John Solomon

[Petitions, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have another petition concerning the Senate of Canada. It is signed by many constituents of Regina-Lumsden and other parts of Saskatchewan. The petitioners are quite concerned about taxpayers' money being spent on the Senate, an unelected, unaccountable institution which is costing Canadians over $54 million a year.

They request Parliament urge the government to abolish the Senate, which would save taxpayers this money and eliminate a body which is in essence useless for Canadians.

[Petitions, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present this morning. I am pleased to do so on behalf of many constituents of Regina-Lumsden as well as the surrounding area.

The first petition is signed by a number of people who are concerned about the approval of a synthetic bovine growth hormone, known as BGH or BST, a drug injected into cows to increase milk production.

These signators call on Parliament to take steps to keep BGH out of Canada through legislating a moratorium or stoppage on BGH use and sale until the year 2000 and examining the outstanding health and economic questions through an independent and transparent review.

[New Democratic Party Convention, October 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud today to stand in the House on behalf of the NDP caucus to extend warm congratulations to our new leader, Alexa McDonough.

Alexa was elected at the NDP convention held this weekend in Ottawa. Over 1,800 delegates along with 1,000 visitors and guests joined together to boost the NDP on their road to renewal.

We give notice to the Liberals and the Reform Party that New Democrats across the country are rising up in solidarity and unity to fight against their demolition of medicare and other social programs and are renewing our efforts for jobs and fair taxation for Canadians.

With our new leader, Alexa McDonough, Canadians have a reinvigorated voice to hold this government accountable for the destructive measures it is inflicting on Canadians. Canadians do have a choice. It is to join us in recovering a more caring and sharing Canada and reclaiming Canada for Canadians.

[Interest Rates, October 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, today's Auditor General of Canada report reaffirms what New Democrats have been telling Canadians for years, that the high real interest rate policy is the major reason for our massive debt, not social program spending.

High real interest rates hurt the economy, drive up debt and kill jobs. If the federal debt of $546 billion is a mortgage, Canadians are becoming tenants in their own homes, because 46 per cent of the debt is held by foreigners.

Canada's net foreign indebtedness is by far the highest among major industrialized countries. Even Italy has a foreign debt of less than 12 per cent.

New Democrats have called the Liberal government's high interest rate policy a disaster and the auditor general agrees. High interest rates have created nearly one-third of our debt. More debt should be held by the Bank of Canada. Social program spending has not contributed significantly to Canada's debt.

In view of this evidence, will the Liberals now create a fair economic policy for Canadians, rather than one for foreign investors?

[Employment Equity Act, October 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, members of the New Democratic Party who are in the House this evening vote yea on Motion No. 13.

[Employment Equity Act, October 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats present this afternoon vote yea on this motion.

[Points Of Order, October 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the New Democratic Party on this point of order.

The New Democratic Party agrees with the hon. member for Gander-Grand Falls who raised the matter of Bill S-9 being a bill that will cause a great deal of expenditure from the treasury to people retroactively, in particular to people who have a great deal of wealth to start with.

There is an assumption that the New Democratic Party supports Bill S-9. I make it perfectly clear that the bill is an unfair bill for taxpayers. The New Democratic Party does not support it. I support the contention of the hon. member for Gander-Grand Falls with respect to having the bill reviewed by Your Honour to see if it is in order.

[Oceans Act, October 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats present will vote yea.

[Nuclear Testing, October 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are extremely disappointed at the weak response our government has taken with the Government of France on nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific.

Last week I had the opportunity to address the Council of Europe to convey the unhappiness of Canadians with France for undertaking these tests. Delegations from Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico condemned France for its actions.

Today I am calling on Canadians to boycott products from France such as wines, perfumes, bottled water, cheeses and clothing until the French stop testing nuclear devices. A boycott will pressure French business to lobby French President Chirac to end testing sooner.

The government and Canadians must take a firmer stand on this issue. It is incredible that on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki France should resume nuclear testing. It is equally incredible that the Liberal government has been silent on this issue which impacts negatively on world peace and on our environment.

[Petitions, October 3rd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the second petition is from a number of constituents from Regina-Lumsden as well as from citizens in other parts of Saskatchewan like Fort Qu'Appelle and Saskatoon.

The petitioners are opposed to the approval of the synthetic bovine growth hormone known as BGH or BST, a drug injected into cows to increase milk production. They call on Parliament to take steps to keep BGH out of Canada through legislating a moratorium or stoppage on BGH use and sale until the year 2000 and examining the outstanding health and economic questions through independent and transparent review.