Elsie Wayne

[Veterans Affairs, September 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in April the minister at the committee meeting stated that he would be bringing in a new bill to make them equal, probably by the end of June. It is almost October and we have not seen it.

This minister and this government have squandered enough taxpayer money to compensate the surviving merchant navy veterans several times over. The cancellation of the Pearson airport deal cost taxpayers over a billion dollars, enough to compensate 53,500 vets. There are only 2,300 of them.

When will this minister have the courage to compensate these vets if they have—

[Veterans Affairs, September 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is really nice to be back in Wayne's world over here in the corner.

Tomorrow there will be merchant navy vets on a hunger strike on the steps of Parliament Hill. After World War II they were denied veterans job preference, rehabilitation grants, free university education and land grants that went to all other veterans.

Today these merchant navy veterans want to know if the veterans affairs minister will bring in corrective legislation and compensation to make them equal with all other vets.

[Apec Summit, September 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for issuing permits into Canada, not the Solicitor General, and it is not about the Public Complaints Commission.

We know that permits to let Suharto's commandos into Canada were issued. Under the law only the Minister of Immigration can issue them.

These permits were issued after the RCMP were asked by the Indonesians if it was okay to shoot Canadians.

On what basis did the Minister of Immigration issue the permits? Did the Prime Minister's office ask her to issue them? Did her office immediately inform the RCMP that the permits had been issued?

[Apec Summit, September 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, ministerial permits to allow a general and six of Suharto's commandos into Canada were issued the same day that Indonesians applied for them, November 19, 1997. These permits were issued after the Indonesians asked the RCMP if it was okay to shoot Canadian protesters, and a week before the APEC summit.

Could the Minister of Immigration tell us when or if her officials informed the RCMP that she issued these permits and will she table any documents related to these permits in this House?

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, section 19 of the Immigration Act prohibits security personnel who work for a government engaged in gross human rights violations from entering Canada unless the immigration minister is satisfied these people are not detrimental to the national interest.

Indonesia under Suharto killed countless people. Since the Prime Minister will not answer my first question, will the minister of immigration tell us if she believes it was in Canada's interest to let in Suharto's so-called goons with guns, the same goons who asked the RCMP if it was okay to shoot Canadians?

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today Canada welcomes President Nelson Mandela, who spent his life fighting for human rights and civil liberties.

Canada's former prime minister, Brian Mulroney, stood up with President Mandela in that noble struggle. Today we have a Prime Minister who appears to care less about civil liberties and more about sparing dictator embarrassment.

Will the Prime Minister, like Mr. Mandela, do the right thing? Will he give this House a full account of his role in the RCMP actions against Canadians at the APEC summit?

[Merchant Navy Veterans, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again address this government's lack of compassion.

Early this morning, merchant navy veterans began to arrive on the Hill and two of them are up here in the gallery today. They arrived to protest the absence of the minister's promised legislation. This legislation was to make these veterans equal with all veterans in Canada.

When the minister stopped this morning to speak to the veterans, he was asked about compensation. His reply was “We cannot turn back the clock”. Thank God these brave soldiers did not turn back in World War II. Instead, they fought for our freedom and were never given any meaningful recognition for their role. These men and women may perish on the steps of Parliament Hill but the freedom they gave to us will never die.

It is my hope that the government will show some compassion soon and not turn its back on these vets as it did on the innocent victims of hepatitis C.

[Apec Summit, September 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, reality seems to be imitating fiction when it comes to our American neighbours. They may already have a case like the movie

Sex, Lies and Videotapes . Soon we may be watching a northern spinoff, Suharto, pepper spray and cover-up

Will the Prime Minister tell us why a subpoena may be necessary before he is accountable to Canadians about the APEC affair?

[Apec Summit, September 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister, with his answer a few moments ago in the House to the Reform members, appears to indicate that it is better to have the armed thugs of a dictator in Canada than to leave lawful and legitimate long gun owners free from government regulations and taxation.

The truth is out there somewhere about who ordered the RCMP to stifle legitimate protesters at the APEC summit. The solicitor general said yesterday that the Prime Minister cannot avoid a subpoena to testify about the real story.

Will the Prime Minister simply explain to the House his role in the pepper spray matter today? No one—

[Swissair Flight 111, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, a tragedy of the magnitude of Swissair flight 111 is always difficult for us to comprehend no matter what the explanation.

On behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of Swissair flight 111.

We could never fully appreciate the depth of their pain and grief, but our thoughts and our prayers are with each and everyone of them. Efforts continue to be made in the search for answers to this tragedy.

I would like to commend the actions of the Canadian forces, the Canadian Coast Guard, the RCMP, the Nova Scotia emergency services personnel, the Air Transportation Safety Board, local fishermen and the people of the south shore of Nova Scotia for the quality of their mercy, the professionalism and heroism shown throughout the emergency response effort. I want to thank the Prime Minister for attending the special service. We really appreciate that, sir. To all of them, we say God bless them all.