Peter Stoffer

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I was hoping that everybody in the country could listen to that. Then they could understand exactly what goes on when we fool around with the EI concerns.

First of all I would like to bring greetings from the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst who unfortunately could not be here today.

It appears that this motion at the outset seems to be an act of desperation. Because of all the changes to the EI legislation since the Liberals got into power, this is the kind of motion one has to figure out.

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, it is interesting to hear Reform members stand to quote their friends in the right wing sectors of society.

I would remind the hon. member that the finance minister went to Halifax after the recent EI cuts of last year and asked the chamber of commerce a direct question: “If I reduce the premiums by another 20%, how many jobs would you create?” He asked the entire chamber of commerce that question at its luncheon meeting. Nobody could give an answer. There was no answer. Nobody could stand to say that they would create a job tomorrow if he reduced EI premiums. Not one. That was the finance minister asking the chamber of commerce that question. The hon. member mentioned Fred McMahon. He was also there for that meeting.

If the Reform Party really wants to cut taxes it should start working on cutting the GST and the HST in this country. Then we will have a serious tax cut that will help to create jobs right across this country.

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Madam Speaker, I have the highest regard for the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Oceans who comes from the beautiful riding of Malpeque.

However, one of his comments greatly disturbs me. Earlier today I presented to him an EI statement from somebody in Nova Scotia who got $25 a week EI, and if a person was married with children they got $31 a week.

I would like him to respond to the interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party who indicated that we must have compassion in our rules and changes. Where is the compassion when somebody who has worked most of their life gets $25 a week or $31 a week? Where is the compassion from the government there?

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, with the drastic changes of EI over the last five years, would the member not agree this is just an insidious example of this Liberal government's downsizing its responsibility on to the backs of the provinces?

An example of that is that as of September 1, after the TAGS program, close to 9,000 people in Atlantic Canada and Quebec had to apply for social welfare because the EI premiums were either very insignificant or none at all.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, along with my NDP colleagues, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition on the MAI. They do not believe for one second that this current Liberal government has any intentions, as my colleague from Winnipeg Centre said, to drive a stake through its heart.

I would also like to advise the Liberal government that—

[Canadian Coast Guard, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday in the Standing Committee of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Turner, acting director for the coast guard, indicated that in no way would there be $55 million worth of cuts to the coast guards.

In Saturday's Daily News , Neil Bellefontaine, regional director for Atlantic Canada, said that they were close to reaching their goal of $45 million in cuts. Commander Turner also indicated that close to $200 million had been diverted from the coast guard into DFO. What a wasteful move that was.

My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Are you or are you not going to privatize the coast guard in the very near future?

[Supply, October 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I put on the desk of the member for Burin—St. George's a copy of an EI statement that I received from someone on a recent visit to Canso, Nova Scotia. It is quite simple. The EI benefit for a person who is single with minimum weeks and without this program in place is $25 a week. If they are lucky and are married with children, they get $31 a week. These are actual statements from people whom I recently met in Canso.

I would like the member to comment. If the bundling which I agree with on a personal note is not allowed to help those people that find it difficult to get permanent work with full time benefits and good salaries, in areas of the country such as where I come from in Atlantic Canada, what should they do? What should those people who make $25, or $31 for those who are married with children, on EI do?

[Royal Canadian Mint Act, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the lone Tory in Manitoba that when it comes to anybody being laid off in this country, losing their job, the one party they can always count on for support is the New Democratic Party of Canada.

The hon. member mentioned the 110 jobs that are apparently going to be lost because of this bill. I would like him to clarify where exactly in the bill it states that and how does he come to his conclusions.

[Royal Canadian Mint Act, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, he mentioned that you had the honour of sitting in the big seat and listening to his diatribe. I get tired of listening to it. We all know he is going to vote for Joe Clark tomorrow. There are no new ideas coming from the Conservative Party, especially the member from Manitoba.

He falsely accused the most hon. member in the House, the member for Winnipeg—Transcona, about wanting to privatize Coca-Cola. The actual issue is that after CN was privatized and has made money, it just laid off another 3,000 employees and their families. Volvo, a profitable corporation, laid off 223 employees. Air Atlantic laid off 525. The list goes on and on.

He remarked about people being laid off from profitable corporations, and the list goes on about what these corporations do in Canada, with absolutely no respect for the employees and their families.

I would like his comment on the fact that he is against crown corporations and against any kind of government intervention in companies and for the decency and honour for the employees. What does he have to say about profitable corporations that make a lot of money but continue to lay off employees, disrupt their families and only pay interest to their shareholders?

[Air Atlantic, October 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will be a sad day in aviation history in Canada as Air Atlantic shuts its doors and 525 of the finest people working in the airline industry from Atlantic Canada will lose their jobs.

These employees provided superb customer service and are responsible for Air Atlantic's impeccable safety record. What is the response from this federal government? The Minister of Labour turns himself into the minister of business and grants International Marine Products a waiver from the Canada Labour Code. This is the Liberal government's slap in the face to hardworking and dedicated employees.

As a former airline employee for over 18 years, and behalf of all New Democrats across this country, I would like to wish the outstanding employees and all their families all the best in their future endeavours.