Denis Paradis

[Banking, April 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express concern about the impact a potential bank merger could have on ever increasing bank charges.

When I toured the 42 municipalities in my riding of Brome—Missisquoi, my fellow citizens told me they were outraged by bank charges. Today, I am proud to have the written support of 163 colleagues, a majority of members, on all sides of this House, for the bank charges bill I introduced on February 4.

Together, we represent more than 16 million Canadians and numerous small and medium size businesses. Next Monday, our Liberal caucus committee will be meeting in Montreal to hear witnesses on the banking situation. I will report back.

[Magog-Orford Optimist Club, March 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, while our budget is focused on youth, the contribution of the volunteers who work with young people must be acknowledged.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Optimist Club of Magog-Orford, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the initiative of founding chairman Yves GrandMaison and the dedication of all the members over the past 25 years.

Our young people need to hear an optimistic message: summer jobs, money to pay for their education and hope for the future. That is what our young people want from our governments.

Congratulations to Yves GrandMaison and all Optimists across Canada, who talk about good health, happiness and prosperity to everyone they meet.

[Heritage Day, February 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this is Citizenship and Heritage Week, and February 16 is Heritage Day, but Canadian values and traditions can and should be celebrated daily throughout the year.

If we were to try to give a simple definition of heritage, we could say that it is everything that is passed on to us by preceding generations and that we wish to pass on to our children. It is our culture, our traditions, our customs, and the natural environment.

Canadians have many reasons to be proud. We have two official languages, two main cultures, and complementary legal systems. Our rights and freedoms are unequalled and we are making energetic efforts to combat racism and discrimination.

That is what our nation and its founding peoples are all about. That is Canada.

[Magog-Orford Region, February 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, on behalf of the Secretary of State responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, I announced that a $15,000 contribution would be made to the Magog-Orford Chamber of Commerce, to identify concrete measures to encourage our U.S. neighbours to come and shop in Brome—Missisquoi.

We have to remind our neighbours in Vermont, 300,000 of whom live within an hour of the Canada-US border, that with the recent drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, the GST and Quebec sales tax refunds they are entitled to since their purchases are considered exports, and the decrease in our customs tariffs, they will find in my beautiful riding of Brome—Missisquoi excellent business opportunities as well as the most breathtaking scenery in all of the Eastern Townships.

Welcome to our American friends.

[Bank Act, February 4th, 1998]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-306, an act to amend the Bank Act (bank charges).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Act to amend the Bank Act (bank charges).

This bill is important for several reasons. First, because it is the first bill I have introduced in the House. Second, I would like to tell you that this bill has its origins in Brome—Missisquoi. It came about because of a series of meetings I have been conducting for the past two years in the 42 municipalities in my riding.

On Monday nights I hold town hall meetings all across my riding. At two out of three of those meetings people have brought up the subject of bank charges. This proposed bill relates to the concerns of millions of Canadians. The banks should be considered a public service in relation to consumers.

This bill also calls for transparency. I think it is important that Canadian consumers be better informed about fee increases. They must also be more aware of the new service charges constantly being imposed on new products, as fast as the banking industry can think them up.

I will quickly review the bill's principles. The bill provides for a committee of the House to make a recommendation to the government regarding the introduction of regulations setting maximum charges.

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

[Ice Storm, February 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, several thousand people remain without power in the aftermath of the recent ice storm. It may be too soon yet to have a full assessment of the emergency measures, but it is not too soon for us to draw attention to the extraordinary assistance that has come from virtually everywhere in Canada, and from elsewhere.

In Brome—Missisquoi, Paul-René Gilbert and his group from Magog distributed firewood to the people of Sainte-Sabine, Farnham and surrounding areas. Our colleague from the Ontario riding of Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant sent two generators from Stelco Steel to the municipality of Frelighsburg for their emergency shelter and their waterworks. This was only one of a multitude of examples all over Canada, but we will have an opportunity to say more about this later on.

I will conclude with a glowing commendation to all of the mayors and municipal authorities of Brome—Missisquoi and elsewhere in Quebec for their devotion and professionalism in implementing emergency measures.

[Parti Quebecois, December 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, PQ members witnessed a nice reunion when the former chairman of the yes side, Jacques Parizeau, shared the same stage as the current Premier of Quebec, Lucien Bouchard.

There can be no doubt now that the comments made by Mr. Parizeau, the great democrat, as he was referred to by Lucien Bouchard, reflect the Parti Quebecois' official ethnic policy. We now understand why the Bloc Quebecois, a party that has lost its raison d'être, is silent on the issue.

The Quebec Liberal caucus, which I have the honour of presiding, is Quebeckers' real voice in Ottawa, and all of Brome—Missisquoi is proud of that.

[Quebec's Civil Code, November 26th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the government is in the process of harmonizing its legislation with the provisions of Quebec's new Civil Code. Quebec is unique, not just for its language and its culture, but also for its legal tradition.

Can the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs tell the House what Quebeckers and Canadians can expect from this important harmonization?

[Katimavik, November 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the goals of Katimavik are simple: to allow young people to develop through community service and to enable them to become aware of their environment by knowing and understanding Canada better.

In other words, Katimavik allows a young person to share the life of a Canadian family in a new community, to live differently, to work for a non-profit organization and, generally, to improve his or her skills in the other language. A real school of life, I would say.

The student work exchanges we initiated in Brome—Missisquoi two years ago must continue and develop along the same lines.

A number of colleagues in this House want to be part of this student exchange program next summer. I head a committee working on this, and I invite suggestions from all my colleagues.

If Katimavik could become the vehicle of choice for this summertime exchange program, I think young people across Canada now and in the future will be thanking Senator Jacques Hébert.

[Committees Of The House, November 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the Report of the Special Joint Committee to amend Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867, concerning the Quebec School System.

As the member for Brome—Missisquoi, I simply want to say that the linguistic school boards Quebec is seeking to establish are similar to what we have had for about 15 years in my riding of Brome-Missisquoi, and I must say that the two linguistic communities in my riding live in perfect harmony.

We heard many stakeholders, and our joint committee conducted a high level debate. As a Quebecker, I am proud to note that the Quebec government just took an important step by requesting this amendment in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution Act, 1982.

I would like to thank the co-chair of the committee, Senator Lucie Pépin, as well as all the hon. members and senators who sat on the joint committee and the staff that worked hard to prepare this report.

In conclusion, I would like to read the conclusion of the joint committee's report:

We recommend that the two houses of Parliament adopt the resolution to amend section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867, as tabled in the House of Commons on October 1, 1997, and in the Senate on October 9, 1997.