House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Airport Safety December 3rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. On November 25 the Senate transportation committee heard testimony that NavCan is not even maintaining its minimum level of air traffic controllers at almost all the airports in Canada. This obviously creates a very dangerous situation and puts lives at risk. Will the minister immediately instruct NavCan to bring every airport up to the minimum level of air traffic controller staffing, a level NavCan sets for itself?
Disability Pension November 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I have a unique perspective returning to the House of Commons in 1997. After having served in 1988 to 1993, I had a little vacation and then was invited back. There are many changes that have occurred over that period but the most frustrating and dramatic change is the change in Canada pension disability. I now have constituents who have been on waiting lists for years waiting for a hearing or an appeal, people like Archie Black, Marjorie Newman or Mr. Reginald Bavis.
Mr. Bavis has progressive multiple sclerosis. He is totally disabled. He cannot work. He is still denied Canada pension disability. Mr. Bavis worked all his life and now he needs a little help. He has exhausted all his resources.
I will be providing the Minister of Human Resources Development with a file about Mr. Bavis right now. I respectfully request that the minister take this in hand and provide the assistance that Mr. Bavis needs.
Halifax Airport November 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. Yesterday at the aviation conference, he said that he would like to have the opportunity to refute some of the negative remarks in the newspapers about the devolution process regarding the Halifax airport. I am pleased to give him the opportunity.
I wonder if he could give assurance to the Halifax airport people that Halifax airport will get the same investment, the same facilities and the same consideration as the airports in Winnipeg and Ottawa got under their devolution process because they all have about the same volume of traffic.
Ports October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.
Under Bill C-9 every port and harbour in Canada is relegated to one of three kinds of categories except one, the port of Hamilton. Hamilton is the only port in Canada that does not have to follow the rules.
In the transport committee the other day transport officials said that the decision was entirely political and had nothing to do with Bill C-9.
Will the minister tell the House and every port in Canada that must follow the rules what political pressure was applied and who in the world could have applied the pressure?
Canada-Yukon Oil And Gas Accord Implementation Act October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member's comments that the native community has faith in the federal government but sometimes has less faith in provincial and territorial governments. However, I believe that clauses 6 and 8 address his concerns. If native communities have future land claim problems, clauses 6 and 8 allow the federal government to take back control of certain territories if it is in the interests of the natives and if the natives have claims on that territory.
I believe that amendments can be made to the bill. It is not perfect. No bill is. However, we will be working with the native communities to come up with appropriate amendments to address their concerns.
Probably one of the basic issues is the fact that the native community does have faith in the federal government far more than it does in provincial governments.
Canada-Yukon Oil And Gas Accord Implementation Act October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I wish to add a few comments to those of my associate from South Shore regarding the accord between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Yukon Territory which divests power and authority from the federal government to the Yukon Territory.
To me it seems like a natural evolution: a political transfer of power to the Yukon Territory. It is certainly appropriate and it is similar to the powers the provinces have had for years and decades.
The Progressive Conservative Party supports the legislation, basically because it evolved from Progressive Conservative legislation that began in 1987 through 1988, starting with the northern accord.
Like so many of the Conservative policies, like the GST which the Liberals picked up, embraced and enhanced, free trade and low inflation that worked so well for the economy of Canada, hopefully this policy will also work out well as the powers are devolved to the Yukon Territory.
Most community groups and organizations support this legislation in the Yukon area. The Council of Yukon First Nations supports it on the condition that those First Nations that have not had their land claims addressed still have access to the land claims. Clauses 6 and 8 of the new bill address those issues. I feel that their issues are at least addressed temporarily and hopefully there is a process to address future problems that they have in so far as land claims go.
The Yukon territorial government has supported it strongly and urges the quick passage of it. It requests that it proceed expeditiously. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers of Canada certainly supports it and urges it to go ahead. It is prepared to work with the First Nations groups.
The Yukon Chamber of Commerce says that it is the key to economic stability in Yukon. Certainly we support that and we support them.
It is timely for the Yukon people because it offers new opportunities for them for employment and for economic development. At this time in Canada there is more oil and gas exploration than at any time in the history of our country. There is no reason that the Yukon should be left out of that economic surge. It has the technology in the industry with three dimensional size technology, horizontal drilling which maximizes exploration and reduces the number of failures and also maximizes productivity.
It is certainly an appropriate time to have the gas and oil jurisdiction turned over from the federal government to the territorial government and have it totally control the situation and benefit from it.
In closing, I support Bill C-8, as does our party, as long as the First Nations concerns are addressed. I believe they are addressed. There is a dispute settlement mechanism built into Bill C-8 which will address any future concerns they have. It is a welcome transfer of power and it will help the Yukon Territory establish economic self-sufficiency for now and long into the future.
Highways October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, in respect to the convoluted deal, my question is still will the minister announce today a federal-provincial agreement to replace that?
Also, will the minister address the fact that the chief investigator of the federal competition bureau and the auditor general are reviewing the issue.
Highways October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. The Prime Minister recently wrote me a letter, trying to explain the convoluted, screwball, highway toll deal in Nova Scotia.
I appreciate the Prime Minister's effort but he is all wrong, including the statement that says $60.9 million was provided by Atlantic Highways Corporation. In fact, it did not provide that. They are getting paid it. They are not putting it in. The Prime Minister also said that it was a public-private partnership, which it is not.
If the Prime Minister and his staff cannot understand this convoluted deal, how can the people of Nova Scotia understand it?
My question for the Minister of Transport is—
Justice October 22nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that effort but on two occasions now the RCMP has recommended charges be laid. Nothing has happened.
After six years of investigation, two recommendations by the RCMP, will the minister tell Mr. Mills why no charges have been laid and what they are doing to get charges laid against the people the RCMP said committed the crime?
Justice October 22nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.
Six years ago James Mills was murdered while in his own cell at the Renous correctional facility in New Brunswick. Corrections Canada officials came in, removed the body, cleaned up the cell, then called the RCMP.
Because of that, for six years Mr. Mills has been haunted by the loss of his son. He has been trying to get answers. He has been trying to get justice, and he deserves it.
Will the minister, on behalf of the Mills family, take charge of this situation, find a resolution for it and give the Mills family a little piece of mind?