Tom Lukiwski

[Natural Resources, February 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to resume the conversation I have been having over the last week or so with the Minister of Natural Resources concerning the cleanup of abandoned uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan, although I must admit it has not been much of a conversation because I have been asking all the questions but the minister has not provided any answers.

The province of Saskatchewan has committed to its share of funding for this cleanup project, but the government and the minister, while they have made many promises, have made absolutely no commitments. Will the minister commit today to the funding of this project or is this just another case of empty promises?

[Equalization Program, February 9th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, no matter how you look at it, the Minister of Finance has clearly turned his back on the people of Saskatchewan with respect to equalization. Had Saskatchewan received the same deal as Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, it would have meant an additional $4 billion in revenue to the province over the past decade.

Rather than make excuses, will the Minister of Finance or his designate answer one question: Are you prepared to give the same deal to Saskatchewan that you gave to Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia?

[Natural Resources, February 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources stated that he had never promised a quick answer on the question of federal funding for the cleanup of uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan but media reports prove otherwise.

The minister also said that he would tour those mines last February. He did not.

The minister further stated that he would make this issue a top priority with his government. He has not.

My question for the minister is simply, why did you mislead the House and why--

[Natural Resources, February 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, last December the Minister of Natural Resources misled the House when he stated that he had never promised--

[Government Policies, February 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have been looking back over the issues that have arisen in this Parliament and I have detected an interesting trend: special favours for strippers; taxpayer subsidized tattoos for convicts; and decriminalization of marijuana.

Suddenly it has become all so clear. The federal Liberals are the Trailer Park Boys of Ottawa. This explains a lot.

Our trade minister has not had much luck dealing with the U.S. on softwood lumber or beef, but a couple of years ago his department managed one significant success. It managed to enforce an anti-dumping ruling on the importation of American bingo cards. No doubt the good old boys back in the trailer park got good and cranked up about that one.

And to think most Canadians believe that Bubbles, Ricky, Julian and the rest of the gang reside in the Sunnyvale trailer park in Nova Scotia when they are really alive and well here in Ottawa sitting on the government side of the House.

[Natural Resources, February 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, regardless of how the Minister of Finance tries to spin this, the reality is that over 90% of oil and gas revenues in Saskatchewan are clawed back by the federal government, and that is not the same deal as was given to Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

Newfoundland and Labrador got a fair deal. Nova Scotia got a fair deal. Saskatchewan residents deserve the same deal. Will the minister commit today to providing Saskatchewan the same deal for equalization as provided to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, yes or no?

[Main Estimates, 2004-05, December 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make some comments now based on what I have just heard, because I find it incredible. My hon. colleague from Medicine Hat earlier this evening used terms like “offensive” and “unconscionable” and let me say that those words are so appropriate for what I have just heard.

That member for Gatineau is standing in this assembly trying to tell Canadians that they have to overturn a decision made by a committee to slash only $400,000 from the Governor General's budget.

I want to say something. I would invite that member to my riding of Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre where farmers and cattle producers are losing their land and losing their jobs because of the government's failure to provide adequate safety net programs and have that member tell my cattle producers why the Governor General needs $400,000.

That is unconscionable. That is offensive. Canadians are angry and they have a right to be angry. How can that member stand in the House and say that with a $19.3 million annual budget, a reduction of $400,000 is going to negatively impact that?

[Natural Resources, December 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, last January the Minister of Natural Resources promised a quick answer on federal funding for the cleanup of abandoned uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. It has been almost a year. We are still waiting for an answer.

However, in the meantime over four million tonnes of radioactive material is being leaked into Saskatchewan lakes and streams. This is becoming an environmental disaster and people's lives are at risk.

Will the government commit today to the cleanup of these abandoned mines?

[Sanitec Canada, December 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize a Regina based company that has developed a product which may make Canada a global leader when it comes to the treatment of biohazardous waste.

Earlier this year the World Health Organization put out a statement that said, “Unsafe health care waste management leads to death and disability”. I am very proud that a company from my riding has developed a product that directly combats this problem.

Sanitec Canada has developed a product called the Ozonator, which uses ozone to sterilize hospital waste while reducing the volume of this waste by 80%. Until now dangerous hospital waste could only be disposed of through incineration, a process which releases hazardous materials into the atmosphere and raises significant environmental concerns.

The success of Sanitec is even more amazing since this company has yet to receive any funding from the federal government.

Today I call upon the government to closely examine the issue of biohazardous waste and take a look at what is truly an innovative product from Saskatchewan.

[Credit Cards, December 7th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, all I can say is I know my esteemed colleague and I know his intention was only to try to create an analogy. He was referring to comments made by one of the members opposite who said that just because one had something, it was not a crime until he or she went into a store and used it. I am saying, let us make it a crime.

The analogy my esteemed colleague was using was to refute the argument and example given by the member opposite. I do not, for the life of me, think that he was in any way, shape or form encouraging violence or encouraging someone to go out with a loaded revolver or handgun just for the point of showing that it “ain't a crime” until he pulled the trigger. I do not think my colleague even meant that. Quite frankly, the member's inference that he did is an insult to my esteemed colleague.