Will the government establish a national environmental technology advancement centre in Atlantic Canada following the release of a report entitled: "Environmental Industry Strategy for Canada"?
House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Questions On The Order Paper June 17th, 1994
Will the government establish a national environmental technology advancement centre in Atlantic Canada following the release of a report entitled: "Environmental Industry Strategy for Canada"?
Atlantic Freight Rate Subsidy June 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Transport announced cuts to the freight subsidy on shipping western grain. As well, the minister indicated that the government will be rethinking the overall subsidy program in general, including Atlantic Canada's freight rate subsidy program.
I have been aware for some time now that the Department of Transport has embarked on a closed door internal study and review of the Atlantic freight rate subsidy program. This study contrasts the open consultative process that the government promised.
If Atlantic Canadians are to suffer further cutbacks in a program such as the freight rate subsidy, I would ask that the minister open up these discussions so that the stakeholders involved in this program can have full consultation, participation and input into this very important program which places 12,000 maritime jobs in jeopardy.
Recall Act June 14th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pursue a question I asked the Minister of Transport last month about passenger rail service.
In answering my question the Minister of Transport assured me that the government would expedite whatever measures were necessary to accommodate good railway service, both passenger and freight, in New Brunswick and in the rest of Atlantic Canada.
In previous years members of this government protested loudly whenever the previous government announced any and all cuts to VIA. Now they seem to have no compunction about carrying out cuts of their own. What no one in this government has ever said is that it was a Liberal government which first took VIA service away from the people of Saint John and it was the Tory government which gave it back. Now our train is once again under the axe.
Back in 1989 when he was a member of the opposition, the current minister of government services said that VIA cuts will separate Canadians geographically, economically and socially. He is absolutely right.
In the same year the current Minister of Fisheries and Oceans called the previous government's cuts to VIA a short-sighted policy that not only will deny in the short term the people of Canada a rail passenger service which in itself is important and devastating for the communities to be affected, but more fundamentally, it is denying Canadians as we move into the nineties and in the year 2000, the future.
In 1991 the current government House leader called the previous government's cuts to VIA and other institutions a blueprint for de-Confederation.
After making statements such as these I fail to understand why this government believes it can credibly defend its miraculous change of heart. This is also the reason I take small comfort in the Minister of Transport's assurances when he says he and his government will do what is necessary to preserve good railway service.
In his speech on June 3 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Minister of Transport said that the rail industry is gripped by problems of overregulation, of mismanagement, of overcapacity, of financial losses, of archaic work practices, of out of date legislation. Later on the same day the minister said: Canadians over the decades have constructed one of the most sophisticated and successful transportation systems in the world.
If one is not left unsure about what the minister actually thinks about our rail industry, one is at least forced to ask: If the minister believes his first statement, why does he not help reorganize the railway instead of walking away from the problem? Instead of cutting back on services and allowing the abandonment of lines, why does he not make the industry put its house in order?
I do not feel that all the blame about the problems facing the railway industry should be put on the shoulders of the unions.
In the same speech the minister said Canada needs a transportation system that contributes constructively to Canada's economic well-being. He also said that within Canada itself the cost of transporting goods is equally important. Forty per cent of provincial exports are sold in regions of Canada other than where they are produced. Transportation is an integral part of the everyday lives of millions of Canadians.
I would argue that maintaining the entire line from Saint John to Sherbrooke is vital if we want manufacturers in the region and users of our port to have adequate access to central Canada and northeastern American markets, the bread and butter of our exports.
Although there is expectation that a shortline operator will purchase and operate part or perhaps all of the line from Saint John to Sherbrooke, the people of Saint John feel that the status quo should be maintained. Abandonment is wrong. For the economic well-being of our entire region a direct line is vital.
I repeat now what I said when I originally asked the minister the question a month ago. VIA's Atlantic train between Halifax and Montreal is well used and important to the people of Saint John. With this in mind, I ask the minister to further clarify how his government plans to ensure good railway service in our region.
Petitions June 14th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the second petition has some 465 signatures and draws to the attention of the House that the senior citizens of New Brunswick are outraged at the amount of taxation imposed upon them by the government.
Therefore they ask the House of Commons to oppose the taxation measures directed at Canadian seniors in the last federal budget.
Petitions June 14th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my honour to present two petitions signed by several thousands of constituents.
The first petition which has 2,343 signature wishes to draw to the attention of the House that the incidents of sexual abuse directed toward children are becoming more and more frequent; that each incident of paedophilia harms the public and that there would be fewer such incidents if such persons were immediately taken off the streets for the protection of our children and the safety of our communities.
Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation that would remand to custody any person charged with the act of paedophilia and that such person be denied bail until such time as this person has been proven innocent or until they have served the full length of sentence imposed upon them.
Atlantic Canada June 13th, 1994
From the first days of Confederation, Atlantic Canadians have worked to make a contribution to our country.
I would ask that all members of the House when they have questions about what we contribute in Atlantic Canada to feel free to come to any one of the Atlantic members of the House and put their questions before they make any statements, such as what was made in the House.
I am very pleased today to hear that the member has apologized to our people. They are wonderful people, very warm.
Atlantic Canada June 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, it was my intent to rise today to ask for an apology from the Reform member for Capilano-Howe Sound for his insulting and unacceptable comments to the people of Atlantic Canada.
Fisheries May 25th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on introducing new legislation intended to protect our straddling fish stocks. However, on the very same day that the minister introduced the new legislation there were seven Cuban fishing vessels fishing within the 200-mile limit.
As a result of the recent awarding of the fishery observer contract to Biorex, there were seven observers on site of which only three were experienced in monitoring this type of vessel. The other four observers did not have the experience to obtain the data DFO requires to effectively monitor their activities.
While I commend the minister for the new legislation, I have to wonder how the minister can justify announcing the legislation when the awarding of the observer contract by his own department has taken away the only effective, trained and experienced tool we have to adequately protect our fish stocks.
Via Rail May 12th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail's Atlantic train between Halifax and Montreal is well used and important to the people of Saint John. My question is for the Minister of Transport.
There is an expectation that a private short line company will purchase and operate the main line railway from Saint John, New Brunswick, to Sherbrooke, Quebec, under provincial jurisdiction. It appears that a proposed amendment to the NTA may be required before VIA passenger trains may operate over such a provincial railway.
If this is correct how soon would the government be able to enact this legislation, if requested, and what procedure would be carried out to accomplish same?
Petitions May 4th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition that has been signed by over 100 residents of Saint John.
The petitioners pray and call upon the House to consider an inquiry into the time it is taking to process the applications of immediate family members who have been deported. Under the 1994 immigration plan the time required to process applications involving immediate family members has been reduced to less than six months.
Mrs. Lovella Szezendor-Grey from Saint John has undertaken the sponsorship of her husband, Antonio Grey, who was deported to Guatemala on April 21, 1993. Over a year has passed since Mrs. Szezendor-Grey started the proceedings with immigration for the return of her husband. I urge the House to look into this matter to expedite Mr. Grey's application.
This petition is presented with my concurrence.