Lost his last election, in 2000, with 34% of the vote.
Questions On The Order Paper December 1st, 1998
Did the Minister of Canadian Heritage, or anyone in the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, hold consultations with the National Association of Japanese Canadians prior to deciding to make the changes to the mandate and reporting structure of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation that are proposed in Bill C-44, The Administrative Tribunals (Remedial and Disciplinary Measures) Act, and if so, what were the results of those consultations?
Agriculture November 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Will the hon. member take questions?
Bill C-44 November 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the creation of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation was an integral part of the previous government's redress agreement with the over 21,000 Japanese Canadians who were wrongly interned during the second world war. Despite the fact that their properties were confiscated and sold, the 1984 Liberal government steadfastly refused to apologize or even compensate these individuals for that shameful injustice.
Why is the Liberal government using Bill C-44 to once again turn its back on our Japanese Canadians by breaching the terms of the agreement that led to the creation of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation?
Canadian Farmers November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, even the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has said that our farmers are at risk.
Despite this admission, the minister and the government are still refusing to step in. The hog industry is in crisis, as Quebec producers have recently brought home to us. These farmers will soon be forced to declare bankruptcy.
The United States and the European Union are offering financial assistance to their farmers. When will the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announce a program to assist our imperiled Canadian farmers?
Canadian Farmers November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers across the country are struggling to survive in the grips of the most severe crisis to hit our farming communities since the Great Depression. Faced with a worldwide downturn in prices for grain and hogs, wheat prices have dropped by 41% and hog prices have dropped by 65%. Canada's farmers cannot continue to produce at a loss and hope to survive.
Why will the minister of agriculture not stand up for farmers by providing them with immediate financial assistance?
Lobster Fishery November 19th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on November 30 thousands of West Nova fishers will once again brave the icy cold conditions to mark the official beginning of the 1998-99 lobster fishery.
It seems that each year opening day is marred by very adverse weather conditions, yet these brave fishers battle the elements and go out to set their traps, praying that once again they will reap the benefits of our rich ocean floors.
This year there is a completely different feeling of anxiety among fishers. Following a contemptuous summer in which illegal lobster fishing was allowed to operate almost unabated by DFO, registered commercial lobster fishers feared that their catches could be severely affected by the illegal activity.
Another major concern arising from the illegal lobster fishery is whether market prices will be affected by the glut of illegal lobsters that pervade our markets. I have continually raised these concerns with the minister of fisheries and I sincerely hope for all concerned that these fears do not come to pass.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all fishers in West Nova a very safe and prosperous season.
Fisheries November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday has been designated as World Fisheries Day. It is important that Canadians and the rest of the world recognize the importance of the fishery in our economies and the devastating consequences that will result if we do not start doing a better job at protecting this industry.
The collapse of the northern cod fishery is a prime example of what can occur when we take fishing stocks for granted. The results are that thousands of fishers have been forced out of the fishery, bringing to an end a way of life that has survived for generations.
I am not convinced that our fisheries minister has learned anything from past mistakes. For months now I have tried to focus his attention on the serious illegal lobster activity going on in West Nova. The minister is intent on believing that the problem has been addressed.
Fishers, along with regional DFO officials, continue to tell me otherwise. It continues to be a serious problem that must be addressed before the lucrative West Nova lobster industry goes by the wayside like the northern cod fishery.
Marine Conservation Areas Act November 16th, 1998
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to rise before the House to address Bill C-48. The proposed piece of legislation is designed to protect and conserve representative areas of Canada's marine landscape for the benefit, education and enjoyment of all Canadians and the world.
This being the International Year of the Oceans, it only seems fitting that we are debating a bill which has as its focus the protection and preservation of an important part of our marine ecosystems for generations to come.
Such legislation is far overdue. For years we have been guilty of taking our oceans, rivers and lakes for granted. We have polluted and pillaged our marine environments to the point where some species, particularly Newfoundland cod, are nearing extinction. We cannot afford to remain complacent if we want to preserve this environment for future generations.
I was born in the region of Acadia known as Mayflower, in the municipality of Clare. Much of my childhood was spent on the shores of St. Mary's Bay in the little village of Mavilette. I so loved the briny smell of the sea that I eventually bought a house right down by the ocean.
I have a great deal of admiration and respect for our ocean, so I must speak of my great sadness to see how our natural resources are being abused.
My constituency of West Nova borders alongside three different bodies of water: the Bay of Fundy, the beautiful St. Mary's Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by so much water, it is only natural that many of my constituents derive their living from the water in some fashion or another. The three large bodies of water that surround West Nova have been the lifeblood for many of my constituents.
The Bay of Fundy is home to many different species of marine life. For years Fundy fishing grounds supported a very prosperous inshore scallop fishery. Groundfish used to be found in abundance, helping to create a very lucrative fishing industry. Today many of the species fishers depend upon for their livelihood are disappearing due to overfishing. The lucrative lobster fishery still remains, but this is also being threatened.
It is important that we begin to seriously address the problems facing our fishing industry. History has shown that we cannot afford to ignore today's realities. Conservation must be the pivotal goal of this government if we are going to leave anything behind for future generations.
The Progressive Conservative caucus is supporting Bill C-48 because we feel it is time that we politicians start taking a leading role in helping to preserve our environment so that future generations will enjoy the serene beauty that presently exists throughout most of this country. We can only achieve these goals by taking immediate action through protective measures such as those outlined in this bill.
Deriving one's living from our oceans is a cultural way of life for us. We depend on the preservation of this large habitat not only for our survival, but also for the survival of coming generations.
Recently our coastal regions have been facing another menacing attack. This time it comes from illegal lobster fishers who have been pillaging the ocean floors almost unabated by Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials. The lucrative lobster fishery could be endangered if strong measures are not immediately taken to put an end to this illegal activity.
Clause 18 of this bill explains the application of the act. As I understand it, the minister may designate marine conservation wardens to enforce the act and regulations and to preserve and maintain the public peace in marine conservation areas.
I believe it is absolutely necessary to hire these people, but I wonder where the minister will find the necessary money for this project. With all the cuts to our museum and national parks programs, where will she find the funds?
I am rather excited by the prospect of having another body of enforcement officers patrolling our coastal waters. Perhaps these new recruits could offer our friends in DFO a hand in patrolling our waters in search of illegal lobster fishers. The Minister of Fisheries does not seem to realize the extreme seriousness of the problem in West Nova. Registered commercial lobster fishers are already very frustrated and angry with the department of fisheries for failing to put an end to the illegal activity that is presently threatening their livelihoods. I am scared that no noticeable reduction in the lobster catches in the next two months will surely lead to violence.
The Progressive Conservative Party has long been concerned with preserving our ecosystems. In 1986 the PC government approved the national marine parks policy. In 1987 the country's first national marine conservation area known as Fathom Five in Georgian Bay was established. Unfortunately it has yet to be proclaimed and there are still outstanding issues to be addressed.
It is important to note that although the proposed legislation is designed to establish and manage a system of marine conservation areas representative of the 29 marine areas, it does not specifically identify precise geographic locations to be protected. These sites will have to be chosen through much consultation with members of the general public, provincial governments and those individuals who earn their livelihood from our waters.
I cannot stress the points strong enough that much consultation must be undertaken before any particular area is singled out for protection. Provincial governments, municipal governments, affected federal government departments and all stakeholders must be involved in every step of the site selection process. There must be a balanced approach taken when exploring in an area. The interests of our fishing community must be taken into consideration with that of marine habitat before any agreements on locations are finalized.
Conservation is vitally important to all of us but particularly to those who make their living from the water. We cannot simply target a location without exploring the long term effects it will have on industry. Our fishers must have a direct say in the management of their industry. We have already witnessed the disaster that can occur when they are excluded from the decision making process. It is important that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans be involved in the consultation process.
It is also important that aboriginal peoples be involved in the negotiations. With many land claims still to be resolved, it is imperative that they be consulted on creating any new marine reserve areas. There are restrictions on non-renewable resource extractions and careful examination of any proposed site must be explored as to its potential for oil and gas exploration.
Nova Scotia is finally to reap some economic benefits from the Sable oil and gas exploration, thus fulfilling a legacy started by the previous Conservative government. This economic boom would not have been possible if the Sable area had been designated as a marine protected area. This is why we must exhaust all opportunities for constructive consultation sessions with all those who have a vested interest in ocean floors.
It is important that the federal government be prepared to allocate the necessary resources to protect newly designated conservation areas. Otherwise we will open the doors to constant abuse as has been witnessed in our fishing industry.
Furthermore I warn the government against any possible altering of boundaries of future marine conservation areas for economic benefits. We cannot afford to have different rules for different marine areas as the department certainly appears to have in the national park systems where it allows the expansion of Lake Louise for economic reasons yet denies economic development in Tuktut Nogait National Park.
In conclusion, the government set a goal for itself of establishing 10 marine parks by the year 2000. It is obvious that it will not achieve this goal, but it is important and therefore we must choose these marine conservation areas carefully. The clock is ticking and we cannot afford to waste any more time in terms of this important undertaking.
Although this piece of legislation is not perfect, we should send it immediately to committee where I hope the views of interested Canadians will be welcomed in our attempts to make any necessary amendments.
Charitable Contributions November 16th, 1998
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise today to speak to Motion No. M-318. The PC Party is willing to support the motion on behalf of charities across Canada.
With the latest round of government downsizing charities across the country have been placed under even more pressure and perform wider ranging activities. A perfect example of this is the Victorian Order of Nurses. The VON is a national organization with branches reaching across the country. In recent years the role of the VON has been forced to expand exponentially as our health care services have been cut by the Liberal government. Many branches have been forced to increase their fundraising efforts to make up for the decline in funding resulting from higher cuts at the federal and subsequently provincial levels.
The VON branch in my riding of West Nova and those in many other areas have suffered severe funding cuts from the municipalities as the counties struggle to deal with cuts from provincial and federal governments.
A charity organization like the VON offers essential health services to the elderly in my riding. Programs like PEP, promoting elderly participation, which was initiated with the help of Health Canada during the Conservative government, help to keep seniors active and involved with other citizens in their community. These are programs that no longer receive government funding. The charities have had to find alternative funding arrangements to continue their services.
Meanwhile VON groups are also forced to fundraise to subsidize visiting nurses programs to individuals who need to be checked at home. For the elderly who cannot afford to pay for home visits, these services are essential to their health care. These visiting nurses programs combined with PEP, respite care and Meals on Wheels would not exist if it were not for the dedication and perseverance of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
When a person representing a political party in Canada can offer a potential donor a greater tax incentive to donate to a political party than an individual canvassing for a group like the VON, or many other worthwhile charities that provide essential health services, it uncovers an injustice in our tax system. It also highlights a larger problem: the complexity of Canada's tax code.
If I had a complete copy of our tax code today it would stand nearly the same height as I am from the floor. Filing a tax return should not require an individual to hire a tax lawyer or an accountant. We are talking about dealing with our own government and having to hire someone to do it for us.
When I stand in the House to discuss tax relief for low income Canadians it should be remembered that tax reform should not make tax more complex. The guiding principle behind tax reform should be tax simplification. Even the finance committee recognizes the need to assist our charities in their efforts to expand their fundraising activities.
During prebudget consultations last year witnesses before the committee suggested the exact motion we are debating today. The finance committee included it as a recommendation in its report to the Minister of Finance.
In conclusion, charities like the VON and many others should not be at a disadvantage compared to political parties when canvassing for donations. If we were to increase the charitable donations to be in line with the political system, charities across the country would receive enormous benefit. These charitable organizations offer essential services to society and should be encouraged, not discouraged, from continuing their activities.
Canadian Farmers November 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, farmers in West Nova are experiencing a second consecutive year of drought conditions. Records from the towns of Kentville and Greenwood indicate that rainfall was roughly 100 millimetres less than normal summer precipitation.
First cut yields of hay were down 50% and in many cases second yield was non-existent. These poor yields have resulted in economic hardship for our farming community. Many farmers will have to re-seed in 1999 to produce new growth. The cost of purchasing hay has skyrocketed because of this increased demand.
The recent closure of the Middleton grain elevator has left beef producers without access to a vital facility they use for drying and storing grain. These hardships have forced many producers to cull and sell calves that would normally be replacements. In extreme cases producers have been forced to sell out.
We can ill-afford to lose another farmer in my constituency. It is time for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to recognize the severity of this drought and immediately provide assistance to those most in need.