CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 129 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, September 30, 1998 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire'' at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 8567 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, September 30, 1998 The House met at 2 p.m. I applaud Ron’s efforts. I feel that they represent a concrete example of how a hand up is often just as beneficial as a handout. _______________ * * * Prayers INDONESIA _______________ Mr. Inky Mark (Dauphin—Swan River, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, the Associated Press reports ‘‘Although ethnic Chinese people D (1400) represent just 4% of Indonesia’s 202 million people, they dominate commerce and industry. They are frequently scapegoats during The Speaker: As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing troubled times’’. O Canada, and we will be led by the hon. member for Dartmouth. The Asian financial crisis is hitting Indonesia hard and Indone- [Editor’s Note: Members sang the national anthem] sian Chinese are being hit harder as scapegoats. For example, Chinese women and young girls are being gang raped. Stores and _____________________________________________ homes of ethnic Chinese are looted and torched. Many ethnic Chinese are being murdered. Some say that what is happening in Indonesia resembles ethnic cleansing. Ethnic Chinese are fleeing STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS their homes from Malaysia, the Philippines and elsewhere to save their lives. [English] This government brags about its human rights record. When will the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the RON HICKS Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific speak up for human rights in Indonesia? Mr. Paul Steckle (Huron—Bruce, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Ron Hicks, a constituent of mine. * * * I was recently informed that Ron volunteered his time and McCRAE HOUSE business expertise to assist in developing the environmental prac- tices and business skills of a firm in one of the world’s most Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain (Guelph—Wellington, Lib.): Mr. disadvantaged economies. Speaker, in November of last year Mr. Arthur Lee stepped forward to rescue the McCrae medals and generously donated them to the Ron was a CESO volunteer in Panama. During his tenure at this McCrae House located in my riding of Guelph—Wellington. Panamanian business Ron was able to effect improvements and cost control by closely monitoring parts procurement and equip- Colonel John McCrae was a Canadian doctor and soldier who ment failure diagnosis. He personally trained 25 maintenance staff, wrote ‘‘In Flanders Fields’’. Every day the McCrae House in advised supervisory personnel and effected improvements in cor- Guelph—Wellington works to keep his memory alive. This year porate environmental practices. the house is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In short, Ron made a substantial difference in the way that this On behalf of all the citizens of Guelph—Wellington and all firm conducted its day to day operations. Because of Ron’s efforts, Canadians, I want to congratulate the McCrae House for keeping an the efficiency of this plant was improved which in turn will result important piece of Canadian history alive. When John McCrae in more economic output and growth. This will result in an wrote the words ‘‘To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be improvement in employees’ wages and their standard of living yours to hold it high’’, the McCrae House listened. Thank you for while at the same time helping to enhance the environmental holding the torch and for protecting our heritage. May you continue standards of the country as a whole. to do so for many years to come. 8568 COMMONS DEBATES September 30, 1998 S. O. 31 ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY [English] Mr. John Maloney (Erie—Lincoln, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the St. Lawrence Seaway is a vital industry not only in my riding of GLOBAL ECONOMY Erie—Lincoln and the Niagara area but also for the entire country. The seaway is one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, making Canada a competitive trader in the world economy. on Monday morning I represented the NDP caucus at an ecumeni- cal ceremony here on Parliament Hill that called for a jubilee on the Tomorrow history will be made when plans to establish a not for unpayable debt of the world’s poorest countries, countries that have profit corporation to operate the St. Lawrence Seaway system will a fiscal ball and chain around their necks and which need to be set be implemented. This necessary step will promote economic free to seek the well-being of their people. growth by modernizing Canada’s marine transport system. While the crown retains ownership of all assets, management and opera- D (1405 ) tion of the seaway will be assumed by a user group, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, pursuant to the Cana- In the same spirit, a conference in Ottawa this week organized by da Marine Act for an initial 10 year term. the Halifax Initiative outlined a six point plan designed to prevent future global financial crises and respond to the needs of the This accord will ensure that the seaway continues to bring poorest and most vulnerable nations. benefits to all as Canada heads into the next millennium. The plan is a good basis for urgent action on the disaster that * * * unregulated and speculative capital is wreaking upon the world and the unwillingness of existing global institutions like the IMF and the World Bank to seriously address the fundamental flaws of the MENOPAUSE current situation. Ms. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul’s, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am A good start would be for the finance minister to champion an pleased to rise today to announce the official launch of the 1998 international Tobin tax to help stem the flow of short term capital. national menopause awareness campaign which will take place tomorrow. * * * [Translation] I hope all members are aware of the importance of this issue. CORPORAL GRAEME CUMMING Canadians must be better informed if they want to ensure a better life for themselves. Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, Corporal Graeme Cumming, a 37-year old member of the RCMP who lived [English] in Lethbridge, was killed in a horrific traffic accident on August 12, 1998. A young truck driver, Daniel Entz, also lost his life. By the year 2000 more than four million women will enter or will have already entered this phase of their life. It is important that Corporal Cumming’s funeral was in Lethbridge on August 18. we educate women to the long term health risks that are associated Hundreds of police and peace officers from all across Canada and with menopause, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. the world joined his wife, Marina, also an RCMP officer in Lethbridge, and friends at the solemn occasion. Building awareness of these risks is key. Informed people make healthier choices which lead to improved health and quality of life, not to mention considerable savings to the health care system. Corporal Graeme Cumming was an outstanding police officer, an honourable member of his community, a wonderful husband and I would like to thank the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecolo- a loyal citizen of our country. He left all the communities he served gists of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Osteoporosis better places for having known and experienced his dedication. He Society of Canada, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the will be sadly missed by all who knew him, who worked with him Canadian Pharmacists Association for their efforts in raising and who had contact with him. awareness of the effects of menopause. The death of Corporal Cumming underscores the courage and [Translation] bravery of those whose job it is to serve and protect Canadians wherever they may be. I hope you all will— I ask the House to join with me in remembering Corporal The Speaker: I am sorry but the hon. member for Winnipeg— Graeme Cumming. He was a man of great faith and conviction. He Transcona has the floor. will be missed. September 30, 1998 COMMONS DEBATES 8569 S. O. 31 [Translation] The provinces must stand firm and not retreat. They must protect their exclusive power to regulate property and protect law-abiding SISTERS OF CHARITY OF QUEBEC Canadians from this unprecedented attack upon their civil liberties. They must protect taxpayers from the horrendous costs of Bill Mr. Jean-Paul Marchand (Québec East, BQ): Mr. Speaker, C-68. There is clear justification to stop the Liberal government 150 years ago, Sister Marcelle Mallette and her companions from implementing Bill C-68 at any cost. arrived in Quebec City to establish the charitable institutions they ran with their colleagues, the Sisters of Charity of Quebec. According to Sun columnist Michael Harris, the justice depart- ment failed to competitively tender a $1.3 million printing contract The Saint-Sacrement, Civique, Laval and Saint-Michel-Ar- for the registration forms, a direct violation of Treasury Board change hospitals, the Nazareth and Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes homes guidelines and the NAFTA agreement. This is a clear and apparent for the aged, the Institut Saint-Joseph de la Délivrance, the circumvention of the law. Saint-Sauveur and d’Youville children’s orphanages and the Mai- Once again I implore the provinces to stand firm. The Alberta son Mère-Mallette providing food and clothing for the disadvan- court decision must be appealed. taged all bear witness to the devotion and solicitude of these Sisters of Charity. * * * I join with my colleagues from the Quebec City area in congratulating and thanking these devoted nuns and in expressing [Translation] the hope that their work with the disadvantaged in our society will continue revitalized.