House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 46% of the vote.
Petitions May 16th, 2003
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of some residents of the Niagara Peninsula. The petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children, and that the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.
Public Service May 16th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and I thank him for his contribution at committee regarding Bill C-25.
There merit principle, which is the basis for all appointments in the public service, has never been defined in legislation. As a result, years of case law and precedent have resulted in a cumbersome process driven process that has provided an inability for the public service to recruit and to promote effectively.
Through Bill C-25 deputy head staffing authority will be delegated by the Public Service Commission in accordance with the PSC guidelines. This new approach--
Wheels in Motion May 16th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the members of the House that on June 14 the City of Thorold in my riding of Niagara Centre will be sponsoring, along with local Scotiabank branches, the only event in the Niagara region in support of Rick Hansen's Wheels in Motion initiative.
In the words of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation, “Wheels in Motion is the new annual signature awareness and fundraising event, brought to you by locally organized volunteer teams to help improve the lives of people with spinal cord injury”.
Participants in this fundraising event will be walking, running, biking, skateboarding and using wheelchairs and collecting money through pledges. I wish to extend congratulations to all involved in organizing this event and best wishes for success.
Information Management May 9th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the House that indeed a new policy on the management of government information came into effect on May 1. The policy responds to some of the concerns of the Information Commissioner by outlining the responsibility of all government employees to ensure that the management of information is done in both an effective and efficient manner.
As well, the policy promotes the management of information in a privacy-protective manner that supports informed decision making and the delivery of high quality programs, services and information through a variety of channels, and in both official languages.
Roy Romanow May 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to pay tribute to the winner of the Canadian Public Service Award for 2003, Mr. Roy Romanow.
Retiring in 2001 after a long and distinguished political career, Roy Romanow was lured back to public service in order to head the highly successful Romanow Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada. The Romanow Commission has helped pave the way for better health care in the 21st century for all Canadians. This could not have been accomplished without Mr. Romanow's selfless dedication and tireless effort. Roy Romanow's career has been a model for Canadians who strive to make a difference in the lives of others.
I ask the House to join me in congratulating Mr. Romanow.
Cystic Fibrosis Month May 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform all Canadians that May is Cystic Fibrosis Month.
Cystic fibrosis is a fatal, inherited disease that affects the lungs and the digestive system. Virtually everyone with cystic fibrosis will die from lung disease. One in every 2,500 children born in Canada has this disease and today over 3,300 Canadians have cystic fibrosis. There is no known cure.
In May, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its partners generate awareness and support for the cystic fibrosis cause. Volunteers from 52 chapters will hold events across the country. On May 3, community based fundraising events were held by the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs to launch the National Kin-Cystic Fibrosis Day. May 25 marks the Zellers Family Walk for Cystic Fibrosis.
I wish to extend congratulations to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and best wishes for a successful Cystic Fibrosis Month.
Organ Donations April 11th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, April 20 to 27 is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, which gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the importance of organ and tissue donation, and to show our support for the nearly 4,000 Canadians waiting for organ donations.
Organ and tissue donation is important to all Canadians. As members of Parliament, we should encourage our constituents to consider this gift because each year more than 100 Canadians die waiting for a transplant.
The serious gap between the number of organs and tissues donated and the number of people who need them is growing as the population ages. We need to shorten this gap. That is why, in September 1999, the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health set up a committee to establish a pan-Canadian strategy on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Our donations may save or enhance a life. Thousands of Canadians, children and adults alike, are counting on our generosity.
Joseph Kobolak April 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise my constituent, Joseph Kobolak, who received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation Award.
Mr. Kobolak, a former member of the Royal Canadian Army Services Corps, has been an advocate for veterans and has dedicated his time and effort to their well-being for most of his adult life.
An active member of the Royal Canadian Legion since 1948, he has held senior appointments in the legion and has chaired and been a member of many committees.
Mr. Kobolak has also received the legion's Certificate of Merit and its Meritorious Service Medal. His exemplary leadership on behalf of veterans and his contributions to the commemoration of their achievements and sacrifices are testament to his profound commitment to help others.
Congratulations, Joseph, and thank you for your continuing dedication to our veterans.
User Fees Act March 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member I am sure is aware, this country was really founded on two distinct cultures and languages and it has evolved with two official languages. If we are to be just that, then for the services that we provide to Canadians, that is, the federal public service, which provides a multitude of government services to the public, we have to establish certain criteria. In regions where there is bilingualism, then obviously the service that is provided to Canadians in those regions must be in the two official languages, but there are certain regions where the numbers just do not justify offering services in two languages.
I can tell the House that the official languages commissioner appeared in front of the government operations committee and attested to the fact that indeed that is not the case; that there are opportunities in the English language or in the French language within the public service.
User Fees Act March 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we should remember that bilingualism is rooted in Canadians' deeply held values of inclusiveness, tolerance and respect for others. Bilingualism is part of our heritage. It is what this country was founded on and it is what we continue to evolve toward.
The respect we show to our colleagues, public servants and fellow citizens must bear witness to this fact.
It is a principle that is widely recognized and accepted by Canadians, who expect bilingual services from public servants where bilingual services are mandated in regions designated bilingual.
Serving the public in both official languages comes down to a matter of respect for the public, a principle that the Public Service of Canada upholds. This is shown in the study entitled “Attitudes Towards the Use of Both Official Languages Within the Public Service of Canada”, which was carried out last year among more than 5,000 federal employees. Of these 5,000 federal employees, 92% of these public servants consider that it is important for them to serve the Canadian public in both official languages.
The results of this study not only confirm that official language are strongly anchored in public servants' day to day working lives, but also show that most federal employees are prepared to make an effort to encourage bilingualism.
The Public Service of Canada reflects the Canadian population and conveys Canadian values. In this perspective, the federal government endeavours to promote bilingualism in the public service.
What the government is promoting is not radical, but a progressive approach to ensure, as a first step, that Canadians in regions designated bilingual can exercise their right to receive federal services and communicate with the federal government in the official language of their choice.
To this end, the government must start by making sure that all federal employees who provide services to the public in these regions can do so in both official languages; in other words, that they are bilingual. Second, the government must ensure that these employees can communicate with their managers in the official language of their choice; in other words, that these managers too are bilingual.
This is how bilingualism has become one criterion among others for appointment to bilingual positions in the Public Service of Canada in bilingual regions. These positions account for only 37% of all positions in the federal public service.
The Official Languages Act nevertheless emphasizes that the language requirements of a position must be established in a spirit of objectivity. Consequently, no federal institution may arbitrarily establish language requirements, and language requirements that are established must be truly necessary for the performance of the duties of that position. Moreover, all federal government staffing policies with official language implications are rooted in the Official Languages Act.
The statistics clearly show that overall the government has been successful in fulfilling its commitment on this issue. The workforce of the various federal institutions does tend to reflect the respective presence of the two official language communities in the population as a whole without resorting to filling positions by the quota system or reserving positions for one language group in preference to another.
We must recognize success where it occurs. Where bilingualism is concerned, the government's practices are exemplary. Let us acknowledge and appreciate that fact.