Maria Minna

[Global Population, October 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as members know, almost all of the population growth is taking place in developing countries, aggravating the issues of poverty and social tensions in those areas.

However, much of CIDA's programming is devoted to supporting women in developing countries, including their quality of life, as well as targeting funding for reproductive health programming.

I would also like to point out that we do a great deal of work with girl child education. In fact, if 1,000 girls were given the opportunity to go to school for one extra year only, it would save 60 children.

[Government Contracts, October 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first, CIDA does not hold the contract with Transelec. The contract is held between the government of the African Republic of Mali and Transelec.

Second, CIDA funds the project and pays the bills according to the Mali government, as they are submitted.

Third, this company's bid was 30% lower than the next lowest bid.

The project will be finished in the near future and it will be done at no additional cost.

[Peacekeeping, October 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I must say that as soon as the East Timorese situation broke Canada offered $420,000 immediately. We were the first country on the ground with CARE Canada to provide assistance to the East Timorese who were being held in West Timor. It was rather risky but we did that.

In addition we had $300,000 from the Canada fund on the ground which was redirected. We also had $300,000 from another program which was redirected, for a little over $1 million.

We are monitoring the situation and in a few days I will be in a position to announce in the House some additional assistance as the situation in East Timor becomes such that we can go in and actually do our job in there as well.

[Health, June 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

Back in March the member for London West asked the minister if he was supportive of approving the medical use of marijuana. The minister committed to clinical trials of marijuana, access to a safe supply and guidelines for its use. Will the minister tell the House what progress he has made to date?

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Children and Youth.

Questions have been raised concerning the aboriginal human resources development strategy with regard to access to services for urban aboriginals.

Since the strategy is designed to provide aboriginal people with access to programs and services regardless of status or residence, can the minister give an assurance that the urban aboriginal population will in fact receive its fair share of benefits under the new strategy?

[Petitions, May 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am also pleased to present a petition with well over 1,000 signatures from people of my riding, as well as the general Toronto area, concerning landing fees.

The petitioners request parliament to ask the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to consider lowering the landing fee, which they feel is too high, and to consider combining the landing fee and the charge for administration to lower the expense.

[Youth, May 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday it was announced that the Missing Children's Network Canada has entered into an alliance with Hilton Canada to increase awareness of the plight of missing children.

Can the Minister of National Revenue tell us what role his department is playing in this vital endeavour?

[National Organ Donor Week, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday statements were read from both sides of the floor recognizing this week as Organ Donation Week and stressing the need for an improvement in Canada's organ donation rate.

The statistics clearly demonstrate the need for such improvements. Nevertheless, Organ Donation Week in 1999 offers a great deal of hope to Canadians that this situation can change for the better.

This morning, I and my colleagues on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health released our report on the state of organ donation and transplantation in Canada. Our recommendations highlight ways in which the federal government can work in concert with the provinces and hospitals to improve organ retrieval systems, information systems, and increase public and professional awareness.

Similar changes were implemented in Spain just 10 years ago and resulted in a radical increase in their organ donation rate. It is my sincere hope that our recommendations will lead to similar, perhaps better, success for our great country.

[Petitions, March 17th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition which deals with section 43 of the Criminal Code which allows schoolteachers, parents and those standing in the place of a parent to use reasonable force for the correction of pupils or children under their care. The petitioners say that reasonable force has been interpreted by the courts to include spanking, slapping, strapping, kicking, hitting with belts, sticks and extension cords and causing bruises, welts and abrasions.

The petitioners feel that this goes against the UN charter with respect to the rights of the child as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and they call upon parliament to end the legal approval of this harmful and discriminatory practice by repealing section 43 of the Criminal Code.

[Health Care, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, 80% of Canadians acknowledge our health care system as the best in the world and see the principles upon which it is based as a source of national pride.

Cynical parties, however, would have Canadians believe that evidence of the abuse known as queue jumping is reason for robbing Canadians of this pride. Worse still, the same parties that point to this abuse would correct the problem of queue jumping by institutionalizing it as a two tier wealth care. To these parties allow me to repeat the words of the hon. finance minister “Not now, not ever”.

Because of the Liberal government's initiatives in the 1999 budget Canadians will be proud of their universal health care in the 21st century, as proud as 80% of Canadians are today. We are all very proud of the $11.5 billion increase in the health care fund.