Lost his last election, in 1997, with 26% of the vote.
The Environment September 26th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.
Canadian environmental industries today employ over 150,000 people with annual sales of $11 billion.
Will the Deputy Prime Minister tell this House what the government intends to do to ensure this growing and important part of our economy has the necessary tools to compete tomorrow and into the 21st century?
Fundy Region September 19th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Fundy region of my Carleton-Charlotte constituency endured great hardship in recent weeks. Not only was the wharf located at St. Andrews, New Brunswick devastated by fire on August 31, but the Labour Day weekend brought great winds and waves, destroying numerous herring weirs along the Fundy coast. Both of these tragedies will have disastrous effects on the economy of the region.
The town of St. Andrews depends greatly on the tourism industry, the traditional fishery and aquaculture industry. Needless to say the loss of the wharf will damage these industries to a great degree.
Likewise, the weir fishermen along the Fundy coast rely on their weirs to maintain the flow of herring to processors. The destruction of these weirs will shorten their season, throwing many out of work and bringing tremendous reconstruction costs to the weir owner-operators.
I am optimistic that several departments, both federal and provincial, will pool their resources to help the people who suffer from these natural tragedies.
Excise Tax Act June 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, we certainly appreciated the hon. member's lesson in economics as he calls it.
Coming from one of the ridings along the 49th parallel between Canada and our good friends to the south, I can give a bit of a history lesson on the smuggling of tobacco products, what it meant to my constituency and the businesses and more so the criminal element that it initiated that crept in.
I appreciated the hon. member's comments. I believe that the majority if not all members in this House would indeed support an action that would reduce or eliminate smoking by our youth and indeed by every citizen in this country. I am sure that would be the case.
Whether it is through reduced taxation to be competitive or through smuggling those same tobacco and cigarette products which are and have been available over the past number of years, this whole scenario has created an opportunity for the criminal element to make quick profits at the expense of not only Canadian citizens but the revenue of government through taxation and certainly certainly our youth.
It is not only the criminal element. Because of the wide variation and differential between prices due to taxation, we also saw tobacco products being brought across the border that were very legal.
Would the hon. member agree that the actions taken by the government in this bill to eliminate tobacco smuggling across our borders was not only the correct option but the option that has in fact worked as we have seen over the last two or three months? Since that action was taken the criminal element has been reduced at our border crossings and, as he has indicated,
many arrests have been made. This action taken by the government has indeed worked. I would like to hear his comments.
Petitions June 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by a number of my constituents and duly approved by the Clerk of Petitions.
The petitioners pray and request Parliament to not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way that would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.
Canada June 20th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as this House nears the summer recess may I extend to you our gratitude for your generosity and understanding toward all members of this House. Your quick wit and fair attitude has been appreciated.
During this session we have heard comments on Atlantic Canada, Quebec, central Canada, western Canada, B.C. and the north. I should tell you and this House that each of these components is important to my Canada and will continue to be. My Canada has no greater province or people nor does it have any lesser province or people. It is but one Canada and one people, equal in every way.
According to a recent poll 61 per cent of Canadians approve the Chrétien government actions.
Mr. Speaker, to you and to all members of this House, have a great summer. May God bless Canada and all Canadians.
Atlantic Canada June 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, agriculture is extremely important to the economy of Atlantic Canada. In recognition of this fact the co-operative subagreements between the federal government and the Atlantic provinces have been extended for 1994-95.
However, to date only provincial contributions have been made to these agreements.
The funding of these subagreements is used for valuable projects such as land development in my home province of New Brunswick and in my Carleton-Charlotte constituency. They are extremely important in building the self-sustaining economy, a goal which we are all working toward.
I encourage the minister and the departments responsible to provide the federal funding required for these agreements as soon as possible so that we might continue to build our agricultural economy and the self-sufficiency of Atlantic Canada.
Gun Control June 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks there have been several concerns raised in the media and by many responsible sports persons regarding gun control.
My question is for the Minister of Justice. Will the minister reaffirm in the House today that he and his department have no intention of further limiting the ownership and the use of
qualified rifles and shotguns by responsible sports enthusiasts? Will the minister tell the House if the required training courses introduced by the previous administration will be maintained and implemented in a cost efficient manner?
Yukon First Nations Land Claimssettlement Act June 9th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member has any idea of the mass of land in the country and in the particular case of this bill what was available to the native people in the Yukon at the time when the settlers came forward.
It has been suggested that the bill overextends the number of square miles, acres, whatever you want to take it in, per capita, per family. I would suggest that we have to consider where those rights were and what amount of space actually was considered as part of their homeland. When the early settlers came to this country and went to the far north in some cases they were welcomed and in other cases they were not. However over a period of years they took over and operated those masses of land.
There has to be some responsibility of government, of members on all sides of the House, as Canadian citizens, for our actions today and the actions of our predecessors, our ancestors and our family line.
This bill finally takes some responsibility for the people of today's First Nations and takes that responsibility very seriously. I think this government should be commended for finally taking those actions after these many years.
National Unity June 9th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this past week there were many celebrations honouring the 50th anniversary of D-Day and those who sacrificed so greatly so that Canadians might enjoy the freedoms we do today.
However, on Tuesday of this week there was a debate in the House on the issue of Canadian unity, a debate which by its very essence questioned the future of Canada.
In its report covering over 100 countries, the United Nations concluded that Canada is the best country in the world in which to live.
We can share our differences in colour, our differences in religion, our differences in language and our differences in culture and still share the dream that so many Canadians fought and died for, a strong, united Canada where dreams are made into realities.
Long live Canada for all Canadians.
Young Offenders Act June 6th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I must certainly comment on the hon. member's presentation this afternoon. He has made it very clear that he does not agree with the bill the minister has brought forth. We on this side of the House believe that it is a very balanced approach. Today we celebrated the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Times have changed over the past 50 years, there is no question.
I particularly want to zero in and ask a question of the hon. member on the second component of the presentation made by the Minister of Justice with regard to the justice committee taking on a study of the cause, what has caused in recent years the tremendous increase in young offenders.
Having worked with young people over many years in several different capacities it is a concern to me. I know it is to the hon. member. I wonder if he might like to touch on that factor. Ultimately what everyone on this side of the House wants, and I am sure those on the other side of the House, is not to have to deal with the situation because the young people are not getting themselves into those problems.