Employment Insurance Act  Let us be clear about this: when the government cut EI payments, the numbers on social assistance increased and the numbers using food banks increased. In my riding alone, in the year 1998, EI benefits were reduced by just under $17 million. A riding of about 78,000 people saw a reduction of $17 million in money coming in.

Main Estimates, 2000-01  Speaker, I am pleased to be able to speak in support of this motion this afternoon. The Government of Canada has made a commitment to improve the quality of life of all Canadians. We have developed a complete and cohesive vision to enable us to attain that objective. That vision was defined in the throne speech and given concrete form in the budget.

Legalization Of Marijuana For Health And Medical Reasons  On May 6 Jim Wakeford, a Toronto man suffering from advanced AIDS, applied for and finally received permission from Health Canada to use marijuana after fighting in the courts for years. Courts have recognized the humane need. Legislators like the Parliament of Canada should lead, not follow, on an issue such as this one.

The Budget  It also allocates additional resources to help ensure food safety in Canada. Finally, diabetes is a chronic health condition facing a great many Canadians, in particular aboriginal peoples among whom it is three times more prevalent. This budget devotes important resources to addressing this serious situation.

Supply  From the Chippewas of Georgina Island, the first nation who claimed this area as its ancestral homeland, to the most recent immigrants and visitors to Canada and to the area, Lake Simcoe is crucial to the future well-being of York North. Some think that Canada has an overabundance of water. It is true that Canada has one-fifth of the world's freshwater.

Speech From The Throne  It is this Canadian genius that guided the Government of Canada in the creation of the national child benefit program, the establishment of the Canada millennium scholarship fund, the restoration of $11.5 billion transfer payments for medicare and the increase in the budget for research, innovation and development.

Budget Implementation Act, 2000  In this connection, I would like to bring to hon. members' attention what the auditor general says in the highlights of his report. The auditor general's report is our guide as parliamentarians, whether we are in the opposition or the government, in determining whether public funds have been properly managed. I will give a few highlights of the auditor general's report, which came out this week.

Speech From The Throne  This was the government's response: The best way to achieve the promise of Canada for every citizen is to work together to build the highest quality of life for all Canadians. [—]The Government of Canada therefore reaffirms the commitment it has made to Quebeckers and all other Canadians that the principle of clarity, as set out by the Supreme Court of Canada, will be respected.

Reform Of International Organizations  Canada on that front has done a tremendous amount of work. For the record I would like to indicate some of the initiatives this government has taken when dealing with poor countries and their debts.

Canadian Wheat Board Act  A number of the groups invited to the Regina meeting walked out on the minister when he refused to discuss amendments to Bill C-4, and there were farmers outside protesting. The importance of Motion No. 16 cannot be ignored. Motion No. 16 is the guiding principle of responsibility in business dealings. The Liberal government will be hard pressed to deny the ethical importance of Motions Nos. 16 and 19. Making the wheat board a signatory to the international code of ethics for Canadian businesses and requiring the directors and officers of the CWB to be guided by the duty of care should be applauded by all members of this House.

Kosovo  We placed a ban on investments in Serbia and a freeze on the assets of the Serbian and FRY governments in Canada. I also want to point out that the Minister for International Cooperation was very active in providing humanitarian efforts. Close to over $3.8 million have been given to UNICEF, to the High Commissioner of Refugees, the Red Cross, CARE Canada and the World Food Program to help the humanitarian suffering in that particular area.

Division No. 72  I assure those groups from both sides of the debate, those content with the status quo in the Canadian Wheat Board and those calling for significant change, that their efforts have been valuable and very much appreciated by me and my Reform colleagues. Their submissions and input have guided us in our approach to Bill C-4. I thank every last organization and individual who made submissions to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, wrote letters to MPs and called to express their views on this important legislation.

Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park Act  Fine words written by our friends and a principal tenet I am proud to refer to the House. Proponents have requested that the bill should include the Parks Canada guiding principles to be used as the definitive reference to guide park operations. Proponents have requested that some of the zone one areas, those areas deemed as vital for integral preservation, be expanded.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 1998  I need to take the first few minutes of my speech to talk about that process. I have high respect for the Government of Canada, not necessarily the government that is currently in power but for the concept of government in Canada. I have a high respect for democracy and it is appropriate for us to be aware that there is a serious flaw.

Canadian Wheat Board Act  It said: When you complain about the farmers, don't talk with your mouth full. I think that is so important because it is the farmers who produce our food and, without food, we die. Without food and the export of food, our country's economy takes a huge beating because so much of what we produce is for the export market. I have a great honour to stand here and speak on behalf of farmers, not only because of my family involvement in it, but also because of the fact that I represent a rural constituency in Alberta where people farm.