Lost her last election, in 1997, with 21% of the vote.
Nuclear Fusion April 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, let me remind the member it is not only the federal Liberal government that is making difficult choices. He should look in his own backyard.
The PQ government has cut $350 million from hospitals, from the sick; $65 million from Cégeps, junior colleges; $300 million from primary-
Nuclear Fusion April 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the hon. member says, fusion research was not only cut in Quebec, it was also cut in Ontario. The Quebec component cut was $4.4 million; the Ontario component cut was $7.2 million, nearly twice as much.
We are not abandoning Quebec. Natural Resources Canada R and D initiatives in Quebec are, and I will read them: Energy Diversification Research Laboratory in Varennes; Quebec Geoscience; Candu; Val-D'Or laboratory; Canada Centre for Geomatics-
National Soil Conservation Week April 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, this week we are celebrating National Soil Conservation Week. Healthy soil is an essential component of a healthy environment and is a foundation on which sustainable agriculture is built.
The Soil Conservation Council of Canada was formed 10 years ago to promote the preservation and enrichment of Canada's soil and water resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Half of its current board members are farmers, including newly elected president, Gerry Willerth of Indian Head, Saskatche-
wan. They form a coalition of producer driven, soil and water conservation organizations in each province with all stakeholders contributing funding toward public education, research and program evaluation.
The Government of Canada, through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, conducts research and actively supports initiatives for soil conservation. Much progress has been made in halting and reversing soil degradation.
National Soil Conservation Week helps to focus attention on this important issue which affects us all.
The Budget April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, clearly the member of the third party is out of touch with what is happening. I mentioned in my speech that the government is bringing forward opportunities for diversification and value added enterprises.
I gave examples that happened in the hon. member's home province of Manitoba. There is more optimism in the agri-food and agriculture sector than I can ever remember. The government is doing very good things for the agriculture sector and for farmers right across the country.
The Budget April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the member asked that question. It allows me on behalf of the government to set the record straight. Quebec does get its fair share from this Liberal government.
When we talk about subsidizing and tariffication I know there is fairness. I am a farmer myself. The minister of agriculture has worked very hard with groups within Quebec to ensure Quebec continues to get its fair share.
The Budget April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the budget debate, bringing a rural Manitoba perspective to the discussions.
The budget brought forward by the finance minister is yet another reason why the approval rating of the government by the Canadian people continues at unprecedented heights. We are providing the kind of government Canadians want. We are tackling the deficit while protecting social programs. We are governing with integrity. We are listening to what Canadians are saying and responding.
This is definitely a good news budget. It is good news for rural Canada. It is good news for the resource sectors, agriculture, mining, forestry and energy. It is good news for our greatest resource, our people. It is good news for jobs and economic growth. It is good news for all Canadians.
There is more optimism in the agriculture sector than I have seen in all of my years as a farmer. Farmers are receiving their WGTA payments right now. They are using this money to diversify their operations and bring in new efficiencies. Farmers are at the cutting edge and must be to compete in today's competitive world market.
The elimination of the WGTA is encouraging a boom of value added processing in Manitoba. This is crucial for job creation and economic growth. Increasingly we are adding value to the commodities we produce in our home communities instead of sending these raw resources east, west or south.
Since the 1995 budget the following projects have been announced in rural Manitoba: a $55 million investment in a canola crushing plant in Ste. Agathe; a $40 million hog processing plant announced by Schneiders meats; a $200 million expansion of the Simplot fertilizer company in Brandon; a $5 million pasta processing plant in Altona; an $8.9 million investment by Canmera Foods in its Altona canola crushing plant; an $18 million investment by Carnation Foods in Carberry's potato processing plant; an expansion of the Canoat plant in Portage.
In my riding of Dauphin-Swan River a very industrious group from Russell is putting together an ethanol and cattle finishing plant that will be a windfall for many surrounding local communities. We also have a group of farmers wanting to set up an inland terminal in the area. If this is not a demonstration of optimism in the future of farming, I do not know what is.
All of these examples clearly show the confidence farmers and agri-food companies have in the future of agriculture and in the future of rural Manitoba. It shows the confidence they have in the Liberal government.
It is because the Liberal government and the Minister of Finance are creating a climate of opportunity that these crucial projects are a reality. These are the types of projects which will continue to encourage job creation in rural Canada.
Dollars are tight. We all realize that. The challenge becomes setting priorities and doing what is best for the agriculture sector in the long term.
What are we doing to keep farmers on the land and to create jobs for our children so they can remain in their home communities? We are investing our limited financial resources in infrastructure, in research, in adaptation measures and in international trade to help the agriculture and agri-food industries expand for the food production sector.
We are already well on our way to exceeding our goal of $20 billion in agriculture exports by the year 2000. Our exports have risen by about 30 per cent over the last two years alone.
This is good news for the farmers in my riding of Dauphin-Swan River. It means strong, long term markets which will keep and help farmers. It will also keep the prices up as well as the demand.
A good example of how we are responding to the farm community is the decision to accelerate the payment of the $300 million adjustment fund to compensate for changes to the pooling of the seaway costs. Instead of spreading the payments over six years, the money will flow within three years, putting money in farmers' pockets faster and making improvements to local infrastructure.
The Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector has a proven record of successfully adapting to the constant changes facing the industry. In the years to come new trade agreements, new markets and new technologies must and will be met with the same determination.
Similarly, the measures we have taken in the area of natural resources also further the government's commitment to rural Canada and to sustainable development and to jobs and growth in the forestry, mining, energy and earth science sectors.
Our focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency will contribute to growth and jobs at home and abroad. The renewable energy sector offers significant potential to help Canada move toward our international climate change and the commitment to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000.
Through changes to legislation and regulations we are creating an environment that encourages growth in the energy and mining sectors to create jobs and fuel the economy.
Our financial constraints have meant that we have had to make some tough decisions.
We are streamlining our involvement in nuclear energy and we are working with AECL to find alternative sources of funding and other agreements.
These efforts are progressing very well and the Minister of Natural Resources is to be commended for her commitment in this regard. I also commend the minister for her commitment to building partnerships with stakeholders in the natural resources sectors. She has worked tirelessly with industry and the provinces to ensure that Canada will continue to reap the economic benefits the resource sectors bring.
The minister is following through on the Liberal government's commitment to work with Canadians for the good of Canada.
There was a great deal of rejoicing in Dauphin-Swan River that the budget contained no new taxes and no tax increases. Canadians told us to tackle the deficit through spending cuts rather than tax increases. We are listening to Canadians. We are surpassing our deficit targets without raising taxes. Deficit cutting is very important but most important are our people, the greatest resource Canada has.
Liberal governments in Canada have a long history of helping people at home and abroad. I am proud to be part of this government, which is continuing this proud tradition. In the budget we have provided the balance Canadians want between the economy and social programs. We are meeting our tough deficit targets while making strong financial commitments to medicare and pensions. This is good for Canada and good for Dauphin-Swan River.
We are establishing a stable, secure and growing financial commitment to medicare, post-secondary education and social assistance. After a two year levelling off period we will be increasing transfers to the provinces in each of the next three years. It will be up to the provinces to spend those dollars smarter, to ensure the people of Canada continue to have access to quality health care and education. We are continuing our commitment to older Canadians.
While other parties want to let seniors fend for themselves the Liberal government recognizes the contribution seniors have made and will continue to make to Canadian society. The budget announced a new seniors benefit designed to help those who need financial assistance the most. The new program will protect current seniors, improve benefits for low income seniors and guarantee that future generations will be able to count on benefits when they retire.
Although we have cut our federal spending significantly we recognize that in today's economy we need to better target resources to benefit families. We are helping families through changes to child care expense deductions and increases in the working income supplement and through improving the employment insurance program for low income parents.
Like all budgets, this is a budget for the present and for the future. It is providing Canadians with a growing economy while reducing the deficit and it makes a strong commitment to the well-being of our greatest resource, our people.
I applaud the Minister of Finance for this budget and his commitment to all Canadians.
Mining March 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the surveys by keep mining in Canada cover only 10 per cent of the total number of companies conducting mineral exploration in Canada. They exclude any company spending less than $4 million annually.
This year exploration expenditures are forecast to reach $850 million. Canada has ranked first in the world in 11 of the past 15 years. In 1996 I am confident that Canada will maintain its premier position in the world, thus creating jobs for thousands of Canadians.
Varennes Magnetic Fusion Centre March 28th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, in the field of research and development Quebec gets its fair share.
Overall, R and D spending in Quebec is about 23 per cent, which is proportionate to its population and GDP.
Varennes Magnetic Fusion Centre March 28th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the minister responded to this question. She said we had to make choices. One of those choices was the viable CANDU business which brings significant benefits to Quebec. The sale of one CANDU-6 reactor abroad could bring over $100 million and 4,000 person years in contracts to Quebec companies.
Natural resources has recently established an energy research lab in Quebec focusing on federal energy priority areas, specifically renewable energy, energy efficiency and remote community energy systems.
Nisga'A Land Claims March 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, today history is being made in British Columbia with the signing of an agreement in principle by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the provincial Minister for Indian Affairs and the Nisga'a people.
The way is being paved for the first modern day treaty in that province. Today's signing marks an important step in the long struggle of the Nisga'a people to have their rights to the beautiful Nass river valley formally recognized.
The agreement which is being signed today follows extensive consultations with members of the wider British Columbia community. Today's ceremony takes us a long way to achieving certainty and establishing stability, and with these a new era of growth and prosperity can begin.
I would like to congratulate all parties to this historic agreement, particularly the Nisga'a people who have persevered for so long and have overcome so much.