Sarkis Assadourian

[Supply, March 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have one point to make and a short question. It is not against the law to display the flag. We have two flags here. We are talking specifically about putting them on our desks.

Last week one of our colleagues, the member for Medicine Hat, threw the flag on the floor. As far as I know, he did not apologize for it, nor did he pick up the flag. Did the hon. member have the chance to speak to her colleague about the incident? What does she have to say on this subject?

[Competition Act, March 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed the comments of my colleague in the NDP.

I have to inform the House that soon after an offer was made by the Royal Bank and the Bank of Montreal I sent out a questionnaire in my riding. The response was four to one in opposition to the merger.

Based on that response I wrote a letter to the Financial Post in which I said the situation reminded me of the Titanic . It was big too at one time but once it hit the iceberg it sank, taking 1,500 people with it. The point I was trying to make was that we were not ready. That is why we have debate in the House, to make sure we are prepared if it ever takes place.

Would the hon. member agree with me that when the recession hit us in the 1930s no Canadian bank ever went bankrupt? That was because we had laws to protect consumers, unlike the United States and now as we see in southeast Asia. If we have no protection for the consumers we will go the same way. However, the way it is we have lots of protection for consumers. I do not think we will be hit or that it will happen the same way it happened in southeast Asia.

Is the protection we have for consumers enough to protect us in case we are hit by an iceberg?

[Interest Act, March 16th, 1998]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-380, an act to amend the Interest Act and an act to amend certain laws relating to financial institutions (mortgage prepayment and consumer disclosure).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present this bill in the House today. The purpose of the enactment is to ensure the right to redeem a mortgage by a payment of no more than three months interest penalty or a percentage of the principal outstanding as has been previously agreed to by the parties, even if the term of the mortgage is less than five years. I look forward to a debate on this subject very soon.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Multilateral Agreement On Investment, March 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of International Trade.

As Canada continues to negotiate the MAI with our economic partners in Paris, would the minister tell this House what kind of action he is taking to guarantee the services of health care and the preservation of our social safety net from foreign interference?

[Armenia, February 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In consideration of the current political situation in Armenia and the pending elections on March 16, what is the minister prepared to do to ensure that the upcoming elections in Armenia are fair and democratic, and how will Canadian foreign policy promote bilateral economic co-operation between Canada and Armenia?

[National Flag Day, February 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, national flag day provides all Canadians with an opportunity to reflect on this great nation. On February 15 my constituents in Brampton Centre will join millions of fellow Canadians across every region to pay homage to the colours of our flag and to celebrate what our flag represents to us.

The greatest enthusiasm will be exhibited by the children in the schools in my riding. There will be drawings of flags, poems about our flag, posters, paintings and skits all dedicated to the celebration of the Canadian maple leaf.

Congratulations to tomorrow's leaders for showing their patriotism toward the flag. Congratulations also to all Canadians who will take the time to honour our flag and, by so doing, to honour Canada and Canadians.

[Ceso, February 4th, 1998]

Mr Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the contributions of two of my constituents to the Canadian Volunteer Advisors to Business, CESO.

Mr. Ernest Nemeth has recently completed a CESO assignment to Russia where he assisted in the development of export opportunities for a light aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Jim Murray was in Latvia assisting in the development and growth of a plastics manufacturing firm.

CESO is celebrating its 31st year of providing assistance to developing nations, emerging market economies and Canadian aboriginal communities.

Congratulations to my constituents for their valuable volunteer contributions.

[Armenian Earthquake, December 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize the ninth anniversary of the tragic Armenian earthquake of December 7, 1988.

The magnitude of this natural disaster is almost unimaginable. Over 25,000 lives were lost and hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and injured.

Armenians are forever grateful for the response of Canadians to the tragedy. The Government of Canada provided over $6 million in aid to Armenia through the Red Cross and Canadians from all regions of our nation donated an additional $2.5 million in humanitarian relief.

On Friday, December 5, I joined many Torontonians to donate blood to the blood donor clinic sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society to commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake.

I urge my fellow members of Parliament to join Canadians of Armenian origin and Armenians everywhere in mourning the loss of family and friends as a result of this horrible tragedy.

[Canadian Sikh Community Centenary, December 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to the celebration of Canadian Sikh community centenary year 1997. This year marks 100 years of Sikh immigration to Canada.

Sharing a common faith and historical roots in the Indus Valley, the Canadian Sikh community has been built from a worldwide diaspora that also has roots in England, Africa, New Zealand, Asia and the U.S. Today Sikhs are represented in every occupation and facet of Canadian life, including being elected as members of this House of Commons, provincial parliaments and municipal governments.

Congratulations to the Canadian Sikh community for its contribution to Canada's multicultural fabric over the past 100 years and best wishes for its success in the centuries to come.

[Postal Services Continuation Act, 1997, December 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Reform spokesperson who spoke a few minutes ago.

Would he indicate to this House if he knows of any western society, specifically G-7 countries, denying their workers the right to collective bargaining? If he knows, I would like to have the hon. member name those countries.