John Duncan

[Taiwan, March 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, as the chair of the Society of Canadians for Asia-Pacific Freedom and Democracy, I wrote to President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to congratulate him on his re-election. I have met with the president on two occasions and it gives me great pleasure to know that the democratic reforms that he champions will continue.

Thirteen million Taiwanese voted in the presidential election and the margin of victory was only 29,000 votes.

In another hard fought election four years ago, President Chen, of the DPP, or Democratic People's Party, became the first democratically elected president to bring a peaceful transition from the KMT, who had ruled Taiwan since 1949. Democracy has been embraced by the people and it is making great progress.

Canadians are proud to have Taiwan as our Asia-Pacific friend and neighbour.

[Question No. 41, March 22nd, 2004]

For the fiscal year 2002-2003, what is the detailed breakdown of the government funds allocated to the Indian Taxation Advisory Board?

[Foreign Affairs, March 12th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, this is the same tired anti-Taiwan mantra that the minister used nine months ago in the House and failed to convince his own caucus members who supported the opposition motion to support Taiwan's application for observer status.

The democratic deficit continues. How can the government justify ignoring the expressly stated will of Parliament?

[Foreign Affairs, March 12th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the government continues to add to the democratic deficit. Due to objections from China, democratic Taiwan has been denied World Health Organization status.

Last spring Parliament passed an opposition motion that called for Canada to support the admission of Taiwan as an observer at the World Health Organization.

Why is the government refusing to support Taiwan at the World Health Organization?

[Petitions, February 25th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions signed by more than 5,000 individuals from my riding of Vancouver Island North. The petitioners are members of the Vancouver Island Regional Library which serves more than 400,000 people.

They are asking Parliament to ensure that the Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada Post renegotiate the library book rate with no increase and that it be expanded to include all materials loaned by public libraries.

[Natural Resources, February 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government and British Columbia are moving toward lifting the 30 year old moratorium on west coast oil and gas.

Meanwhile, the federal environment minister is pre-emptively removing a huge area for potential oil and gas exploration and other resource development by creation of a marine protection area. The terms of reference he has set for his department is to present the final proposal for this area to cabinet by May.

The inadequate public consultation stakeholder process and analysis has been roundly condemned by rural coastal communities and first nations.

Why is it that the B.C. based environment minister can act contrary to the interests of British Columbia? Comprehensive planning for the B.C. coast requires co-operation, not unilateral action.

When will the Prime Minister or natural resources minister derail this fast-track idiocy?

[Organized Crime, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the government is doing everything it can to distance itself from people who were directly connected with the federal Liberal Party in the province of British Columbia.

The culture of corruption the government created is designed to reward Liberal friends across the country. Why are these two individuals, who were removed from the B.C. provincial payroll, still working for the Prime Minister?

[Organized Crime, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP in British Columbia have described the spread of organized crime as a cancer eating away at the moral fabric of British Columbia society. This was after January raids of the B.C. legislative offices of two of the Prime Minister's organizers.

The province has fired and suspended these two individuals. Why are they still working for the Prime Minister?

[Cultural Exchange, February 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is a group of 25 grade 11 and grade 12 students from Carihi, Campbell River High School, in Ottawa this week on a cultural exchange. In September, Hillcrest High School students from Ottawa had a highly successful visit to Campbell River. This week is the return engagement for the Campbell River students.

I am taking this opportunity to welcome the students to Ottawa. They are from a well ranked high school in the heart of Vancouver Island North. The school has an excellent scholastic and athletic program that represents the community well.

I am sure the students will greatly benefit from their visit this week. I am excited for them and I will be meeting them this afternoon as they are becoming familiar with the main Parliament Building and will attend the House of Commons question period.

I am sure they will pass on their impressions to me at the first opportunity, and I will let you know, Mr. Speaker.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, February 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, that is pretty selective hearing because I indeed plant this firmly at the feet of the federal government. It is the one that provided the funds. It is the one that was supposed to provide the checks and balances or ensure that it was there. It is the one that allowed corrupt federal officials to continue to operate with impugnity despite the fact there was an audit way back in 1997 that identified major problems. These people remained in place.

Certainly, there was an opportunity here for Perry Fontaine to do the most incredible things. If people were to read about it in Pulp Fiction , they would not believe it because the actions were so bold and so creative. The fact of the matter is that federal officials approved all of this because they were directly benefiting and that should never ever have happened.

There were all kinds of things done against Treasury Board guidelines, but nobody caught it because nobody chose to catch it. That is a sign that we have corruption within our federal bureaucracy. That is my main point. I do not think the member who asked me the question was really listening to me if he thought otherwise.