Elsie Wayne

[Apec Summit, October 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, when it suits the Prime Minister he likes to use the words of the member for Palliser to defend the solicitor general. The member for Palliser is reported as saying: “The solicitor general lied in the House of Commons”.

[Merchant Navy Veterans, October 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the merchant navy vets are on the ninth day of their hunger strike to get compensation and equality with other vets for their role in World War II. The vets on the hunger strike have already lost approximately 12 pounds and there is still no response from this government.

In April the minister promised to introduce legislation by June 1998 to make merchant navy vets equal with other vets in the regular armed forces. He has broken that promise. That is why these brave individuals who put their lives on the line for peace and freedom that we enjoy today began this hunger strike.

Merchant navy vets were denied many of the benefits afforded World War II vets. All they seek is fair compensation and equal treatment. They gave the Minister of Veterans Affairs the benefit of the doubt. They approached him in good faith and unfortunately he has not extended them the same courtesy.

It is our hope and the hope of all Canadians and other vets that the government will do the right thing and offer the vets—

[Apec Summit, October 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, is it not odd that the Solicitor General can remember what he said yesterday when yesterday he could not remember what he said the day before?

The solicitor general was overheard prejudging the outcome of the APEC investigation. He denied such prejudgment when asked in this House. Then outside the House yesterday he claimed that he could not remember anything. Today the Solicitor General admits that he had a conversation about APEC with a personal friend which he should not have had. How can the Prime Minister allow the Solicitor General to remain in his position and still ensure the integrity of the APEC investigation?

[Apec Summit, October 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this government has a record of firing people who are competent and who do their jobs with independence and integrity. It had the chief actuary of the Canada pension plan fired because he refused to manipulate information on the CPP. It fired the chair of the fisheries committee because his committee told the truth. The chair of the foreign affairs committee was next.

The solicitor general proved his incompetence when he shared his observations about the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the APEC affair. Surely the Prime Minister must for once fire the—

[Veterans Affairs, October 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am embarrassed to hear such an answer like that from the government when the poor merchant navy vets are right here.

Let me tell him that they are not equal. That is why the minister wants to bring in new legislation which he was supposed to bring in June.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs cares so little that he is on a little trip in Korea. These men are still on a hunger strike. The minister does not care for these veterans. All I ask from the Prime Minister is will he replace him and put someone in who does care for them?

[Veterans Affairs, October 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Veterans Affairs stated regarding fair compensation for Canada's merchant navy vets “I don't see the appetite for that in my cabinet”. It is clear that the current minister has no clout at the cabinet level.

I am very concerned about these merchant navy vets being on hunger strike, but they remain convinced that hunger strike is the only way to get fair treatment.

Since the Minister of Veterans Affairs does not have the appetite to defend these vets, will the Prime Minister step in, do the right thing and offer merchant navy vets fair compensation like all other allied countries have?

[Veterans Affairs, September 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs is about to embark on a two week trip to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the ceasefire in Korea. I sincerely hope these veterans have a good trip as we are all very proud of their efforts.

However, in April the minister promised in committee to bring forth legislation that would make merchant navy vets equal with other vets. Now it is the end of September and there is still no legislation.

Is the minister prepared to table his bill and meet with the merchant navy vets who are on hunger strike to discuss their concerns before he leaves on Friday so we can bring everything to an end?

[Employment Insurance, September 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs told the members of the merchant navy, who are on a hunger strike and who want fair compensation, “I am not offering anything”. The Minister of Health told the innocent victims of tainted blood that the file was closed.

Is the government now telling Canadian workers that the EI fund is its personal piggy bank, open for taxpayer contributions but closed for payroll taxes?

[Employment Insurance, September 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that I heard here today from the Prime Minister about how the government has created jobs. Let me say that we have never had as high an unemployment rate in the city of Saint John in the last 25 years as we have today.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs, all the merchant navy vets who are on a hunger strike and who want their compensation—

[Employment Insurance, September 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the finance minister said that this government will not “give up that area of its financial manoeuvring” when asked about the surplus in the EI fund.

The EI fund was not set up to be the finance minister's wriggle room. He is not being asked to give up something that belongs to him. The money in the fund is paid by Canadian workers and employers. That money does not belong to the finance minister or to any member of this government.

When will this government stop treating the EI fund like its personal line of credit and give back a tax break to the employers and the employees?