Guy St-Julien

[Access Awareness Week, December 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I invite all the people of Abitibi, James Bay and Nunavik, especially the various social integration partners, to take an active part in the events of Access Awareness Week.

It is vitally important we become aware of the importance of making our services accessible to people with functional limitations.

Whether we are talking about medical or rehab services, day care, schools, a recreation centre, work, a business or a cultural centre, we all must make the needs of disabled persons our business.

These people are our parents, our friends, our neighbours, our clients and our colleagues. They are men, women and children who are entitled to expect greater openness on the part of the people around them and society in general.

I hope that this week provides an opportunity to discover new support for the social integration and involvement of persons with disabilities.

[Canadian Mining Industry, November 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the mining industry plays a vital role in the Canadian economy. It provides direct employment to 368,000 Canadians, many of whom live in rural or remote communities.

In 1997, this high tech, knowledge-based industry injected $26.2 billion in the Canadian economy, or 3.8% of the GDP.

The mining industry also has an important impact on several downstream sectors, including manufacturing, finance, transportation and services.

Today is mining day on the Hill, an annual event sponsored by the Mining Association of Canada and the Mining Works for Canada campaign, where decision makers from the industry and the federal government get together to exchange views on issues of common interest. This year's theme is international competitiveness.

I urge all members of this House to recognize the Canadian mining industry.

[Parti Quebecois, November 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the PQ has a very unusual conception of the referendum debate. A future referendum would be a winning referendum only for the PQ. This is a strange way to preserve democracy.

The PQ will use public funds to try once again to catch Quebeckers like lobster. This is a dangerous approach that smacks of intellectual fraud, of contempt for Quebeckers.

It is hard to be more biased than the PQ. We are talking here about the future of a society, not a PQ convention.

[Election Campaign In Quebec, November 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, what is at stake on November 30 is clear.

A vote for the Liberal Party is a guarantee that there will be no referendum on the separation of Quebec.

A vote for the Liberal Party shows unequivocally that it is possible to improve Quebeckers' quality of life.

A vote for the Liberal Party is a show of confidence in Canada and Quebec's ability to improve their economic, social and cultural positions in the world.

A vote for the Liberal Party is an insurance policy for the majority of Quebeckers who are opposed to the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada.

[Election Campaign In Quebec, November 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers are facing a bleak reality. The separatist government clearly indicated that a vote for the PQ is a vote for another referendum.

This was also confirmed by the Bloc Quebecois leader at the beginning of the election campaign. However, Quebeckers can change this reality on November 30. They can vote for real change, for a stronger Quebec, a Quebec that knows where it is headed, a Quebec that wants to be part of Canada.

On November 30, Quebeckers can change this reality by voting for the Liberal Party, by voting for economic growth, for a better quality of life and for the assurance that there will not be another referendum on Quebec's separation.

[Election Campaign In Quebec, November 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, come November 30, Quebeckers will be expressing loud and clear their love for Quebec, a Quebec within Canada.

On November 30, Quebeckers will say in no uncertain terms that they will not tolerate the scorn in the words of the acting PQ premier, Lucien Bouchard, who said that Jean Charest did not like Quebec.

On November 30, Quebeckers will vote Liberal because they have had enough of referendums, which have cost more than $400 million to date. They have had it with talk of separation and the words of Lucien Bouchard, who says Canada is Quebec's arch-enemy.

On November 30, Quebeckers will vote for Jean Charest, because they know Canadian federalism will be improved with him and, in Abitibi-Est, with Lionel Brochu.

[Canada Post Corporation, October 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Canada Post Corporation.

How does Canada Post use its network of rural post offices to provide more services to Canadians living in rural areas and to contribute to the future strength of Canada's rural communities?

[Petitions, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present two petitions, one from Normand Bélanger of Matagami, and one from Pierre Lessard of Val-d'Or, concerning Bill C-68 on firearms.

[Radio Nord, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Radio Nord has asked the federal labour minister to give mediator Jacques Lessard the power to decide the 85 employees' future terms and conditions of employment. What Radio Nord is asking for represents an abuse of power. The minister is not authorized under the Canada Labour Code to impose terms and conditions of employment on the employees of Radio Nord.

In fact, according to the union, it is contrary to the spirit of the code, because section 107 provides at most that the minister may do such things as to him seem likely to maintain or secure industrial peace and to promote conditions favourable to the settlement of industrial differences.

Radio Nord is basically asking that the right to free collective bargaining and, where legitimate, to go on strike to advance their demands be taken away from the employees. In addition, the employer abolished a dozen or so positions during the conciliation process.

The union believes that a negotiated solution is the preferred option for the employees and for the people of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, who complain about the fact that Radio Nord has been cutting back services for several years.

[Regional Development, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is more good news for the economy of eastern Quebec: the Government of Canada will be investing $11.3 million over the next five years to launch Quebec's first Technopole maritime, involving a dozen partners in the Lower St. Lawrence, Gaspé and North Shore areas.

This money, which is going to a region that has taken the initiative in developing its economy, will be used to develop eastern Canada's shipping expertise. Most of the money will go towards the direct funding of applied research projects, with the emphasis on shipping.

The program will be administered by Canada Economic Development. It will encourage regional partners to join forces in developing eastern Quebec's shipping expertise. A study of the feasibility of setting up a shipping biotechnology research centre in eastern Quebec will be carried out.

This is good news, something the Liberal government is doing to encourage partners in the eastern Quebec region and thus develop shipping expertise with a future.