consumer driven society. We have simple needs and our life is focused on the lives of our children, to our great pleasure.
However, raising five children with an income like this means there must be limitations, sacrifices even. We are not asking for charity, but it would seem normal to me to receive a little support from society. After all, our five children will be taxpayers one day. Very few families want to have more than one or two children. We are constantly told how much courage and patience we have and so on. Of course, we have more courage, patience and energy than we need. The only thing that is lacking is the federal government's recognition of our valuable contribution to society, as parents of five future taxpayers.
This letter is asking for a salary for the parent staying at home to raise the children, whether it is the mother or the father. It could be a contribution or a supplement. Right now, a committee of Liberals wants to pay stay-at home parents a supplement to foster the children's development. There must be something fairer for parents who stay home to take care of their school age children. We are not telling working women to go back home and cook. This is not the point.
This is strictly about families, mothers raising their children. There are examples where families are losing money to federal taxes because they choose to take care of their kids at home.
Here is a quote from a letter sent to me by the Centre de femmes de La Sarre:
If there is adequate pay for adults having decided to work at home, great, but every woman must have the choice between working full-time or managing the family home—.
—We are pleased to see that you mention very clearly the large part of the work accomplished by women, in many cases without being paid—
—The perverse effect of poverty among women and children has an impact on living conditions and education, but we should first address the problem of poverty without creating more problems concerning the isolation and excessive responsibility given to women with regard to the education of children. Women are not the cause of poverty, and they are not the solution to this problem either. It is the social conditions that are the cause of poverty. Consequently, the time has come to address the real social causes in order to fight more efficiently against the increasing problem that poverty is.
We believe that your concern about the elimination of poverty among women and children is very important and very relevant.
This letter comes from Lulu Hébert, president of the Centre des femmes l'E.R.I.G.E.
She also writes:
We are expecting you, Mr. St-Julien, as our representative in the House of Commons, to adjust what you say in the House. Trying to take women and children out of poverty is in itself a good thing. But we must at the same time let families decide to have one of their members work in the home. This way, nothing would stop you from paying a salary with marginal benefits to an adult willing to work at home and that would give more opportunities to women who wish to invest outside the home. As the Centre des femmes, our objective is to improve women's living conditions, including the fight against poverty. This is why we are pleased to share our thoughts with you. We are hoping for your co-operation in considering this vision which supports greater equality between women and men.
The purpose of this motion is to bring the government to legislate to grant a salary to mothers and fathers who stay at home to care for their children. The hon. member who prepared a document for the Liberal Party said “It is imperative, financially and socially, that the state do something to help children. Many studies underline this need and demonstrate beyond any doubt that the quality of early childhood care has a significant impact on the physical and mental health of children and on their social integration”.
Several reports on this were carried in the media in my area and in my riding. With regard to taxation and tax rates, why are families, in my region and elsewhere in Canada, penalized because of the number of children they have? Here are some examples. Mr. Germain's family loses $280 per month. Mrs. Côté is expecting her 10th child, so the 12 of them will be living on a net salary of $22,000 or $23,000. Why? We keep asking ourselves.
Such situations exist in my riding. A destitute child grows up to be even poorer and does not function well socially.
I have reintroduced this motion in the House to hear what other members of our great parliament have to say, and to debate about legislating to grant a salary to mothers and fathers raising children.
I am looking forward to hearing other members, and I will reply later.