Mac Harb

[Petitions, April 15th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition sponsored by the Canadian Automobile Association concerning the federal gasoline tax for cars. The petitioners want to see that money used for the rebuilding of national highways.

[Petitions, March 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by constituents in the national capital region who are calling on the House of Commons to ask the government to declare that Canada is indivisible.

[Silver Seven, March 20th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, 94 years ago, the Ottawa Silver Seven won the city of Ottawa's very first Stanley Cup.

In the deciding match, the Silver Seven defeated the Montreal Victorias eight to nothing. That memorable game was played in my riding at the former Dey's skating rink. In all, the Silver Seven played seven Stanley Cup series at the Dey's between 1903 and 1906.

Today in Ottawa Centre a monument will be unveiled to commemorate the cultural and sporting significance of the Dey's skating rink. In 1905 a team from Dawson City travelled nearly 4,000 miles to challenge the Silver Seven for the cup. Members of a Dawson City team re-enacting the adventure will be present at the unveiling.

I congratulate the organizing committee for making this historical commemoration of Canada's greatest sport a big success. Now we can look forward to another Stanley Cup coming to Ottawa in the near future.

[Petitions, March 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by constituents in the national capital region.

They want the House of Commons to call on the federal government to establish an infrastructure program that would help with the establishment of a proper national highway system.

[Montreal's East End, March 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, for too many years, the east end of Montreal has been associated with factory closings and unemployment. As of today, this unfortunate perception will change and there is new hope for the east end of Montreal.

At a press conference this morning, the Minister of Human Resources Development announced a $8.1 million subsidy to Iris Inc., a sock manufacturer. This financial assistance comes out of

the 30 per cent of the transitional job fund which has been earmarked for Quebec.

Thanks to this partnership between the Government of Canada, the municipality of Ville d'Anjou and the private sector, an expansion plan worth an estimated $63.7 million will create more than 3,000 permanent full time jobs in the east end of Montreal over the next three years.

[Liberal Party Of Canada, March 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister's recent announcement that he will, where he deems it necessary, appoint women as Liberal candidates during the next election has raised a great deal of interest.

Overall, this initiative has been well received. It should help to reduce the unjustifiable discrepancy between the number of men and the number of women running for and elected to office in Canada's general election.

The few truly negative comments we have heard come solely from opponents who are frustrated by the political audacity and courage of our leader.

Although 54 women were elected to Parliament in the 1993 election, today they still occupy only 18 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. Our leader feels it is time to do something about this under-representation and we heartily congratulate him on his determination.

[Supply, March 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, just for the record, this has been a great day where we all had a chance to make some brief and some lengthy comments concerning International Women's Day. However, we certainly all recognize the fact that notwithstanding what every government has done over the years, a lot of work still needs to be done.

As my colleague from the official opposition very eloquently put it, in Canada, the richest country on earth, where we still have over one in every five children living below the poverty line, it is clear that our work is not done.

However, one could say that at least we know the task has not been completed.

Over the past three years the government-it has only been in power for about three and a half years-has done a tremendous amount of things in order to address many of the concerns that were raised by my colleagues. It has taken a number of initiatives to restore confidence which was one of the most important elements and concerns that faced Canadians over the past nine years. That was done.

The second initiative undertaken by the government was to put its house in order. I would suggest, and my colleagues would agree, that our house is in order. The deficit is controllable. It is below$19 billion. The economy has grown at an incredible rate, higher than any other country in the western hemisphere. Interest rates are low and inflation is low.

The next move is to invest. I would suggest with the budget discussion that was initiated by the Minister of Finance the government is now moving toward investments. Before I sit down, I would suggest that with another mandate I am sure many of the concerns raised by my colleagues will be addressed.

[Supply, March 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I was quite surprised by the comments of my colleague, the fact that she skipped away from the main subject matter, which is to recognize that there is a lot more work that still needs to be done in order to ensure there is equity in our society.

Simply put, all she had to do is look at the latest Statistics Canada report which shows that women still earn less than their male counterparts. They earn only 73 per cent of what males earn.

As well, there is a lot more work that needs to be done in particular for women with disabilities, women from visible minorities and aboriginal women. Opportunities for those women are still not there.

I want to also indicate that my colleague did not take into account what this government did in terms of action taken, particularly in the area of the Employment Equity Act which recently was introduced by this government. How handy that Employment Equity Act is. It is incredible.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, this new legislation would extend coverage to include federal public servants, agencies and commissions in ensuring that employment equities are a must. It would increase the legislative authority of the Canadian Human Rights Commission to initiate investigations of employment equity issues and subject federal contractors to mandatory compliance with the principles of the act.

As well, I would like to inform my colleague in case she is not aware that a total of 350 large private sector employers, crown

corporations and industries such as banking, communications and transportation are covered by the legislation.

Under the act, these organizations have to satisfy their obligations in terms of employment equity. For example, they have to conduct a workforce analysis to determine the degree of under representation of the designated groups, as I mentioned earlier.

They have to review employment systems, policies and practices to define employment barriers to members of these groups. They have to prepare a short term plan, one to three years, with measures to remove any barriers, make reasonable accommodation and institute positive policies and practices by setting goals and timetables for hiring and promotion.

Finally, they have to set longer term objectives and strategies to increase the overall representation of designated groups in their workplace.

These are examples of what this government has done over the past three years in order to address employment inequities that exist in our society. These are some of the measures that this government has taken in order to ensure that women receive the treatment and equality they deserve and which they have earned and which is their right in our society.

To that extent, my colleague made reference to the government initiatives on attacking child poverty. The government should be very proud of what it has done on the whole notion of child poverty and trying to deal with the question of child poverty.

We will not cease to continue our work to ensure that children who need assistance and support will receive the support and assistance they need.

Members opposite, particularly in the third party, were up on their feet opposing the vast majority of initiatives taken by this government in trying to address issues of equity, equality, fairness, support for people who need support and assistance.

Now we stand up and talk about initiatives that the third party has proposed. Let us put them on the record. Let us examine some of those initiative. In fact, none of those initiatives will seriously and effectively deal with the issue of poverty, particularly child poverty.

I would like my colleague to tell me what her difficulties are with the latest federal government initiative dealing with child poverty, and specifically what part of the federal government's proposed legislation in dealing with child poverty does she disapprove of. How would she replace it and with what?

[Petitions, March 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition sponsored by the Canadian Automobile Association. The petitioners call on Parliament to urge the federal government to join with the provincial government to make the national highway system upgrading possible beginning in 1997.

[Nuclear Weapons, March 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, there are over 30,000 nuclear weapons on earth posing a threat to the health and survival of humans and the global environment. It is for this reason that our government strategy has been a progressive effort to establish international norms and to lay the foundation for peace and nuclear disarmament.

Canada co-sponsored the resolution to reaffirm the UN Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and we were among the first to ratify and implement the chemical weapons convention.

A peace organization in my riding, Ploughshares Ottawa, has recognized the importance of working with the international community for nuclear disarmament, and its members would like to see the abolition of all nuclear weapons.

I commend groups like Ploughshares Ottawa and the Peace and Environment Resource Centre for their work in this area. I know that our government will continue to work to make the world a safe place to live in.