Jay Hill

[Atlantic Groundfish Strategy, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, 12 months ago the government introduced the $1.9 billion Atlantic groundfish strategy. First the government underestimated the groundfish stock and the number of people who would be thrown out of work. Next it underestimated the staff needed to process the claims and counsel the unemployed. Now

I understand that the government has underestimated the amount of money required for TAGS by some $385 million.

Could the Minister of Human Resources Development assure the House that this program will stay within its already hugely inflated budget?

[Lobbyists Registration Act, April 25th, 1995]

That does not surprise us.

[Petitions, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my last petition asks Parliament to recognize the Reform Party of Canada as the official opposition during the remainder of the 35th Parliament. The signatories feel the rights and interests of all Canadian citizens cannot be adequately protected by the Bloc Quebecois.

[Petitions, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have also requested that I submit their petitions asking Parliament to support laws that punish criminals using firearms; to support, recognize and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and use recreational firearms; and to abolish any existing gun control laws that have proven ineffective.

[Petitions, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition prays that Parliament amend the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by human beings to unborn human beings.

[Petitions, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the second and third petitions ask Parliament not to indicate societal approval of same-sex relationships or homosexuality by amending legislation to include the undefined phrase "sexual orientation".

[Petitions, April 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to present a number of petitions on behalf of my constituents, pursuant to Standing Order 36.

The first petition requests that current laws regarding assisted suicide be enforced and no changes that would sanction or allow suicide or euthanasia be made to the law.

[Firearms Act, April 5th, 1995]

He is not listening.

[Supply, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I was just getting to the question.

A concern I hear raised constantly about the payout of the WGTA is that it is the understanding of the producers that it is to be targeted to land owners. In the area I am pleased to represent a big percentage of our land, not the majority, but a big percentage of our land is owned by foreign owners. I would ask the minister through you, Mr. Speaker-

[Supply, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, at the outset I would like to say to the hon. minister that I have paid particular attention to his remarks today and I found them quite interesting. I agree with some of his statements, in particular the assessment of what took place during the debate on the rail dispute and how members of the NDP and the Bloc certainly acted against the best interests of all Canadians, including the interests of Quebecers which the Bloc purports to represent.

I too found it very disparaging that the NDP, the bulk of whose caucus comes from the province of Saskatchewan would act as it did. It certainly, in my mind, was not representing the best interests of producers and constituents.

I agree with some of the statements in the minister's remarks today. I would make a few further comments about his assessment of Canada's debt and the need to address it through spending cuts. That is certainly an area where Reform has taken the lead since the formation of our party in 1987. In fact it was a real driving force in getting our party started and attracting people to the Reform message and the Reform cause.

We agree that cuts have to be made. We are not opposed to that and in fact our cuts would go much deeper. We have already outlined in great detail where we would make the cuts, not only in the department of agriculture and the area of farm subsidies, but also in all levels of government spending.

Another point has to be made in light of the minister's comments. I find it more than ironic that this Liberal government has suddenly discovered the advantages of having a free and open system of trade and trying to capture foreign markets. This is the same party which was opposed to the free trade agreement. It spoke vehemently against free trade when Reform was very supportive of the whole concept of a free trade agreement not only with the United States but also an expanded

one which would include other countries and the benefits which would flow to the Canadian economy because of that.

I find it ironic that the Liberals have such short memories not only with regard to free trade and the benefits of trade in particular for the agriculture sector but also for all the other sectors of our economy. They seem to conveniently forget that it was the Liberal Party that started us down this road of deficit spending. I can recall quite clearly in 1984 when the Conservatives were sent here with a massive mandate. They continually said that they inherited the problem. Now we hear the same thing from the Liberals.

My question for the minister concerns something I hear raised by grain producers in my area. I myself-