Lost his last election, in 2000, with 28% of the vote.
Department Of Labour Act June 20th, 1994
My friends in the Reform Party say that since this is not a perfect solution and it does not have the long term implications economically for Atlantic Canada we are going to cut these tens of thousands of people adrift and simply turn our backs on these people who have lost their livelihoods. That is highly irresponsible.
Department Of Labour Act June 20th, 1994
Madam Speaker, listening to my hon. friend, it is a bit like saying that since we do not have a cure for cancer we will not take any steps to bring you some peace of mind and some effort to resolve your problems in the short run.
While I will be the first to say that this legislation is not the long term solution to the economic plight faced by those people living in Atlantic Canada and on the short end of the stick regarding the collapse of the cod fishery, to say that we should do nothing, to say that we should simply turn our backs on these people and let them fend for themselves at this point is not a Canadian way to respond. Canadians by definition are people with compassion who go out of their way to assist their citizens in troubled times in other parts of the country.
Points Of Order June 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to point out what I believe is a serious fault in our system. While you review the committee events of last evening perhaps a point to keep in mind is the people of Yukon chose the hon. member for Yukon to represent them as their member of Parliament, knowing full well she was also a member of the New Democratic Party.
The issue before the aboriginal affairs committee last night was dealing exclusively with that territory, Indian land claims and Indian self-government in the Yukon territory. Being the only member from that territory it seems not unreasonable that she would want to play an advisory role, a serious role, in an issue that dealt explicitly and exclusively with her constituents.
Technically my hon. friend may be correct that it reveals some of the inappropriateness of some of our standing orders, particularly as they refer to committee and the role of so-called independent members. For my friend-and I respect the technical case that he is making-to suggest for a moment that the sole representative for the Yukon territory not be allowed to participate in critical legislation regarding her constituents surely must point out a major flaw in our system.
Government Programs June 17th, 1994
To keep the tradition of the government of making major announcements when Parliament sits, would the minister give some thought to recalling Parliament in the middle of July so Parliament can receive his report and provide an opportunity for some immediate debate on this very critical set of changes?
Government Programs June 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, when you only get one question a year you have to take advantage of that.
Government Programs June 17th, 1994
We will also realize that one of the main reasons for that designation was the incredible wide range of social programs that reflect a caring and compassionate society.
The minister has indicated some dramatic, drastic changes and, from some of the leaked reports, perhaps even draconian changes. He has also indicated he will release his proposals in the middle of July when Parliament is not sitting. To keep in line with the traditions of the government to announce to Parliament first-
Government Programs June 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of human resources who, along with all Canadians, was delighted when the United Nations identified Canada out of 185 countries as the best place to live and raise a family.
Salmon Fishery May 31st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I regret to say it now appears that a war between Canada and the United States over Pacific coast salmon stocks is inevitable unless immediate action is taken.
Negotiations have been made impossible. While Canada has a clear position regarding the renewal of the Pacific salmon treaty, the United States seems to have an Alaska position, a Washington State position, an Oregon position, a California position, a commercial fishery position, a native fishery position, a sports fishery position. In other words, Americans simply do not have their act together.
While negotiators blame each other for the impasse and the federal and provincial ministers hurl threats at their American counterparts, the reality is the Pacific coast salmon stocks are now at risk.
Planned retaliation by both Canadian and United States fishing fleets means disastrous overfishing of the salmon stocks and the possible repeat of what has happened with the east coast fishery.
We cannot sit back and watch this fishery disaster unfold. It is time our Prime Minister called on the President of the United States to intervene in this crisis if a full scale salmon war is to be averted.
Agriculture May 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest earlier to the minister of agriculture when he drew our attention to the importance of the federal-provincial governments working together with the private sector. Again, that has been reiterated by the parliamentary secretary to the minister of agriculture.
At the moment in British Columbia the federal government, the B.C. government and aboriginal groups are negotiating land claims. Part of that process is to set up a whole set of advisory boards with the various stakeholders involved in the final outcome. Of course the critical players are the cattlemen of British Columbia.
Vast tracts of their land, leased land and deeded land, are potentially involved. Their representative on that advisory committee has had to swear an oath of secrecy and therefore is unable to communicate to cattlemen and other livestock operators throughout British Columbia.
I am really simply asking the parliamentary secretary if he would take time to look into this increasing concern that people in the livestock industry in British Columbia have.
Hockey May 9th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, to continue today's theme, we are world hockey champions once again. We are the best in the world. We are tops.
After 33 years Canada is number one when it comes to world hockey championships, having defeated Finland in a sudden death shootout.
Hockey is our sport and at the world championships we proved it. As silver medalists at the Olympics after a shootout we won the world junior crown in the Czech Republic and the women's world at Lake Placid, New York.
Playing and watching hockey is a Canadian cultural pastime. Who watching the Canadian flag being raised at the world hockey championships and watching our players belting out "O Canada" did not have tears in their eyes?
Names like Robitaille, Ranford, Sakic, Blake, Sydor, Thomas, Emerson, Sanderson, Brind'Amour and others will be remembered for once again placing hocking on the world hockey map.
The players said they were proud to represent Canada and we are proud of them. I thank the players for bringing the gold medal home where there is pride in hockey and where the gold medal belongs.