Financial Administration Act  While New Zealand no doubt had very difficult choices to deal with, I think most members would agree that Canada as well has significant debt and deficit challenges on its agenda. The effort by New Zealand to deal with the matter is a clear demonstration that the government's intention to achieve more flexibility in the management of its affairs is the way to go. Attempting to bring these agencies and their workers within the general purview of the government flies in the face of our attempts to downsize, to improve efficiencies and to do a better job with the resources Canadians give us through taxes on their hard won labours.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Speaker, I also rise to speak on the matter now before the House concerning the redistribution of the federal electoral boundaries. It is clear from all indications that Canadians are not happy with how the review and the proposals for change have been handled. Further, Canadians are reasonably consistent in their message as to why.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  What is the rationale for it? If we look across the electoral commissions we will find that some of them have a clear philosophy. It is very evident in the way the distributions occurred. Some are moved by concepts of affirmative action that one finds in United States Supreme Court jurisprudence. Others are more traditional.

Constitution Act, 1982  It is not to pass a law but it would show where this new Parliament stands on basic rights and freedoms and we would be saying loud and clear that these rights are our rights forever and a day and they cannot be suspended by any simple majority of a Parliament of Canada or a legislature of a province.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  The proposed boundary shift moves the split of the city of Burnaby somewhat eastward. Although the current division is clear yet artificial in a cohesive community settlement sense the proposed boundary shift looks minor on a map but is very significant. The new proposal cuts down streets that did not represent main thoroughfares or easily identifiable divisions.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  That gave me a very clear and powerful message from them.

Party Fundraising  It unanimously embraced the basic goal of democratizing political institutions. To take the same position here in this House would be a nice gesture for unity, a clear message that would be very well received by all citizens. In closing, I would like to pay tribute to a member who spoke up and fought a long battle on this issue, namely François Gérin, the former member for Mégantic-Compton-Stanstead who, within the Conservative Party, fought a six-year battle for the funding of political parties by the people.

Goods And Services Tax  Speaker, I have indeed spoken with my colleagues and with my leader. On this side of the House, we are very clear. We want no tax, not the old GST, not a new GST, not an XYZ tax, no hidden, half-hidden or unhidden tax. We want no tax on medicine, food and health care. The other side's position on that is not clear.

Goods And Services Tax  We were told that there would be no new GST, but on leaving the House, he told us that he misunderstood the question. Now the question is very clear today: we are not talking about the GST; we are talking about a new tax. The Prime Minister told us yesterday that he misunderstood the question he was asked about the GST, that he was not talking about other taxes.

Employment Equity  Numerous statistics demonstrate clearly to us that the merit principle has not been applied in hiring and in employment in this country and, shamefully, in our own public service. The statistics make it very clear that women have been at a disadvantage and have been kept at low levels of employment. People with disabilities are totally under-represented in our workforce, notwithstanding their qualifications.

Employment Equity  He said the concept of employment equity will subordinate the principle of merit to the politics of race and of gender. This is made clear by a number of factors, one being the sense of dissatisfaction with employment equity by those it claims to help. Members of targeted groups who supposedly benefit from employment equity face two difficult questions, the first from themselves.

Employment Equity  I may recall that section 6 of the old and the new Employment Equity Act clearly says: the obligation to implement employment equity does not require an employer a ) to take a particular measure to implement employment equity where the taking of that measure would cause undue hardship to the employer; b ) to hire or promote unqualified persons. That is made very clear in the Act. We believe it is important to have an Employment Equity Act because we know perfectly well that the labour market alone is not likely to provide this equality between various groups.

Readjustment Act, 1995  I have here the timetable for the boundaries readjustment in front of me. Unless this bill clears the House by the end of June, unless Royal Assent is given by June 22, this whole thing will not be possible. I say to the members across the way, shame on them for having deliberately held this piece of legislation to give better, more effective representation to all Canadians.

Readjustment Act, 1995  I think he should speak with his leader and all Liberal members because it is obvious that the leader of the government has repeatedly denied the need to amend the Constitution. It is clear that the current Prime Minister is trying to make Quebecers forget their own reality by providing good government for both Canadians and Quebecers. According to the figures we got earlier today, we are for the first time in 125 years the province with the largest number of poor people in Canada.

Readjustment Act, 1995  This puts the member who represents this area in a very awkward position, since there are very distinct interests. This is clear when you consider the territory to be covered and the isolation of the place, and also when you consider its relationship with other Canadian communities surrounding the Gulf. I find the decision not to recognize the islands as a separate riding regrettable, because a member representing solely the islands could have made a very interesting contribution.