Maurizio Bevilacqua

[Petitions, September 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition draws to the attention of the House the important role small businesses play in our economy. The petitioners call upon Parliament to continue to create a healthy environment for small businesses to ensure they have access to the financing they need and to help them explore and capitalize on new opportunities.

[Petitions, September 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present to the House two petitions signed by residents of York North.

The first petition is about the Helms-Burton law. The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that the Cuban liberty and democratic solidarity act attempts to impose American domestic policy on other sovereign countries and, therefore, violates international law.

The petitioners further draw to the attention of the House that Canadians' interests, rights and businesses must be defended with strength and vigour.

The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to pursue all avenues available to ensure the rights of Canadians are protected.

[National Conference For Youth, September 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, today over 100 Canadians from all regions and backgrounds will arrive in Ottawa to take part in the National Conference for Youth hosted by the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The conference, entitled "Taking Responsibility in the New Economy: Challenges and Choices", is about challenging employers, labour, educators, governments, youth serving organizations and youth themselves to define their roles in the new economy. It is also about identifying the choices these stakeholders can make to improve our prospects for the future.

To achieve this, we have invited young people from as far away as Vancouver and St. John's, from Yellowknife to Ste. Julie. We have invited representatives from the high tech sector, agriculture, mining, the learning community, labour, youth service organizations, all working together to devise a plan of action that will allow all Canadians to participate fully in the new economy. It will allow Canada to lead the way into the 21st century.

[Petitions, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present a petition signed by residents of York North.

The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that Canadians of all ages view our health care system as a defining element of Canadian society.

The petitioners further draw to the attention of the House that the red book, "Creating Opportunity" states that a Liberal government will not accept attempts to gut the medicare system.

The petitioners therefore call on Parliament to continue to uphold the fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act so that public health care remains accessible, comprehensive, portable, universal and publicly administered.

[The Economy, June 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is taking charge of its future. Through effective deficit reduction, industry deregulation, the lowering of internal trade barriers, Team Canada trade missions abroad and a tremendous effort by all members of the Liberal government, it has succeeded in creating a healthy economic environment for jobs and growth.

The OECD today pointed to Canada to lead the way in economic growth. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts that Canada will have the fastest growing economy in the industrial world.

Thanks to a concerted focus on trade and lower interest rates, Canada's economic growth is projected to average 3.5 per cent over the next 18 months. The unemployment rate is expected to continue its downward course, averaging 9 per cent in 1997.

Canadians are a hard working, determined, results oriented people and so too is the government.

[The Economy, June 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, by keeping our promise and meeting our deficit targets, this government has helped restore market confidence in Canada and create a climate of lower interest rates and job creation.

The unemployment rate has fallen from 11.2 per cent in 1993 to 9.4 per cent. Over 636,000 jobs have been created. We have increased our investment to $315 million to help young Canadians get their first job and have doubled our commitment to summer jobs for young people. We have introduced the Strategis Internet service, Canada's largest source of business and trade information. We have hired young Canadians to hook up over 50,000 small businesses to the Internet. We have amended the Small Business Loans Act to make loans more accessible. Team Canada trade missions to the Far East, Latin America and India have generated over $22 billion in business deals.

We have invested wisely and have modernized our economy. By working with Canadians we are bringing about positive change to Canadians' lives.

[Youth, June 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as chair of the ministerial task force on youth, together with very dedicated colleagues, I recently travelled across the country, speaking and listening to thousands of young Canadians, employers and people who work with youth. I return to the House inspired.

Today's youth are the most educated generation in our country's history. They are independent, entrepreneurial and determined. Armed with technological know-how, they are ready to explore the global economy and chart their own future.

What they want from the government is better labour market information about the domestic and global economy. They want society to have greater awareness of the issues and challenges they face. They want greater co-operation between governments, the private sector and local organizations to address the challenge of school to work transition.

They want banks to respond to their entrepreneurial spirit. They want to enhance their participation in global affairs. They want to be citizens of the world. I know Canada's youth are up to the challenge. So, too, is the government.

[Supply, May 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I will return to some of the issues the hon. member mentioned. He sees nothing good coming out of this session of Parliament. He feels that the world is falling apart, that Canada is nowhere.

This country has been named by the United Nations as the number one country. We have one of the best employment records, job creation records in any of the industrialized countries. Over 604,000 jobs have been created. There has been a reduction in unemployment. Past governments stated that we would not have single digit unemployment in Canada for a long time. They said it would be double digit for a number of years. That has been reduced.

Consider the deficit. Not only has the government met its target but has even improved on its projection. The hon. member said that things are so bad in this nation that absolutely nothing is working right. Yet there are so many positive indicators that the government is moving in the right direction, that Canada has a great opportunity to remain as number one in the entire world.

The member talked about having a Prime Minister who is a dictator. I do not know which House of Commons or which Parliament he is in. On many occasions the Prime Minister has expressed the will of the party in very democratic ways. There have been free votes in the House. I have seen how many times there have been free votes on the other side. The hon. member ought to pay a little more attention to what is going on.

Is it part of being a member of the Reform Party that you have to be bitter about life in general and bitter about anything that governments are doing to bring about positive change? Why is it that you cannot see the positives that are occurring throughout the country? Have you not been around long enough?

[Supply, May 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it was an initiative that you initiated as a Speaker. I wonder why the hon. member would feel that somehow it is an abuse of power to respect history. The names that appear on those plaques are of people who have been nation builders. They helped create the social security system, medicare, Canada pension plan. The modernization of our nation has occurred because of the input of so many members of Parliament who have practised their faith in the country here in this Chamber. You

do a great disservice to this nation by saying that members of Parliament do not play an important role.

I will return to some of the issues you raised.

[Supply, May 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I paid attention to the hon. member's speech. Why is he so bitter about life as a parliamentarian? It seems that you question the importance of public service, when you cannot enjoy a historical moment like the one we had yesterday when the names of people who have contributed to the history of this country, who have given of themselves to the improvement of our society, that somehow you would view that-