Lawrence MacAulay

[National Defence, September 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of National Defence I will take the question under advisement for the minister.

[Aboriginal Veterans, June 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, yes, certainly I want to mention the very importance of D-Day and the celebrations that are taking place on June 6.

Any studies that have taken place that indicate there are any problems with veterans, veterans pensions or anything involving veterans affairs would be looked at by myself and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If my hon. colleague has any information that would indicate any aboriginal veteran did not receive the same as any other veteran in the country, I would certainly want to hear about it.

[Aboriginal Veterans, June 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

I remind my hon. colleague that aboriginal veterans have the same rights under veterans legislation as any other veterans in the country.

[World War Ii, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, later today I will have the honour of leading a delegation of veterans to Italy. This pilgrimage will mark the 50th anniversary of the Italian campaign of the second world war.

Veterans from across the country representing all of the regiments and units which participated in the campaign will travel with me to sites throughout Italy. Together we will retrace the steps of Canadians who fought for democracy in Italy between 1943 and 1945 and pay tribute to those who gave their lives for freedom.

The story of the Canadians in Italy is a special chapter in our history. The first Canadians stepped on to the beaches on July 10, 1943. Well planned and decisive, the successful allied landings in Sicily marked an important turning point in the cause of freedom.

Then came 20 long gruelling months of fighting in which our troops proved themselves time and time again-Ortona, Monte Cassino, the Liri Valley and the push to the Lombardy plains and the industrial north of Italy. These fierce battles tested our Canadians fully and in every case our troops showed their exceptional ability and determination. Their proud record brought them respect from friend and foe alike.

All three of our services saw action in the Italian campaign. The flotillas of the Royal Canadian Navy successfully brought our troops ashore and, together with the merchant navy, kept them well supplied. The Royal Canadian Air Force provided vital air support, bombing strategic enemy positions. The infantry and armoured divisions of the Canadian Army renewed our country's reputation as the home of courageous and accomplished soldiers. The "red patches" of our Canadian Infantry Corps were some of the toughest troops in Italy.

Our troops left Italy and went on to northwestern Europe where they gained further honours in liberating Holland. But in Italy the important role they played in driving back the German army contributed to the downfall of the Third Reich.

I ask all members of the House to pay a very special tribute to the Canadian veterans of Italy who 50 years ago helped return freedom to Europe and brought such great honour to our country.

[The Budget, March 9th, 1994]

I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his question. The Department of Veterans Affairs was heavily involved in hospitals over the last number of years. We now have two. One is Sainte-Anne's, as the member is well aware, and one is in western Canada. I do not have the figures before me as to the costs. The number one priority of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to make sure that the veteran gets the proper treatment.

We deal with provincial governments in order to move our institutions from the Department of Veterans Affairs to provincial jurisdiction. We have two hospitals left and we are in discussions with these hospitals as well in order to bring them from the Department of Veterans Affairs to provincial authority.

The Department of Veterans Affairs always makes sure that the veteran gets the best treatment possible. In this country, as my hon. friend is well aware, we take great pride in being able to say that we are number one in providing for our veterans. I can assure the member we are going to remain being number one as a nation providing for our veterans.

[The Budget, March 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Crowfoot.

Our approach quite honestly would be a little different than his approach. If we were to balance the books which are out of line the way the hon. member has proposed we would not have UI changes. We would have a collapse of our social system.

The area that I represent would be devastated. What we have done as a government has changed the direction of government. We will have a deficit of under $40 billion, which is not great but we are on the road to recovery.

If we were to take the path of balancing the books, the people that I represent would have nothing. This government is a compassionate government which cares about people. We have to get our books in order. We are on the path to putting our books in order but we are not going to devastate the Canadians who need our assistance on the way.

[The Budget, March 9th, 1994]

Yes, we are sharing the time.

[The Budget, March 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand in my place today and speak in support of the budget brought down on February 22 by my hon. friend and colleague, the Minister of Finance.

We should congratulate the minister on his first budget since this government assumed office. He has steered a wise and careful course. He has set in motion a measure which will lead to major changes in the years to come.

As members are aware the Minister of Finance consulted widely with Canadians before he brought down his budget. It is clear that he was listening. I can tell because I have been listening to my constituents and to the people of Prince Edward Island.

They told me they want action to build the economy and create jobs. They want a social security system that is fair and compassionate, but they also know that Canada needs social security that is affordable. They told me that government has to get its finances in order.

This budget responds to those concerns. It sets the foundation for growth and jobs in the future. At the same time it balances the need for social reform and deficit reduction.

I know many veterans were concerned about the impact this budget might have on them. These men and women have served our country well. They devoted the best years of their lives to Canada and they have personal memories of the devotion of comrades who made the final sacrifice for Canada and the values we hold dear.

I can tell members there is no group of Canadians more passionately concerned about Canada's future than our veterans. There is no group more outspoken about our need to preserve our quality of life. I know that veterans across Canada welcome the measures to reduce government spending.

We are going to launch a review of the government's operations so we can get things done more efficiently. We are going to look at all our programs and find out where we can reduce overlap and duplication.

In Veterans Affairs Canada we will be looking at our own operations. That is how it should be. We are going to find ways to trim administrative costs just like other departments in government.

However, we are not going to touch veterans pensions or allowances. We want to ensure that veterans who need and are eligible for benefits receive them. Veterans deserve their pensions and allowances and this is the time when many veterans need them most. As they grow older many veterans rely on us to maintain the quality of life they so richly earned.

All members in this House have veterans in their constituencies. I am sure no matter what region of the country they come from hon. members will recognize the fairness of the government policy to provide for veterans. It has often been said that Canada provides veterans with the finest package of veterans benefits in the world. We are second to none.

I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my own region, Atlantic Canada, and what this budget means to my home province of Prince Edward Island.

I am very proud that this budget contains provisions to locate a demonstration project in Prince Edward Island. This joint undertaking by the Department of Human Resources Development, the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Canadian Association of Community Living will look at ways to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Canada cannot ignore the potential of its citizens who have disabilities, not at a time when we need everyone to contribute his or her skills to building Canada's future. The government hopes that what is learned with this project in Prince Edward Island can be applied in other areas for other persons with disabilities.

Another budget measure many of my friends, neighbours and constituents in Prince Edward Island have talked about with me are the changes to the unemployment insurance system. As this House knows these changes are the first step in a bigger strategy

to reform social security in Canada so that it is both fair and affordable.

Above all we have to rebuild the system so it does not make it harder to create jobs. A good job is the best social assistance available to any person in this nation. Therefore some of my constituents welcome the steps we have taken in the budget to reduce the cost of UI to employers.

Unemployment insurance is a payroll tax. If it is left too high it kills jobs. Back in 1989 the unemployment insurance premium was $1.95. This year it is $3.07. Maximum premiums have more than doubled for employees. They have more than doubled for employers as well.

These are taxes. Most important these are taxes on small businesses. In my province of Prince Edward Island virtually all businesses are small businesses. My constituents cannot afford to see the UI premiums increased. The small businesses in P.E.I. need some relief from taxes so that they can get on with the job of creating jobs.

That is why so many of my constituents support the budget measures to roll back UI premiums to $3 next year. That is a substantial tax cut from the $3.30 that would be in place if this government had not made that move.

At the same time many Prince Edward Islanders rely on unemployment insurance payments to help them get by until they find work again. These are tough measures for those who are on unemployment insurance and I am not afraid to admit it.

My constituents agree they would certainly rather be working than on unemployment insurance. We are going to do what we can to use the social security system, including unemployment insurance, to help Canadians get back to work.

In the meantime, we know some people rely on UI not only to take care of themselves while they look for another job but they also must look after dependants. That is why the budget improves UI benefits for those who need them most, people who have to take care of a child or a needs parent, or who support a non-working spouse.

After the budget changes to unemployment insurance are in place Atlantic Canada will still receive more unemployment insurance per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Unemployment insurance recipients in Atlantic Canada will receive an average of $970 compared with $540 elsewhere.

It shows that the government recognizes the special needs of a region where chronic unemployment presents special problems. Nowhere are these more evident than in the fishing industry.

The previous government did nothing to provide funding beyond May 15 to assist those individuals whose livelihood comes from the Atlantic ground fishery. This budget provides for an Atlantic ground fishery industry renewal and adjustment strategy for help over the long term.

This government is working hard to find a method of supporting some 35,000 Atlantic Canadians who will have no income after the current program expires. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of Human Resources Development are working on measures that will treat these people fairly and with dignity.

I have spoken about some of the measures in this budget that affect the people in my home province of Prince Edward Island and in the Atlantic region as a whole. I have talked about what Canada's veterans can expect from this budget.

There is one message I hear loud and clear from my constituents and from veterans. It is that Canadians know that we need to change the way government operates and they want to have a voice in the way these changes will be made.

The government is on the road to a new approach to job creation and social programs and we are going to make sure that Canadians have a voice in how those changes will be made.

The budget represents the first phase of major reform and the government looks forward to our continuing discussions with Canadians on how best to reshape our great country to meet the challenges of the next century.

[Prince Edward Island Fixed Link, February 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Cumberland-Colchester for raising an important point that certainly was an issue for me all during discussions on the fixed link. I mentioned that we would have approximately a 25 per cent increase in tourism. That means more traffic. Without a doubt we will have both the major infrastructure and the fixed link. We will also have the vitally important Wood Islands-Caribou ferry service.

I am very pleased that section 14 indicates that Canada acknowledges the distinct and important role the Wood Islands-Caribou ferry service provides and recognizes that the construction and operation of the fixed link crossing in no way diminish the importance of this ferry service which is a vital link between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

[Prince Edward Island Fixed Link, February 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. I am sure the minister is quite capable of speaking for himself. I am also sure that no project would be handled by public works that would indicate no one in Quebec or anywhere else would get a job.

I have indicated that we come from an area of high unemployment, probably the highest in the country. We need jobs and this project provides jobs in our own area. The point is that we have the work force and we have the project. We would never exclude anybody. The jobs are in the area and the project is there.

I thank the hon. member's leader for his support for the project. When he comes to vacation in the province of Prince Edward Island he will find it much easier to get there in a number of years. He would be very welcome to go there to work on it or to go there to visit us.