René Canuel

[Supply, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Jean-Paul Sartre said that hunger is far more than being hungry. I would say that poverty is far more than being poor. The battle against poverty, in my opinion, involves job creation. I would ask my colleague: does he believe that job sharing could be part of the solution?

[Supply, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague of what is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 50th anniversary of which was just celebrated. It includes the following statement “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”.

It seems that this is not the case here in Canada, a country said to be very rich. When children do not get enough to eat, when they are not dressed properly because their parents are waiting for the last week cheque, I wonder just how motivated the government is to help them.

[Supply, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, how do we get to zero poverty? I will read a resolution passed by all members of this House. It was supported by all parties in 1989.

[That] this House ... seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000.

This resolution was passed in 1989. Today, there are 1.5 million poor children, 500,000 more than in 1989. What has this government done since 1993 to put into effect what the members voted for in 1989?

[Supply, February 4th, 1999]

Yes it does, and it hurts the nurses especially. It hurts my fellow citizens who are sick and have to wait because of government cuts.

Today, all the members on the other side were busy congratulating themselves, including the members from Quebec. A year or two ago, they closed their eyes. I was ready to vote zero in my riding. There are other things besides a zero deficit. We should manage a vote for zero in Canada, but we would not have the courage to hold it. My colleagues on the other side would not have the courage to support me on that. Given that there are 1.5 million children not properly fed and there are children in my riding who go without supper, that hurts.

I would ask the minister if she has some compassion in the area of health, and for children who do not get enough to eat.

[Supply, February 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague, and one would think that everything in the area of health care has been fine in Canada for the past five years. Cuts of $6 billion and more have been made annually and hospitals are closed. The sick are waiting everywhere in Canada, not just in Quebec, and things are very difficult. Nurses are exhausted, and yet the member says things are fine.

I am sorry, but in Quebec, as elsewhere, we are living a drama, if not a tragedy. The federal government's cuts were unreasonable.

Today, the 10 provinces have just signed an agreement, and the Prime Minister is puffing out his chest and saying “We are generous”. Busting one's britches is not generosity, or recognition, it is simply indecency.

[Deaths Of Five Fishers, December 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the St. Lawrence has claimed the lives of five valiant fishers.

When such a tragedy occurs, there is not much one can say to the wives, children, relatives and friends who have lost loved ones. All we can do is to let them know we are with them.

Bastien, the captain, Sébastien, Carl, Julien, Frédéric, your commitment and devotion were not enough to overcome the inexplicable. When someone dies at 18, or at 40, this is far too soon, but it is not too soon to have left your mark. You will be remembered for your courage and determination, and for going beyond the call of duty.

Speaking as the member for Matapédia—Matane as well as for all my colleagues in the House of Commons, we want the five families in mourning to know that our thoughts are with them. As a believer, I know that this is just an au revoir, not a final farewell.

[Supply, November 19th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, I heard my colleague twice repeat a statement I would not consider very well thought out. I almost wanted to say that it was a bit preposterous. He said that, if the government sent money to the provinces, and Ontario in particular, the Government of Ontario would misuse it. What he said for Ontario goes for Quebec and the other provinces. How can he say such a thing?

You too, Madam Speaker, no doubt reacted within yourself as well. Ask anyone to say who is better able to manage public funds. The answer is those closest to the public. Everyone agrees, except the hon. member. In his opinion if the government sends money to the provinces they can waste it as they like.

Let us just look at what goes on here. Earlier, he mentioned transfers. He seemed to think it was nothing. This is another terrible thing he said. When the government cuts transfers to the provinces, very often no mention is made of it, and very often the cuts happen during recess. It looks alright, no one sees it.

On the other hand, when a little money is given back to the provinces, you may be sure that the Canadian flag will be flown and press conferences held to say that everything is fine. The government pulls out all the stops to restore its reputation.

However, the people in my riding of Matapédia—Matane are suffering. Unemployment there is very high. Why? Because the belt is being tightened so much. I always say that when the tap is partly shut off, there is no water down below. For years, the federal government has been shutting off the tap bit by bit and not entirely honestly. At this point, people at home and in other ridings are suffering terribly.

I have a question for my colleague. Will he have the decency to say that the cuts really hurt the provinces?

[Fisheries, October 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

In August, the coast guard brutally boarded the vessels of Gaspé fishers participating in a peaceful demonstration against the minister's incompetence. Today, we learned that the minister is making a disgraceful situation even worse by laying charges against the very people his irresponsible policies are hurting.

Does the minister recognize that the fishers were reacting to his inertia and that he is now making matters worse by taking steps to have them—

[Icebreaking On St. Lawrence, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, he thinks it is fair to make them pay 80% when the normal rate should be 50%.

The shipping industry agrees with recovering 17% of costs. Is the minister aware that the unequal distribution of the bill among regions is completely unfair to Quebec?

[Icebreaking On St. Lawrence, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The minister wants to charge ships using the St. Lawrence River for 80% of icebreaking fees when they are responsible for only 50% of the total costs of commercial icebreaking. Does the minister realize that he will be making private shipping on the St. Lawrence pay for its maritime competitors?