Lost his last election, in 2000, with 34% of the vote.
Dna Identification Act May 11th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 12
That Bill C-3, in Clause 20, be amended
(a) by replacing line 38 on page 22 with the following:
“order under section 487.051 or 487.052;”
(b) by replacing line 40 on page 22 with the following:
“tion under section 487.055 or 487.091; or
(e) provided voluntarily by any person who is charged with an indictable offence or is serving a sentence for an indictable offence.”
Dna Identification Act May 11th, 1998
moved:
Motion No. 11
That Bill C-3, in Clause 17, be amended by replacing lines 5 to 7 on page 17 with the following:
“subsection, had been convicted of a designated offence and on the date of the application was serving a sentence of two years or more for another designated offence, or”
Holidays Act May 6th, 1998
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-369, an act to amend the Holidays Act (Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day), and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
I must admit that when I first saw this bill I thought it was just another example of Liberal partisanship, but then I noticed that the member had also introduced Bill C-370, an act to amend the Holidays Act to designate January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day.
Yesterday the president of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation Board, Adrienne Clarkson, appearing before the Canadian heritage committee, illustrated the need to do more to encourage our youth to learn more about their country.
A recent survey revealed very disturbing findings on our knowledge of history. An alarming percentage of young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 who were surveyed could not say in what century Confederation took place or who we fought against in the first world war.
Twenty-four per cent of university graduates did not know that our Constitution had been repatriated.
We need to do more to help educate our students and in fact all Canadians about our rich history and heritage. This bill is a step in that direction. I would like to thank the member opposite for his continued interest in promoting the history of this great country.
The PC Party wishes to see the great historical figures of our country commemorated and their exploits celebrated. Let me be clear in saying that our party would not have a problem with amending the Holidays Act to include Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day to be commemorated on November 20. We would support a day of commemoration, just as my colleague from Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough proposed a day of commemoration for our fallen police and peace officers.
However, we do not support a paid holiday. A holiday with pay does not guarantee greater awareness of key points in Canada's history and costs an excessive amount to the country's employers.
In preparing for this debate I came across a February 1997 edition of Maclean's magazine that reported the findings of a survey of 25 well-known Canadian historians and scholars. They were to rate our prime ministers. Sir Wilfrid Laurier came in third might I add behind Sir John A. Macdonald.
Many referred to Laurier's legacy to Canadians as that of being a splendid orator and a master of political compromise. It is quite obvious when we look across this House today that those Liberal shoes were too big to fill.
In closing, I am proud to note that Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the first French Canadian to become Prime Minister of Canada. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada has no objection to November 20 being designated Sir Wilfrid Laurier day and the Minister of Canadian Heritage being given the task of recognizing the contribution by Sir Wilfrid Laurier and other great Canadians to the development of this country. However, it does oppose this day's becoming a mandatory paid holiday.
Supply May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canada internationally is seen as a country that is very compassionate and caring for its people.
When we see what happened last week in the House we question that. The victims of hepatitis C had no choice or alternative to turn to. They did not have the option of banking their own blood. Therefore they had to accept tainted blood.
It is for this reason that I stand today to say that we have what is right. We have to do the just and honourable thing. This cannot be something that involves petty politics. These are people's lives. They are parents. They are sons and daughters.
I cannot imagine why all of us do not have the same feeling. Therefore I have to support the comments made by the leader of the New Democratic Party.
Questions Passed As Orders For Returns May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I ask the government when it will call Question No. 21 which we tabled on October 22, 1997.
The parliamentary secretary tells us the government is continuing to make inquiries, but it has not yet given us an answer.
Cornwallis Naval Museum April 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on May 3 the residents of Cornwallis will celebrate the official opening of their new naval museum.
Sadly, stained glass windows that were donated to the former base by our naval personnel to commemorate the battle of the Atlantic, have not been returned.
The Department of National Defence removed these windows following the closure of the base, choosing to transfer them to its Halifax base chapel. The minister appears to be sympathetic to returning these windows to the new naval museum, yet a final decision is still pending.
Our veterans presented the gift to the Cornwallis base with the understanding that they would be proudly displayed for all to see. On Friday I went to our military base in Shannon Park, Halifax to get a glimpse of these windows. My entry was met with resistance. I do not think this was the intent of our veterans when they donated these windows.
These windows mean a lot to the residents of Cornwallis. I ask the minister to give these people something to really celebrate on May 3 by returning the windows to their rightful owners.
Education April 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, federal cutbacks in provincial transfer payments have had a negative impact throughout Nova Scotia's educational system.
High schools and elementary schools have had to restrict the number and quality of programs being offered to their students. School board officials have increasingly had to rely on the dedication and devotion of our educators to devise new cost efficient programs to offer our students.
Such is the case at the Yarmouth Memorial High School where teacher Ken Langille has been instrumental in developing an award winning law program for his grade 12 students. A winner of four provincial, three national and one international awards for teaching, excellence and innovation, I would like to welcome Mr. Langille and his students who are seated in the gallery today, hoping to hear the government introduce positive solutions to the education crisis.
On their behalf and on behalf of all those concerned with education, we call upon the government to begin addressing the serious financial crisis facing education in the country.
Agriculture April 3rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in 1995 the Liberal government eliminated the feed freight assistance program. This decision has had a serious impact on the hog industry in West Nova. For one farm alone in my riding this decision means an additional cost of $65,000 per year.
Can the minister of agriculture tell this House if he is prepared to offer hog farmers any assistance with the high cost of freight?
National Parks Act April 3rd, 1998
Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in favour of Bill C-38, an act to amend the National Parks Act to include Tuktut Nogait in the schedule of national parks.
The proposed site for Tuktuk Nogait Park is close to Paulatuk, in the western part of Canada's Arctic. In 1989, the community of Paulatuk submitted to the federal government a conservation plan recommending that a new park be established to protect the calving ground of the Bluenose caribou herd.
In 1993 the federal government announced its willingness to establish a national park near Paulatuk. In 1996 the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Inuvialuit Game Council, the Paulatuk Community Corporation and the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee signed an agreement to establish a national park in the Inuvialuit settlement region near Paulatuk in the Northwest Territories.
The agreement also recognized the boundaries of Tuktut Nogait which represent approximately 16,304 square kilometres. It is also important to note that this area represents the Tundra Hill national region, an area not currently represented under the national parks system.
It is unfortunate that it has taken the government so long to bring in a simple piece of legislation that would see the establishment of Tuktut Nogait. In consequence, the government has delayed the creation of long term meaningful jobs and economic growth for the north.
As the members of the House heard yesterday, the Government of the Northwest Territories is reviewing a request by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to remove part of the lands agreed upon in the 1996 agreement. What we are talking about here is the removal of 415 square kilometres to permit mineral development within the core calving ground of the Bluenose caribou herd.
My party is not against mineral development but we cannot start carving out parts of our national parks to make mining companies more attractive to investors. The proposed reduction of Tuktut Nogait for mineral development would set a dangerous precedent for this park and other parks that are not protected under the National Parks Act.
I would like to remind the House that we are awaiting amendments to our ore legislation for seven other parks which represent 20% of the national parks system. I want to assure my colleagues that my party will continue its efforts to ensure that our natural heritage is preserved for our generation and generations to come.
We would hope this government would move more quickly in future, especially in light of its commitment of completing the national parks system by the year 2000.
In closing I want to congratulate all of the stakeholders for their ongoing efforts in establishing a national park in the Tundra Hill national region. I thank them for their contribution to the protection of Canada's ecological integrity.
Judges Act March 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my position is very clear on pay equity and PSAC. Pay equity is something that should be resolved. There is no question about that. However, people in judges' positions come from situations whereby they could earn a lot more money in the private sector and they have to be compensated fairly.