Guy St-Julien

[Canada Elections Act, February 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise to speak to the bill amending the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (political financing).

We are aware that the Prime Minister of Canada and the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons have introduced a bill to better govern the financing of political parties and candidates, in order to improve equity and transparency and to restore Canadians' confidence in our public institutions.

Some fundamental changes to the way federal elections are financed are required in order to dispel Canadians' perception that big business and labour unions exercise undue influence through large donations in exchange for favourable treatment, and that the arrangement is reciprocal.

Five provinces already have legislation restricting political contributions by individuals, the Province of Quebec in particular. Several years ago, under René Lévesque, Quebec adopted well-received legislation on political financing. Two of the five provinces ban donations by corporations or unions.

[Petitions, February 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present several thousand signatures from all over the province of Quebec, including its remote regions.

The undersigned residents of Canada wish to draw to the attention of the House of Commons that any efforts by the government to put the economy back on its feet and guarantee the economic security of Canadians will be in vain unless the federal government can eliminate the debt, stop making interest payments, and begin running this country properly in the interests of all Canadians.

The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to ask the government to create wealth for the country, basing their request on the abundant production of this country, for which its people are responsible.

[Health, February 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec, Bernard Landry—who was not elected as such—has been griping for several months, and did so especially loudly on Wednesday night in Ottawa. However, Quebeckers suspect he is not the least bit unhappy with how things have turned out regarding the new Canadian action plan on health. The plan will provide improved access to doctors and nurses as well as other health professionals at all times, more post-operative home care, less waiting time for access to diagnostic equipment and assistance for patients with high drug costs.

The people of Abitibi—Témiscamingue, James Bay and Nunavik thank the Prime Minister of Canada, who has demonstrated flexibility so that patients can receive quality health care in the coming years.

[Mining Exploration, February 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Association de l'exploration minière du Québec is asking the federal finance minister to extend by five years the investment tax credit for exploration in Canada and to make five minor changes to the eligibility criteria for the temporary flow-through share program.

Eleven of the fifteen mines currently operating in the Abitibi—Témiscamingue and Chibougamau regions will shut down by 2006, leading to the loss of 2,300 direct jobs and approximately 4,700 indirect jobs.

The five minor changes being proposed are as follows: extend the investment period from December 31 to the end of February; allow the use of up to 15% of the funds obtained to pay management-related costs; make the big Canadian mining companies eligible to participate in the program and maintain the look-back rule at 365 days; increase the non-refundable tax credit to 25% in 2004, decrease it to 20% in 2005 and then to 15% for the three following years.

Columbia

[Canada Elections Act, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government House leader.

What is the government's reaction to the ruling handed down yesterday by the court in British Columbia, under which provisions of the Canada Elections Act that prohibit broadcasting election results early were ruled unconstitutional? Will the government appeal the decision?

[Centre hospitalier des Vallées de l'Outaouais--Hôpital de Hull, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, even supposing an optimistic scenario in which Ottawa does provide additional funding, it would still hardly be possible to reduce the waiting lists and overcome the staffing and equipment shortages at the Centre hospitalier des Vallées de l'Outaouais--Hôpital de Hull unless the Government of Quebec also makes a firm commitment to invest.

The Government of Quebec promised to solve the pay equity issue involving nursing and all professional staff before December 31, 2002 at the Centre hospitalier des Vallées de l'Outaouais--Hôpital de Hull. However, to this day nothing has yet been resolved.

One only has to spend time at this hospital to see that it is lacking in nurses, attendants, the latest technology and emergency room space.

Despite all of these problems, doctors, nurses and hospital staff work relentlessly to provide patients with the best quality care.

[Petitions, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by petitioners in the four northern Nunavik municipalities of Puvirnituq, Kuujjuaq, Quaqtaq and Kangiqsujuaq drawing to the attention of the House the following:

Whereas the federal government, through one of its departments, ordered the killing of Inuit sled dogs from 1950 to 1969 in New Quebec, that is Nunavik;

Whereas the federal government adopted a policy in support of this killing;

Whereas the federal government did not hold public consultations with the Inuit communities of New Quebec, that is Nunavik.

Whereas the killing of these dogs has had a tragic social, economic and cultural impact on the Inuit in Nunavik—

The petitioners are asking for a public inquiry into the federal policy of sled dog killing that was implemented in Nunavik.

[Health, January 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister of Canada is sincerely hoping to come to a cooperation agreement with the provinces to better integrate health care services in Canada.

The Prime Minister of Canada wants an effective health care system that provides access to a health care professional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; that provides timely access to diagnosis and treatment, without having to repeat tests with every new health care professional that is seen; that provides access to quality home care, and finally, that provides access to needed drugs without causing financial pressures.

The Prime Minister of Canada wants a formula that is flexible enough to take into consideration the situation in each province.

The Prime Minister of Canada said that we need accountability, that the Canadian public demanded it. He is right. Quebeckers do not understand why their premier, Bernard Landry, refuses to be accountable to Ottawa for how it manages the money that Ottawa transfers to Quebec.

[Radio Nord Communications, December 9th, 2002]

Madam Speaker, a labour dispute has been dragging on at Radio Nord Communications in Abitibi—Témiscamingue since October 25. As a result, the population there is being deprived of a source of information provided by real reporters.

This company is in a monopoly situation as far as regional television coverage is concerned, being affiliated with TVA, Radio-Canada and TQS.

The services provided by Radio Nord are deteriorating and this has a direct impact on the people living in communities far removed from major urban centres.

Radio Nord no longer has any reporters assigned to the Abitibi West region, or even in the Témiscamingue area.

Radio Nord is gradually disengaging from Abitibi—Témiscamingue by centralizing its operations in Gatineau.

Radio Nord has applied to the CRTC to reduce the length of its regional news broadcasts on each of its stations.

Both parties need to return to the bargaining table and reach a negotiated agreement.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 9th, 2002]

Madam Speaker, what is fascinating today in the Kyoto debate is primarily to be able to convey the views of my constituents and the point made by the president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, following the conference, which was held this year in Kuujjuaq and where resolutions were submitted concerning Kyoto.

On November 27, I received in my office a letter which reads as follows:

Dear Sir,

I am writing to urge you to support the resolution that the Government of Canada is about to present to the House of Commons to have the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations framework convention on climate change ratified.

This issue has raised a great deal of interest among politicians and the public, particularly over the past few months. Some provincial governments see the protocol as a threat to their economy. However, the federal government primarily sees it as a measure to protect the environment. Inuit have a third way of looking at it, a very interesting one in my opinion, that I am asking you to examine before taking part in the debate and voting on the proposal.

The climate change caused by human beings not only threatens northern Canada's economy and environment, but also our culture and way of life. It is a well known fact that this change will be more significant at higher latitudes: the media regularly show images of the permafrost that is melting and of emaciated polar bears. However, what is truly at stake in northern Canada is the survival of the Inuit culture. We are a flexible people and we are well known for adjusting to changes to the environment and the economy. However, the magnitude of the anticipated environmental change, based on computer models—essentially the disappearance of the summer sea ice in the Arctic by the middle of the century—will significantly impact on our ability to survive as a society of hunters.

We know that this global problem requires a global solution, and this is why we are recommending that you support the ratification of Kyoto. A “Canadian” approach more permissive than expected as regards volumes, and delays in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada is not the solution to this urgent problem for the Arctic.

The Inuit Circumpolar Conference brings together Inuit from Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Chukotka to discuss climate change in the world. We refuse to adopt an alarmist attitude regarding this issue, but we firmly believe that all those responsible for Canadian policy must base their choices on science, on Canada's long term interest in the areas of health and well-being, and on the precautionary principle that Canada and other countries accepted and adopted at the 1992 earth summit, in Brazil. It is for these reasons that I am asking you, on behalf of our people, the Inuit of the northern Arctic and circumpolar Arctic, to support the ratification of the Kyoto protocol.

Sincerely yours.

It is signed Sheila Watt-Cloutier, president.