Beryl Gaffney

[Income Tax Act, March 14th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-223, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (air conditioners).

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of Bill C-223, which is an act to amend the Income Tax Act, concerns the cost of an air conditioner required for health reasons. To be more specific, people who suffer from multiple sclerosis find it very difficult to breathe during the hot humid summer months and would like an air conditioner. As it would be used for health purposes, its cost would be included as a medical expense under the medical expense tax credit under the Income Tax Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Excise Tax Act, March 14th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-222, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extremity pumps).

Mr. Speaker, some people for health reasons require a piece of medical equipment called an extremity pump. It is the supply of an extremity pump that releases swelling caused by lymphedema of the legs in particular.

I am simply asking that the Excise Tax Act be amended to allow for this extremity pump.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Ombudsman Act, March 14th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-221, an act establishing the office of ombudsman and amending acts in consequence thereof.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this act is to establish the institution of a federal ombudsman. This would be an independent and non-partisan officer of this Parliament who would supervise the administration, deal with specific complaints from the public against the administrative injustice and the maladministration and who would have the power to investigate, criticize and publicize but not to reverse administrative action.

A federal ombudsman with his or her wide powers of investigation, which is something we as MPs do not have, would be able to handle the flow of complaints for which parliamentary procedure is less suitable and to strengthen the present system at its weak point.

Furthermore, a federal ombudsman would be the servant of Parliament and answerable to it alone.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Violence Against Women, March 11th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's 1993 initiative at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva led to the adoption of a declaration on the elimination of violence against women.

Canada has done it again in 1994, as the United Nations General Assembly approved the Canadian initiated resolution to appoint a special rapporteur on violence against women.

The rapporteur will report annually to the Commission on Human Rights with recommendations on how to eliminate violence against women, both at the domestic and international levels.

The appointment of this special rapporteur is indicative of Canada's strong commitment to the promotion of the rights of women, both here at home and at the international level.

[International Women's Day, March 8th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, today is International Women's Day. I would like my colleagues to join with me in giving special prominence to the dedicated work carried out by stay at home mothers.

Women at home with children must deal not only with the isolation and stress of 24-hour a day child care responsibility, but also with the invisibility of their work.

Stay at home mothers are dismissed by employment experts as persons with no employment record, no history of promotion and no record of job skills. They have no set hours, no holidays, no sick leave, no pensions, no safety regulations and no rights to negotiation.

Census statistics provide the data used by all levels of government to develop policies and programs for society. Yet unpaid work in the home and in the community is not included in the national census.

As a result few community resources have been available for women caring for children because such caring is neither recognized nor understood as work.

Mothers at home clearly have rights and these rights must be recognized.

[Child Poverty, February 18th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce today to this House and to Ottawa residents watching at home the second annual gala for child poverty here in Ottawa.

This successful event is sponsored by the Fund for a New Generation, a group of young people from the public, private and university sectors determined to bring hope to Ottawa's poor children.

On February 26 at the Canadian Museum of Nature this group of young people hopes to raise $5,000 more than last year's target of $10,000 for the Ottawa-Carleton Child Poverty Fund.

The proceeds contribute to communal meal and early education programs.

This is why I am calling for your support. There is a hotline number. Please call 769-5012 for tickets or other information.

I issue the challenge to local Ottawa businesses to help these young people. I commend these people for their initiative and hope that it serves as an example of what we can do together to improve our children's future.

[Public Service, February 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Canadians have expressed a very strong interest in public service renewal, as have most members. It is normal that a report be given to the House once a year, yet I am shocked to discover that it is a year and a half since a report has been presented to the House.

Could the minister please tell me what are his plans to present a report to the House of Commons?

[supply, February 11th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I compliment the member from Okanagan on his speech. My ears picked up when I heard him talk about the National Arts Centre. I am not going to disagree with what the member had to say. In fact, I agree there has been a siege mentality at the National Arts Centre that must be overcome.

However, I think that one of the main stumbling blocks is gone. The director general of the National Arts Centre was released from his position just a few weeks ago by the board of the National Arts Centre. I think the number one siege mentality was there.

I think we have to go one step further. I believe that the National Arts Centre must be responsible to this Parliament. Presently it is responsible to Treasury Board. The chairman of the board was appointed by an Order in Council and he was reappointed for another five-year term just prior to the previous government leaving office. I think that has to be corrected before we can get an active input into how the National Arts Centre is maintained.

The National Arts Centre is a Canadian institution. It is the arts centre of all Canadians and it is something that we should all be proud of. I cannot remember the dollar figure but a few dollars from every Canadian went to build that project and it is something that we should all be proud of. It is not Ottawa's. It is not ours just because we live in the nation's capital.

We have to move beyond what has been happening there and look forward to the future and develop our arts and develop our orchestra so that we can all be proud of it right across this country.

I am agreeing with the member. I am not disagreeing. I want us to move forward and make the centre responsible to this Parliament so that he and I as parliamentarians can have some input and some say into how it is being operated.

I do not have a question. I am just agreeing with the hon. member for Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt.

[Capital Gains Tax, February 11th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Nepean constituents are calling and writing concerning the capital gains tax exemption of $100,000 for individuals and $500,000 for farmers and small business entrepreneurs. Overwhelmingly they are saying do not cut the capital gains tax exemption.

Canadians from coast to coast dedicate enormous amounts of time and effort planning for their retirement years. For many of them a crucial link in their strategy is their personal $100,000 lifetime capital gains exemption.

While many upper income Canadians may have already claimed their maximum lifetime exemption, it is the middle and lower income Canadians who will use the exemption to supplement their retirement income. The elimination or reduction of the exemption would penalize middle and lower income Canadians. The capital gains tax exemption was introduced to encourage investment in business. It is achieving this purpose.

[Northern Micro, February 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a Nepean based firm, Northern Micro, an innovative computer manufacturer. This company is a model of what small business can accomplish.

As a Canadian manufacturer and network integrator, Northern Micro began supplying its extraordinary combination of performance and service in 1985. In 1993 business demands required that Northern Micro triple its office space. Now it is positioning itself for even greater success in 1994, doubling its plant capacity and hiring 28 new staff.

At a time when the economy was at a standstill Northern Micro used a creative mix of marketing moxy and aggressive client services to boost sales to over $20 million, selling 10,000 computers and getting international recognition.

The federal government must work with Canadian business to provide the proper supports and to create a positive climate for economic growth and entrepreneurial spirit.

I put forth Northern Micro as both a model and a challenge for all Canadians to reach for the stars and strive for that success. We need that in this country.