Dick Harris

[Impaired Driving, December 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Christmas season is a time when Canadians get together to celebrate a miraculous and blessed event. It is a season of peace, happiness and joy. But every Christmas season unfortunately the incidence of impaired driving dramatically increases and tragically and senselessly Canadians are killed and injured by the reckless acts of people who choose to drink and drive.

I ask all members of the House to join with me and hundreds of thousands of Canadians to recognize MADD Canada's red ribbon campaign against drunk driving. If by displaying the red ribbon on our vehicles we can prevent one death or one injury this season we will have helped in the fight.

I say to all Canadians today over the Christmas season that if you drink, please do not drive.

[Netherlands Mills, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, most Canadian workers believe that the EI fund they pay into is there to help them through work interruption, slowdowns or wage cutbacks.

However, we will not convince the employees of Netherlands Mills in Prince George of that. These workers have just seen their wage top-up program arbitrarily cancelled by this government, despite a promise that would continue until March 1999.

Some Christmas present from this Liberal government.

Now not only are the Liberals about to scoop the $7 billion in extra surplus in the EI fund, they are also reneging on a promise made to the sawmill workers at Netherlands Mills in Prince George.

While these mill workers will be going short this Christmas, we can bet there is not going to be any shortage of turkeys at the Liberal Christmas party this year.

[Apec Inquiry, November 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we have two affidavits swearing that the solicitor general fingered Hughie Stewart to take the fall on this issue. There are two sets of lawyers who want the APEC inquiry shut down. Still the government continues to back its disgraced solicitor general.

Given the affidavits, given the breach of trust, given the damage done by the solicitor general, how on earth can the APEC inquiry do its job now?

[Apec Inquiry, November 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, not even a Liberal can endorse their own red book these days. The fact is that the government is caught like a rat in a trap.

[Petitions, November 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present a petition to the House today.

Whereas a majority of Canadians understand that the concept of marriage is the voluntary union of a single unmarried male and a single unmarried female, the petitioners pray that parliament enact Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Prohibited Degrees Act and the Interpretation Act so as to find in statute that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

I agree with the petition.

[Impaired Driving, November 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the launch of MADD Canada's annual Red Ribbon Campaign against impaired driving.

Impaired driving kills almost 2,000 and injures nearly 100,000 Canadians every year.

Impaired driving is a senseless tragedy as well as a 100% preventable crime. I salute Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for their tireless work.

I also salute my colleagues in the Reform Party for their fight against impaired driving. As a result of this fight, for the first time in 13 years the justice committee must now take steps to strengthen the laws that prohibit impaired driving, this senseless crime.

It is incumbent on every member of parliament to join this fight. I plead for their support to pressure the government to take leadership against impaired driving.

[Employment Insurance, October 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, 5% of Canadian post-secondary students are far more important than millions of Canadian children.

Canadian workers need a break. The Liberals have taxed away 155% of any wage gains they have had in the last five years. Now they want to take another $350 a year from their EI surplus.

Will the Prime Minister give Canadian workers a raise by letting them keep their money?

[Employment Insurance, October 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is no matter what the Prime Minister says and no matter what kind of rosy picture he paints, workers are being looted $350 a year out of their pockets.

Why does the Prime Minister rank spending almost $3 billion for a personal millennium monument higher than giving workers $350 a year to buy school supplies and snow boots for their kids?

[Employment Insurance, October 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw with respect.

[Employment Insurance, October 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister, this man of great deception—