Roy H. Bailey

[Supply, November 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as we near November 11 Canadians should have some idea as to what this country did and where we were at in 1945. In 1945 we had half the population we have now, but we put one million people into uniform. We had the third largest army, air force and navy among the Allies.

Having said that, Canadians should know that we are placing the responsibility of the military in the hands of relatively few people, 10% or less today than we had then. We cannot seem to find consensus out there among the general population that we are not doing enough. We have not even reached 60,000. I would like the member to comment on those figures.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the ancient Sea Kings have something in common. They both entered the service in 1963. After 40 years of public service the Prime Minister is ready to retire, but because he cancelled the Sea King's replacement, the Sea Kings will have to keep working until 2015, a full 11 years into the Prime Minister's retirement.

It is entirely conceivable that a grandchild of an original Sea King pilot could be flying it today. It is shameful that in nine years as Prime Minister he has been unable and, even worse, unwilling to replace the helicopters he cancelled. Neither have the three defence ministers he has had during that time.

The Sea Kings were once the pride of our nation but have now become a joke. This is a joke that no one is laughing at. The Prime Minister would leave a better legacy if the Sea Kings were to retire at the same time as the Prime Minister.

[Supply, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I want to relate to the member an incident that happened not too long ago and which has happened before. The government advertised that a certain position was available and a board would be conducted. Applications flowed in and individuals telephoned, only to be told that the position had already been filled by ministerial appointment. I have seen that happen many times, and that is a terrible smack in the face to the democratic process. Would the hon. member like to comment on that?

[Supply, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, one of the dangers we have in Canada in saying that we are democratic, lies in the fact that the majority of Canadians did not elect the government for many elections. Will the percentage of people actually voting not continue to drop unless there are some very serious changes made in the House?

[Member for LaSalle--Émard, October 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, is the former finance minister running a leadership campaign for the Liberals or the Canadian Alliance? I know he was elected as a Liberal but he seems to be walking our walk and talking our talk.

Our party spent years developing policies which are now part of our platform. We would think that he would at least give us some of the credit. In any other field, what he is doing would be plagiarism. Free votes, making more private members' bills votable, independent ethics counsellors, and electing chairmen of committees by secret ballot, are but a few of our policies and we have had them for years.

Now we find that the former finance minister believed in these policies or has he been recently converted? If we look at his record and what he is saying now, it looks to me that we have ourselves a modern day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[Health Care System, October 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, both the hon. gentleman opposite and the member in his response talked about accountability. I would like to ask my colleague from New Brunswick to imagine for one moment that he is CEO of a large hospital operation and finds that he could buy an MRI from a private clinic for $750, but you know by looking at your books and through accountability it is costing $1,000. What would you do about that, sir?

[Petitions, October 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the pleasure to present a second petition which encourages adult stem cell research and not research on unborn infants.

[Petitions, October 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have a handful of petitions signed by people from across my constituency and beyond who call upon the government to revisit the question of pornography and take the necessary steps to give confidence to people that their children will be protected.

[Remembrance Day National Flag Act, October 23rd, 2002]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-244, an act requiring the national flag of Canada to be flown at half-mast on Remembrance Day.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce this bill. If the bill were to come before the House, I am sure there would be unanimous consent to it.

It will be November 11 in a few short days and we will meet across Canada. Up until now the only flag that flies at half-mast on a government building on that day is the one on the Peace Tower. This bill would require all government buildings from coast to coast to fly their flags at half-mast on November 11.

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

[Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act, October 21st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the tax that was placed on Canadian jewellery, I believe in 1919. If Canadians want to buy a piece of handcrafted jewellery, because of that tax, which was supposed to last only a few years, and the PST and GST, a cheap $100 community diamond will cost them $125.

If we are to make good use of the diamond mine being developed in the Northwest Territories, the government should take another look at the tax which was brought in in 1919. Jewellers have been complaining about it ever since that time. Could the hon. member comment on that?