House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Agriculture October 30th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, last week the hon. gentlemen provided a rather complex pile of papers which I have referred to my officials for analysis.
We have completed a preliminary review of the Canadian Wheat Board matter to which the hon. gentleman has just referred. On the basis of that preliminary analysis there would not appear to be any foundation to the allegations he is making.
I will, however, complete my review and if I discover anything to the contrary I will report to him.
Pipelines October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, as I answered the hon. gentleman yesterday, the joint review panel has just filed its report with respect to socioeconomic issues and environmental issues. It made 46 recommendations. The government is in the process of considering those recommendations.
The hon. gentleman should know that this whole process has been conducted very strictly according to the regulatory rules that govern the situation. The government will follow those rules until a final conclusion is reached.
Canadian Wheat Board October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, this hon. member knows, because he is a party to a legal proceeding that is presently under appeal, that he is asking a question which I cannot answer in the context of that legal proceeding.
In fact he is the plaintiff and he has no business asking that question. I can assure him, however, that the Canadian Wheat Board in every market around the world extracts the very best price it can possibly get for the farmers of Canada.
Canadian Wheat Board October 28th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the suggestion from the Governor of North Dakota was very interesting. Quite frankly, the proposition that he made may border on the fringes of illegality, but maybe it should be taken under advisement. Certainly he is calling for better cross-border collaboration between Canada and the United States in the grain trade. That is a very positive thing.
With respect to Bill C-4, we are listening very carefully to all of the representations that are being made to the standing committee on agriculture and we will take all of that advice into account in our final decisions.
The Environment October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the joint panel report was released at about noon today. The government has obviously only just received it. We are in the process of reviewing all of its recommendations, some 46 in total.
It is our intention to give the report very careful consideration and respond within the appropriate timeframe. We want to ensure that whatever decision is taken is taken on a sound, proper, legal basis.
Nuclear Safety October 23rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the primary operational responsibility obviously rests with Ontario Hydro, which is a provincial crown corporation. Regulatory matters in relation to nuclear safety are in the professional hands of the atomic energy control board. I have met with the chair of the board and I have been assured of the board's solid handle on the safety issues pertaining to Ontario Hydro.
The board is closely monitoring the situation with both on site and off site surveillance. That monitoring led to the original wake-up call to Ontario Hydro that has brought the matter to public attention and remedial action and, yes, if further action is warranted the control board will—
The Environment October 23rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, on this issue of taxation, let me quote the Calgary Sun of October 15, 1994 where this quote appears in relation to certain forms of taxation, not a carbon tax but other forms of taxation related to the environment. It reads: “It is worth consideration. If it is truly an environmental tax then I do not have a serious problem. I think the public is, by and large, willing to pay a reasonable amount to address an environmental problem. I guess our greatest fear was a carbon tax imposed on the wellhead”. That quote is attributed to Premier Ralph Klein.
The Environment October 23rd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, there are a variety of ways by which countries around the world can come to grips with climate change. There are self-initiated efforts by the private sector. There are measures to support energy efficiency. There are incentives for science and and technology, technology commercialization and transfer. There are renewable sources of energy. There are joint implementation plans. There are emission credits and trading.
Only the Reform Party is fixated on taxation.
The Environment October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, there is indeed a vital role for voluntary action on climate change. The members of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers have to date shown a six million tonne improvement in reducing CO2 emissions. Pan-Canadian generated a four fold improvement between 1995 and 1996. The Canadian pipeline industry achieved a 2% reduction between 1994 and 1995. By the year 2000 Consumers Gas will improve by 25%. EPCOR will improve by one million tonnes per year.
The illustrations show that voluntary action can be very helpful. I think the private sector should be applauded for the progress it has made.
The Late Claude Ellis October 8th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, like the member for Qu'Appelle I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Claude Ellis, a former member of Parliament for Regina City from 1952 to 1958 representing the CCF.
Mr. Ellis' interest in politics started very early in life. As a youth he served on his party's provincial council in Saskatchewan and as youth president in the late 1930s. His political involvement continued through his university years at the University of Saskatchewan. Mr. Ellis also showed his aspirations to serve very early on in life, being elected prime minister of the university parliamentary forum for two years running.
During that time Mr. Ellis was very well served by his excellent speaking ability, an ability for which he won both oratory prizes and debating trophies, culminating in a trip to Guelph, Ontario, where he walked away with the Canadian debating championship.
In the House of Commons Mr. Ellis was an advocate for the less well off in society, in particular in the areas of housing and health care, helping to form the caring society that Canada has become, a tradition that all of us from Regina would aspire to continue.
Mr. Ellis is survived by his wife Bessie, three sons and one daughter. On behalf of the Government of Canada I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Ellis family.