Lost his last election, in 2000, with 28% of the vote.
Petitions May 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36. I know that if I had asked the petitioners they would have supported the previous petition regarding high gas prices, but this is not about high gas prices.
This petition is concerned about the unfair tax system Canada has. The petitioners point out a number of reasons why they think certain working people are being punished and unfairly treated by the tax system and they are calling for total tax reform.
Budget Implementation Act, 1998 May 13th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge my friends in the Reform Party for giving me the privilege to speak at this point in the discussion and my friends in the Liberal Party as well. I should also refer to my friends in the Conservative Party who have agreed to allow me to make a couple of points.
I might have some different views than my colleagues from Quebec, but we have concerns about the millennium fund. I first of all want to acknowledge that in terms of the government providing some recognition of the serious problem of student debt relief I think is a step in the right direction although a very limited step.
We have to acknowledge that the average student debt load now for Canadian students is at $25,000 and is growing year after year. Obviously some dramatic measures must be taken.
When it comes to the millennium scholarship fund we have to acknowledge that this is going to help perhaps somewhere between 8% and 9% of students requiring financial assistance. We still have a huge group of young people, and perhaps not so young people, who need financial help and this millennium scholarship will not be of much help.
We also want to acknowledge that we are concerned that students who are able to access this fund do so on the basis of need. We take the position in the New Democratic Party that if a person seeking post-secondary education is accepted by an institution, that demonstrates merit. They have qualified for their program; they have qualified for entrance to a university or college or an institute of one kind or another. After that it should be based on need to ensure that no Canadian is kept from pursuing post-secondary education because of a financial barrier. That is one point.
Another point is we are concerned that the scholarships be allocated on a reasonable basis. By that I would suggest that if a population of a province is for example 12% as in British Columbia, then British Columbia could expect to receive 12% of the scholarships operating in that fund. It would not go to one area of the country over another area, which unfortunately is the tradition in so many of these federal government programs. Certain people in certain areas of Canada receive an overwhelming benefit, often at the expense of other regions of Canada.
While this fund is limited to certain kinds of institutions, there are other institutions and other ways of training and learning that should be considered. I think for example of apprenticeship programs. We are woefully lacking properly trained apprentices in a number of areas. They should have access to this program.
We should also recognize certain institutions. If they qualify for funding under the present Canadian loans act, students in those institutions or colleges or whatever they may be called ought to have access to the scholarship fund. It should recognize that education is changing in terms of how it is being pursued by individuals, whether it is on a part time basis in a small institute, or career planning as opposed to academic planning. If a person is serious about self-improvement, serious about becoming better educated, we should use this facility.
Let us also acknowledge that this scholarship fund reflects a government that does not place a high value on education. If it actually placed a high value on education, it would do what some other nations do which in fact place a high value on education. For example, 16 out of the 29 OECD countries have no tuition fees. It is their way of saying it is one thing they can do to eliminate a barrier from some people pursuing post-secondary education.
It is fair to say that many decades ago we as a country decided that 12 years of education was an absolute minimum in order for someone to be a contributing citizen. Therefore we do not have tuition fees in grade 6 or 10 or 12 but we do at let us say, grade 13 or 14 or 15. There probably is not a single Canadian that would not think that they now have to have more than 12 years of formal education. They probably have to have at least 14 or 16 years to enter the workplace and become a contributing citizen.
In that tradition we should consider eliminating tuition fees as a barrier, like so many other countries do. As a matter of fact, even the college system in Quebec does not have tuition fees, unlike other provinces, as a way to encourage young people to continue their education in that province.
We have a number of concerns. As the day progresses, various colleagues of mine will be identifying concerns they have in various sections of the bill and other concerns regarding the millennium scholarship fund.
Budget Implementation Act, 1998 May 13th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 52
That Bill C-36, in Clause 38, be amended by adding after line 30 on page 17 the following:
“(3) A report under section 36 that is laid before each House of Parliament under subsection (2) stands permanently referred to such committee of the House of Commons as is established or designated to review matters related to human resources and education.
(4) A report under section 37 that is laid before each House of Parliament under subsection (2) shall be referred to such committee of the House of Commons as is established or designated to review matters related to human resources and education.”
Budget Implementation Act, 1998 May 13th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 46
That Bill C-36, in Clause 36, be amended
(a) by replacing line 11 on page 17 with the following:
“year and the next year;
(b) by replacing line 13 on page 17 with the following:
“the granting of scholarships during the year; and
(e) the number of students that were granted scholarships in the year, the name and location by province, of the eligible institutions in which each of those students were enrolled and the program of studies they were pursuing.”
Budget Implementation Act, 1998 May 13th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 11
That Bill C-36, in Clause 8, be amended by replacing lines 6 and 7 on page 5 with the following:
“(b) six persons, one of whom shall be a student attending a college and one of whom shall be a student attending a university,”
Budget Implementation Act, 1998 May 13th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 7
That Bill C-36, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing line 10 on page 3 with the following:
“across Canada and allocate those scholarships to reflect the relative population size of each province.”
Petitions May 13th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to present a petition today on behalf of 29,500 people from all provinces and territories in Canada.
The petitioners point out that in Canada individuals convicted of causing pain and injury to animals face a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a two year prohibition from having custody or control of an animal and/or a maximum fine of $2,000, but they are not ever aware of this penalty being imposed at its maximum. They point out that a number of states in the United States have now made cruelty to animals a felony offence and punishment varies from one year in jail to up to 10 years of hard labour with fines going as high as $100,000.
They point out a number of horrid situations that have occurred in our country regarding cruelty to animals. They are asking the Government of Canada to impose harsher penalties for serious offences against animals and to establish an educational program for judges to help them understand society's abhorrence and condemnation of acts of cruelty to animals.
I present this petition with a great deal of pride.
Canada Water Export Prohibition Act May 13th, 1998
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-404, an act to prohibit the export of water by interbasin transfers.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is very timely in that we have heard that a entrepreneur in Ontario wishes to export water from the Great Lakes to Asia. This bill would prohibit the export of water by interbasin transfer specifically. It points out that water is one of Canada's most valuable natural resources and that Canada is committed to preserving water resources within its boundaries for future generations. Basically, this bill would prohibit anyone from exporting water using interbasin transfers.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to say a few closing words in this debate on Motion No. 75, an effort to give appropriate recognition to the MacKenzie-Papineau brigade.
It is fair to say that Canada has shown leadership in the past by acknowledging past wrongs and issuing apologies. In some cases we have provided financial compensation. I refer particularly to the Japanese Canadians who were treated so inappropriately during the second world war. There was an apology and compensation was provided, similarly for first nations peoples humiliated in residential schools. There was an appropriate apology and an indirect form of compensation was indicated. We have seen nations apologize and acknowledge the past wrongs of the Holocaust, apartheid in South Africa, and one could go on and on.
It says an awful lot about a country that can admit it has made errors. Previous governments had debates around some of these issues but they made inappropriate decisions. They were in error. They made mistakes. It takes a great deal of courage for a person to admit to making mistakes and then to move on. It takes some courage for a government and a parliament to say we made a mistake to those who volunteered to fight fascism even before we as a country did.
I appeal to my colleagues from all sides of the House when they vote on this motion to set aside minor problems which have been identified and issues that would make the implementation of this acknowledgement difficult. Do the right thing. For the handful of veterans who are living today in Canada, do the right thing and indicate that we appreciate the fact that they led the way to combating fascism for our country and in the world.
Sports May 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, sports are an integral part of Canadian culture. In fact, during the Stanley Cup playoffs hockey becomes the cultural glue unifying Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Canadian players are very competitive, yet when it comes to competing sports teams the Americans tilt the playing field and compete with an unfair advantage. Huge local, state and federal subsidies provide unfair advantages to professional sport teams based in the U.S. and it is time for us to act.
Canadian professional sporting teams have been harmed by unfair American subsidy policies which have reduced the operating costs of United States teams. The NAFTA establishes clear rules to prohibit these unfair practices. The Canadian government should initiate a dispute with the American government under chapter 20 of the NAFTA and seek compensation for the unfair U.S. policies.
On behalf of sports in Canada let us establish a backbone rather than a wishbone. Let us take some action.