Nelson Riis

[Employment, October 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Yesterday, before the finance committee, he indicated that in his first round of prebudget consultations Canadians "told us they wanted clear targets to which they could hold the government accountable and we provided those targets. We provided those milestones." I applaud him for his leadership.

However, we have heard an awful lot about the target of deficits. Why did the minister not also include targets for employment? He is concerned about employment. We have been hearing only targets for deficit reduction. Why not targets for employment as well?

[Request For Emergency Debate, October 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 52 to request an emergency debate on what can only be described as an emergency today but as a crisis on the west coast of Canada.

When I first raised this matter two weeks ago it had been found that 1.3 million salmon had mysteriously gone missing. No one could account for them. We were concerned at that point and asked for an emergency debate. Now 1.9 million more have gone missing.

I know that the minister said there would be an investigation and he will report some time next year. Not only do members from the west coast want to debate this in the House but members from all sides do, knowing full well what happened on the east coast when the government was reluctant to take action and to provide strong leadership.

It is a disaster. It is a crisis situation.

The public confidence in terms of the ability to manage those resources has, for all intents and purposes, evaporated completely in British Columbia. For that reason, Mr. Speaker, I ask you to consider calling for an emergency debate on this issue later today.

[Canada Petroleum Resources Act, September 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I want to join with others in support of this bill, recognizing as the previous speaker has indicated that this amendment will give recognition for technological development by Imperial Oil. It will be good for Imperial Oil. It will be good for the Sahtu Dene and Metis land claims settlement act process.

The Dene in the area will benefit directly in terms of wealth, particularly with the largest contract involved, $6 million, and a conditional tender given to Shethah Drilling Ltd., a Dene, Metis and Imperial Oil joint venture. This bodes well in terms of future developments in the north and throughout Canada generally.

Also, as the previous speaker has indicated, the people of Canada will benefit from this resource in two ways, through the normal royalty process and also through profit sharing. It seems to me this marries the federal government, the people of Canada, Imperial Oil of Canada and the First Nations people of the north. This is an excellent model on which further northern development ought to be based.

I had a number of questions in terms of what this bill would do. I want to indicate my appreciation to the minister who, with his associates, clarified some of these. For example, I was not certain whether the Sahtu Dene and Metis land claims settlement act had been proclaimed. This was a condition that they had for their support. I was told that has now taken place.

There was concern also because of the new technology involved. The previous speaker indicated that new technology has been developed in this part of Canada, particularly with horizontal drilling to avoid sensitive and fragile ecological areas. Quite frankly this is good technology that will help development throughout other parts of northern Canada and throughout similar environmentally and ecologically sensitive parts of the world.

The question was whether as a result of the increased oil flow and the horizontal drilling technique this would influence the royalty system. I have been assured by the minister it will not. The second question was whether there will be ongoing environmental studies watching this new process as a result of the horizontal drilling that is going on. Again the minister indicated that the National Energy Board and other agencies will actually be monitoring this project in terms of environmental concerns.

Also, I wanted to confirm again in terms of precedent setting that this agreement will continue to give one-third of the profits to the people of Canada. After all, we would appreciate that this resource belongs to the people of Canada and they ought to share directly in its development. Again, that has been confirmed.

This $30 million drilling program producing eight productive wells will not only bring job opportunities to the residents of the area which is certainly needed, but will benefit Canada in the ways I have already mentioned.

I want to say on behalf of my colleagues that we will be supporting this bill enthusiastically. I do want to share the concern raised by the previous speaker that such a straightforward piece of legislation would take so long. We have been watching this inch its way through the parliamentary process. It says something about the way we deal with business here. Perhaps it will add to the changes that will expedite business, particularly something which is so straightforward.

However, I suppose the quid pro quo would be the concern with the Sahtu Dene and Metis land claims settlement act to get their support on this. That took perhaps more time than we had anticipated.

Overall I think the point was well taken. The process here is cumbersome at best and something we must all strive to achieve is expediting the passing of legislation in the future. The world is changing quickly around us and we have yet to get this place up to speed.

[Points Of Order, September 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Captain Barry Woods, the Canadian captain of Korean Air flight 2033 which crashed August 10, and who as a result of his efforts saved all 152 passengers and eight crew, was being held by the South Koreans. This morning it was announced that he has been released and allowed to return to Canada to his wife and family.

On behalf of the family, I express our appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not only for his personal efforts but for the efforts of his department both here and in South Korea for the extraordinary work that has made this reunion possible. Again, on behalf of the family I say thank you very much to the minister.

[Request For Emergency Debate, September 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise under the provisions of Standing Order 52 to ask that the House now adjourn to examine what can only be considered to be a crisis on the west coast of Canada.

The disappearance of 1.3 million salmon from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans management surveys ought to give rise to an immediate examination of our policies on the west coast. This crisis is now attached to the commercial fishery, to the aboriginal fishery and to the sports fishery in the salmon sector, to say nothing of other species as well.

Considering what has occurred on the east coast as a result of years of ignoring the reality of what was happening to the resource, a similar situation may exist on the west coast. One point three million salmon have disappeared and no one knows what has happened to them. This ought to result in a special debate in the House of Commons. It is a non-partisan issue, a non-political issue, but one that I know all political parties here, as well as others, would feel very strongly about.

[Request For Emergency Debate, September 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, you have indicated my intention to rise under Standing Order 52 regarding the alarm that exists now on the west coast with the alleged disappearance of 1.3 million salmon.

When fishermen see 1.3 million salmon disappear from their plans, it is fair to say a crisis is pending, if not already existing, on the west coast. Keeping in mind what happened on the east

coast, I suggest this is a matter requiring urgent consideration by the Parliament of Canada.

I ask for your leave to move the adjournment of the House on Tuesday, September 20, particularly in light of the fact that the minister is not present, being responsible for other duties at this moment, for the purpose of debating this very urgent matter.

[Full Employment Act, September 19th, 1994]

A casino.

[Full Employment Act, September 19th, 1994]

Let's get going on it.

[Committees Of The House, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my hon. friend's dissertation on the son of GST, called the VAT. We will be referring to the Minister of Finance as Vatman or something of that nature.

Can the hon. member respond to this observation? When we go into book stores these days, the books we notice front and centre are books on how to avoid tax, how to reduce taxable income and so on. For many, tax evasion has become a blood sport. Being in a situation where one can avoid paying tax and participate in the underground economy now is something that Canadians increasingly are part of unfortunately.

Would the hon. member say that the reason for these activities is because Canadians generally have lost faith in our tax system? Do they see it as a fair system, an equitable system, a just system where all people are paying a fair share? If the perception is that it is unjust, unfair, then people are saying: "I might as well try to do whatever I can to avoid paying what taxes I am because I am probably paying too much".

[Department Of Labour Act, June 20th, 1994]

My hon. friend from the Reform Party says bring in a bill that brings long term. The point is what do you do to those tens of thousands of men and women who today are facing a hopeless situation economically because of the collapse of the cod fishery? Through no fault of their own they find themselves in this position. The Reform Party says cut them loose, turn your backs on these people and ignore their plight. I say that is not the right step to take. That is not the appropriate-