Elsie Wayne

[Diabetes, November 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on November 14 the world will recognize the birthday of a Canadian hero, Sir Frederick Banting. Dr. Banting's co-discovery of insulin in 1921 has saved countless lives. It is in his honour that November 14 is marked as World Diabetes Day, in the heart of Diabetes Awareness Month.

A million and a half Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes, but horribly it is feared that some 750,000 more suffer from the condition but are themselves unaware.

I am honoured to serve as the campaign chairperson for the annual fundraising campaign of the Canadian Diabetes Association Saint John Branch. The CDA has played a key role in maintaining and expanding diabetes research and has this year alone provided over $5.3 million to various projects nationwide.

I encourage all Canadians to think of those who suffer from this condition on November 14 and to give generously to this valiant cause.

[Merchant Navy Veterans, November 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as everyone in the House knows, it was Minister of Veterans Affairs Gerry Merrithew who first brought the situation before the House.

Veterans Affairs Canada has begun to employ scare tactics to sell the so-called half-baked plan. First they told the reporters that a fair package would cost $160 million. Then they implied that if the merchant seamen did not play ball, they would not get any assistance.

Now that Hallowe'en is over, will the minister stop trying to scare the Canadian public and our merchant vets? Will he give them the compensation package they deserve at $20,000 maximum for these seamen?

[Merchant Navy Veterans, November 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, various sources within the Ministry of Veterans Affairs have told reporters that the total cost of a $20,000 package for merchant navy vets would be a $160 million.

We know, and the minister should know, that the total number of registered merchant seamen in question is 1,700. Those that are not registered are around 600, for a total of 2,300 for which a $20,000 settlement would total at the most $46 million.

Could the minister explain why his department is so poor at basic math? Is it just playing games with these veterans?

[Homelessness, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for homelessness promised action. I am pleased to hear that she is doing a little something for the next few months.

The minister is quoted as saying that she cannot do anything but pass along a few ideas to cabinet and hope that something gets done. Good heavens, I hope cabinet does more than it did for the merchant navy.

The minister says it is not her job to produce a strategy, it is not her job to find money for new housing and it is not her job to lobby the cabinet for new initiatives to end homelessness in Canada. If it is not her job, whose job is it, and what is her job?

[Homelessness, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 216 days since the minister responsible for homelessness promised to put a plan and money in place to help Canada's homeless.

All the Liberals have done to date with their cuts to social programs is to put more people on the streets. With winter just around the corner, why has the minister ignored the needs of Canada's homeless and forced them to spend more winters freezing to death on the streets?

[The Late Hon. Ian Wahn, October 26th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I join with my colleagues in the Progressive Conservative caucus to pay tribute to the late Ian Wahn.

He has quite properly been described as a gentleman politician and a Canadian patriot. A Rhodes scholar, he answered his country's call and served in Holland and Germany with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada during the second world war.

After the war he worked as a lawyer. He worked on such projects as the trans-Canada pipeline. But his sense of public service drew him to public office where he accomplished exemplary work in the field of immigration. While he sat on the opposite side of the House from our members, he won the respect of both sides with his outstanding character, kindness and diligence.

Canada is a better place because of his lifetime of service. We join all members in extending our condolences to the Wahn family. They can be very proud of their father and their grandfather.

[Veterans Affairs, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been in power for 38 years since 1945 and they did absolutely nothing until March of this year. When we were only in power for 16 years we put those merchant navy men under the civilian war veterans allowance act.

This is a serious situation. I ask the minister once again if he will inform the House of when the merchant mariners can expect a compensation package of $20,000. Will he do that immediately, before November 11?

[Veterans Affairs, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week I asked the Minister of Veterans Affairs about merchant navy compensation. The minister, along with his other colleagues, took great pleasure in trivializing this issue by refusing to give the veterans a straight answer. Will the minister inform the House today when they can expect a just compensation package?

[Merchant Marines, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard that old tune before from the previous minister.

The press reported last week that the government is considering a compensation package of only $5,000 to $14,000 per merchant mariner. This $5,000 amounts to 25 cents for each day these men have waited for the last 54 years. It is an insult to them.

Will the minister inform the House today that he will give $20,000 compensation packages to the merchant mariners?

[Merchant Marines, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

It is time for justice for the merchant mariners. The merchant navy suffered the highest loss of life ratio versus any arm of the armed forces in World War II. If they had received a $1,000 benefit in 1946 it would be worth $21,000 today.

When will the minister deliver a fair and dignified compensation package to the merchant mariners so they will not be forced into another hunger strike?