Harold Culbert

[Education, November 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, this evening, November 15, 1994, a banquet will be held at the New Brunswick Community College at Woodstock campus with guest speaker Mike Duffy to honour the facility's 10th anniversary. Not only is it the 10th anniversary of this new facility, but it is also the 75th anniversary of vocational training and education in the region, which began at the Carleton County Vocational School some 75 years ago.

This type of community based education and training has been successful over the past 75 years and never was it more important than it is today. With the competition around the world it is imperative that community colleges continue to be a significant part of our education system.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the anniversary committee, the administration staff, students, all those who made this facility possible, as well as those who have continued its success over the years.

[Remembrance Day, November 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, next week on November 11 members of the House will join with thousands of Canadians to pay tribute to those who fought and died so that we might enjoy democracy and freedom: freedom to hold democratic elections and the freedom to voice concern.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the second world war. It is a time to show that Canada remembers. Let us join with all Canadians on November 11 to renew our pledge to the many Canadians who fought and fell in battle.

Let us also remember the sacrifices and efforts made by those at home. It is through the efforts of these people that we have been able to build Canada into a country deemed the best in the world in which to live.

We shall never forget.

[Government Policies, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard several honourable ministers indicate there is a need for change in the status quo and I agree. While change may be difficult, Canadians are impressed with the consultation process brought forth by this government.

With continued openness and co-operation by the government, all Canadians will be able to participate constructively in those areas which require change to meet the needs of today and of the 21st century.

To provide opportunity for future generations, these changes must be brought about fairly.

On this first anniversary I am still proud of the government and of our ministers. They are prepared to work with all members of the House and with all Canadians to help build a better tomorrow.

Public forums will be hosted across Carleton-Charlotte from November 5 to 12 to obtain input on various issues before the House. This consultation process truly opens up government and allows everyone to participate which is a welcome change-

[Social Security Program, October 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great respect to the comments of the hon. member.

After listening to the first story about the chicken and then the story about the chicken and the pork that were side by each going down the road and after hearing comments from previous speakers across the way, I remembered, coming from Atlantic Canada, that in many cases we were very fortunate to have the slim or the thin chicken in our pot of stew. Sometimes those comments scare me. I wonder whether we would have anything to put in the pot if we were to listen to some of the comments of the Reform Party.

I want to direct a question to the hon. colleague across the way. Has he read the green book, the paper of the Minister of Human Resources Development that was tabled a week or so ago now? Does he realizes that the minister invited consultation? Does he intend to go to his constituents and say this is an opportunity for them to participate, to have input and to have their input respected as the input of other members of the Reform Party and of other parties in the House will be respected by the minister, the department and the government?

The opportunity for consultation, the opportunity that Canadians were crying out for, has been lacking for many years. They want to be part of a participatory government. Then we have it and, if we listen to the Reform Party, it is saying: "Make up your mind tomorrow, dictate to Canadians, and forget about consultation".

I am somewhat confused when I hear such comments because I believe that what Canadians want is participatory government. That is what Canadians want in my constituency, in Atlantic Canada, and I suspect in other parts of Canada. The Minister of Human Resources Development has given them the opportunity to be part of it. He has given you the opportunity to be part of it, Mr. Speaker, and every member of the House.

Let us get to constructive input that will help the department and the minister bring about a social program that is not only good for all Canadians but supportable to all Canadians.

[Remembrance Day Act, October 18th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on Bill C-251 this evening in the House. The bill will ensure that Remembrance Day is respected by public servants in the way that it was intended. For this reason I fully support the hon. member's bill and would like to commend him on bringing it forward.

Remembrance Day is much more than a holiday or a day off during the longer days of fall. It was introduced into our country as a day to do just that: to remember, to remember those who gave their lives so that we the people who stand before you today, Mr. Speaker, would be able to enjoy the freedoms we now have. It is to remember those who fought, those who made the supreme sacrifice with their lives, and those who sacrificed here at home during the two world wars and in Korea. It is to remember, simply so that we will not forget the sacrifices that touched so many Canadian families.

Children growing up today have no recollection of the sufferings that took place during those times of strife. To them it is another story in our history books. The recognition of Remembrance Day sparks questions in these children and in turn they will become informed. In this way the sacrifices and the

tragedies will never be forgotten, for it is when we forget that history repeats itself.

Remembrance Day has always been and should always be recognized on November 11. As it now stands the day can be used as a bargaining chip to obtain an extra day off at some other time of the year. Remembrance Day was not intended to be part of a lengthened festive season. It is a time to be solemn, to remember, to respect, and not to rejoice.

Of course there are exceptions in the bill for those people who provide services that are essential to public safety or interest. These people will naturally have to work on this day and will be compensated appropriately. However in general Canadians should not be required to work. The country must hold on to those things that are most important to our history, not put them aside as if they belong to another era. We must teach our children it is important to respect those who died, fought and sacrificed so that we would be able to stand in front of the House today to debate the issue.

In my constituency of Carleton-Charlotte there are many veterans and many families of veterans who gave their all, in many cases loved ones who gave their lives, so that we might enjoy our Canadian freedoms. I shudder to think what might have happened to our world without their sacrifices.

I urge all members of the House to think of future generations and what will happen if we are allowed to forget.

[Social Security Programs, October 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member indicated, it is my plan to go through the consultative stage with my constituents and offer them every opportunity to bring forward their ideas and their suggestions.

One of the early things I did, in conjunction with this paper the minister brought forward, was to have the minister confirm to me the exact opportunity he has put forward for the consultation. I wanted to be assured that it was true and factual that the consultation was going to be listened to and we would have an opportunity to make change.

The minister has assured me of that. I am very confident my constituents will have suggestions and ideas that can be brought back to the standing committee, the minister and the department. This is helpful in the process of coming up with a plan and a program that will be beneficial to all Canadians for the 21st century.

[Social Security Programs, October 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight for members of the House a number of initiatives in Atlantic Canada that reinforce the need for social reform and place a stronger emphasis on the federal-provincial co-operation and consultation.

At the forefront of the social reform process is a discussion paper tabled by the Minister of Human Resources Development. Throughout the discussion paper and at the core of social security reform is a vigorous emphasis on the need for continued and effective consultation. That means talking with Canadians, hearing their views and responding to their needs. However, consultation with Canadians is not enough.

Every section of the discussion paper produced by the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, be it on learning, working or security, stresses that successful social reform is contingent upon a strong co-operative working relationship with the provincial and territorial governments. The key to developing that relationship and intrinsic to the social reform process is the strategic initiative program approved by the cabinet last May.

This program provides a unique mechanism for both levels of government to take actions in the high priority areas of employment, learning, education, income security and social services. Approved projects are funded on a 50:50 basis with the province or territory. Not only will this initiative promote an open dialogue with the provinces and territories, co-operation of this nature will also help us to eliminate waste, inefficient allocation of moneys and duplication in the existing systems.

There are many reasons why a strategic initiatives program is a critical component of the social security reform and there are many reasons why it is working. First and foremost, it gets Canadians back to work. It helps Canadians to help themselves.

We have made tremendous progress already, particularly in the Atlantic provinces. The initiatives that have been launched in co-operation with Atlantic Canada governments will touch the lives of over 10,000 Canadians currently at risk of becoming dependent on social assistance.

In New Brunswick over 1,000 Canadians will take their place in the ranks of the New Brunswick job corps. This program will give volunteers between the ages of 50 and 65 the opportunity to put their talents and expertise to work in their communities.

In Prince Edward Island the ready to learn and adult peer literacy tutoring project will make it easier for young adults who have found it difficult to gain access to traditional education facilities. The project will provide literacy training, life skills, academic upgrading and skills training to unemployment insurance and social assistance recipients. It is hoped that the ready to

learn project will remove the barriers to education that many Islanders have historically encountered.

In Newfoundland more than 5,000 Canadians will benefit from the transitions initiative. This three pronged program targets the young people, candidates for post-secondary education, recent university and college graduates, and working age adults.

In Nova Scotia 3,000 Canadians will benefit from four new programs designed to provide training and employment opportunities to working age adults currently out of work. The compass initiative targets those who need it the most, those at risk of long term dependency on social assistance: unemployed youth, single parents, and laid off fishers.

Each of these initiatives will not only help get Canadians back to work, they will return a sense of dignity and pride. Unfortunately, these things are often forgotten when one becomes lost in the maze of the current system. But these efforts are just the beginning.

Just this week the minister announced a new initiative in Charlottetown. Choices and opportunities will reinforce and strengthen social assistance for mentally challenged individuals. In St. John's, Newfoundland we have launched a pilot project centred around an earnings supplement initiative.

The spirit of co-operation that now exists between the federal and provincial governments indicates the importance of the federal-provincial collaboration and is indeed welcome. It is exciting to know that our provincial colleagues, Premiers McKenna and Wells, have announced their support and enthusiasm for the discussion paper, for this government's approach to social security reform in Canada, and for the initiatives that have already had an effect on their constituents.

To date, the Atlantic provinces have been most involved in the consultation process and in the implementation of the strategic initiatives program. But this is only the beginning; there is much more to be done.

Many workers in the Atlantic region are seasonal workers. The contributions of seasonal workers and seasonal industries are significant to our economic future. Tourism, fisheries, agriculture, forestry and construction are all extremely important industries and will remain so well into the future.

For this reason I feel the government must make a commitment to ensure these people receive help in adjusting to the changes that are adopted, whatever they might be.

As the Minister of Human Resources Development has indicated, this is a consultative process. I consider it very important to my constituents. That is why I have arranged for public forums next week and in November, in my constituency of Carleton-Charlotte, to provide the opportunity for direct input by my constituents.

We cannot rebuild our social security system overnight. Successful and effective reform tailored to the needs of this and coming generations require a strong foundation. We must build our future system one day at a time. Together with all provinces and territories we must work with Canadians to create an improved social security system. We will mould it to meet the requirements of Canadians. We look forward to a stronger and more cohesive working relationship with our provincial and territorial counterparts.

Together we can forge a social security system that will lead Canada into the 21st century.

[St. Andrews, October 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, this past Monday the town of St. Andrews, New Brunswick launched its daffodil project by planting several thousand bulbs. This project is being carried out for two major reasons: for the beautification of the town and to complement the already thriving tourist industry in that area.

These are the types of initiatives that assist in moving our tourism industries forward. I would like to congratulate the town of St. Andrews and its citizens on this worthy project. Not only did the community participate in its own program, but the town was also kind enough to provide daffodil bulbs for planting here on Parliament Hill.

I am sure that next April when they bloom we will all recall this donation from St. Andrews by the Sea.

[Department Of Public Works And Government Services Act, October 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first of all I should ask the hon. member to carry our best wishes to his son on his birthday. I understand he is 14 years old. I have a 13-year old son at home so I know exactly what that is all about. It is about aspirations. It is about his future. It is about where he is going to be when he finishes his educational process.

My son looks ahead with great anticipation and has all the confidence in the world that he can do whatever he sets his mind to do. So far whatever he has set as his goal, he has been able to achieve it.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that he has great admiration for this country of ours, this Canada of ours. He knows and loves the great province of Quebec, as he does his home province of New Brunswick, as well as every other portion of the country, whether it be east, west, north or south. He considers it all very important and significant.

I have heard the hon. member and his colleagues in the Bloc mention time after time after time, let us do something about duplication of effort. Let us take some action to eliminate some of the duplication. The very bill we are talking about today is to do exactly that. The creation of Public Works and Government Services Canada brings together those four entities formerly known as the Government Telecommunications Agency, Public Works Canada, Supply and Services Canada, and the Translation Bureau.

It is not just a coincidence that they are brought together. Once this full integration is completed and all four entities are brought together under the one Department of Public Works and Government Services, we can look at savings of approximately $180 million a year.

My question to the member across the way concerns the fact that in my riding of Carleton-Charlotte $180 million a year is a lot of money to my constituents. Any savings in that area which can be made in the department we are talking about today, or any other department, is certainly worth while.

While the hon. member talked about a number of other steps in relation and subsequent to this point, does he not feel that the opportunity to save $180 million a year on a regular basis is something that would be supported by the taxpayers of the province of Quebec as well as the taxpayers in every other province?

[Canadian Flag, September 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is very diverse from east to west and from north to south and each and every area is significant and important.

Recently while promoting patriotism in my constituency of Carleton-Charlotte by encouraging the use of our national anthem and the display of our Canadian flag, I discovered one of Canada's best kept secrets. I refer to the pledge of allegiance to the Canadian flag. For all members of this House and indeed for all Canadians, I will recite this pledge today and encourage its use.

To my flag and to the country it represents, I pledge respect and loyalty. Wave with pride from sea to sea and within your folds, keep us ever united. Be for all a symbol of love, freedom and justice. God keep our flag. God protect our Canada.