Roy H. Bailey

[Supply, March 20th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague on doing a commendable job on education, which is the term he used.

All provincial governments, all local governments and all parties in the House, I say without fear, have not done a good enough job educating the public on this issue.

The previous speaker, the hon. minister of agriculture, used some figures for Saskatchewan. I direct this question to him concerning the federal-provincial cost sharing.

Saskatchewan, as we know, has the largest number of farmers, the largest number of acres under cultivation and so on. With the 60:40 split, it is extremely difficult for Saskatchewan to match that 40%, more so than for any other province in Canada. We have to be careful in condemning one province for shying back a little because it is in the least financial position. It has the least resources right now to match that 60%.

Does the member think this all or nothing approach, which is meet the 40% or the province does not get the 60%, is perhaps the right approach?

[Supply, March 20th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Gordon Barnhart, a former clerk of the Saskatchewan legislature, recently published a book on the history of Saskatchewan's first premier, Walter Scott. Throughout that book he made references to agriculture, one which I will quote: “If agriculture prospers, so will this land”. He was referring mainly to the new province of Alberta, but it is also true if we look at the history of Saskatchewan in particular. If agriculture prospers, so does the province.

The hon. member alluded in his speech to the fact that agriculture has been going down. All he has to do is take one journey through my constituency. It is so evident what is happening: agriculture and the people are in a desperate situation. I have received well over 1,000 desperate calls.

I wonder if the Leader of the Opposition could agree with the premise that we must prosper in agriculture if we are going to be a viable community.

[Agriculture, March 14th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, today thousands of desperate farmers are demonstrating across Canada. They are praying that the public will understand that the government's recent aid announcement fails to provide even short term relief.

Canadian farmers receive a mere 7% of their income in government subsidies. Europe subsidizes its farmers by 65% and the U.S. subsidizes 34% of its grain farmers' income. Many farms in Canada are subsidized only when both husband and wife leave the farm to provide their own income.

Here are some basic questions facing Canadians. First, do we want safe food? Second, do we want an agriculture industry? Third, do we want a dependable supply of food?

Canadians and their government are in danger of losing what we now enjoy with a safe, dependable and cheap supply of food. We must address short term solutions before we can deal with any long term strategy.

[Criminal Code, March 13th, 2001]

You can say that again.

[Supply, March 13th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, it will soon be three hours since we started the debate. I am becoming more perplexed about it, listening to this side and to that side. They all say they will support the motion.

Am I wrong in assuming the motion says that we are about to establish a new registry? That is what I understand. Members opposite say they will be supporting the motion. Are they supporting a new registry? Is the member supporting additions to existing promises? Just what will they be supporting tonight in the motion?

[Supply, March 13th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the member's support for the motion. I clearly remember her saying that the general public should never be able to access the information. I do not think anyone would quarrel with that.

Does the member consider it wrong for the police to issue a warning to the community once it knows of the presence of a sex offender in that community? Would that be inappropriate action on the part of the police?

[Supply, March 13th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians no doubt are watching today. Many Canadians across the country have made it very clear that they believe we have given more protection to the criminals than we have to the victims.

Would the member not agree that an all party support of the motion now before the House would not only show confidence in the House but would also gain the support we really need on a national level for the justice system across Canada?

[Petitions, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I also have a huge petition from my constituents. It deals with a problem the farmers and ranchers are having on the prairies. They cannot purchase sufficient poison to get rid of the Richardson's ground squirrel which has cost them thousands and thousands of dollars in crops and machinery.

Because they cannot purchase poisons to kill the squirrels, the petitioners ask parliament to amend the present regulations so as to permit the sale of concentrated liquid strychnine to registered farmers until such time as an effective alternative can be found.

[Petitions, March 12th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first petition has been before the House several times. It asks that private sector workers who deliver mail in rural areas have collective bargaining rights, as do public sector workers who deliver mail for Canada Post in rural areas.

This is not a new petition and I humbly submit it at this time.

[Petitions, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I would like to present a petition that comes from a number of farmers and ranchers.

Mr. Speaker, you will know those little creatures technically called Richardson's ground squirrels. We call them gophers. Farmers and ranchers can no longer get poison that will kill them.

The petitioners ask that until Health Canada comes up with something that can really kill these varmints, to reintroduce the same formula of strychnine that they have had in the past.