Elsie Wayne

[Canadian War Museum, May 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians were shocked to learn that the government had terminated the Canadian War Museum's contract with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, of which one-third are Canadian war vets. These war vets did not just provide security services, they acted as tour guides. What better tour guides to have in a war museum than ones who actually served in war?

If the government wishes to save $100,000, then all it has to do is drop one of its patronage appointments off the veterans appeal board where they earn $85,000 plus expenses to sit three days a week.

I think 72-year old veteran and former war museum commissionaire Mabel Ralph said it best when she said: "It's a slap in the face to all veterans-.They made such a to-do about us when they were commemorating the 50th anniversary. Now it's a different story".

I urge the government to reconsider this decision and reinstate the vets.

[The Late Carl Gillis, May 28th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, the hon. member for Sherbrooke, I would like to give our deepest sympathy to the family of Carl Gillis, one young man who was known not just on the Hill but back in Cape Breton as well.

When I arrived on the Hill today my legislative assistant told me about being at a prayer vigil for Carl last week and that many people were there because they loved this young man. He set an example not just for our pages but for all of us in the House. They tell me that great love came from Carl and if someone was upset about anything and just happened to sit down with him for a few moments they would come away with a smile on their face. He was a very special young man. Why he has been taken away from us so early in life, we have no answer for that.

To his family I want to say it is a great loss to all of us here, a great loss on the Hill, a great loss to Canada and a great loss to his family. Our deepest sympathy goes out to them.

[Agreement On Internal Trade Implementation Act, May 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I will be voting yea, in favour.

[Privilege, May 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, what I was trying to say to the hon. member from Halifax is that the Liberals should not be promoting women walking across Canada. The Liberals should be available to talk to them and perhaps they could give them a vehicle to drive them.

[Moving Companies, May 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the new tender call for moving military employees, their families and other government employees has proven to have many problems.

CN along with its subcontractor, Corporate Moving Systems, won 40 per cent of the tender. As we all knew at the time, Corporate Moving Systems did not have any infrastructure and could not move anything, not even a telephone. Mr. Baird had no infrastructure to carry out the requirements and neither did CN.

Now CN's deal with CMS has fallen apart. All the other people who received a portion of that contract had to give a list to the department which would prove they could do the work that had to be done.

Will the minister of that department cancel that contract with CN and put it out to tender? Where is the $1 million bid bond CN put up? Did the government get that? Will the minister make changes for the next tender call when it comes to moving the military and its families?

[Point Of Order, May 9th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, for the last two days the hon. member from Winnipeg and I have been trying to get a question on the floor of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I know you have a very difficult job, but perhaps on both sides of the House if members would conduct themselves in a more professional manner there would be more time for you to recognize our questions without everybody applauding, screaming and hollering like a bunch of school children.

[Petitions, May 8th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present a petition from the people in my riding.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Firefighters, May 7th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the lack of immediate information regarding hazardous material is a major reason why firefighting is one of our country's most dangerous professions.

Firefighters routinely provide emergency medical treatment in unsanitary field conditions. Firefighters are especially hampered by lack of information available when they arrive at such incidents, especially within the critical first minutes upon arrival at the scene.

The implementation of a hazardous materials identification system would ensure that firefighters have the information they need to effectively respond to any incident enabling them to protect lives and property.

I along with the International Association of Fire Fighters urge the Minister of Transport to establish a Canadian demonstration site for Operation Respond, a computerized North American

emergency response system which will protect the safety of our firefighters, their families, our families and the rest of society.

[Cape Breton Development Corporation, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the future of the Cape Breton Development Corporation rests with this government. The DEVCO miners and the Cape Breton community have asked the Prime Minister to keep his promise to Atlantic Canada to maintain and create jobs.

It is clear that the federal government has a particular responsibility in this regard. The federal government will not convince the private sector to create jobs in the maritimes if it moves in a direction to shut down an entire industry.

It is interesting to note that on October 7, 1993 the hon. member for Cape Breton-East Richmond, now the health minister, said: "If elected-the Liberal Party of Canada would want to increase production at DEVCO. With an increase in production, no downsizing would be executed".

What is the government's long term intention for the coal mining industry in Cape Breton? Is it just another false campaign promise or is it the government's intention to place an industry, 800 jobs and a community in jeopardy? I call upon the government to save these jobs and the industry.

[Petitions, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 36, to present a petition signed by 100 people from Ontario and British Columbia.

The petition states that we, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following: that the wartime merchant navy was the fourth arm of the armed services; that veterans of the wartime merchant navy are under the Civilian War Related Benefits Act; that one in ten Canadian merchant seamen lost their lives, the highest proportional rate of all services; that merchant navy prisoners of war spend 50 months on average in imprisonment but only 30 days are recognized; that veterans of the wartime merchant navy are excluded from the War Veterans Allowance Act, from pensionable benefits, from veterans post World War II free university education, housing and land grant benefits, small business financial aid and veterans health care benefits.

Therefore your petitioners call on Parliament to consider the advisability of extending benefits or compensation to veterans of the wartime merchant navy equal to that enjoyed by veterans of Canada's World War II armed services.