Eugène Bellemare

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, 1995, April 24th, 1995]

Thank you for calling me to order on this very important matter. Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Mercier is very proud to show her allegiance, her patriotism. But I think that her patriotism is slightly out of place. She seems to forget that she belongs to the larger Canadian nation, that it is because of Canadian unity that the provinces and territories were able to develop and the two official languages of Canada were able to develop, not because there were people muttering in one region or another of the country, only looking inwards and only concentrating on petty local concerns.

Francophones outside Quebec have done well and been successful. I think I am a case in point. I did well financially, at school, in the elections, in politics. Never, ever, have Canadians outside Quebec, or inside Quebec for that matter, hindered my success. In fact, it is this national attitude that made me to want to succeed, to want to remain a part of this country.

The member for Mercier kept referring to Canadians who left the country and settled in the U.S. I must point out to her that most of those who did that were from Quebec. It is interesting to note that the member for Mercier uses the term Canadians when talking about negative things and Quebecers for positive ones; only Quebecers can do good.

I must say right away that everyone in Canada does good. If we are to become even stronger as a nation in the future, become a wealthier nation and achieve a level of education envied the world over, it will be through Canadian unity, not through this desire to separate and this constant infighting.

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, 1995, April 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on what the member for Mercier said, a member whom I regard as a separatist while she claims to be a sovereignist. This separatist member of Parliament spoke of the people of Quebec with great pride, and I appreciate her pride in Quebecers, because I too am proud of them.

I must say right away that I am myself a fourth generation Franco-Ontarian. To the separatist member who just spoke, I say, Madam, that that did not prevent me from-

[Expo 2005, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Bloc Quebecois member for Rimouski-Témiscouata stated that Hull was the ugliest city in the world. What a pleasure it is to hear that the hon. member is now spreading the message far and wide to the people of Hull that she is retracting her remarks and that she wants all who will listen, particularly her new friend the Minister of Canadian Heritage, to know that she supports Hull's application for Expo 2005.

This means that people from around the world could come and see the phenomenon of a city transformed into a friendly, welcoming community in the space of a week, thanks to the Bloc members. Is this a sign that the separatists have finally chosen a date for the referendum-2005?

[Francophones Outside Quebec, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata, a great champion of francophone rights when it suits her, tap-danced on the backs of francophones outside Quebec yesterday.

She accused the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne of interfering with Quebec's affairs by encouraging Quebecers to vote "no" in the upcoming referendum.

Casting doubt on the FCFA's honesty, the hon. member asked if receiving federal subsidies did not help the federation take a federalist stance.

If francophones outside Quebec have survived for centuries, taking their place at every level and in every sphere of activity in Canada, and if there is such a thing as cultural duality in Canada today, it is no thanks to egocentric separatists.

[Petitions, February 24th, 1995]

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the last petition was signed by 25 of my constituents who are asking that Parliament amend the Young Offenders Act to allow the courts to punish more severely those who are convicted of crimes with violence.

[Petitions, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions signed by 71 constituents that call for Parliament to ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be retained without change and enforced in order that Parliament not sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or euthanasia.

[Petitions, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is signed by 149 people. They are asking Parliament not to amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a way that would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships.

[Petitions, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is signed by 40 of my constituents. It calls on Parliament to extend the same protection to the unborn child enjoyed by born human beings by amending the Criminal Code.

[Petitions, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting five petitions on behalf of residents of Carleton-Gloucester.

The first petition is signed by 60 residents of my riding and deals with the Canadian Supreme Court decision that freed an alcoholic who raped an elderly disabled woman.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation to review the Supreme Court ruling file 23435 rendered September 30, 1994 and to enact legislation to address the repercussion of this ruling.

[Public Service Superannuation Act, February 21st, 1995]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-306, an act to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act (annuity following job loss).

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and pleasure of introducing in the House today a bill entitled an act to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act (annuity following job loss).

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act in order to address the plight of federal public servants who have lost their jobs after January 1, 1995 as a result of a public service downsizing program.

This bill would allow those public servants who have reached 50 years of age and who have at least 10 years of pensionable service to collect an annual allowance equal to the amount of the deferred annuity without penalty immediately upon losing their job.

In light of the upcoming downsizing program, many public servants will be faced with the possibility of having to raise their families on 50 per cent of their earned pension. This bill would allow these public servants, who must leave the public service through no fault of their own, to receive the full pension they deserve and have earned.

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