Rodger Cuzner

[The Budget, March 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as most Canadians know, small and medium sized business has been the backbone of our economy over the past years, fueling economic growth by creating jobs in record numbers. These business owners have been calling and e-mailing my office since the tabling of the government's budget.

Could the Minister of Finance tell me what steps he has taken in the budget to recognize the competitive edge these enterprises need to keep driving our economy?

[Vince Ryan Memorial Tournament, March 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to express thanks to the organizers of the Vince Ryan oldtimers hockey tournament. From its humble beginnings 15 years ago with 12 teams to this year's incredible 152 teams, the Vince Ryan has become the most significant winter tourism event on Cape Breton Island.

Hosting teams from across Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Alberta, this year's event was highlighted by the participation of the L.A. Chill women's team from Los Angeles, California.

The economic impact of the event on our local economy is tremendous, dumping in over $3 million over the four day competition.

To tournament organizer Richie Warren, his board of directors and the huge army of volunteers, I wish to offer my thanks and congratulations. The host communities should take great pride in the incredible hospitality shown their guests.

The continued efforts of these committed people have been the catalyst that has allowed the Vince Ryan oldtimers tournament to become one of the best adult hockey events not only in Atlantic Canada but in the entire country.

[Sister Peggy Butts, March 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I inform the House today of the death of Sister Peggy Butts. Born in Bridgeport, Cape Breton, Sister Peggy earned her Ph.D in political philosophy from the University of Toronto.

Through her career as a high school principal and later as a professor at St. Francis Xavier University and the University College of Cape Breton, she earned a reputation as a brilliant educator who dedicated her life to issues of social justice.

She committed her life to a wide variety of health care and social projects and assisted numerous social groups from across the country. She served as the director of the social justice office for the Diocese of Antigonish.

In 1997 our former prime minister, Jean Chrétien, called Sister Peggy to the Senate, leaving in 1999 after she reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. During the two years she served in the red chamber, she donated her entire salary to charity.

All of us who knew Sister Peggy appreciated her kindness, wit and of course great passion for the game of hockey and, more particular, the love she had for her Montreal Canadiens.

Indeed, Sister Peggy Butts was blessed with a brilliant mind and a dogged determination to work every day to improve the state of those less fortunate. She led a wonderful life and has left an indelible mark on the lives of many.

[No. 26 Colliery Mine, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, February 24, 1979, is a date that weighs heavy on the hearts of many Cape Bretoners, for it was in the early morning hours on that day that 12 coal miners lost their lives in an underground fire in No. 26 Colliery in Glace Bay. Four co-workers were also severely burned.

This tragic accident, which rocked our community, serves as a harsh reminder of the dangers and hardships these men faced on a daily basis.

The bond between coal miners runs deep and true and the impact of this tragedy was shared by all. To the co-workers and brave draggermen who risked their own lives in rescue and recovery operations, we say thanks.

I know colleagues on both sides of the House offer condolences to the family and friends, as they continue to deal with their loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

[Cape Breton Development Corporation, February 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, in the late fall of 2002 it was determined by an independent actuary that the Cape Breton Development Corporation held surplus funds in both the contributory and non-contributory pension plans. In claiming rights to these funds, the corporation filed court proceedings which were later dismissed by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.

The pensioners and widows of former coal miners who contributed to these surplus funds through the acceptance of contract concessions and wage scales far below industry standards are entitled to be fairly compensated in this case.

Could the Minister of Natural Resources tell the House when these good people can expect a resolution to their case?

[Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to rise and speak on Bill C-18 here today and to join in this debate.

As we know and as has been stated in the House, Bill C-18 really has two aspects that will be dealt with, one aspect being the continuation of the transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces. The second aspect of this bill will allow the federal government to move the $2 billion that has been identified through the meetings with the federal officials and the Prime Minister, through the premiers to the provinces as well, specifically for health care.

We will look first at the aspect of the legislation that deals with the transfer payments. As we are aware, money flows from the federal government through the provinces in any number of ways. Four main vehicles that the federal government uses to share money with the provinces are: the Canada health and social transfer, equalization, the territorial formula financing, and the health reform transfer. The legislation being put forth today deals with equalization and the CHST.

The equalization program basically ensures that those provinces less able to provide the necessities and the essential services to its constituents are able to draw from the fund. It takes into account the revenues from the prosperous provinces. Everybody pays into equalization and then through the sharing formula it is determined which revenues are able to be taken out of this pot. It is a very complex and complicated five province formula that is applied. Through this formula, the lesser provinces, the provinces less apt to have revenues to provide basic services, are able to draw from that fund. I hold my seat in Bras d'Or--Cape Breton and the Province of Nova Scotia is one of those provinces that is a beneficiary of the equalization payments.

Some of the major inputs obviously come from the bigger provinces. When we look at a province like Ontario, we see that its revenue input is a significant amount of what we base our sharing outcomes on. Looking back and reflecting on the year that Ontario has just gone through, there is going to be somewhat of a change from past years because of the tough year Ontario experienced this year with SARS, the downturn in its tourism industry, and those struggles. This is all going to factor into the formula as well.

The original legislation was signed in 1999. As we know, the reason for the discussion, the debate and this legislation coming forward today is that it is set to lapse at the end of March. Hence, we find ourselves in a situation where the federal government wants to guarantee that the flow of cash to the provinces is not interrupted. We want to reaffirm that.

In effect, this legislation is almost like an insurance policy. Officials for the provinces and the federal government continue to negotiate and get into the nitty-gritty of the new legislation that will be put forward. What we will see, hopefully in the next short while, is that a new formula will be developed or a new agreement will be struck. At that time, legislation will be put forward which will supersede today's legislation. This is almost like interim legislation until the new deal is agreed upon between the federal government and the provinces.

The second aspect or component of this legislation is the transfer to the provinces of the very much needed health care dollars. In January, when the Prime Minister met with the premiers, and even before that, it was identified that if there were a surplus then an additional $2 billion would come from the federal coffers to be shared among the provinces.

I remember the great excitement among the premiers and some of the trepidation when we were not quite certain just what the surplus was going to be this year. We had hoped that we were going to be able to provide that $2 billion and now this legislation will make sure that the $2 billion is there and can be moved to the provinces so that they can apply it to their provincial health care systems.

Here is what we have seen in recent years. In September 2000 a reinvestment was made, with $21.5 billion reinvested in health care to the provinces. That agreement was struck between the federal government and the provinces. The federal government, because it finally got its financial house in order, was in a position where it could reinvest in those essentials that Canadians see as imperative. Obviously health care is something that Canadians take a great deal of interest in and recognize the importance of, and fortunately the federal government was able to reinvest in it in 2000. Subsequently, we have made additional investments in health care.

In my own province of Nova Scotia, when we did make the reinvestment in 2000, there was a particular envelope of money that was peeled out and identified specifically for the acquisition of hospital equipment. We can see that on the ground now back in my own constituency. I look at the Cape Breton regional health care facility, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, and the recent acquisition of an MRI machine.

Before we made this investment in health care back in 2000, I think there were around 50 MRIs in the country. Right now we have almost 125 MRIs across Canada.

There was further investment in equipment. We have digital x-ray machines in Inverness County, in Richmond County at the Strait Richmond Hospital, and a bone densitometer in Sydney. Health care facilities were able to make these investments because the federal government put money in a specific envelope for the acquisition of health care equipment.

People who used to have to leave home and travel to Halifax for these particular treatments are now able to stay in their own communities and receive the treatments. We were very fortunate that we were able to apply the money there.

And really, what we are able to do through this legislation is provide an additional $2 billion that we will be able to transfer to the provinces for health care. It is entirely up to the provinces how they deal with the moneys through the CHST and through equalization.

We hope that the House will see the wisdom of supporting this legislation. We hope members recognize that when we look at equalization, this legislation offers itself as an insurance policy as we wait for the final agreement between the feds and the provinces. As well, we hope they see the merit in supporting this legislation because it will enable the federal government to get that $2 billion into the hands of the provinces so that we can make that reinvestment in our provincial health care programs.

[Employment Insurance, February 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a number of fishers in Atlantic Canada, mainly from Newfoundland and Labrador, have been denied access to employment insurance, and it has taken some time to address their issue.

Could the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development inform the House as to the status of these cases?

[Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, February 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, today I want to offer my congratulations to Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation. Last month the Auditor General's awards for excellence in annual reporting were announced and ECBC was one of this year's finalists.

This corporation's work in Cape Breton is well known as it has delivered important projects to every part of Cape Breton Island. Today there are thousands of people working in my riding who are working because of the efforts of ECBC.

The Auditor General stated in announcing her awards that the awards recognize the best reporting practices in crown corporations' annual reports. It is an honour that ECBC was considered, but the award that really matters is the economic contribution ECBC has made to the people of Cape Breton.

Today I extend my best wishes to the board of directors, to vice-president Rick Beaton and to the staff of this vital corporation for this significant recognition.

[The Environment, February 3rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's throne speech clearly stated to the people of Cape Breton, and in particular the people of Whitney Pier, that the federal government remains committed to the cleanup of the Sydney tar ponds.

The people of this area understand the complexity of the problem and they have shown incredible patience over the years while JAG developed and researched potential cleanup technologies.

My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Now that these technologies have been brought forward and the federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to the cleanup, when will the cleanup begin?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 7th, 2003]

Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.