Ian McClelland

[Small Business Loans, December 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the business community and banks cannot be blamed for taking advantage of government largess. If we are dumb enough to give it to them they are going to be smart enough to take it. We have to put a stop to it.

We do not have a revenue problem in our country. To paraphrase a colloquialism, which is not intended to anybody in this House certainly, it is government spending stupid that we have to get under control. It is those three or four words.

The business community has time and time again told the government to reduce the tax burden on business and individuals. What specific measure has the Minister of Industry taken that will reduce government spending which will in turn reduce

government borrowing which will in turn reduce interest rates and taxes?

[Small Business Loans, December 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the government is reported to be increasing the total value of loans it guarantees under the Small Businesses Loans Act to $12 billion, an increase of 300 per cent. The program now loses about $100 million a year.

Would the Minister of Industry tell the House why taxpayers should underwrite Canadian banks by assuming liabilities that should properly fall to entrepreneurs and banks, not taxpayers?

[Regional Development, December 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the business community is near consensus. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business declared its research consistently shows that small and medium sized businesses advocate the complete elimination of all grants and subsidies to businesses and associations. Yet the Liberals continually insist they are helping small business through regional development.

The Business Council on National Issues had but one suggestion for the federal government: "Just say no". The Canadian Aerospace Industry said: "We have seen attempts to create pseudo-competition by region in this county by pitting companies against each other supported by tax dollars. This has resulted in wasted energy, misguided marketing, lost opportunity, squandered money, and all too frequently, failed enterprises".

If the minister will not eliminate regional development he might as well amalgamate the regional development programs. He could then create a new crown corporation called "Pork Barrel Incorporated".

[Members Of Parliament Office Inventories, November 29th, 1994]

If you can't deal with the little things how can you deal with the big things?

[World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the hon. member. I will preface it with a truism. The truism is that if you do not compete you cannot be competitive.

Accepting that truism, I wonder if the hon. member would comment on whether or not in his opinion various protected industries in Canada have been made more competitive, which has resulted in lower costs and better product to the consumer as a result of restrictive trade processes in the past within Canada, trade barriers within Canada, and whether there is a parallel between interprovincial trade barriers which raise prices and decrease competition and national trade barriers.

[Questions On The Order Paper, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on May 10 I submitted a question to the Minister of Health on the Order Paper. I wonder if the hon. parliamentary secretary to the House leader would respond to it.

[Petitions, November 29th, 1994]

I have a further 30-name petition against euthanasia.

[Petitions, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a further two petitions.

The third petition asks the Parliament of Canada not to change any laws which would have the effect of including sexual orientation in the human rights act or as a prohibited grounds of discrimination.

[Petitions, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to present two petitions. The first petition is on behalf of 40 residents of Edmonton Southwest and was put together by Lynette Ruptash. It asks that physicians not get involved in the taking of lives but to save lives. It brings to our attention the fact that the majority of Canadians are law-abiding citizens who respect the law and the sanctity of human life. The second petition has 30 signatures. It also asks that physicians not be involved in the taking of human life. It is against the whole notion of euthanasia and it is my pleasure to present it to the House.

[Canadian Space Agency, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, what is the point in privatizing Telesat Canada and then continuing to throw public money at it? Telesat Canada is a consortium of the largest telephone companies and Spar Aerospace. They do not need individual taxpayers' money.

I have a supplementary question. Would the minister assure the House that agencies under his jurisdiction would not divert public money to private use without specific prior permission from the minister?