Gurbax Malhi

[Safety In The Workplace, April 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Labour Congress has declared today a national day of mourning for workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

The figures for workplace death and injury are frightening. Each work day four Canadians die as a result of accidents, unsafe conditions or exposure to harmful substances at work. Disabling injuries have increased 17 per cent over the past 20 years. One in four women each year is injured on the job compared with one in eighteen men. The cost of workplace death and injury amounts to $10.6 billion a year.

No one can place a value on life or the suffering of family and friends who have lost a loved one in a work related incident.

We should recognize today, April 28, as a day to pay our respect to Canadian workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

[Income Tax Act, April 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Motion No. 14, introduced by my colleague, the hon. member for Nepean.

The motion urges the government to amend the Income Tax Act so that child support payments are no longer considered

taxable income for the recipients. This debate presents an opportunity for Parliament to correct a contentious longstanding problem with the Income Tax Act.

The provisions in the tax legislation which provide for tax deductible child support payments were brought into force in 1942. Canadian society has progressed a great deal since the 1940s, but unfortunately where the issue of child support is concerned the tax laws have lagged behind the new realities of today's society.

In Canada today there are nearly one million single parent families, or 20 per cent of all families with children. Eighty per cent of these one parent families are headed by women. Over half of these households live in poverty. Although they represent a small number of Canadian households, only 3 per cent, these single parent families headed by women bear 17 per cent of this country's total poverty burden.

The issue we are debating today involves more than changing legislation. The fundamental issue in this debate is justice for single parents, especially single mothers.

During this debate we must examine the intent of the current legislation and the effect it has on today's families. Because 98 per cent of child support recipients are women, it is fair to say that the present child support provisions in the Income Tax Act have a detrimental effect upon women and children of single parent families.

The tax treatment of child support payments actually decreases the ability of single parent women to support their children after separation and divorce. It creates even greater disparities between custodial and non-custodial households. The income of support payers is roughly double that of recipients and their dependants.

It is a fact that after divorce women and their children tend to suffer a decline in their standard of living while the man's tends to rise. With 57 per cent of single parent families headed by women living below the poverty line, the Income Tax Act must be changed to reflect the realities faced by single parent families in the 1990s. By changing the legislation the government would be helping to foster a healthy environment for children of single parent families.

The finance department views the tax deduction provided to child support payers as an incentive to make support payments. However, the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women has stated that studies show child support payment default rates as high as 85 per cent.

Furthermore the finance department feels that the current deduction also encourages higher support payments. Since taxable income is shifted from the payer who is presumed to be in a relatively high tax bracket, to the recipient who is presumed to be in a lower tax bracket, there results an overall tax saving which will lead to greater resources and therefore increased support payments. In reality this is rarely the case.

When the original legislation was written 52 years ago the assumption was that the custodial parent, the mother, had less income than the payer, the father. Today this assumption is no longer always valid. Even though women comprise a large part of today's workforce wage disparity still exists, yet this is not reflected in the current taxation structure.

The only way a single parent mother can benefit from the current legislation is if she happens to be in a low income tax bracket. Fortunately, Canadians have been working toward more equal treatment of women in the workforce and equal pay for equal work. The current tax situation impedes this progress for single parent working mothers by chipping away at their income and thus increasing their burden.

Studies by the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women have shown that in 49 per cent of situations the child support payer's tax saving did not exceed the recipient's tax obligation which resulted in no overall tax benefit. In 20 per cent of these cases the child support provisions in the Income Tax Act actually decreased the resources available for child support.

The Income Tax Act needs to be amended so that it reflects current realities and provides support where the support is needed most, with the custodial parent. In one parent families, the non-custodial parent is given a tax incentive even though the parental responsibilities remain.

When a divorce occurs neither parent's responsibility toward their children changes. Child support payments should therefore not be considered taxable income of the custodial parent, but merely a continuation of the responsibility of the non-custodial parent for the care and maintenance of the children involved.

I have touched upon some of the points surrounding this issue but I would like to come back to my central theme which is justice. Most one parent families are headed by women. The majority of these households live below the poverty line and bear a disproportionate amount of this country's total poverty burden. The current Income Tax Act only contributes to this unfortunate problem.

Clearly this is not justice. We have an opportunity to take a step toward fairness for women and for single parent families. It is my sincere wish that this motion be adopted by the House and embraced by the government in the form of amendments to the Income Tax Act.

[Highway 16, April 19th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I am rising in the House today to support a motion proposed by my hon. colleague from Leeds-Grenville.

Motion M-3 moves that, in the opinion of this House, the government should enter into an agreement with the province of Ontario to expand Ontario highway 16 south from Ottawa to highway 401 at Johnstown into a four lane highway in order to ensure road safety and enhance travel in and out of the nation's capital.

As a member of Parliament from the greater Toronto area I feel that it is in the best interests of my constituents that I rise to support this motion today. Countless travellers from my constituency of Bramalea-Gore-Malton and other areas around Toronto visit Ottawa on a regular basis. Naturally they take highway 401.

On highway 401 they can travel in relative safety at their own pace. Passing lanes provide the option of travelling at different speeds. Motorists are not subject to the distraction of someone riding their bumper, nor do they feel the frustration of driving behind someone whose car is incapable of keeping up with the flow of traffic.

The multi-lane design of highway 401 ensures a relaxed frame of mind which seems to me is conducive to driving.

All of this is lost, however, when they turn on to highway 16 to get to Ottawa; gone are the passing lanes, gone is the option of travelling at their own pace, gone is the relaxed atmosphere in which to drive.

Numerous accidents occur on highway 16 every weekend. Frustrated drivers take risks they normally would not have to take. In the period from 1985 to 1992, 39 deaths have occurred on the road as well as 721 reported accidents with countless injuries.

This is the main route for motorists travelling to Ottawa from western Ontario. Thousands of tourists come from across Ontario every year to see this beautiful city and its wonderful sites, Parliament Hill included.

An overcrowded, single lane highway does not give a favourable first impression of the city. This is clearly a well travelled route. We owe it to all visitors to provide them with a safe and sensible route to their nation's capital.

There has been support of this expansion since the road was built almost 15 years ago. Now it is time to act.

As most of my honourable colleagues know, the federal government in co-operation with provincial and municipal governments has recently launched the two-year, $6 billion Canada infrastructure works program. The program reaffirms our commitment to get Canadians back to work by creating 50,000 to 65,000 direct jobs and represents a significant long term investment in Canada's economic competitiveness. It also represents an important step forward in intergovernmental co-operation for the benefit of Canadians. Ontario has committed $722 million to date toward the project.

Good infrastructure is vital to a good quality of life. It helps keep our environment clean and makes our cities liveable. Good roads and transportation services reduce costs, reduce expensive tie-ups and minimize wear and tear on vehicles. Cities that work are central to the health of the economy.

At present the only way many of our industries can transport their products into and out of the nation's capital using a four lane highway is to go to Montreal first. This option is clearly ridiculous. One of our government's goals is to make it easier for small and medium sized businesses to succeed. As most

small and medium sized business do not have access to air transport, roadways are their greatest allies. Let us give them a hand.

To summarize, I support the motion initiated by the member for Leeds-Grenville: "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should enter into an agreement with the province of Ontario to expand Ontario highway 16, south from Ottawa to highway 401 at Johnstown, into a four lane highway in order to ensure road safety and enhance travel in and out of the nation's capital".

This is the main thoroughfare for many visitors to Ottawa. During a seven year period, from 1985 to 1992, 721 accidents have occurred on this stretch of road, causing 39 deaths and countless injuries. Highway 16 is also an important economic lifeline for Ottawa. In a time when the government is committed to rebuilding and reinforcing this nation's infrastructure, highway 16 must not be overlooked.

[Sikh Nation Anniversary, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Sikhs around the world are today celebrating the 295th anniversary of the birthday of the Sikh nation, the Sikh faith, the Khalsa. April 13 also marks the first day of the Sikh new year.

Over a quarter of a million Sikhs live as peaceful and full participants in Canadian society. In spite of numerous difficulties encountered by the first Sikh immigrants at the turn of the century, today they are a full and active component of the Canadian mosaic.

As the first turbaned Sikh member of the Canadian Parliament I am sure all members would like to join with me in congratulating the Sikh community on this auspicious occasion and hope that we all continue to work together to promote harmony and

good will in order to keep Canada an exemplary country in which tolerance and compassion abound.

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the subject of what shall be an appropriate number of members of Parliament has been referred to frequently in this debate.

At this point I would simply raise for consideration the possibility that perhaps this House would operate more efficiently and effectively if there were dramatically fewer members of Parliament than at present and that there be a fixed number. Those fewer members would have more extensive

staffs and research facilities but I believe the long term savings could be significant. Such a proposal would certainly merit consideration by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this important debate on the motion for second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of Bill C-18, an act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act. It is for several reasons that I have a special interest in the process of redistribution of electoral districts in our country which is now under way.

First, the electoral district of Bramalea-Gore-Malton which I have the honour to represent in this House lies within the cities of Mississauga and Brampton in the regional municipality of Peel, one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario between the 1981 and 1991 census.

Second, on the basis of the 1991 census, the combined cities of Mississauga and Brampton are entitled to two of the four electoral districts which are to be added to the total for Ontario, raising that number from 99 to 103.

Third, Bramalea-Gore-Malton would, in my view, be changed without good reason by the current proposals of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

As all hon. members are aware, the Constitution Act of 1867 requires that there be a readjustment in the number of members of the House of Commons after every 10 year census. The procedure for calculating the number of members of the House of Commons to which each province or territory is entitled is set out in sections 51, 51(a) and 52 of the Constitution Act of 1867. The procedure for establishing the boundaries of the electoral districts which will be represented in the House of Commons is set out in the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

I will not go into details of the procedures to be followed but would refer hon. members to the clear summary of those procedures provided by the hon. government House leader in his speech on Monday, March 21, 1994 which opened the debate on second reading and reference stage of Bill C-18. I would also refer hon. members to the excellent booklet entitled Representation in the Federal Parliament which has been prepared by and is available from Elections Canada.

For the purpose of clarity of debate, it should be emphasized that the calculation of the number of members of the House of Commons and the establishment of the boundaries of electoral districts are based on the number of people in a given area, never on the basis of the number of voters.

I would now like to turn from the general to the particular and describe how the electoral district of Bramalea-Gore-Malton would be affected by the current proposals of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

Let us start with the facts that as a consequence of the 1991 10 year census it has been determined that the province of Ontario is entitled to 103 members of the House of Commons and that the electoral quota for Ontario is 97,912, the ideal population for each of the 103 electoral districts assigned to the province.

The population of the cities of Mississauga and of Brampton have increased dramatically in the 10 year period between the 1981 and the 1991 census. In 1981, the population of Mississauga was 315,056 and that of Brampton was 149,030 for a total population of 464,086 for the two cities. That population entitled the two cities to the five electoral districts established under the 1987 representation order, namely Mississauga East, Mississauga West, Mississauga South, Brampton and Brampton-Malton. The name Brampton-Malton was changed to Bramalea-Gore-Malton in 1990. The 1987 representation

order provided for the first division of the city of Brampton between two electoral districts. Brampton had previously always been entirely within one electoral district, either Peel or Brampton-Halton Hills or Brampton-Georgetown.

The 1991 census disclosed that the population of Mississauga had grown to 463,388, and that of Brampton to 234,445, for a total combined population of 697,833. That population now entitles the two cities to two additional electoral districts, for a total of seven.

As I stated earlier, the electoral quota for Ontario is 97,912. If one calculates an electoral quota for the combined two cities by dividing their total population of 697,833 by the number of electoral districts to which they are entitled, namely seven, the resulting quota for the two cities is 99,690.

At page 13 of its proposals, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario in the course of its comments with regard to Metropolitan Toronto, Etobicoke states that three districts within the city of Etobicoke would average about 103,000 which is close to what the commission believes appropriate for urban districts. The city of Etobicoke lies immediately to the east of the cities of Mississauga and Brampton.

The population of Bramalea-Gore-Malton according to the 1991 census was 103,589 which is 5,677 above the electoral quota for Ontario and 3,899 above the electoral quota for the combined cities of Mississauga and Brampton. However the population of Bramalea-Gore-Malton is only 589 above 103,000 which is close to what the commission believes appropriate for urban districts.

It would therefore appear that there is no urgent and pressing necessity to alter the existing boundaries of Bramalea-Gore-Malton.

However the commission was not satisfied with the situation. After deciding that the electoral district of Mississauga South should remain unchanged with a population of 96,208 and that Mississauga East should be altered in area to reduce its population to 101,300, the commission decided to perform major surgery on Bramalea-Gore-Malton to cut its population back to 96,360 from 103,589.

The commission accomplished this feat by removing an area of Brampton lying east of Dixie Road and having a population of 36,593 from the northern part of the electoral district and adding a piece of the northwestern corner of Mississauga with a population of 29,364, most of whom live south of Highway 401 to the southwestern edge of the electoral district, for a net population reduction of 7,229.

This exercise seems to me to resemble cutting one end off a blanket and then sewing most of it back on to the other end in an effort to make a small reduction in the size of the blanket.

In addition the commission appears to have clearly violated one of its own operating principles. Highway 401 forms the entire southern boundary of Bramalea-Gore-Malton. In the course of its comments with regard to metropolitan Toronto, the area north of Highway 401, the commission states at page 15 of its proposals that "the commission believes that Highway 401 forms a physical barrier and should be used as a boundary wherever possible".

The proposed addition of the populated area south of Highway 401 to the rump of Bramalea-Gore-Malton runs directly contrary to the commission's view on the role of Highway 401.

The commission's proposal would create a distorted electoral district resembling a reversed letter L of which both extremities would have less in common and be further apart than is now the case within Bramalea-Gore-Malton, thus diluting the community of interest or community identity in the electoral district. Hon. members will thus understand why I have serious concerns as to how the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario is carrying out its mandate.

Inequality of representation in this House has also been encouraged by the provisions of section 15(2) of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act which provides for a maximum deviation of 25 per cent above or below the electoral quota for an electoral district in a province. In other words, if the electoral quota for Ontario is 100,000, meaning that each resident of the province would have equal representation in this House if the population of each electoral district was 100,000, it would still be perfectly possible and legal to have some electoral districts with populations as low as 75,000 and others with populations as high as 125,000.

[Corporate And Bankruptcy Laws, March 18th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the corporate and bankruptcy laws of Canada is to stimulate initiative and investment in our economy while avoiding the possibility of total personal financial ruin.

It is unfortunate when business ventures fail through no fault of the individuals concerned, but it is outrageous when business failures are used as a means of defrauding creditors, investors, employees and governments.

I would, therefore, propose that Parliament amend the corporate and bankruptcy laws of Canada so that any individual who is convicted of an offence under those laws, or of fraud, or who has had a decision of a civil court against him or her with regard to any bankruptcy cannot be an incorporator, director, officer, shareholder or creditor of any corporation for a period of five years from the date of the final decision of the court.

[Human Rights, March 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, human rights violations continue to plague the modern world.

Media reports of atrocities in Bosnia, Punjab, the Sudan, South Africa and elsewhere should shock every citizen around the world.

It is too simple to dismiss these atrocities because they take place so far away, but these horrific events do touch Canadians.

A crime committed against an individual is a crime against all of humanity.

For this reason I would like to voice my support of the recent appointment of a High Commissioner for Human Rights to the United Nations.

It is up to those of us who thrive on freedom to protest human rights violations wherever they occur.

[Heritage Day, February 21st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, today is Heritage Day.

It comes as no surprise that Canada would choose to celebrate diversity among its peoples. This is a country where cultural differences are considered a strength rather than a weakness. It is just one of the reasons Canada has acquired a sterling international reputation for fairness to all people.

While some Canadians may take their freedom for granted, those who worked hard to emigrate here will never do so. Canada is secure enough in its own virtues that it allows and encourages new Canadians to retain their own culture.

We should remember that most countries force immigrants to purge themselves of their heritage. Canada, however, sees the value of heritage and celebrates it from coast to coast.

Happy Heritage Day, one and all.

[Underground Economy, February 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Revenue should be commended for getting tough with tax cheaters. The underground economy in Canada is not composed of honest people doing dishonest things, as they would have us believe. Tax cheaters know they are frittering away Canada's future for their personal gain.

The warning issued by the Minister of National Revenue is likely to deter people who might be tempted to cheat the government. Hopefully the cheaters will clean up their own act.

Anyone who wishes to live in this country must be prepared to pay for the privilege. Where there is no honour in the honour system, perhaps the fear of being caught will instead fill Canada's coffers.