Hedy Fry

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, today many men and women across the land are wearing white ribbons to remind us that five years ago on this day 40 young women were tragically gunned down by a man at Montreal's l'École polytechnique, simply because they were women.

Sadly today little has changed. Women around the world still live in fear of violence by the hands of men they know and of men they do not know.

Much has been done to raise awareness of violence against women by Health Canada and other government and community agencies. The justice minister has, with his recent gun control proposals, moved one small step closer to protecting Canadian women but it is not enough.

It will never be enough until we women can walk the streets and be safe in our homes without fear. Yet there is still considerable denial by men of the cause and effect of this violence. Today the YMCA rose button and white ribbon campaign make a statement of remembrance and commitment.

I ask all men who love a daughter, mother, wife, partner or friend, to wear one of these symbols in solidarity with us. We need their support. The violence will not end unless they rise now and move positively to help us stop it.

[Fight Against Aids, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, today our Prime Minister is attending the Paris summit on AIDS.

This summit is a French initiative in co-operation with the WHO. Forty-two countries representing 70 per cent of the world population will make a joint acclamation of their commitment to fight HIV-AIDS. The Paris declaration will reflect the principles and values already adopted by the United Nations for HIV-AIDS and will add a new component for nations to respond to urgent needs with practical and lasting measures. This declaration would be operational by January 1996.

AIDS is a public health issue and political world leaders have made the fight against this disease a priority. Special attention will be given to reducing the vulnerability of women to AIDS, to the important role of associations of persons living with the virus, and to strengthening national and international mechanisms for human rights and ethics as they relate to AIDS.

I am proud to say that Canada has built an international reputation as a leader in these three sectors.

[Motions For Papers, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[Questions On The Order Paper, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Native Peoples, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has brought forward a question that is of great concern to public health and to the Ministry of Health.

We have been spending a million dollars a year so far to curb tuberculosis in aboriginal communities. We have now added $2.8 million extra per year over the next three years to try to eradicate tuberculosis so that by the year 2000 there will only be 20 per 100,000 affected and by the year 2010 we will have eradicated it completely.

[Reproductive Technologies, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member mentioned the fact that we must counter abuses. We are dealing with an extremely serious and extremely difficult and complicated issue.

This department and the Minister of Health want to ensure that we make the right choices that will ensure the safety of Canadians and will ensure that all medical, ethical, social and psychological issues are dealt with.

[Reproductive Technologies, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health have been working on the response to the royal commission for quite a while.

As the hon. member knows, the royal commission created far more controversy than it answered questions. We need to look at how we can deal with provinces and with special groups, to look at how we can set guidelines for recommendations and to follow the recommendations.

However, as far as taking our time, I bring to the hon. member's attention the fact that the royal commission was supposed to have reported in two years. It took four years to bring in its report.

Because the matter is so controversial I think it is quite acceptable that we have to deal with the same controversies in formulating our response.

[Paris Summit On Aids, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister will be attending the Paris Summit on AIDS on December 1. This summit is a French initiative in co-operation with the WHO. Forty-two countries representing 70 per cent of the world population will make a joint affirmation of their commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

The Paris declaration will reflect the principles and values already adopted by the United Nations for HIV/AIDS and will add a new component for nations to respond to urgent needs with practical and lasting measures. This declaration would be operational by January 1996.

AIDS is a public health issue and political world leaders have made the fight against this disease a priority. Special attention will be given to reducing the vulnerability of women to AIDS to the important role of associations of persons living with AIDS and to strengthening national and international mechanisms for human rights and ethics as they relate to AIDS.

I am proud to say that Canada has gained an international reputation as a leader in all three areas.

[B. C. Wine Industry, November 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the term wine and dine has taken on new meaning in my home province of British Columbia. Going out are the French Burgundies and California Chardonnays. Coming in are the British Columbia Pinot Blancs, Pinot Noirs, Gewurtraminers and Merlots.

B.C. wine industry sales climbed to nearly $20 million in the last year and a national export committee has been created to market abroad. Although the acreage used for viticulture in B.C. is a fraction of that of France, Australia or California, B.C. wines have won numerous awards over the past few years.

Through the tireless work of the Vintner's Quality Alliance and local growers the quality of B.C. wines has improved dramatically over the past decade. Concentration on German style wines and higher quality vinifera grape varietals has contributed to this success.

Many B.C. wines, including Cedar Creek of Kelowna, have won international awards. However the crowning glory came with the recent award of the coveted British Avery trophy to Mission Hill Winery of Kelowna. This prestigious gold medal heralds the maturity of Canada's wine industry. At last our wines can enjoy the international reputation-

[Global Climate Change, November 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday the Deputy Prime Minister in her role as Minister of the Environment met three young children who came from three Canadian cities, Calgary, London and Moncton, asking this Parliament to do more to protect endangered species.

As the hon. member has noted, on that same day the minister released a discussion paper for a new framework to protect endangered species. That paper sets out a national framework for comprehensive protection of all endangered species in Canada. Currently there are 236 endangered, threatened and vulnerable animal and plant species in this country.

We released this paper to stimulate public thought and discussion. In January and February there will be public consultations. We need the views of scientists, aboriginal people and environmentalists, as well as farmers, fishermen, labour groups, businesses and local communities.

The discussion paper sees federal framework legislation as one component of a national approach that could be introduced in the House next spring. This legislation could establish a national, independent, scientific body and it could also set up a process for assessing the status of species considered to be nationally endangered. The species listing from that process would become a schedule under the federal act but also could be incorporated into provincial legislation.

The federal government cannot nor does it want to move alone to ensure protection for all species. We need to work closely with the provinces. A national approach to endangered species protection will allow federal and provincial actions to complement each other, not compete.

We are only going to succeed to save endangered species if all Canadians co-operate and if we listen to the concerns of all Canadians. We must ensure that federal and provincial laws work together. That is the only way we can save our endangered species.