House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Government Spending April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, there is sometimes a need to keep people who have been working for us on the payroll to help us finish a job and put everything in order.
There is another element to that. When you make an arbitrary decision to terminate an employment you give some time to a person to adjust to the new reality. It is on these two points that we have decided to keep that very competent woman on the payroll for a few months. We need her and it will give her some time to adjust to the new reality.
Members Of Parliament Pensions April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I have served here for many years. The pension that will be paid to me is something I have earned serving the people of Canada.
In many ridings I see directors of hospitals and chiefs of police and dozens of other people being paid out of public money making more than members of Parliament. I am not ashamed to face the people in my riding and tell them what I earn and what members of the House earn.
Some people want to score cheap political points because they cannot get the support of the people on the real problems of the nation.
Members Of Parliament Pensions April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the member does not want a pension, she wants a pay increase. The commission said that at this time perhaps the ideal situation would be to give a better salary to MPs and reduce their pensions. However, at this time the salaries of bureaucrats and all other government employees in Canada have been frozen.
Members of Parliament and the public service have had no increase for the last three and a half years. Perhaps in the package they were overpaid in terms of pension but they are certainly underpaid in terms of salary. The balance is pretty good for those who are very good members of Parliament. In my judgment there are very few members on my side who are not earning every cent they are paid.
Members Of Parliament Pensions April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we are very happy to see the hon. member back and in good health. She is sometimes better than her leader, so we are happy to have her here.
For the last six years that she has been here she has not minded being trapped. Now that she knows she is trapped she wants to get out. It is kind of a coincidence because we never heard about that when she was to be trapped.
This is a subject I find terribly disappointing. As of tomorrow I will have been a member of Parliament for 32 years. I have contributed to the pension plan 15 years too many. What I do not like about that kind of question is the implication that when one is a member of Parliament one does not earn every cent for the service one renders to one's constituents and the people of Canada.
When I see good members of Parliament like her downgrading her own value by telling people she is overpaid, I must tell her she is not overpaid. None of us is overpaid. Concerning those who are overpaid, the people of Canada will do the right thing and kick them out in the next election.
I find it ridiculous for the Reform Party to think that members of Parliament, who make half the salary of the lowest paid hockey players in the NHL, are overpaid.
Canada Social Transfer April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development will consult the provinces on his reforms. We are currently reviewing the committee report on this issue. In the coming weeks and months, the minister will hold bilateral meetings with his provincial counterparts.
If necessary, and if he feels that it is everyone's wish to have a meeting of federal and provincial ministers, I am sure that the Minister of Human Resources Development will have no objection. Consultations will take place. We do not intend to act unilaterally. On the other hand, it is our responsibility to make sure that adequate services are provided to all Canadians.
Canada Social Transfer April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I repeat that all these things are done all the time in consultation and collaboration with the provinces.
We have many meetings with them trying to co-ordinate the actions of all the governments so the people of Canada can have very good services in health, education and in the welfare system.
Canada Social Transfer April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, health is covered by legislation. The five major conditions governing health care in Canada-universality, portability and the rest-are in the act. There is a clear commitment by this Parliament with respect to maintaining these five principles.
As for their implementation, discussions are under way between the Minister of Health and her counterparts. We are looking for the best solutions. If services are to be accessible to all Canadians, when Canadians travel across the country, whether on vacation or business, they must be able to rely on the same services in other provinces as in their own. Everyone agrees that Canada's health system is one of the best in the world. We must ensure that it remains that way as much as possible.
Canada Social Transfer April 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, what we plan to do is to ensure that adequate services are provided to all Canadians. The hon. member should have noticed that there are ongoing consultations among the provinces and between the federal government and the provinces to ensure harmonization from coast to coast. This will give Canadians access to acceptable and adaptable services wherever they go in the country.
There is already a high level of co-operation among the provinces. The role of the federal government is to ensure that the agreements reached are as uniform as possible so that people can move freely across the country.
Forestry March 30th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, these groups have been helpful because most of the provinces have improved, quite dramatically, the way they harvest forests. It is helping make our case when we are abroad.
We have to be careful. For example, we are asking people to help protect the fishing environment of the sea. We have to do the same thing in Canada. When we have groups in Canada that want to harvest trees in a proper fashion, they are not causing a disservice to Canada, they are helping us to do the right thing.
Kanesatake Reserve March 30th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I think there are discussions are under way between the Minister of Indian Affairs and people from that reserve who wish to set up a casino, but I have heard nothing about negotiations concerning definite plans to open one. This is, of course, a place where relations with the Government of Quebec are somewhat strained, as we all know. Therefore, caution is in order and, personally, I will wait to hear from the Minister of Indian Affairs before commenting any further.