Judy Sgro

[Prebudget Consultations, November 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I can say that millions of dollars are currently being directed into British Columbia as they are to the other provinces. That money is on the table through our infrastructure programs for many issues on transportation, whether we are talking roads or rail transportation issues. It does not have to come specifically from a fuel tax as was indicated before. A dedicated tax ties the hands of what we can do with the money at the end of the day. Probably much more is going back into British Columbia than is being paid in fuel tax.

[Prebudget Consultations, November 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I forgot to mention that I will be splitting my time with the member for Mississauga West.

I have gone with the task force across the country to some of our large urban regions. The issues that have come forward from all of them are that the communities are feeling under siege. Our large urban regions have limited tax ability to continue to raise taxes. People on the other end just cannot afford immense tax increases on their properties. They are feeling under siege. We look at them as being the jewels of our country; the large urban regions house about 80% of the population. It is important that they stay competitive and that they do well. They are very much looking to the federal government for help.

It is interesting that when things get rough, everybody seems to look to the father figure, the federal government, which is how they described it to me. They are in enormous difficulties. They are looking to us to show some leadership and to help them.

The competitiveness of these large urban regions is critical to their growth and development. It is not only locally; they need to be doing well internationally. We must stay focused on those issues. We must look at what the role is for the federal government, how we can best assist them and be a better partner in government. They feel their quality of life is very much threatened.

Cities which were once spotlessly clean and very efficient with great transportation and transit systems are now embroiled in gridlock. There are enormous problems. There is the frustration of being stuck on the road and not being able to get home at night, taking an hour to get home, and the air quality which all of us are having to experience.

From what I am hearing from our regions, what is needed is an integrated transportation network much like what the Minister of Transport is currently looking at.

Commuter rail is the responsibility of the federal government. An integrated system within our transportation network would be an enormous help to these large urban regions. We must keep in mind that urban transit is a provincial responsibility, not a federal one. The commuter rail is our role. We are looking at working with municipalities on trying to enhance that role, whether it be light rail or subways, enhanced VIA Rail or Go system, whatever happens to be out there that is of assistance to our municipalities to move on the gridlock issue.

Another issue that has been raised by one of our colleagues in our round table discussions is the need for more affordable housing, both rental and home ownership. There is an enormous need for that.

There is also a need to attract skilled workers. We are an aging society. A lot of the people that worked in construction came from other countries. The need here in Canada is immense with the aging population we have currently.

Another issue was climate change and other related initiatives that need to be happening to deal with the Kyoto targets and how we can improve the air quality. Much of that is tied into transportation and how we might deal with that.

Brownfield sites which in many cases are good sites for redevelopment in a variety of areas will not get redeveloped. They will continue to stagnate in the state they are unless they get serious help by changing the liability issues and allowing deductions for some of the cleanup costs.

I raise some of these issues so that hopefully, if the Minister of Finance cannot get them into this budget, he will give some consideration to getting them into another budget.

The federal government has a lot of brownfield sites and so do the provinces and municipalities. If we could figure out how to deal with some of those liability issues, there would be great opportunities for intensification in some of our neighbourhoods to prevent some of the urban sprawl that is currently happening.

Fiscal tools were mentioned a lot in our round table discussions as a way to stop tying the hands of the municipalities behind their backs. Given the freedom and the responsibility, I am confident they would not use those fiscal tools in any way that would hamper the opportunity to be competitive and continue to grow in the regions.

From my experience as a city councillor, before we are going to add on any more taxes, the first thing we do is look at the economic competitiveness of the region and how it will compare. We look for the alternatives to ensure that our cities stay as competitive as Montreal and Vancouver. Of course now we are dealing with cities on an international level. It is important to make sure that the cities stay very competitive.

Health and education are very important. We need to have a well educated workforce. Our children need full opportunities to go to university and explore the avenues of tomorrow for themselves.

The universities, and York University in my riding in particular, do a fabulous job of opening the doors to a lot of programs for people who maybe would not have had a chance to go to university some years back. That happens as a result of foundations and other programs that offer opportunities to many young people.

Investment in research is also an area, especially after September 11. It shows just how important that is to us, when we deal with the kinds of scares we have had in the last couple of weeks, that we continue to invest in areas of research that hold a cure for many of the problems in society today. A certain amount of investment is needed. I am proud to say that our government has made it another one of its many high end priorities, to ensure that we get research money in there.

We make choices as a government and I think we have made the right choices. The $100 billion tax cut, which is the biggest tax cut in the history of Canada, is now coming into play at a time when we probably will need it more than ever. It is hoped we will be able to keep that money going into the economy. Our infrastructure programs are kicking into gear as well. That will help create the jobs and the opportunities that will certainly be needed in the future.

Those were choices that we made. We could have decided, as some of our colleagues on the other side have asked, to go for massive tax cuts. Then we would have had to make other decisions. I am confident we have made the right decisions.

The Minister of Finance did a fine job of putting those things in place prior to September 11, certainly not knowing what was coming. The layout of those programs and those tax cuts has come at an appropriate time for all of us. We look at those tax cuts and we know that we put the incentives into our programs to continue going.

At the end of the day our seniors want confidence in the economy. They want to know that the health care system will continue to be funded in a fair and equitable way. As an example, approximately $8 billion in additional health funding is going into the province of Ontario. That is over and above what was previously indicated. The health care money is there in order to ensure that seniors and other residents in my riding get the health care they want.

We wish everyone good luck with the budget and ask that the issues of our urban regions stay front and centre as we deal with the pressures on our budget today.

[Prebudget Consultations, November 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this prebudget debate today. It is earlier than most of us expected. We still want to make a point of trying to get some of the issues that matter, certainly to my riding of York West, on the record.

The residents of York West, which is the riding I am proud to represent, clearly have stressed the importance of living in a safe community. They understand the pressures on our budget and on the finance minister to put the investment into security, as all Canadians want, to ensure we have a safe and secure environment.

Another issue in my riding clearly is housing. There is an enormous need for that in part of my community. Other issues include jobs, good hospitals and efficient transportation. Seniors need more support such as home care programs and the like.

What I want to spend the rest of my time talking about are some of the things I have learned as chair of the Prime Minister's task force on urban issues.

[Teknion Corporation, November 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Teknion Corporation, a company in my riding of York West. Teknion is an international leader in the design and manufacture of office systems and furniture. On September 24 Teknion was bestowed with the prestigious exporter of the year award.

Teknion has become a true Canadian success story. It leads the contract office furniture industry in almost every performance measurement and its annual sales growth more than quadruples the industry average.

One in every three jobs in Canada depends on trade with other countries and Teknion's outstanding achievement is an indicator of its enormous contribution to the Canadian economy.

Teknion's dedication to people and partnerships has proven an unbeatable strategy in the international marketplace. I ask fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing Teknion's commitment to excellence.

[Victims of Violence, November 1st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 28, I attended a mass memorial service for young victims of violence that was organized by the Black Action Defence Committee. We remembered the lives of young black men who had been slain prematurely and offered our condolences to the mothers, fathers, siblings and children of these victims of violence.

In the past five years over 100 black men in Toronto have been killed by other youth. Their murders remain unsolved. This cycle of violence must stop.

Valerie Steele, president of the Jamaican Canadian Association, says clearly that the black community is planning a new strategy, one that involves education, policing, housing and job opportunities. They will be working on it with the federal government.

I call on all members of the House to support this community based approach. We must console those who have lost their loved ones to violence, unite to address the causes of hopelessness and anger, and build a brighter future for our youth.

[Operation Apollo, October 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I stand proudly in the House to applaud the men and women of the Canadian forces who are participating in Operation Apollo and to express my support for the families who stand by them.

Because of their dedication to our nation and to our values we have confidence in our armed forces, confidence in our leadership and confidence that we will see a positive resolution to the task at hand.

In the face of terror it is our moral responsibility to Canadians and to humanity as a whole to participate in this battle of fundamental importance.

I call on my fellow parliamentarians and every Canadian citizen to unite behind our armed forces and their loved ones who stay behind. In the struggle to preserve our freedom they make extraordinary sacrifices. They are all Canadian heroes of the highest calibre.

[Multiculturalism, October 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I remind all Canadians of the value of tolerance, respect and cultural diversity. Our country's diversity distinguishes it from most other countries. Our diversity has been a fundamental part of the Canadian landscape since its beginnings.

Since the tragic events of September 11, the problem of racial discrimination has become even more salient. Threats to the physical and emotional safety of individuals cannot be allowed if we are to maintain the tolerance that defines the spirit of our great nation. Now more than ever Canada's future depends on maintaining and strengthening its capacity to bring together people with many differences.

No one's identity or cultural heritage should be compromised. I ask that all members of the House unite to promote the fundamental belief that all Canadians are equal. Our diversity is an indispensable asset.

[Emergency Response System, October 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to the House that none of the suspicious packages received on the Hill this week contained anthrax or any other biological substance. Indeed, none of the suspicious incidents reported elsewhere in Canada contained biological agents.

I want to emphasize that there are no reported cases of anthrax in Canada.

The response proves that our Emergency Response System works just as it should, efficiently and effectively. From the first responders, Hill security, police, hazardous material specialists and the fire department to our Health Canada personnel who tested the suspect material and the RCMP who were ready to transport the material to our lab in Winnipeg, the response was tremendous.

I want to recognize all those involved and thank them for their efforts. Canadians should be reassured that the system works and will continue to work to protect everyone.

[Privilege, October 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time today with the member for Kitchener--Waterloo. A few weeks ago following the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11 we met in the House to debate a motion that called on our government to introduce anti-terrorism legislation as soon as possible. I am pleased to see that the minister and her staff have been able to respond this quickly.

I want to express my strong support for Bill C-36, a made in Canada legislative response to the problems of terrorism. It is a response that we hope will be effective, while being drawn up in such a way as to be respectful of the constitutionality of the protected rights of Canadians.

This legislation gives expression to our common resolve as Canadians to ensure that those persons who plan or direct terrorist attacks and those persons and entities that play a role in supporting them financially, or otherwise provide them with the material support which facilitates such acts, are denounced as criminals and brought to justice no matter where they may be found.

Canadians believe that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable and that they should be condemned as such. We are confident that by enacting such legislation we are joining other like minded countries around the world in efforts to prevent the commission of similar crimes in the future.

Canadians would agree that the objective of enacting effective anti-terrorism legislation is laudable and necessary. Canadians would also want us to reflect in a sober and critical fashion on the nature of such legislation. I do not believe they would agree that it is necessary to abandon our values, which make Canada a free and democratic society, to fight terrorism.

I am pleased that the preamble to the bill contains language through which parliament recognizes that the requirements of national security and the need to combat global terrorism must be carried out with due regard to the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Canadian charter so that we can be true to the values of our society even as we battle this terrible thing.

Canada has worked in concert with the international community for many years to pursue initiatives that are intended to reduce the threat posed by international terrorists. It should be noted that Canadian diplomats played a leading role in the negotiation of the two most recent international counterterrorism conventions, namely the international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombing and the international convention for the suppression of the financing of terrorism.

I want to comment on the specific aspects of Bill C-36. When the Canadian government signed these international counterterrorism agreements it was seen as a commitment by Canada to move toward their ratification at some time in the future. Unfortunately that time has arrived.

The draft legislation contains measures that would allow Canada to implement three international conventions, two of which concern the fight against terrorism. The most recent of these is the international convention for the suppression of the financing of terrorism, which would outlaw fundraising activities in support of terrorism and create provisions for the seizure and forfeiture of the assets belonging to the terrorists or placed at their disposal.

It would also give effect to United Nations security council resolution 1373 of September 28 that requires all states to take action to prevent and suppress terrorist financing.

Bill C-36 contains measures to implement the international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings that Canada signed in 1998 in response to an increase in recent years of terrorist attacks directed against civilian and government targets by means of explosive devices or biological and chemical substances. In one of these indiscriminate attacks in November 1996 a Canadian woman was killed in a terrorist bombing of a Paris subway station.

The bill would implement the convention on the safety of United Nations and associated personnel. While this convention is not regarded as a counterterrorism agreement it does cover acts of violence directed against the official premises, private accommodation or means of transportation of United Nations or associated personnel. It recognizes that there is a need for appropriate and effective measures to prevent attacks against the United Nations and associated personnel.

The implementation of each of these conventions requires amendments to the criminal code to ensure that the crimes identified in each of these agreements are offences under our law and to extend the jurisdiction of Canadian courts over terrorist activities abroad.

A person alleged to have committed a convention crime abroad may be prosecuted in Canada if after the commission of the offence he or she is found in Canada and is not extradited to another state that could also claim jurisdiction over the offence.

Similarly under the amendments proposed in Bill C-36 a person responsible for a terrorist bombing of a public transportation system in another country in which a Canadian was killed or injured could be extradited to Canada to stand trial here for that offence.

Canada has taken these steps to ensure that terrorists are brought to justice by effectively denying them sanctuary after the commission of a terrorist crime. There should be no safe havens for terrorists. The terrorist attacks in the cities of New York and Washington on September 11 demonstrated to all of us that there is an urgent need for the international community to act together in concert to ensure that each has effective legislation in place to choke off fundraising efforts for terrorists and to enact the necessary legislation to implement the entire series of international and anti-terrorism agreements.

I congratulate the Minister of Justice and all those who worked so hard and so very quickly to bring forth Bill C-36. Bill C-36 contains the additional measures that our law enforcement and security services require to meet the threat posed by terrorism. It is simultaneously focused, effective, broad reaching and reflective of Canadian values.

Members will have an opportunity to do some work on the bill in the justice committee. There are issues that we all share. For example, should there be a sunset clause? How do we protect against abuse of powers? These are issues that will certainly be dealt with in committee.

It will also provide the opportunity for all of us in the House to air our concerns and to make sure the legislation gives the authorities the tools they need to protect the civil rights of all Canadians.

[Ontario Wine Industry, October 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution Ontario vintners make to both the Ontario tourism industry and the Canadian economy in general.

Ontario wines meet the highest standards of quality and excellence, drawing travellers and connoisseurs from across Canada and around the globe who want to appreciate the calibre of Ontario's wines firsthand.

From the Niagara Peninsula to Prince Edward county, the vineyards of the Ontario wine industry have proven that Canadian wines have the maturity and quality to compete with the best in the world.

I encourage my colleagues and all Canadians to partake in the sights, smells and tastes of Ontario wines through the simple purchase of a bottle of wine produced in Ontario or by embarking on a breathtaking tour of the wine country.

The contribution of the Ontario wine industry to Canadian culture and the Canadian economy deserves our recognition and appreciation.