The Budget  I had the good fortune to be raised in Trinity-Spadina and have experienced many of its great attributes. My parents like many Canadians immigrated to this country because of the opportunities it provided. They instilled in me the belief that with hard work any dream can be achieved. They also instilled in me that sharing with and compassion for others must be integral parts of that dream.

Black Achievement Awards  Speaker, February is Black History Month. The black community has a long history in Canada during which, like many other immigrants, black people have substantially contributed to the life of this country with pride and determination. Every February Pride magazine presents the Canadian Black Achievement Awards to members of the black community who have performed outstandingly in their field of expertise and in participating in the life of their communities.

The Budget  It is a riding of tenants and home owners, business executives and building contractors, new Canadians and people who have been here for generations. Successive waves of immigrants have called the southwest part of my riding home and supplanted one another in this neighbourhood as each group has prospered and moved on, the Canadian way. Among the residents of St.

Petitions  Their names should be added to the 5,000 which are on petitions already submitted, and I will add 13,000 more tomorrow. The petitioners are asking Parliament to urge the Minister of Immigration to reconsider the decision of his department to expel the Maraloï family from Vanier, and to allow this family to stay in Canada where, after three years, it is very well integrated.

Privilege  I feel my personal integrity and credibility have been attacked. During my question I said that I was an immigrant and that now I was a Canadian citizen. The member for Carleton-Gloucester shouted: "Now you want to lock the gate". This was neither the point of my question nor do I recommend-

Reform Party  Speaker, I do have some concerns about the positions of the Reform Party. I have sat in the House watching them attack immigrants. I have sat in the House and watched one of their members put out a brochure in which he quotes with favour-

Immigration  Hear, hear.

Immigration  Now you want to lock the gate.

Bill C-219 An Act to amend the Immigration Act (visitors' visas)

Petitions  Speaker, I have the great honour to present a petition signed by a few thousand residents of my riding of Québec-Est and several other areas of Quebec. The petitioners ask Parliament to urge the minister of immigration to reconsider his department's decision to deport the Maraloï family of Vanier and to allow the family to remain in Canada where, after three years, they feel completely at home. I give my unqualified support to this petition and urge the government to act on it.

Excise Act  Because the smuggling trade is increasingly run by organized crime and according to enforcement agencies organized crime now con- trols most of the $5 billion tobacco smuggling trade, literally billions of dollars are being funnelled out of the hands of Canadian citizens and into the hands of criminals who also ply their illegal trade in alcohol, paramilitary weapons, drugs, immigrants and other contraband products. In a nutshell, the only beneficiaries of the current situation are the gangs of criminals who sell drugs in our schools, arm our offenders and destabilize Canadian society.

Petitions  That family was denied the right to remain in Canada, and it is believed that its members will be in serious danger if they return to Romania. Therefore, the petitioners ask Parliament to convince the Minister of Immigration to reconsider his department's decision to deport the Maraloï family and allow that family to remain in Canada. I give my full support to that petition and I urge the government to act on it.

Immigration  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. This matter was brought to my attention by members of the Somali community and the media. It appears that an alleged human rights abuser from the brutal Barre regime of Somalia now resides in the Ottawa area. When will the Deputy Prime Minister see to it that this individual is investigated and that these allegations of brutality are substantiated?

Heritage Day  Today we reflect on the many faces of Canada and celebrate diversity and unity. I am reminded of my own immigration and of how my wife and I have been blessed with four sons born and raised in this great nation. I am privileged to live in Canada, honoured to serve the constituents of Winnipeg North and proud to be part of the beautiful diversity that is the Canadian mosaic.

Heritage Day  Canada is secure enough in its own virtues that it allows and encourages new Canadians to retain their own culture. We should remember that most countries force immigrants to purge themselves of their heritage. Canada, however, sees the value of heritage and celebrates it from coast to coast. Happy Heritage Day, one and all.