Judy Bethel

[British Columbia Treaty Commission, October 23rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I support Bill C-107, the British Columbia Treaty Commission.

As many members are aware, the process of treaty making in British Columbia includes important third party consultations. In July 1993 the federal and provincial governments announced the establishment of the Treaty Negotiation Advisory Committee, TNAC. This is a 31 member organization that is divided into four sectoral advisory groups dealing with lands and forests, wildlife, fisheries and governance.

Each sectoral committee has completed interest papers which give an overview of the impact of treaties on their economic resource used and regulatory requirements. There have been several common interests identified. These include the need for certainty in treaty settlement, assured access to land base, fair and affordable agreements and avoiding impact on the existing employment base in smaller communities.

TNAC members ensure that the interests and expertise of major industries, business, labour, environment and outdoor recreation groups and local governments are understood and are taken into consideration in treaty negotiations.

TNAC advises governments on broad province-wide concerns and provides a forum for the provision of detailed information for discussion.

The process aspect of treaty negotiations has also received considerable attention from TNAC members and their demands for a more-

[Senate, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the private member's motion before us proposes changes to the powers of the Senate, the method of selecting senators and the number of senators by which the provinces are entitled to be represented in the Senate.

Clearly what needs to be understood here is that the third party is asking that there be constitutional change. If there is one thing which is absolutely clear, it is that Canadians have said they do not want constitutional change now. They want to focus on priorities. They do not want us to focus on constitutional change. They clearly expect, and rightfully so, for us to focus on their priorities which are jobs and economic growth.

The hon. member talks about regional problems, regional priorities and regional concerns. One thing we can be positive about is that all Canadians no matter where they live in Canada are concerned with jobs and economic growth. It is time to focus on exactly those.

The thing I find so difficult about this type of motion is that members of the third party had an opportunity to support exactly what this motion is asking for in the Charlottetown accord but they chose not to. They had their opportunity but instead chose political opportunism ahead of principle.

The Reform Party stated in Montreal on October 15 that it wanted to change federalism only through administrative agreements, not constitutional talks. Each of the 20 changes proposed by the Reform Party could be accomplished without comprehensive federal-provincial negotiations of the sort that led to the failed Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.

What we are seeing here is an absolute flip-flop. The introduction of this motion shows once again the inconsistency of the Reform Party. It adopts policies based on which direction the wind is blowing at the time. Certainly the member must realize that her motion would require constitutional amendments. I ask: What will it be, constitutional amendments or Reform Party administrative agreements? The Reform Party must make up its mind. This is an incredibly inconsistent statement.

In conclusion, unlike the Reform Party, our government believes in working with Canadians to improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of our federal institutions. We have done many of those things already. We have taken a number of steps, for example introduced parliamentary reforms to allow MPs to better represent their constituents, overhauled the committee process to allow for greater input, and so on.

I close by saying that Burt Brown of Alberta is the strongest proponent of a triple E Senate. Everyone in Alberta recognizes that clearly. He is being really responsible. Today he is not talking about a triple E Senate. If members know Burt Brown they will know that he ploughed a giant message in his fields with the words: "It is better together".

[The Environment, October 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I commend the auditor general on his study on environmental management systems and its recent release. The co-operative effort of the many government departments involved in the project should be acknowledged. It is a good example of the wide range of initiatives in which all parts of the government are sharing information and best practices to green government operations in as rapid and cost effective a manner as possible.

The Government of Canada, through its greening government operations initiative, has established guidelines for all federal departments to follow in order to integrate environmental considerations in their operations.

The auditor general has provided us with a useful study. Implementing an environmental management system is a vital first step to improving environmental performance in key areas such as procurement, fleet and facilities management, and land use.

This is only one step the government is taking to meet its commitment to Canadians to make sustainable development a reality.

[Juvenile Prostitution, September 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.

The effects of street prostitution are devastating to street involved youth and to those who live in the affected communities. At our street prostitution forum in Edmonton East there was an overwhelming consensus that stronger penalties must be imposed

against pimps and johns who exploit our children and our young people.

What measures will the minister take to protect the victims of prostitution and by when?

[Gun Control, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge the leader of the Reform Party to explain to the Canadian people why he is blatantly disregarding their expressed wishes by voting against Bill C-68, the firearms control legislation.

He is sanctimoniously paying lip service to his stated principle of casting his vote with the majority. Can he not hear the voices of the 71 per cent of Canadians, of the 58 per cent of Albertans and of the 79 per cent of women who believe that registering firearms will bring greater safety to our streets and in our homes, or is he just refusing to listen?

The leader of the Reform Party has offered no proof that he has consulted with his constituents in Calgary Southwest on gun control. Will he follow the example of his own MPs, the hon. members for Calgary West and Edmonton Southwest by seeking the collective wisdom of their constituents and supporting the legislation, or will he ignore the two-thirds of Calgarians who support registration of firearms? Canadians deserve an explanation.

[Reform Party, June 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage with recent developments in the Reform Party of western Canada's tactics in this Chamber. Its new American style smear campaigning reflects the Reform Party's underlying approach: no principles unless they are politically expedient for the moment.

The Reform Party sends different messages to different regions of the country on issues of importance to Canadians. Take for example the recent comments by the Reform member for Fraser Valley West who has been telling the people of Atlantic Canada that the Reform Party opposes tolls on highways. However, his boss, the leader of the third party, in speeches delivered as recently as May 25 in New York City, said that the rebuilding of roads will include everything from privatization of publicly owned infrastructure to user pay systems and public-private ventures.

What is the Reform policy? Who is telling the truth? Why the mixed-

[Petitions, June 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition deals with euthanasia. The petitioners ask Parliament to reject euthanasia and physician assisted suicide in Canada and to expand palliative care that would be accessible to all dying Canadians.

[Petitions, June 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I present a second petition from a group of Canadians who believe that Parliament should protect all individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation by including the term, sexual orientation, in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

[Petitions, June 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present several petitions signed by residents of my riding of Edmonton East.

The first petition calls on Parliament to maintain and enhance social programs for every Canadian.

[Royal Canadian Mint Act, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the hon. member. It would seem to me that if someone gets $4 in change, four loonies would certainly be heavier than two $2 coins, so I am having difficulty understanding that argument.

Has the hon. member taken into consideration in any of his numbers the value of the new technology and the advantages we as Canadians could receive from exporting such technology?