Rodger Cuzner

[The Environment, December 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Sydney, Nova Scotia continue to live beside the country's largest environmental cleanup challenge.

Some $400 million has been allocated to the cleanup effort. However, the cloud that hangs over the project is exactly what type of environmental review will be deployed, be it a comprehensive assessment or a full panel review.

Concerns raised by the residents centre around the potential delays in the cleanup process, should the decision be to go forward with a full panel review.

I ask the Minister of Public Works to share with this House where does the environmental assessment stand? When can the good people of Sydney expect to see this project completed?

[Eleanor Huntington, November 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand in the House today and recognize the passing of a great Canadian.

Eleanor Huntington was born in 1904 in Huntington, Cape Breton along the shores of the Mira River. A graduate of the Nova Scotia Normal College, she taught at various schools throughout the province early in her career. She joined the staff of the Cape Breton Post in the early 1950s as a proof reader before moving into the editorial department, beginning a remarkable career in journalism.

At her 100th birthday this past summer, she shared with many friends the numerous highlights of her career, which included covering stories like the unveiling of the world famous Cape Breton Tartan as well as an interview with Olive Diefenbaker when then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker visited Cape Breton Island.

An avid researcher and genealogist, she authored a number of books on local and family history. A true role model for Canadian women, I ask this House to join me in remembering Eleanor Huntington on a long, full and productive life.

[Income Tax Act, November 15th, 2004]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-273, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency service).

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to stand and present this bill. In essence, the bill was presented in the 37th Parliament by the member for Malpeque. It is an amendment to the Income Tax Act that would recognize the work put forward by volunteer emergency service providers with a tax deduction of $500 for those with 50 hours of service and $1,000 for those with 100 hours service, a small gesture for the appreciation that we should show those people who put themselves in harm's way on a regular basis for the safety of others.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Sports Hall of Fame, November 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to acknowledge six outstanding Canadians who earlier this week were inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Among these six individuals were: Lori Fung, one of our country's most recognized rhythmic gymnasts; Olympic medal winning track star, Donovan Bailey; and the late Jack Donohue, an icon for his leadership and promotion of basketball in Canada.

In addition, Abby Hoffman will be recognized for her accomplishments as an athlete and sport administrator, and a champion for the advancement of women in sport.

From the world of hockey, there are two legends, Larry Robinson, one of the game's great defencemen, and Scotty Bowman for his incredible contribution as a coach and administrator.

All of these individuals are heroes who have contributed to Canada's pride through the advancement of sport.

[Supply, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I want to support my colleague in some of his opening remarks with regard to the Atlantic provinces, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in particular, and the reference of a have not area and have not province. There is nothing that infuriates me more than that reference. Further to that, I opened up the Toronto Star, of October 27 and saw the headline “Premiers reach deal on handouts”. It is an insult. They do not get it; they do not understand.

The coal miners of Cape Breton who mine the coal, who powered the navies through the first world war and the second world war, the miners who went underground and risked their lives to power the industry in Ontario to generate the economy in Ontario, they did not consider that a handout.

When the fish from Newfoundland and off the coast of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia fed the farmers in the dust bowl in Alberta, that was not a handout. That was Canadians within the federation helping Canadians. That is what we are talking about here.

My concern with this opposition motion is that it comes from the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Calgary Southwest, who does not understand Atlantic Canadians and does not understand Atlantic Canada.

Anyone who was here in the mid-nineties understands fully that it was Atlantic Canada that suffered most through the cuts in the mid-nineties. He said the cuts were not deep enough. He said they did not go far enough and equalization would have been the casualty of any further cuts.

Does the member not think it is somewhat disingenuous for the motion to be put forward by the member for Calgary Southwest?

[Supply, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I might suggest that if those phone calls were coming from Cape Breton, it was probably during the election and it was probably people from Cape Breton asking the member to intervene on the part of his party, which wanted to carve the heart out of ECBC, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, and in fact out of the rest of our regional economic development agencies. I would think that would be the nature of the calls from Cape Breton.

With all due respect for his past profession as a car salesman, I will say that I think my colleague has taken a little liberty with the numbers and the arithmetic with reference to his comments about the newly elected leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, that being that if in fact he had signed the deal he would have left $800 million on the table. I would like to know how he arrived at those figures.

[Supply, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague stands in the House and speaks about the situation in Nova Scotia with regard to the financial situation, he speaks from a position of understanding. His late dad, who was a former premier, inherited a set of books from a past government that carried an incredible amount of debt, which is something Nova Scotians continue to deal with on a regular basis.

As well, there were references made to where the Government of Canada has come in the last eight to ten years to getting its own fiscal house in order.

Will the province of Nova Scotia have the latitude in these moneys coming forward? Where will the benefit be to the people of Nova Scotia? Where will those investments be made?

[Committees of the House, November 3rd, 2004]

The debate about the equalization would not have been able to take place if we haven't got the money.

[Renovation Month, October 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, October is Renovation Month.

For 15 years the Canadian Home Builders' Association has been celebrating the renovation season by providing consumers with information on home renovations, as well as showcasing the building industry's professionals, their products and services.

As Canada's national agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation supports this initiative and works with home builders to share with consumers a wealth of housing information and know-how. CMHC Is there to help Canadians with decisions on buying, renovating and maintaining their homes.

It is committed to working with builders and helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes and making vibrant and sustainable communities a reality right across this country.

[Election of Speaker, October 4th, 2004]

I would be pleased, to the comfort of the House, to have my name struck from the ballot.