Elsie Wayne

[Fishery Observer Contract, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that there are severe problems with the recent awarding of the fishery observer contract to Biorex.

This year the contract was up for renewal and the government went with the lowest bidder, Biorex, to save money. This saving is being consumed by the fact that the government has decided to train these inexperienced observers from Biorex under funding from CEIC. It is clear that by paying for this training the government is spending the same if not more by awarding the contract to Biorex when the government could have awarded the contract to the Scotia Fundy observers who are already trained and experienced.

How can the government justify spending $1.9 billion on a fisheries aid package while at the same time put 50 experienced and trained observers from Scotia Fundy out on the street?

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, April 25th, 1994]

moved that Bill C-208, an act to amend the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak about my first bill to be tabled in the House and why it should be adopted. This bill responds to the concerns expressed by many Canadians on MPs' pensions.

We all agree as members we are contributing substantially to our pension plan. It is true that only about one-quarter of the MPs elected will stay long enough to collect a pension. This being said, we should still move forward on this issue.

Is it fair for an MP to collect a pension after six years in the House, even if he or she is not of retirement age? Is it right for a former MP to receive a pension if at the same time he or she is working for the government?

The objectives of my bill are clear. This bill will prohibit former members of Parliament from collecting a pension while employed by the Government of Canada, a government agency or a federal crown corporation. Under this bill a former member could not collect a pension until the age of 60.

I know that the Prime Minister is concerned about the issue of severance pay. Not only did he raise his concerns last April 6 in Kamloops, but he raised them again on March 7 in the House. He said: "There is no security of employment around here. Some people who come to Parliament when they quit find it is not easy to get re-established in private life". This is true, but we all knew that when we ran as candidates. It is also true that a lot of former MPs have problems getting back into private life. However, we are not arguing that issue today.

I understand that a case could be made for linking pension changes to severance packages. I suggest that if the Prime Minister wants to deal with the severance issue he can do it at a later date. Right now we should do something about pensions.

In the speech from the throne our government said: "Measures to reform the pension plan of members of Parliament, including the elimination of double dipping, will be placed before you". The government still has not introduced legislation to do that.

Indeed, there is a strong consensus on this issue from all parties in the House. During the last campaign the former Prime Minister said that she would introduce measures that would preclude any MP from collecting a pension before the age of 55. She also added that there would be no more double-dipping.

The leader of the NDP agreed with that statement in the House last year. The leader of the Reform Party has said that his party is the only federal political party to consistently advocate a change in the MP pension plan in order to bring the benefits in line with private sector standards. The Reform Party has said that it wants to postpone eligibility until at least age 60, and this bill does just that.

In his speech in Quebec on August 16, 1993 the Leader of the Official Opposition said: "Bloc MPs would support the government if the previous Prime Minister, Campbell, were to recall Parliament to pass promised legislation amending the MPs' pension plan and preventing ex-MPs from holding government jobs while collecting their pensions".

On that same day in Burlington, Ontario, our present Prime Minister urged previous Prime Minister Campbell to act quickly. He said: "If Ms. Campbell wanted to do something about it she would have recalled the Parliament and in one day it would have passed".

In response to the Vancouver Sun column ``Ask the Leader'', our present Prime Minister said that he believes such measures are necessary in order to restore Canadians' faith in politicians and to combat widespread voter cynicism, and I agree with him.

The time has come for all members of this House to show Canadians that we all were serious during the last campaign. After the election the Prime Minister said that his government wanted to wait for a report commissioned by Parliament on MPs' pay and perks before introducing legislation.

That report has been released and the government still has not introduced legislation to make the needed reforms to the pension plans of members of this House; reforms that are necessary, that Canadians want and that this government promised.

My bill today would make those reforms and so I urge its passage. Canadians want action and they want it now. Therefore, I would move that not withstanding any standing orders and usual practices of the House, Bill C-208, an act to amend the members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, be made votable and referred after second reading to a committee of the whole instead of to the legislative committee and that, unless otherwise disposed of, no later than five minutes before the end of the time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Business today, any proceedings then before the House shall be interrupted and every question necessary to dispose of the said bill at all stages should be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

[Environmental Technology Centres, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, a consultation report entitled "Environmental Industry Strategy for Canada" was released by the Minister of the Environment and indicates that a network of three national environmental technology advancements centres will be created in western Canada, Ontario and Quebec. These centres will form the cornerstone of the federal government's environmental industry strategy. The report indicates the process by which employment opportunities for Canadians would be maximized.

I bring to the attention of the Minister of the Environment that Saint John, New Brunswick, is the industrial centre of Atlantic Canada. I would ask her to consider Saint John as a place for one of these centres to help us to maximize our environmental problems and to work them out.

[Saint John, March 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Telegraph-Journal reported today that the Liberal member for Fundy-Royal stated that he and the Minister of Transport felt a ``double duty'' to look after my riding of Saint John because it is not aligned with the government.

I look forward to any help I can receive from the transport minister and from the member for Fundy-Royal in settling the issues I have been raising as the lone opposition MP from Atlantic Canada.

I look forward to their help in reversing base closures that I have spoken out against, as well as any support for my efforts to ensure support for our shipyard and VIA Rail. I look forward to their help in reversing hurtful budget measures brought in by their government against Atlantic Canada.

I will continue to work diligently for the people of Saint John as I always have.

[Unemployment Insurance, March 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first I was so pleased to hear the Prime Minister's response to the question from the opposition with regard to the pensions. Now I know my private member's bill is going to go right through.

Last week when I was home in my riding I went to the legislative assembly in Fredericton. At that time Premier Frank McKenna, our Liberal premier, one whom we all respect, put a motion on the floor with regard to the UI reforms. According to Premier Frank McKenna these UI reforms will take $200 million away from the province of New Brunswick.

Has the premier contacted the Prime Minister? Has he discussed this with him? If so what is he to do to make up for this $200 million which will be taken from the province of New Brunswick?

[Supply, March 8th, 1994]

I wish to vote no against this, Mr. Speaker. I am changing to no, however that goes, and I do not know. It is no, no.

[Supply, March 8th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but I would ask a question of Madam Speaker.

All through question period I waited to ask a question. I have not been afforded an opportunity to ask a question in the House since I was elected. You had said-

[International Women's Day, March 8th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, on this International Women's Day I appreciate the opportunity to recognize women from my riding who have contributed to the success of their community.

Dr. Eileen Travis was the first president of the Saint John Board of Trade; the Hon. Shirley Dysart, the first woman Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; Mrs. Mary Munford, the first female Common Clerk of the first incorporated city in Canada, Saint John, New Brunswick; and Mrs. Anna Boyle, a woman with 12 children who works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception provides vital outreach and support for social services.

As 1994 is the International Year of the Family it is important that I mention the work of the Saint John Council of Women. The council is constantly striving to improve the health and well-being of families in Saint John.

Finally it gives me a great deal of pleasure to inform the House that the first YWCA was established in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1870 by Agnes Blizard.

[The Budget, February 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, where in the government's budget is there any hope for the people of Atlantic Canada, especially the unemployed? Where in the red book does it say seniors will have to pay more taxes?

The Liberals promised jobs, jobs, jobs. They promised to consult the communities that were possible targets for defence cuts. They promised to replace base jobs. What happened to the promises? They were not kept in my part of the country.

The Prime Minister is taking a tour of Atlantic Canada but he is leaving out New Brunswick. Is that because he is afraid to come to New Brunswick, Paul? I have to say to you, Paul, these were not the promises that you made to the people of New Brunswick.

This budget hurts those who can least afford it. The Minister of Finance got a new pair of boots I understand from the Prime Minister. I am awfully sorry that he has used them to kick the people of New Brunswick.

[Privilege, February 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the tradition of the House dating back to before Confederation is that each day opens with a prayer. I am deeply disturbed and appalled that the House committee on procedure has begun to reconsider the reciting of the prayer at the opening of the daily sitting and the removal of the word God from the prayer.