Mac Harb

[Manpower Training, May 31st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, once again, our government has shown that it keeps its promises.

Yesterday, in this House, the Minister of Human Resources Development made public a proposal by our government to the provinces with respect to manpower training.

The plan unveiled will make it possible to meet the longstanding and legitimate expectations of the provinces and of Quebec in particular. The provinces will henceforth be responsible for active job measures, and they will receive approximately $2 billion from our government to help the unemployed re-enter the labour market.

Our Prime Minister has, once again, kept his promises, and our government will soon withdraw from the manpower training sector. This is eloquent proof of our determination to work in partnership with the provinces.

[Privilege, May 17th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege concerning a remark that was made yesterday by the member for Rimouski-Témiscouata during debate in this House, around 5.00 p.m., and that can be found on page 2912 of Hansard. On three occasions, the member for Rimouski-Témiscouata used language that was unparliamentary.

At the time, I rose in my place to point this out to the Chair, but unfortunately, because of the noise, the Chair was not really able to hear what was being said. After that, I checked in Hansard , and with Journals of the House of Commons, and I have now found it in writing on page 2912 of Hansard for May 16, 1996.

I think that the three words used yesterday were unparliamentary, and I ask the member for Rimouski-Témiscouta to take the next opportunity to withdraw them.

[Supply, May 16th, 1996]

This is flexible federalism. Instead, opposition members rise in their seats and start attacking the rest of Canada, talking about English Canada. There is no such thing as English Canada and French Canada, there is one Canada. There are Canadians who speak French, they are Canadian; there are Canadians who speak English, they are Canadian. Canada is for all Canadians, period.

Stop rehashing the past, it will not work. There are in Canada over 12 million people who are neither French nor English. They are Canadian, period. Stop all this nonsense.

[Supply, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I think that people who are following the debate on television must be wondering what is going on in this House. They must wonder whether there is a national crisis, or an international crisis. What is going on?

They are listening and wondering what the opposition is up to, wasting its time on things we have already dealt with many times, over many years. We have been having the same debate for 16, 20, 30 years.

The opposition should be congratulating the government for doing a lot more than any other Canadian government has done to make federalism flexible. The Prime Minister should be congratulated for doing a lot more than any other Prime Minister for this country.

[Supply, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I note that the hon. member said that someone had lied in the House. I hope things will not deteriorate.

[Supply, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is really unbelievable that the hon. member claims to have answered the question. I think the question was very clear. My colleague wanted to know, because her child asked her, how come Quebecers have voted twice to stay in Canada and yet separatists continue to ask the same question again and again.

If Quebecers were to vote yes, can the hon. member tell us whether they will have a chance to vote again, or will this be the last time?

[Forestry Industry, May 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome back our colleague from Carleton-Gloucester who is healthy and fit. On behalf of the House I wish a speedy recovery for the House leader, the hon. member for Windsor West.

Sustainable development is a major commitment of the government and Canadians are proud of their forest industry.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources tell the House what the government is doing to provide national and international leadership to ensure sustainable development in the forest industry?

[Partners In Your Success, May 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to host, along with members of the Canadian Bankers' Association and the Ottawa Carleton Board of Trade, "Partners in Your Success" a seminar for business owners, entrepreneurs and interested members of the community.

This event also involves many key business organizations, including the Business Development Bank, the Export Development Corporation, Canadian Commercial Corporation, OC-EDCO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Industry Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

We are also delighted to have the Minister of Industry as our honoured guest and keynote speaker.

I would like to congratulate and thank all of the organizers for their hard work and dedication in putting this important event together.

[Engineering Week, March 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, March 4 to March 8 was Engineering Week in Canada. It was a time for us to

honour the achievements and contributions of all engineers, and to thank all those who have dedicated their lives to this very important science.

In Canada there are 140,000 licensed engineers. These important men and women are represented by two excellent associations: the Engineering Institute of Canada and the Canadian Society for Professional Engineers.

Engineers are leading the way into the future. The government has recognized the important work of engineers by establishing Technology Partnerships Canada, a $250 million investment fund to encourage research and development in high technology projects.

Engineers design and build our roads, they pioneer technology and they are responsible for putting people into space. Wherever there is good there is an engineer. Wherever there is a problem engineers find solutions. Engineers are everywhere.

I congratulate and thank all engineers across Canada and commend them on a job well done.

[Racial Discrimination, March 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to the day observed around the world as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

I stand as a Canadian aware of my own cultural origins that makes me unique and distinct and, at the same time, an integral part of the greatest nation in the world.

As a country, we have come a long way in our journey toward respect for diversity but we still have a distance to go. There are still racial tensions in our schools, some of our communities ghettoize themselves because of anxiety.

As a model to the world, we must remember to look closely in the mirror. As a society, we have a role to play in effecting change, to bring people together to talk about hopes, aspirations, challenges and fears and to find Canadian solutions to eliminate racism.