Ed Harper

[Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., June 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in a letter dated April 12, 1994, Mr. Howard R. Wilson the Assistant Deputy Registrar General and candidate for the position of Liberal ethics counsellor in response to a request for guidance on this possible conflict stated that he was satisfied the company was "administered blindly and at arm's length to the member". Yet one of the directors listed is the father of the member with whom he shares and co-owns a residence.

Does this qualify in the opinion of the government as an arm's length relationship?

[Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., June 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, somebody has been asleep at the switch here.

Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that even though the member indicated he had resigned as a director and officer of Dynamic Maintenance Ltd. and he supposedly did this on December 1, 1993, as of May 24, 1994 the parliamentary secretary of fisheries is still listed with the B.C. Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations as an officer of this company.

[Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., June 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that the parliamentary secretary for fisheries has a 50 per cent interest in Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., a company that on May 1 of this year received a three-year contract for maintenance at Pearson International Airport worth $13.5 million?

[Infrastructure, June 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, apparently the municipalities are not lining up for this funding under the infrastructure program. There must be something wrong with the program.

Will the government now reverse its decision to add $2 billion to the national debt for a program that is not working?

[Infrastructure, June 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Yesterday the minister stated that he would reallocate some of the infrastructure funding to cover the federal share of highway 416. Leeds-Grenville where the construction is to be done is only allocated $4 million under the program.

Will the minister tell the House what areas of the province will find cuts so that he can find the extra $56 million?

[Infrastructure, May 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question.

The Canada-Ontario infrastructure program specifically states that all programs are to be initiated by the municipalities and, moreover, that all projects are to be financed equally by the municipality, the province and the federal government.

Why has the minister committed funding to a project that is clearly outside the restrictions of his own program in the case of highway 416?

[Infrastructure, May 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

On May 11 the minister said there was no money remaining for the highway 416 expansion. Yet two days later he reversed his position and committed approximately $60 million to the project.

While most would agree with improving highway 416, all infrastructure funds have already been allocated in Ontario. Where is the additional $60 million coming from?

[The Late Walter Dufek, May 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on May 15 of this year Walter Dufek, a resident of Etobicoke, Ontario, passed away after a valiant fight with cancer. Mr. Dufek was a fighter in every sense of the word, having fought against the Nazis in World War II and after the war against communist control of Czechoslovakia.

His efforts were recognized in many ways. He received the Polish Gold Cross of Merit; a letter of special award from the Unity of Canada; and he was recognized by Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies.

In his final months he was deeply concerned that the freedom we enjoy in Canada, the country he immigrated to in 1951, must be guarded and not taken for granted.

Mr. Dufek said we must be alert, even in a democracy, of coercive governments that use the tyranny of taxation and the liberalization of the criminal just system to give too many rights to criminals while ignoring the victims.

In memory of Colonel Walter Dufek, a true patriot, an outstanding Canadian.

[Hockey, May 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise today to pay tribute to a Canadian team for winning the world hockey championship. Thirty-three years is a long time to wait. However the excitement of yesterday's win made it all worth while.

In addition to the players there are many others who worked behind the benches over the years to achieve this goal. To them and on behalf of all Canadians I say how grateful we are for their contribution.

This victory proves what can be achieved by working together. Let us hope that the example of team spirit displayed by these outstanding young men will be an inspiration to all who sit in the House.

Today Canadians in every province and territory are sharing in the honour this outstanding victory has brought to Canada. It is my hope that this win will be a reminder to all our citizens what can be accomplished in a united Canada.

[Gaza-Jericho Accord, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, for the second time in a week the world has witnessed the peaceful conclusion of long and sometimes frustrating negotiations toward true democracy.

Like the South African election, the historic signing in Cairo yesterday of an agreement to end 27 years of Israeli occupation will bring to an end the senseless killing of so many innocent people.

In any successful negotiation there must be flexibility and an understanding on the part of both sides. The winners here are not those who sat at the bargaining table. The real winners are those millions whose lives and futures will be greatly improved.

Let us hope the actions taken here by these leaders will be an inspiration to those involved in conflicts in other parts of the world that there is a better way.

The world today is indeed a better and safer one as a result of the dedication and hard work of negotiators on both sides. I ask all members to join with me in an expression of gratitude to those whose efforts brought this difficult situation to a peaceful conclusion.