Rob Moore

[Child Pornography, October 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian children deserve better. Rather than listening to Canadians, the minister has simply revived old legislation that child advocates and front line police officers have already said will not be effective.

First it was artistic merit, then it was public good. Now it is legitimate purpose. I ask the minister, why will he not close all loopholes for child pornographers?

[Child Pornography, October 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday when the Minister of Justice reintroduced so-called child protection legislation, he once again failed to address the most fundamental issue. Instead of eliminating the notorious artistic merit defence for possession of child pornography, the minister has simply given it a new name.

Why does the government continue to provide loopholes for the possession of child pornography?

[Agriculture, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, I was pretty clear that we should exhaust all options to resolve the crisis. The question the member asked me had nothing to do with that. He asked why we keep mentioning the ridiculous remarks that come from his side about the Americans. I was quite clear that it is not helpful and I do not believe we are going to resolve this crisis as long as that poisoned atmosphere is in place between us and our largest trading partner.

[Agriculture, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, we are having this take note debate because all across our country there are farmers in crisis. We should be exhausting all means, whether they be diplomatic or legal, necessary to resolve this crisis.

If there are steps that can be taken, and we have exhausted diplomatic steps, then I certainly feel it should be the mandate of the government to take all the steps necessary to resolve the crisis.

[Agriculture, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, the only response I would have is that it may not be the only reason, but those types of reactions and comments certainly at the very best do not help matters. That point has been made over and over many times tonight. It seems fairly self-evident to me that we do not gain favour with our trading partners by calling them names. That has been well established and I would say that at best it does not help.

[Agriculture, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, it is a privilege for me to rise this morning in the House to speak to an issue of great importance to the constituents of Fundy Royal as well as other Atlantic Canadians.

The BSE crisis is affecting farmers from coast to coast. There is, however, a misconception out there that this is a western issue. It is more than that. It is a Canada wide crisis. For example, there are approximately 1,000 beef farmers in New Brunswick. They contributed $27 million to the provincial economy prior to this crisis. This has dropped to $19 million since the finding of BSE in 2003.

I had the privilege of working with our party's agricultural critic on this issue, and I commend her on her leadership. I have also met with producers in and around my riding to hear how this issue is affecting them in Atlantic Canada. What I have heard is that Atlantic farmers are in crisis. Many of my constituents are faced with the real prospect of bankruptcy and the loss of their farms. Federal aid programs are not helping because they are not reaching the people most in need, and that is our farmers.

Our farmers are some of the hardest working people in Canada and when a crisis like this hits they deserve our help. However, the farmers I have met with tell me that the Liberal program has been of little assistance to them in their time of need. I have heard, for example, from a young farming couple who run a dairy and beef farm with 80 to 100 head of beef. They used to sell their cull cows for $600. Now they are only receiving $66 for a cull cow.

I spoke to another farmer who last year only received in aid an amount equal to what he would normally have gotten by selling two heifers. Another farmer in my riding is now driving a school bus to make ends meet on what was once a successful farming business.

I heard from beef farmers who are confused about how to apply for funding or whether they are even eligible for funding. Forms are so confusing that even departmental officials cannot give straight answers to Canadian farmers.

Clearly, farmers require assistance. What they do not need is more delays, red tape and hoops to jump through. They need help, but they need it at the farm gate. Any assistance that is provided must reach those that require it. Our farmers cannot afford for the Liberals to get it wrong once again.

Another misconception is that the BSE crisis is one that affects only beef farmers. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. For example, dairy farming is a vital part of the economy in my riding of Fundy Royal. As a matter of fact, approximately 70% of New Brunswick's dairy production comes from my riding. The proposed solution by the Liberals to this crisis does not help dairy farmers. Often the CAISP does not benefit dairy since many dairy farmers do not meet the program's requirements. Besides, farmers need a deposit to participate in the CAISP and many of the farmers in my riding are unable to borrow enough money for a deposit.

In Atlantic Canada our farmers are in a particularly tough spot since there is little infrastructure in place for other farming endeavours. I am encouraged that we are working to increase processing capacity in Atlantic Canada. I am also encouraged by the hard work of stakeholders in my region to come up with solutions to this problem. What is discouraging though is the failure of the Liberals to deliver aid to the farm gate. If we are going to have aid programs, an overriding priority must be ensuring that the help arrives in time for those in need.

This crisis will only be resolved when we have an open border with our neighbours to the south, the United States. Again, the previous Liberal government had a dismal relationship with the United States and our farmers have suffered for it. It is time for politicians to put aside pettiness and act in the best interests of farmers and in the best interests of our country.

I encourage my colleagues on all sides of the House, no matter what part of Canada they are from, to work together on solutions that will save our farms.

[Chris Saunders, October 7th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Fundy Royal and citizens of New Brunswick, I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Lieutenant Chris Saunders. His loss of life was the result of a fire aboard the HMCS Chicoutimi .

Lieutenant Saunders was a truly distinguished servant of Canada, who started his military career in the 31st Service Battalion in Saint John while still in high school. As an outstanding student, he received several honours while in school and won a scholarship to military college in Saint-Jean, Quebec.

Earlier today I had the privilege of speaking with Debbie Sullivan, Lieutenant Saunders' mother, who remembered her son as a strongly committed young man dedicated to his job, his country and his family. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Lieutenant Saunders and will not forget the ultimate sacrifice that he made.

Chicoutimi