House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 50% of the vote.
The Environment November 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, we now know, courtesy of Premiers Klein and Tobin, the government's position on fossil fuel emissions that it is going to take to Kyoto. It will be 1990 levels by the year 2007.
Why did the Prime Minister choose to whisper this to the premiers instead of informing the House? We cannot get the government's position in this House. Is it because there is going to be an economic hit of $33 billion?
Who is going to pay for this?
The Environment November 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, last week in Regina the provinces reached an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2010.
However, the federal government has not said what its position will be, whether it will be going with the provinces' position or take something else to Kyoto.
My question is what is the position of the government in Kyoto? Secondly, what is the plan to achieve these targets? What is the position? What is the plan?
Remembrance Day November 7th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, November 11 Canadians will mark a minute of silence for those who gave their lives for the freedom, democracy and peace we enjoy in this country today.
My father was one of those men. He was a navigator in the RCAF and never returned from the second world war. As a result, I grew up with only a photograph and the stories and memories passed on by my mother to tell me what a wonderful man my father was.
Many of us can only imagine what it was like for those men like my father. Their sacrifice was so great and so meaningful we must never forget the contributions made during the wars. No words can convey that to anyone.
Therefore as the House will not be sitting on Remembrance Day, I ask that we remember November 11 is not a holiday. It is a day to remember those who fought and died for this wonderful country.
The Senate November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, this does not require constitutional change. May I remind the Prime Minister that in Alberta the precedent has already been set. The late Stan Waters was elected as senator to the Senate in 1989. Now we have members of all sides of the Alberta legislature, including provincial Liberals, asking for an elected senator.
I ask again. Will the Prime Minister let Albertans elect their next senator?
The Senate November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, Albertans mourn the untimely death of Senator Walter Twinn. I know that members from both sides of the House conveyed their condolences at his funeral. Since then both Ralph Klein and Alberta Liberal leader Grant Mitchell have called on the Prime Minister to let Albertans elect their next senator.
May I remind the Prime Minister that he said in 1990 “I pledge to work for a Senate that is elected”. Will the Prime Minister keep his word and allow Albertans to elect their next senator?
The Environment November 4th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the prime minister has stated it well. They do not have a position.
We can read in the newspaper where the Americans are coming from. We can read in the newspaper where the European community is coming from. We cannot find out in this House where this government is coming from.
The finance minister's department has stated that the Kyoto deal is going to eat up the surplus of the budget. Where is the finance minister going to get the money to finance the Kyoto deal?
The Environment November 4th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, so far the only government officials who have publicly stated the costs of the Kyoto deal are the finance minister's own people. They have been quoted in the Globe and Mail that the Kyoto deal could consume any hope for budget surplus.
Is the finance minister willing to run up a deficit to pay for the Kyoto deal?
Environment November 4th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, in less than one month the government will commit Canada to legally binding targets regarding greenhouse gas emissions. This will be done despite the following.
First, the scientific community remains divided on whether greenhouse gases do indeed cause global warming.
Second, the government has failed to receive the agreement of the provinces before it goes to Kyoto. The provinces that will enforce the emission standards must be on side before Kyoto, not after.
Third, developing countries such as China, India and Mexico that will be the big contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the future are not part of the Kyoto agreement. Clearly this is a global concern that requires all countries to be involved.
The government has had four years to prepare for Kyoto. Yet here we are less than one month away and our government still has not tabled the Canadian position or provided any documentation on the implications.
Where is the leadership?
Access To Information Act October 31st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak to my colleague's bill on access to information regarding polls.
It boils down to a very basic premise. If a poll is commissioned by public money, then there should be public access. It is very simple.
My colleague has also made the good point that if a political party commissions a poll, that is private. If private money is being used, then there should not be access to the poll. However, when taxpayer money is being used to commission a poll, then surely the public has the right to ask for the results.
We often hear about accountable government. We hear it particularly during election time. This government, which is supposedly accountable, is doing all that it can to suppress not only access to information regarding polling but also access to information in many other areas.
The key issue here is manipulation. When the finance minister can stall for months and months and suppress information obtained from a poll, that is manipulation. That is what we are trying to avoid.
Members of this House, regardless of their political stripe, must agree that this is wrong. We want to have free access right across the board. There is nothing clandestine about it. We are asking for open government.
This type of thing is creating cynicism among Canadians. They do not hold this place in esteem. We as politicians, collectively, are on the scale somewhere down below snake oil salesman because of public cynicism, and rightfully so in many cases.
Canadians pay their taxes. They do not mind paying taxes if they know the money is being spent well and if they can find out how the money is being spent. However, we are not allowed to discover that.
This government is unwilling to change. We often hear the prime minister talk about moving into the next millennium. Let us do that. Let us move this House ahead, and the other house for that matter, so that we can have a system of government that works for Canadians. It does not work for Canadians when they have one hand tied behind their backs.
This is not the only private member's bill respecting access to information. At the latest count there are four. My colleague has presented this bill today. I have a bill respecting crown corporations. The government also has two bills relating to this subject. On both sides of the House there are concerns regarding access to information.
I was pleased to hear the comment from the member opposite saying that there may be a review. I think a review of the access act is long overdue.
The member also said that access to information is a cornerstone of democracy. If she really believes that, I hope we will open it up, not close it down.
I believe this to be a very good bill. As such, I would ask for the unanimous consent of the House that this bill be deemed votable.
Environment October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, let me say it again. The Reform Party will strenuously oppose any new tax the Liberals bring in, thanks to Kyoto. No gas tax, no energy tax, no environment tax, no green tax at all, no tax period.
Why will the minister not stand in her place today and tell Canadians that the Liberals will not raise taxes because of their backroom deal in Kyoto?