Audrey McLaughlin

[Child Care, November 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in 1993 the Liberal Party promised to expand child care in Canada by 50,000 spaces each year that follows a growth of 3 per cent. Last year real growth was just over 4 per cent and still the government has not lived up to its commitment. It has broken its promise to Canadian families.

The parliamentary secretary responded to an earlier question that the government is working on this matter. I therefore ask the Deputy Prime Minister, exactly how many child care spaces-and I presume it will be at least 50,000-will the government create this year to maintain its promise?

[Forestry, November 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the management of forest resources in Yukon has been one of the most mismanaged federal issues I have ever seen in my years in Yukon. The lack of a comprehensive forestry policy has resulted in sit-ins,

week long demonstrations, and lawsuits. Surely this has to be a wake-up call that all is not well.

The only positive thing that can be said about the federal government's handling of this issue is that its ineptness has managed to unite the politicians of all parties, First Nations, loggers, and a very large percentage of the population. It should do so well on national unity.

Northern affairs has managed to introduce casino logging by calling three lotteries for timber permits and then cancelling them. It has not instituted the promised forestry advisory committee on reforestation and has caused unnecessary expenditures by both First Nations and taxpayers for failing to foresee the possibility of legal action.

The minister of Indian and northern affairs must take charge, do a full review of the management of northern affairs in Yukon, and institute immediately a full and public review of forest policy.

[The Hon. Audrey McLaughlin, October 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank everyone for their very kind comments. I also thank my caucus colleagues for their support and their comments today.

I have been very proud to lead a political party that has consistently stood for working Canadians and those who would be working, for a strong national health care program, for Canadians who really believe we have to have tax fairness and fair trade agreements. It is a party that refuses to abandon the poor, the ill and the vulnerable, when right now that seems all too popular.

Unfortunately, it was a time when political life seemed somewhat suspect. There is less respect for politicians. However, despite all of our country's problems, I am proud to be a member of Parliament, proud to work for my country and for my territory, the Yukon. We are a diverse country with a strong sense of history, a country built by the first nations, the anglophones, the francophones and the allophones.

We are a diverse country, made up of many peoples. We have many challenges to meet in the 21st century. It will take the contribution of every Canadian to move us forward with pride in this heritage and hope for our future.

I have sometimes despaired about the political process and wondered if we could really do this, but I have never doubted that in this most imperfect of systems, we are engaged in the noble process of public service. It is for this reason that I feel privileged to continue as the member of Parliament for Yukon and to continue to serve Canada and my constituents. I look forward to working with our new leader, Alexa McDonough.

[Health Care, October 16th, 1995]

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

In opposition the Prime Minister opposed the Tory vision of health care. He opposed cuts to the transfer payments to the provinces and territories. He opposed Bill C-91 which has sent the prices of prescription drugs sky-rocketing. He said he would protect Canadian health care with more than just rhetoric.

Unfortunately some Canadians believed him but we have seen no changes to Bill C-91. We have seen reduced transfer payments. The real problems with health policy are the Liberal government policies.

Will the Prime Minister stop letting the Minister of Finance set health policy, present a vision to Canadians and ensure stable funding for provinces and territories so we can have a truly national health care system?

[Arctic Wildlife Refuge, October 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the members of Vuntut Gwich'in first nation and various wildlife and environmental groups will soon begin a cross-country tour of the United States to gather support for the declaration of the Arctic national wildlife refuge as a United States national monument and for the protection of the area from exploitation.

The wildlife refuge is a primary calving ground of the Porcupine caribou herd which migrates across the Yukon-Alaska border. This herd is unique and constitutes an irreplaceable national treasure while providing subsistence for First Nations people.

The Prime Minister and the American president have said they support the protection of the herd. In recent statements the president has said he supports the establishment of a national monument. However the U.S. Congress wants to open the area to oil and gas development.

I urge the Prime Minister to intervene personally by lending his public support for the national monument declaration and by reaffirming Canada's commitment to protect the herd.

[The Economy, October 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

The government continues to indicate that social and health programs are the major cause of debt and deficit but as the minister knows and has said in the House, it is tax loopholes and the high interest rate policy.

Today's auditor general report reaffirms that Canada's level of foreign indebtedness is the highest among major industrial nations and that this foreign indebtedness is threatened by control of monetary policy.

I ask the minister if he would consider two measures to start taking control of our monetary policy. One is whether he would reinstate reserve requirements for the chartered banks with the Bank of Canada which would allow the bank to assume more of Canadian debt, and whether he would reduce the 20 per cent foreign investment option with RRSPs which would encourage Canadians to invest in Canada.

[Tobacco, September 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

One year ago I tabled a petition that called for the government to regulate tobacco under the Hazardous Products Act. The minister's response at that time was that tobacco could not be made safe and therefore could not come under that act.

Given the Supreme Court ruling, what are the government's plans to amend or replace the Tobacco Products Control Act and to deal with the situation as a result of the Supreme Court ruling?

[Health Care, September 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. There are many things today that are not unifying Canada but one thing that does unify Canadians is our belief in a national health care system.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Now that the ministers of health are meeting, as Minister of Finance what message did he give to the Minister of Health to take to this meeting about the federal government's commitment to stable funding by the federal government for our health care?

[Fourth World Conference For Women, September 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Fourth World Conference for Women has ended in China amid conflicting claims of great success and monumental failure.

As Canadians we have much of which to be proud. We have a reputation world wide as a country which supports diversity and equality. Canada's contribution to the United Nations' discussions and Canada's non-governmental organizations played a large role in promoting human rights and social and economic justice for women on all continents.

However there are those who choose to present the results of the conference as anti-family and to make outrageous claims about the intent of the platform of action. I challenge those who choose to manipulate the facts to Canadians to answer why it is anti-family to condemn female genital mutilation of the girl child and neglect of girl children; why it is anti-family to condemn rape as a war crime; why it is anti-family to take measures to combat the feminization of poverty; and why a platform of action which recognizes the family as a basic unit of society that should be strengthened is anti-family.

I now call on the government to put some force behind its words and to have an action plan for implementation.

[Petitions, June 22nd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the final petition which I wish to present urges the government to table amendments to the Criminal Code to prevent the use of extreme intoxication as a defence in cases of assault.