Rob Anders

[Main Estimates, 1999-2000, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I had the honour today to participate in a rally on Parliament Hill with several of my colleagues, including the hon. member across the way.

I would like to pose a question to my hon. colleague. I remember having taken part in committee meetings with regard to the whole idea of accountability. I remember very well refusals by representatives from the Senate to speak to the accountability of that body.

Let us analyse it. Is the Senate accountable to the taxpayer? I do not happen to think so because I do not think taxpayers would approve a 16% budget increase over two years when the House of Commons gets 2% and generally government operations get 3%. I cannot think of anyone who would make such demands, especially under the circumstances when the Senate works 66 half days a year.

I then look at it in terms of whether or not the Senate is accountable to the House of Commons. According to the Senate it is not accountable to the House of Commons. That is one of the reasons it is willing to raise its budgets, not be accountable to anybody else, and say that it will go ahead and hold hostage the House of Commons and push for work stoppages in this place if we try to call it into question.

The Senate always likes to say that it is not accountable to the Prime Minister either. I could go through all the appointments various prime ministers including this current one have made, but once they are appointed they say they are no longer accountable to the Prime Minister.

I do not believe that the Senate is accountable to taxpayers. I do not believe the Senate is accountable to the House of Commons. I do not believe the Senate is accountable to the Prime Minister. To whom is it accountable?

[Main Estimates, 1999-2000, June 8th, 1999]

It was that obvious.

[Main Estimates, 1999-2000, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pose a challenge to my hon. colleague. I am going to cite two quotes and I am going to ask the hon. member to tell me who made these statements. A certain individual who sits in the House said on February 2, 1990 in front of a reporter with the Windsor Star and 600 people in Edmonton: “I am not interested in patronage because I am a Liberal”. This same individual, on page 196 of a book entitled Straight from the Heart , published in 1985, said:

I didn't want to be trapped in making decisions on patronage, local contracts, and appointments that cause so much friction and bad blood.

I do not want to be too vague on this. I also want to say that this individual who sits in the House has appointed a former Liberal member of Parliament, William Rompkey; has appointed a former Liberal premier of Prince Edward Island, Catherine Callbeck; has appointed another former MP, Jean Robert Gauthier; has appointed former Liberal candidates in New Brunswick for the Liberal leadership race there; and, has appoint prominent people in the Trudeau cabinet. The list goes on to include prominent B.C. Liberal organizers who are golfing and business buddies of this individual who sits right across the House.

Now that I have given this information, I would like to see if the hon. member can guess who that individual is.

[Main Estimates, 1999-2000, June 8th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

I would like to ask unanimous consent to extend questions and comments for 10 minutes since we have the rare privilege of debating with such a respected and knowledgeable minister in the House.

[Main Estimates, 1999-2000, June 8th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, since 1993 there have been 34 appointments by our current Prime Minister to the Senate and there are currently four vacancies. That makes for a total of 38 seats. If there were an election in 2001, another 14 seats would be available for a total of 52, the majority of seats in the Senate since the Prime Minister has taken office.

What has changed since some of these quotes were made? The first one reads:

I...support Senate reform. If it is done properly, a restructured and revitalized upper chamber can give Albertans a voice in the governance of Canada. If elected Liberal leader, I pledge to work for a Senate that is elected, that has legislative powers of its own, and contains strong representation from all regions of Canada.

That was at the Liberal leadership on June 23, 1990. The next one reads in part:

—a reformed Senate is essential. It must be a Senate that is elected, effective and equitable.

That appeared in Hansard of September 24, 1991. The next one reads:

The Liberal government in two years will make it (Senate) elected. As Prime Minister I can take steps to make it happen.

This was in a speech to 400 delegates at the annual general meeting of the Alberta branch of the federal Liberal Party in 1990. The next one reads:

You want the triple E Senate and I want one too.

That was a statement on February 2, 1990 to the Toronto Star . The next one reads:

As I said before, and repeat, reform of the Senate is extremely important. I believe in it.

That can be found in Hansard of May 14, 1991. On February 1, 1997, the next one is:

If he names him (Senator Stan Waters) that's the end of appointed senators who are not elected.

The last one reads:

I know that in western Canada they were disappointed that there was not, there's the Senate, because they wanted to have an equal Senate and an elected Senate and I thought it was a good thing to do.

That was on CBC Prime Time News on December 29, 1992. Those are all quotes from our current Prime Minister. What has changed?

[Questions On The Order Paper, June 7th, 1999]

How many full time equivalent positions is ACOA directly and indirectly responsible for creating during each of the following fiscal years: 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998?

[Summer Internship Program, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to extend a warm welcome to the participants in Reform's 1999 summer internship program. This summer 13 students drawn from universities across Canada are in Ottawa to gain valuable experience working for Reform members of parliament in Reform research and communications.

The 1999 Reform summer interns are: Stephen Murphy from Newfoundland; Heather Shillington and Paul Barnes from Nova Scotia; Lana Bryon, Ray Novak, Chris Schafer, Siobhan Thomas and Steve Cull from Ontario; Shuv Majumdar, John Gardner and Pierre Polivre from Alberta; and Heather Brown and Reesha Namasivayam from British Columbia.

Drawn from a pool of over 180 applicants, these 13 individuals represent the best of a new generation of Canadians interested in learning about the parliamentary process and dedicated to building a renewed Canada for the future.

On behalf of the Official Opposition I welcome Reform summer interns and wish them an enjoyable and educational stay.

[The Late Owen Hart, May 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to express our deepest sympathies to the family of Owen Hart who was tragically killed this past Sunday night.

The Hart family is known worldwide as the first family of wrestling. Owen followed in the respected footsteps of his older brothers and his father when he began wrestling professionally in 1986. He was an outstanding athlete and an inspiration for so many.

For a moment though, I would like to put aside the fame and simply reflect on Owen and his family.

Stu and Helen have been married for over 50 years. At their anniversary party last year I could see that everyone who knows them loves them. Owen was the youngest of their 12 children. He was a devoted husband of 17 years to Martha, and father of two, Oje, age 7 and Athena, age 3.

Owen always made time to visit the children's hospital and said “Say your prayers, take your vitamins and drink your milk”.

To the Hart family I can only say that behind your dignified public composure I know Owen's death is a terrible, terrible loss for you. I thank you for sharing Owen with us. We grieve with you.

[Tartan Day, May 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the St. Andrew Caledonian Society to ask for recognition of Tartan Day every year on April 6.

April 6 has special significance, for on that day in 1320 Scottish nobles gathered in the Abbey of Arbroath and pledged to defend their land from persecution and foreign dominance.

Swearing even to cast aside their King, Robert the Bruce, if he should falter from the principles of self-determination and freedom, this declaration is one of the earliest expressions of the rights of humanity to a peaceful, productive and secure life.

From the first contracts granted in Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, in 1621 to the present day, the Scots have played a major role in the founding of this nation.

The declaration of April 6 as Tartan Day will recognize not only the events of history in supporting the right of people to be free from oppression, but will also recognize the significant contributions of the Scottish people in the exploration and foundations of Canada.

[Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, April 23rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I can let the hon. minister know what their relationship is. They all have to do with the waste of taxpayer dollars, clear and simple.

We have heard it before from him, but something is rotten in that meat store. Birmingham and Whiffin are getting another $100,000 and they are waiting for two more grants.

There is something the minister can do right here and now. He can stop the $100,000 and deny the other applications. Will the minister cut the fat?