Coastal Fisheries Protection Act  The function of Parliament is to debate issues so that the best possible solution is developed. We question whether the best possible solution has been reached with this bill. We sincerely hope this bill will achieve the desired results but we are not confident it will. This is a serious move the government is making and there will be no turning back.

Coastal Fisheries Protection Act  The government and I have said that we will stop foreign overfishing, not foreign fishing forever but improper fishing practices. We have said we will do it by agreement where it is possible to reach agreement and by unilateral action where unilateral action is necessary. We believe we have the means. We hope we have the will and the measures within the NAFO regime for NAFO to police itself, for NAFO to take the steps required, and for NAFO member states to police their own vessels.

Petitions  The petitioners want to draw the attention of Parliament to the situation of seniors in Quebec. Fifty-three per cent of men and 82 per cent of women who reach the age of 65 need government help to make ends meet. Forty per cent of seniors 65 and over are entitled to the guaranteed income supplement, a benefit which keeps them at the poverty line, and only 5 per cent of those 65 and over have an annual income above $50,000.

The Economy  Canada then joins the ranks of high debt countries like Greece, Italy and Belgium. People always knew the deficit numbers were awful. We have begun to reach the point when confidence in our currency is evaporating and then we may get slammed fast and hard. We need aggressive fiscal policy at all levels to prevent what appears to be the inevitable.

Bosnia  At the slightest sign of hesitation, the Serbs will assume that the West's will to launch punitive air raids is failing. Let us hope that the warring factions will show the will to reach a compromise as soon as possible so that the situation can stop deteriorating and peace initiatives be successful.

Construction Industry  Total housing starts nation-wide, on a net basis, increased by 5.9 per cent, rising from 149,000 units in March to 158,000 last month. Housing starts for individual homes have reached their highest level in 16 months, totalling 75,000 homes in April, an increase of 19.3 per cent over the 63,000 reported in March.

Niagara Falls Constituency  I believe this to be yet another example of how our government is maintaining its promise of ongoing consultation by effectively seeking the input of all Canadians before implementing major policy decisions, thus empowering them to reach a better future. In this spirit of openness I pledge to continue with the process of consultation so that I might be a true voice representing the people of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Unemployment Insurance Act  Now, when there are mass layoffs, the general fund is drawn on and if it is used up, the special fund is no longer available. Restoring this fund would provide assistance when a disaster like the one in Sorel-Tracy strikes, where there were two major shutdowns, Beloit and Soreltex, in quick succession.

Unemployment Insurance Act  This is a result of 20,000 new jobs that were created for youth and 29,000 young Canadians were no longer unemployed. This is just part of a package. The summer employment strategy for young people created approximately 60,000 jobs to give young people the skills required to be competitive in a very different world.

Unemployment Insurance Act  We know that this same government not only did not want to correct this injustice but went so far as to extend the scope of that provision. Indeed, it is no longer only spouses which are excluded, but all those who are not dealing with their employer at arm's length. I mentioned on several occasions in this House that the unemployment rate in my riding is very high.

Unemployment Insurance Act  There is no point at this time in patching up a system that is clearly out of date and no longer capable of meeting our current needs, so I invite her to join us in the larger debate on social security reform. In the meantime I should like to respond to a few points raised in Bill C-218 that I think must be clarified.

Criminal Code  When the parliamentary secretary asked for constructive amendments we got capital punishment, corporal punishment, longer sentences, more jails. Those things do not work. They have not worked. That is what is so important for the members of the Reform Party to get their minds around. The things they are talking about have been tried and are being practised in societies like the United States.

Haiti  I can say that the Canadian government entirely agrees with his interpretation of the facts. Furthermore, we must realize that at this very moment, the country is no longer totally under the control of a Haitian military junta and is gradually coming under the control of a multinational force, which has a mandate, under UN Resolution 940, to take control and ensure that President Aristide returns to his country as soon as possible.

Criminal Code  That is the section that makes it possible for a person who has been sentenced to life with a period of parole ineligibility longer than 15 years to apply after 15 years for permission to seek parole. Such an application is heard by a court composed of a judge and jury, and two-thirds of the jury must agree before such a person is given permission to apply for parole.

Corrections And Conditional Release Act  Speaker, in last year's federal election members on this side of the House listened to Canadians express their desire for the federal government to introduce reforms to the criminal justice system. We listened to Canadians tell us that they no longer feel safe walking on our streets and that they fear for the safety of their children, a fear that has never been felt before in this country. We listened as Canadians from all walks of life and from all parts of this country told us that they want a criminal justice system that is responsive and effective in dealing with the criminal element in our society.