Raymond Lavigne

[The Budget, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance brought down an economic and social confidence-building budget.

This is a budget for health. It translates into a $3.5 billion increase in funding for the provinces.

The Canadian government has listened to the people of Canada. That is why the Minister of Finance announced such significant measures to be implemented in the coming years.

This is one of the key points in yesterday's budget. I encourage the people of Canada to peruse it; I am sure they will appreciate the major impacts it will have in the next few years in an area as important as health in Canada.

[Canada Jobs Fund, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on December 13, the Minister of Human Resources Development and the Minister of Labour launched the Canada Jobs Fund to help Canadians find employment.

In today's context of market globalization and openness in various areas, our government believes it is important for all Canadians to take full advantage of every opportunity to improve their quality of live.

This initiative will benefit regions where the rate of unemployment is 10% and over. In Quebec, the areas affected will be Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke and Montreal.

By making changes to this initiative to include more communities, the Government of Canada recognizes the need to stimulate employment and to reduce unemployment through a strategy that fosters economic growth across Canada.

[Governor General, December 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, December 5, my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri was honoured with a visit by Governor General Roméo Leblanc and his wife.

I had the pleasure of spending a magical day with 200 children from my riding, a day which featured balloons, candies, an excellent lunch, a troupe of magicians, and Santa.

On behalf of the 200 Verdun children who will have life-long memories of this excellent initiative of bringing the party to their community, I wish to thank the Governor General and his wife.

I hope very much that this custom will continue for many years to come.

My thanks to the organizers, the group Toujours Ensemble, and all the volunteers.

[Transportation, November 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I had the honour to present a petition on the use of the Champlain bridge landing to install an electric monorail with pneumatic suspension, which means no noise and no pollution.

I have received this petition with 6,200 names from the Comité des citoyens pour un monorail. Today, I want to recognize and congratulate these men and women for the countless hours they have put into furthering an issue they believe is not only important but also essential to the economic development of southwest Montreal and job creation in that area.

I am sure that the tenacity and patience of this committee, combined with the competence of its members, will move this project forward for the greater good of our community.

[Petitions, November 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, at the request of the Comité des citoyens pour le monorail, a petition signed by over 6,200 of my constituents. They are asking the government not to transfer the infrastructure of the Champlain Bridge to the Quebec Government until the latter issues a total ban on its automobile, bus and truck traffic.

The petitioners are calling for a monorail project to the downtown area, which will use the bridge structure without any noise or other pollution.

I am totally in agreement with this petition.

[Youth Centres, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, October 19, I attended the opening of a new workshop run by the Montreal youth centres, in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri, at Pointe-Saint-Charles to be precise. These youth centres have decided to work together to help young people who are not properly prepared for the labour market.

Indeed, young people between the ages of 18 and 24 living in low-income neighbourhoods have one of the highest unemployment rates on the island of Montreal. According to Statistics Canada, it was close to 21.2% in 1996. From March 1998 to March 1999, Human Resources Development will be funding the project to the tune of $147,156, or 58% of the project cost.

Our young people must be well prepared because, the youth unemployment rate being what it is, they are facing a major challenge—

[Flu Awareness Month, October 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to call the attention of the House and of Canadians to the fact that October is Flu Awareness Month.

The combination of flu and pneumonia is one of the primary causes of death among seniors. It can cause illness, weaken individuals suffering from it, make them vulnerable to infection and even cause their death.

I encourage all Canadians at risk to protect themselves and others against the flu. An annual flu shot will prevent those at risk from getting the flu and may even save lives.

Please join with me in wishing success to the Canadian Lung Association and its partners and in encouraging Canadians to protect themselves against the flu.

[Canada Post, October 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, October 1, I attended what might have been a fairly routine event, the release of a series of postage stamps with a circus theme.

Today I wish to congratulate and thank the President and CEO of Canada Post, the hon. André Ouellette, for his dynamism, which he transmits to the entire corporation, and for the vision he has demonstrated in the choice of stamp issues and in planning their release.

The routine nature of the release of a stamp issue yesterday was transformed into something rare, in fact unique as far as I know. The four clowns depicted on these new stamps are all still alive, and attended the ceremony. What is more, two of them are father and son, Giovanni and Frederico Boris Iuliani.

I wish to thank these four artists, all of whom live in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri.

[Tricentennial Of Maison Saint-Gabriel, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, a page of our history was written this past year in southwestern Montreal, in Pointe-Saint-Charles, in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri.

Maison Saint-Gabriel is 300 years old this year. This house, built by François LeBer and bought by Marguerite Bourgeois in 1668, was used both as a farm house and a residence for “les filles du Roy”.

Thanks to the partnership between Heritage Canada and Maison Saint-Gabriel, activities depicting everyday life in those days will be held every Sunday as part of the 300th anniversary celebrations.

As the member of Parliament representing Pointe-Saint-Charles, allow me to congratulate all the organizers on showing us this part of our heritage, and particularly Madeleine Juneau, who was a driving force behind this project.

[Canada Elections Act, May 14th, 1998]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-405, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (ballot papers).

Mr. Speaker, I have the honor to table today, in both official languages, a bill entitled An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act.

This bill is aimed at amending the provisions of the Canada Elections Act concerning ballot papers.

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