The Budget  The Woodbine part of my riding's name takes up from the tree lined streets of the beach to Little India at Gerrard and Coxwell, the family run stores of the Danforth, the postcard perfect bungalows of the seniors in East York and the largely immigrant population high rise towers of Crescent Town. Does it not sound beautiful? Beaches-Woodbine is a truly diverse riding and being the member for that area is a rewarding and demanding challenge.

The Budget  Cariboo-Chilcotin is populated mainly by people who left or whose ancestors left other places to seek opportunities, be independent and prosper. Like those immigrating to Canada today many of us have ancestors who came seeking relief from domineering and intrusive governments, governments which supplanted an agenda of serving the people with being served itself.

Supply  Human Resources Development Canada now administers the programs and services of originating departments, including Employment and Immigration, Health and Welfare, Labour, Multiculturalism and Citizenship and the Department of the Secretary of State. The consolidation of these programs and services can only have a positive impact on the future of employment equity.

Supply  As we have seen from the position taken by the minister today, we must wait another two years for wage equity in the public service; the men responsible for finance, for human resources, and for employment and immigration say that we must wait another two years. Where are the women in the party who will support the fact that action on pay equity is urgently needed in the public service? In conclusion, Madam Speaker, to ensure a continued evolution towards role equality, freedom from all aggression, be it physical or psychological, and a balance crucial to the stability of Quebec society, and acknowledging that to be fair is to recognize our differences, the Bloc Quebecois, within its own perspective, which is Quebec's political autonomy, suggests we recognize and implement employment and pay equity, and concrete measures to redress and correct the distressing situation of women.

Supply  Madam Speaker, I have a reality check that I would like to bring in. It may well be that a lot of women, and I have said it myself and I could not agree with the hon. member more, are unsafe in their houses. That does not mean they should live in houses that are unsafe in and of themselves.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to take part in this debate today. I want to begin by complimenting the movers of this motion from Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. I want to say, however, that there are a few home truths that need to be reiterated on the whole question of gender equality and the topics that we are debating here today.

Women Refugees  Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In the red book, the Liberal Party of Canada committed itself to extending refugee status to women persecuted on gender grounds. Previously, women refugees victims of violence and abuse in their country of origin were deported and forced to return to this dangerous environment.

International Women's Day  We must have, and I challenge the government to bring in, a full national child care program to assist women and men in our society and to put special emphasis on visible minority, aboriginal and immigrant women who suffer double discrimination in our society.

Supply  What I would suggest to him is that the women of his province or Canada should not be separated from the world they live in. I come from a riding where there is a high proportion of immigrants, and we know that the problem is international as well as national or provincial. Therefore, my question to the hon. member is this: Given the complexity of the problem and the fact that it is a national and an international as well as a provincial issue, does he not agree that the initiatives required to correct the situation and better protect the women of Quebec and Canada should not be measures co-ordinated at the provincial, national or international level, but federal measures taken right here, together, because it is our responsibility?

Borrowing Authority Act, 1994-95  My election to the House of Commons is a significant part of Armenian history in Canada. The first Armenian immigrant came to Canada in 1887 and settled in Port Hope, Ontario. I am the first Canadian of Armenian descent to have the honour of serving in the House of Commons. On the first day I came to the House as a new member of Parliament I was so moved that I had tears in my eyes, tears of joy and happiness.

Borrowing Authority Act, 1994-95  It is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 38, to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Capilano-Howe Sound, Immigration; the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata, National Arts Centre; the hon. member for Provencher, Labour dispute; the hon. member for Winnipeg North, Tobacco. Resuming debate. The hon. member for Abitibi.

Immigration  Speak for yourself.

Immigration  I have been asked to speak for myself.

Immigration  Oh, oh.

Immigration  I am sure that is precisely what the hon. minister is going to do.