John Duncan

[Supply, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, there are also political levels and other jurisdictions than fishermen that are expressing great concern over the appointment.

I am not sure how free the hon. member is to elaborate on this point, but we do not have the full breadth of concern about the issue or what a terrible precedent it sets.

[Supply, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question for my colleague from Selkirk—Interlake deals with freshwater marketing.

Being from that part of the country, I know that the appointment which has been announced and has not yet been tabled in the House has created great consternation among many of the people involved in the fishery. I wonder if the member would like to elaborate somewhat on some of the real concerns which have been expressed by the people and how widespread those concerns are about this appointment.

[Petitions, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from the Courtenay area in my riding. These members of the Fish and Protective Association want 40 problem seals culled from the Puntledge River due to their predation of fish stocks.

The petitioners call on Parliament to advise DFO to implement the original plan which would allow the local native band to cull the 40 problem seals. This has the support of the majority of the community.

The Fish and Protective Association obtained 2,300 signatures on a separate petition to demonstrate support.

[Transportation, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, in 1975 four rail tanks containing 340 tons of toxic chlorine fell off a barge during a storm on the lower west coast and have never been located.

In May when I requested a summer 1997 search, the Minister of the Environment assured me that the fisheries minister has prime responsibility for this issue. No search was initiated.

We now know that 12 months ago a proven salvage operator in B.C. approached the federal government with a proposal to find the tanks for the sum of $30,000. This risk free offer was rejected.

The clock is ticking on a potential lethal chlorine gas escape 22 years after the sinking. People living along the Strait of Georgia want the minister to stop sitting on his hands.

Does the minister think spending this $30,000 is somehow unimportant?

[Petitions, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition signed by 26 residents of the Campbell River area. They ask Parliament to affirm the duty of parents to responsibly raise their children according to their own conscience and beliefs and to retain section 43 of the Criminal Code as it is currently worded.

[Petitions, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition with 25 names of residents from the Campbell River area. If Canada ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, greater incentives will exist for families to abdicate their parental responsibilities to the state.

Therefore the petitioners ask Parliament to amend section 7 of the charter of rights and freedoms to recognize the right of individuals to pursue family life and to recognize the fundamental right and responsibility of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.

[Petitions, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. One petition has 73 names of residents from the Courtenay area. They pray and request that Parliament enact legislation to establish a DNA data bank of convicted sexual offenders and murderers.

[Fisheries, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a little fish story for the House today.

A bunch of the good old boys, like Turbot Tobin and Walleye Woodward, were out with their chum the Federal Fisherman. What a time; no worries, no cares, just them and those Labrador sport fish. It was very educational for the Federal Fisherman. During his time there he almost learned the difference between the salmon and a sucker.

I am sure the member for Burin—St. George's urges the Federal Fisherman to make this an annual event so that every July he spends his hard-earned dollars in Labrador. And just like this July, the minister can celebrate his return by flying over Prince Rupert and the salt water fishermen far below.

Is it not wonderful that the Prime Minister does not subtract days spent fishing in Labrador from a minister's shelf life.

[Fisheries, September 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech contains not one word about resolving the Pacific salmon dispute. The government continues to show a lack of commitment to British Columbia.

Will the minister make resolving the treaty by January 31 the number one priority of his department?

[Fisheries, September 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the government has made a mess of the Pacific salmon dispute. We have seen four years of mismanagement on this file.

The fisheries minister is from British Columbia. Why was the minister sport fishing in Newfoundland at a time when he should have been dealing with the height of the crisis in British Columbia?