Eugène Bellemare

[Drinking Water, May 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, Wednesday, on drinking water conservation day, Environment Canada's Biosphere and the Communauté urbaine de Montréal presented the Biosphere 2000 awards.

These awards were presented to Stelfil Limitée of Lachine, to Buanderie Villeray Limitée of Montreal, and to l'École Édouard-Laurin and Manoir Inc. of Saint-Laurent, for implementing programs that help reduce their drinking water consumption and their waste water discharge.

The drinking water conservation day is the result of a partnership between the Biosphere and the Communauté urbaine de Montréal and is made possible thanks to the co-operation of the municipalities producing drinking water and the members of the joint committee on drinking water conservation and waste water reduction.

The water savings made by the award recipients total close to six million cubic metres annually, or 2.6 times the volume of the Olympic Stadium.

Congratulations to the winners.

[Regional Development Banks, April 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the 1998 report on Canada's participation in regional development banks.

[Editorial Cartoonists, April 6th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, editorial cartoonist show politicians in a most humorous fashion. Every morning they deliver an editorial comment that often rings truer than any essay and often is more jabbing than any given editorial.

As politicians we have a deep affection for these cutting editorialists. Canada's editorial cartoonists are among the best in the world. There is hardly an office on the Hill that does not have a framed editorial cartoon proudly hung on one of its walls.

As a cartoonist in my spare time and a former teacher of visual arts, I am honoured to welcome the Canadian Association of Editorial Cartoonists. Their charity auction “Cocktails and Cartoons” will take place this evening in Room 200 of the West Block.

I am sure that all my colleagues in the House salute Canada's cartoonists for their community support and for the amusement they bring us.

We hope that you will continue to inject a little humour into the national political scene.

[Ontario Winter Games, March 31st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, this year the Ontario winter games were held between March 16 and 19 in Sault Ste. Marie and brought together over 2,500 athletes in 26 sports.

The Gloucester Synchro Club represented eastern Ontario in the senior's team category and won the gold medal.

As the member for Carleton—Gloucester, I am proud to pay tribute to the efforts of the head trainer of the winning team, Lianna Jeffrey-Sottile, and to swimmers Caity Briggs, Chelsea Côté, Nathalie Dionne, Sandy Campbell, Amy Jo McKinnon, Lisa Courtney, Véronique Moreau, Tania de Maurivez, Erika Scholz and Jennifer Wing.

On behalf of Carleton—Gloucester, I congratulate the Gloucester Synchro Club for its outstanding victory.

[Knights Of Columbus, March 30th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on February 22, 2000, the Knights of Columbus celebrated the centenary of the founding of the fourth degree of their order.

One of the goals of this fraternal, family organization is to promote patriotism within the movement and within the community.

Last Thursday my colleague the hon. Don Boudria and I received members of the Knights of Columbus on Parliament Hill to mark this significant event. During this official ceremony we presented them with the Canadian flag that flew on top of the Peace Tower on the day of the 100th anniversary of the fourth degree of their order.

This flag will be proudly put on permanent display at the Knights of Columbus museum in New Haven, Connecticut.

On behalf of all members of the House, I wish to congratulate the Knights of Columbus on the centenary of the founding of the fourth degree of their order.

[Canada Student Loans Program, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the success of a society largely depends on how it prepares for the future.

This is why the Canadian government is providing our young people with essential tools, such as student loan programs, to help them finance their post-secondary education.

The Canada Student Loans Program is the solution for many students. In fact, it is the key factor in allowing them to pursue their education.

Over 2.7 million students have received a total of $15 billion under this program since its inception in 1964. This program provides assistance to more than 350,000 students every year.

The federal government is fulfilling a most important commitment: providing support to students in all regions of Canada.

[House Of Commons, March 16th, 2000]

These amendments said “This act shall come into force—”

[House Of Commons, March 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will never be able to finish in 26 seconds, but I can understand the temper tantrums of the spoiled brats in the Bloc Quebecois.

[House Of Commons, March 16th, 2000]

I would like to demonstrate that, in rejecting some of the amendments made by members of the Bloc Quebecois, you did show wisdom.

I do not have the list of amendments you rejected, but judging by those you accepted—I would like to quote a few, to show how ridiculous the Bloc Quebecois was.

Some amendments read “That the act come into force on February 1, 2005”; “That the act come into force on April 1, 2005”; “That the act come into force on May 1, 2005”; “That the act come into force on June 1, 2005”—

[House Of Commons, March 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have a comment to make about the non-confidence motion against the Speaker of the House.

I must first tell you that I have always considered you as a distinguished person, a person who is extremely polite in the House, fair, impartial and showing wisdom.

I suppose that the members of the Bloc Quebecois were extremely frustrated with Bill C-20 on clarity.