Lost his last election, in 1997, with 33% of the vote.
Government Business December 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this is an ongoing problem. We have had this problem for months, ever since the Liberals took over.
Today the President of the Treasury Board announced further delays in reform of the MPs' outrageous pension plan. Is this delay symptomatic of a government that cannot find consensus in its caucus, will not allow free votes, and therefore avoids trouble by denying Canadians prompt introduction of promised legislation?
Government Business December 13th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Justice told the press that because "we have had just a very busy time" he is not going to bring forward changes to the Canadian Human Rights Act. Earlier he delayed introduction of gun legislation and he failed totally to introduce legislation to end the drug defence in justice.
My question is for the government House leader. In light of the fact the government is so short of legislation to bring before the House that the House is often suspended or is adjourned early, why is the government not introducing its legislation on schedule as promised?
Petitions December 7th, 1994
Madam Speaker, the second petition draws attention to the House that the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of human life. They ask that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.
I would like to indicate that I support the petitioners in their request to Parliament.
Petitions December 7th, 1994
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the privilege of presenting two petitions to the House. Both petitions were signed by nearly 100 of my constituents, mostly from the Lloydminster area.
The first petition wants to draw the attention of the House to the fact that the majority of Canadians believe that the privileges which society accords to heterosexual couples should not be extended to same sex relationships. They request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include it in the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
Points Of Order December 7th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I was present in the House when this incident occurred. I point out that the term "meanspirited" does indicate some motivation. I can also assure you that there was some irrational emotion by the member who used the term. I support the Speaker in his determination.
Unemployment Insurance Act December 6th, 1994
Agreed.
Unemployment Insurance Act December 6th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to speak for long but I hope to speak a little more calmly than the previous speaker did. A number of points he brought forward actually reiterate what my colleagues are trying to do in having this subject matter referred back to committee.
We must view this in light of the review of all of our social programs and proposed reforms to be introduced hopefully later and not that much later in this Parliament. We are going to be looking at the unemployment insurance system and hopefully reviewing it with a view to making it a true insurance program. Also when we are talking about jury duty we may be talking about other jurisdictions such as the provincial jurisdiction as it affects the criminal justice system.
There are so many complications and so many other angles to this whole situation which have not been adequately presented both in this House and to the committee nor for the provinces to have their input. This underscores the fact that before we hastily implement this private member's bill which will cost taxpayers some money and which will broaden the scope of unemployment insurance rather than narrow it to its original function, it would be wise not to bind the hands of the government and the Minister of Human Resources Development on proposals that will have to be undone at a later date.
I speak on behalf of rational Canadians who want to look carefully and make wise decisions rather than rant uncontrollably and emotionally without having put one's facts together ahead of time in order to make smart decisions rather than foolish ones. We have seen past Liberal governments build up the unemployment insurance program and our social safety net to the point that we have to look at reform, restructuring, redirecting them back to their original purposes so that they can help those Canadians they were supposed to help.
Certainly if people are called to jury duty and there are some financial implications, that needs to be looked at. I do not think my colleagues in the Reform Party are saying this is not a valid issue to bring forward in the House. We are saying that perhaps unemployment insurance is not the correct vehicle to deal with this issue. Also a precedent is being set where a private member's bill is going to cost taxpayers dollars. That is why the
Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs had to get up and make rather an elaborate statement to the House.
This is a precedent setting incident. We need to look a lot more cautiously in the light of the total deficit of $540 billion. Every penny must be accounted for. This House has to take more responsibility over that expenditure. We should not hasten to make short two minute speeches and try to slip these bills through without proper consultation and without proper debate in the House.
Violence Against Women December 6th, 1994
Madam Speaker, I have a short question. I was interested in listening to the leader of the New Democratic Party speak on violence against women. She did not seem to be too supportive or think that the federal government should be involved more in the charitable aspect of dealing with the results of violence toward women, rather than dealing with the causes of the problem.
I know she would probably support measures regarding education that would relieve some of the problems about violence toward women. She did not really talk about what her party's position is on stricter sentencing and reform of the justice system so that violent acts are adequately punished. What is her position on a victim's rights versus a criminal's rights.
I would appreciate knowing what her party's position is on those very important matters that would prevent and discourage violence not only against women but against all Canadians.
Government Of Canada December 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I could quote instances when the Liberals were on this side of the House and they condemned the government for leaks. They are promoting more leaks that are far worse than the previous government did.
Time and time again they place political strategy ahead of parliamentary procedure and have shown no respect for the House.
They seem to think that polls give them a blank cheque to do as they please. I have news for this leak infested government. Reform MPs are tired of its arrogance and it is starting to wear thin on Canadians too.
Will the government investigate this process of leaking proposals and reports before they are even tabled in the House? Will it take the appropriate and necessary action?
Government Of Canada December 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the government totally missed the point.
The problem is that leaks are occurring and they are unprecedented. Leaks to the media must be at the top of every government communications plan. The government leaks like a badly fitting diaper. The government is making a mockery of the House of Commons with every proposal it produces. While opposition MPs are sworn to secrecy and they are stuck in departmental lockups, Liberal spin doctors are out descending on the media like locusts.
My supplementary question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Are these leaks part of a deliberate communications strategy on the part of the government?