John Cannis

[Health Care, February 16th, 1999]

I am sorry. I take it back.

[Health Care, February 16th, 1999]

You're a liar.

[Health Care, February 16th, 1999]

He's full of shit.

[Ahepa Comedy Night, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I had the pleasure to attend the fifth annual Comedy Night at the Hellenic Community Centre organized by the Ottawa chapter of AHEPA.

This year the event raised over $8,000 which will go to the local Alzheimer's Society. In the past this event has raised and donated over $50,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ottawa, the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Youth Centre, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Kidney Foundation of Ottawa.

I want to congratulate the main organizers, Angelo Tsarouchas, Tom Varvaresos and Bill Rothery on their great success. The comedians were first rate and provided many laughs during the evening.

I highly recommend this event to my colleagues here in Ottawa and to all who are interested in having a great time while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

Congratulations to AHEPA and to all those involved with the AHEPA Comedy Night at the Hellenic Community Centre.

[Petitions, February 1st, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I am presenting a petition today signed by well over 300 residents of Scarborough Centre and surrounding areas.

These concerned petitioners call upon parliament to oppose the potential sale of the Candu nuclear reactor to Turkey and to take all possible measures to prevent this potential sale. They are concerned that the area in which it will potentially be built is a seismic area, but more so the petitioners are concerned that whatever conditions are put on the potential sale Turkey might not comply with these conditions in the future.

[Violence Against Women, December 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, since 1989, December 6 has been a date to remember Canadian women whose lives are affected by violence and, in particular, the 14 young women who tragically lost their lives in Montreal at École Polytechnique.

December 6 has come and gone, but we must continue to fight violence against women and remember those who are affected every day, not just one day a year.

I am proud to be part of a government that has made significant changes in the justice system to reflect the impact of these crimes, not only on the victims, but on society as a whole. We have legislated gun control. We have eliminated self-induced intoxication as a defence for violent crimes like sexual assault and just last June our government announced a $32 million a year national crime prevention initiative aimed at developing community based responses to crime, with the emphasis on women, children and youth.

Our government is committed to ending violence against all people in Canada. We hope these measures will help make our society safer.

[Island Of Kos, November 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise today to welcome a delegation from the Island of Kos in Greece.

Each year individuals whose roots stem from the Island of Kos gather to exchange ideas and put forth suggestions with a notion of making our world a better and safer place to live in.

This year they chose Canada. They have visited Quebec. They are now with us in the capital and will be in Toronto later on.

The Island of Kos historically is known as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. The delegation is lead by the three mayors of the island: the Mayor of Kos, Mr. Konstandinos Kaisarlis, his Deputy Mayor, Mr. Ioannis Vogiazis; the Mayor of Pili and Asfendou, Mr. Vasilis Hatziakoumis; and the Mayor of Antimachia, Kardamena, and Kefalo, Mr. Konstandinos Papanikolaou.

My paternal grandfather was born in Pili on the island of Kos and for me it is indeed an honour that I have the opportunity to welcome this delegation here today.

I say on behalf of yourself, Mr. Speaker, and all of my colleagues, welcome to Canada, kalos ilthate .

[Taste Of The Danforth Festival, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers of the Taste of the Danforth Festival, an annual Greek food and cultural festival in Toronto. They put together a well organized event that offered the thousands of people who attended a safe environment, excellent food and entertainment.

More so, I congratulate and applaud their successful efforts in raising funds in the amount of $50,500 which they kindly donated to the East General Hospital in Toronto. That is giving something back to the community.

Bravo to the organizers of the Taste of the Danforth Festival. Keep up the good work and next year I invite everyone to take some time to take part in this beautiful festival. By doing so not only will people enjoy themselves but will at the same time contribute something to the community.

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, let me remind the member for Saint John about a little history. It was the Conservative government in 1986 that passed legislation which permitted the funds to be used as they are today.

Let me also remind the member that this Liberal government has spent the last five years fixing the problems we inherited. For example, in 1993 the EI was pegged at $3.30 per $100. We have since been bringing it down to what it is today which is $2.70. If the member really wants to talk to her granddaughter she should be telling her the truth.

[Petitions, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today that has been signed by individuals in my riding and many individuals outside my riding. It simply asks parliament to appeal to the president and the entire Government of Indonesia basically to protect the human rights of the ethnic Chinese in that country and to call an end to racial and religious discrimination in Indonesia.