Bonnie Hickey

[Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, October 15 to 19 is Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada. One out of five Canadians, six million people, will suffer from mental illness at some time in their lives.

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week the Canadian Psychiatric Association and several other associations have joined together in an effort to remove stereotypes and misconceptions related to mental illness. They have initiated a national education campaign to help people identify the symptoms of mental illness and to better understand them.

The impact of mental illness extends beyond the sufferers, affecting friends, family members and society at large. Mental illness is the second leading cause of admissions to hospitals of those 20 to 44 years of age.

With proper care including medication, psychotherapy, self-help and support groups, most cases can be successfully treated. I ask that hon. members join me in supporting Mental Illness Awareness Week.

[International Red Cross And Red Crescent Movement, October 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to inform the House that St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canadian Red Cross are playing host to the world this week.

Sixty high-ranking officials of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement from around the world are gathering in St. John's for a three day convention. This is the first time in the group's history that it has met outside Europe. The choice of St. John's for this year's meeting shows the support that the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian government have given to the International Red Cross movement over the years.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the humanitarian services provided by the Canadian Red Cross to the world. Their service and dedication to those less fortunate is well known around the globe.

I am honoured that they have chosen St. John's for their meeting. I want to extend on behalf of the government greetings to the participants.

[Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, September 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1871 to maintain law and order in Newfoundland and it continues to have a strong tradition of policing in the province.

After Confederation in 1949 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived in Newfoundland to police most areas of the province but the constabulary force remained in St. John's. By 1981 it expanded its services to include the city of Corner Brook and all of the northwest Avalon.

In 1979, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, added the prefix "Royal" to the constabulary. This is an honour given to only seven other police forces in the Commonwealth.

I am sure all hon. members will be pleased to join me in congratulating the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's tradition of 125 years of excellent service to the people of Newfoundland.

[Petitions, September 19th, 1996]

The third petition calls on Parliament to extend benefits to veterans of the merchant marine equal to that enjoyed by veterans of Canada's World War II services.

[Petitions, September 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition comes from two co-operative housing projects in St. John's, Odyssey House and S.O.D. Housing Co-operatives, which calls on Parliament to administer a financial and federally funded co-operative housing office for non-governmental organizations.

[Petitions, September 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present pursuant to Standing Order 36 three petitions.

The first petition signed by my constituents calls on the Parliament of Canada to prohibit convicted criminals from profiting financially from book writing, setting up 1-900 numbers and producing video tapes.

[Summer Olympics, September 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, a record three people from Newfoundland and Labrador competed at the Summer Olympics from July 19 to August 4 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Maria Maunder as well as Phil Graham from my riding of St. John's East and Andy Crosby of Corner Brook each competed in the rowing events.

Maunder and her Canadian women's eight crew rowed to second place and received a silver medal. Graham and Crosby rowed in the men's eight and finished fourth.

I want to thank and congratulate each of these athletes for their contribution to sports in our province and as well for Canada. Their spirit and dedication stand as examples to all of us to try our hardest at whatever task is before us. Canada is proud of you.

[Newfoundland, June 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a week since Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute said that Newfoundland was a morally bankrupt society and that Newfoundlanders do not even think to ask what they can do to solve their own problems, they ask what Ottawa can do for them.

After a week of waiting there has been no apology from the Reform Party nor from Michael Walker, who himself is a Newfoundlander. I can only assume that all sitting members of the Reform Party endorse this statement of intolerance and feel that Newfoundlanders are not worthy of being Canadian.

This is quite an attitude to have toward fellow Canadians for a party that has the audacity to call itself a government in waiting. I cannot imagine the devastation which that party would bring upon our nation if hon. colleagues opposite were some day to sit on this side of the House. What a shameful display of leadership. What a lack of leadership.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I ask through you that the Reform Party apologize to the people of Newfoundland.

[The Late Stephen Neary, June 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I too want to pay tribute to a close family friend, Stephen Neary, who passed away on May 31. He leaves to mourn his wife and his four children.

I was first introduced to him by my father, Mr. Joe Ashley. I knew Mr. Neary through most of his political career. I am extremely saddened to see him go.

Steve was active in politics for more than 20 years on both the political and federal scene. Mr. Neary spent a great deal of his career working with the past premier, Mr. Joey Smallwood.

He was first elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1962 to represent Bell Island. In 1988, Steve attempted to break into federal politics by running in a riding that I now represent, St. John's East.

Good hearted and outspoken, he was always a champion of the poor and downtrodden. He aggressively represented his constituents of St. John's East and Bell Island. Never one to back down from a fight, he worked tirelessly to ensure their views were well known in the political legislature. He accomplished a great deal for his constituents right to the end of his day.

Bell Islanders knew he was always available to champion their causes. Mr. Neary will leave a great void on the Newfoundland political landscape as well as here in the House of Commons.

He worked very hard for his constituents and he has great friends in the Mr. Simmons and Mr. Mifflin. It is indeed a sad occasion to have to say goodbye to such a man. He will be missed by his family and friends.

[Newfoundland, June 12th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as a Newfoundlander, I too am very upset at the statement by Mr. Walker calling us morally bankrupt. I am from Newfoundland and I am offended by this statement. Never have such untruthful, misleading, degrading words been uttered against me and my fellow Newfoundlanders.

Such a statement is an affront to Newfoundlanders and it demands an immediate apology from the Reform Party. Newfoundland is an equal partner in this nation. There is no prouder group in this country than Newfoundlanders. We have enriched this country with talented people, vast natural resources and economic contributions to this nation.

To allow this statement to go unchecked is one of the poorest examples of strong leadership in the history of this country.