Sheila Finestone

[Interparliamentary Delegations, June 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Group of the Interparliamentary Union which represented Canada at the 101st Parliamentary Conference held in Brussels, Belgium from April 10 to 16, 1999.

[Kosovo, June 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are all pleased with the discussions that are going ahead to stop the conflict in Yugoslavia. However we also know that with the withdrawal of Serb forces, they leave behind silent killers, live ordinances and land mines.

Is Canada going to participate in the removal of these anti-personnel land mines so that refugees can return to their villages and to their homes?

[Spanish And Portuguese Synagogue, June 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on May 21 it was my distinct privilege to witness the presentation of a heraldic coat of arms to the 231 year old Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal. Its design reflects the cultural origins of this unique institution.

Red and gold colours encircle the crest representing its members Sephardic Jewish origin from Spain and Portugal. Four columns in silver symbolize the four different locations they have occupied since 1768. The 10 commandments crested by a red maple leaf on the crown reflects Canada, where the Jewish population found haven and security from war and discrimination.

This synagogue has evolved over the years. Today it is multicultural and multilingual, with members coming from the Middle East and Europe.

The congregation, led by Rabbi Howard Joseph, has had many distinguished community and civic leaders who have contributed to our society's growth and development, including a Montreal police chief, as well as the founders of the Montreal Waterworks, the Montreal Board of Trade, the Bank of Montreal, la Banque Nationale, Canada Steamships Lines, the Theatre Royale and its members who continue to be active and contributing citizens.

In essence, this coat of arms says—

[Petitions, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I present the following petition from Mount Royal riding constituents concerned with the use of chemical pesticides for cosmetic purposes, that is for use on lawns and golf courses as an example.

The petitioners believe that an immediate moratorium on these products should be enacted until it has scientifically been proven that these chemicals are safe and do not affect the water or the lives and health of our children.

[Land Mines, May 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the first meeting of state parties to implement the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel land mines and on their destruction took place last week in Mozambique.

Tribute was paid to those countries which spearheaded this humanitarian security cause and Canada was noted for its courage of true leadership.

Experience warns us that it can take decades to remove these life destroying mines once conflicts have ended. I have seen firsthand the excruciatingly labour intensive procedure that demining entails, prodding every square metre of soil 600 to 700 times. There are tens of millions of these mines to remove worldwide.

Casualties in war are 80% civilian. Too many are land mine victims, even after conflict ends.

We must free this world of these abominable, evil weapons so that we can limit the suffering of civilians, make the world a safer place and enable those affected areas to become liveable and productive once again.

[Committees Of The House, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages.

In accordance with its order of reference from the House on March 1, the committee has considered vote 25 under Privy Council in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000 and reports same.

After an eight year term as an officer of the Parliament of Canada, our Commissioner of Official Languages, Dr. Victor Goldbloom, takes his leave. His legacy is one of positive action in the promotion of Canada's two official languages, a value to prize and promote through designated bilingual instruments and services. We thank him and say au revoir.

[Sierra Leone, May 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, while the world is extremely concerned about the ongoing human security issues in Kosovo, we are also very upset about what is going on and the atrocities taking place in Sierra Leone.

I wonder if the Minister of Foreign Affairs could bring us up to date and tell us what is being done in order to alleviate, particularly the lives of women and children, and to regulate this situation.

[Nato, April 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade tabled a report in the House on issues relating to nuclear disarmament, including a representation that Canada urge NATO to review the strategic concept for NATO.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell the House what steps Canada undertook to review the strategic concept for NATO at the summit this past weekend?

[Kosovo, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week while in Brussels, world parliamentarians from 136 countries addressed the horrendous events unfolding in Yugoslavia. Here in Canada the debate continues on military options in Kosovo while the ongoing humanitarian crisis destabilizes the countries in the region.

My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. What is Canada doing to promote stability in the area and to assist refugees already in those countries?

[Supply, April 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. If there is one thing that has changed a lot in the last hundreds of years, it is that we now have television. We can watch hour after hour, day after day, what is going on in Kosovo and, more importantly, in all of Yugoslavia.

When I was in Brussels, at the meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, I asked why the Yugoslavs blocked access to television so that the Serbs were unable to know what was going on. It is sad. When people do not know the truth, it is difficult to know what to do.

That is why I believe we know what we are doing. Members from this side of the House are just as interested as the member and all other parliamentarians. I am convinced that we will make an open and transparent decision in due course. I hope the hon. member will be satisfied, because the conditions we are setting are very clear and obvious.