CANADA VOLUME 137 S NUMBER 023 S 1st SESSION S 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, February 28, 2001 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) OFFICIAL REPORT Under division No. 14 at page 1312of Hansard, February 27, Mr. Roger Gallaway's name should be removed from the yeas column and inserted in the nays column. All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire'' at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1317 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, February 28, 2001 The House met at 2 p.m. AGRICULTURE _______________ Ms. Carol Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, Cana- dian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, I wish to quote a letter I received Prayers from two teachers expressing concern over the situation on Cana- dians farms: _______________ I have travelled in Canada from coast to coast and I have pride in this beautiful D (1400) country. I have been humbled and grateful to be part of such a vast land filled with generous and friendly people. I’ve agonized with the people in Quebec and Ontario during the ice storm that was so devastating. I’ve watched in horror the flooding in The Speaker: As is our practice on Wednesday we will now sing Quebec and Manitoba. And in each instance I’ve sent a cheque because this is my O Canada, led by the hon. member for London—Fanshawe. country and my country needed help. [Editor’s Note: Members sang the national anthem] I can’t understand why the rest of Canada does not realize that the prairies are now facing the same kind of economic crisis—a crisis not of their making. _____________________________________________ I am adding my voice to the rest, imploring those in power to seek justice and economic fairness for those employed in perhaps the noblest of professions— growing food for a hungry world. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Yours Sincerely, Mike and Elaine Kowpak. [English] GILDAS MOLGAT I urge the government to heed these words and take immediate action to deal with the crisis facing farm families. Mr. John Harvard (Charleswood St. James—Assiniboia, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, with sadness and heavy heart I rise today to inform the House of the death of Senator Gil Molgat of Manitoba. * * * Mr. Molgat, who just last month completed a rare two terms as Senate Speaker, died this morning at the Ottawa General Hospital GILDAS MOLGAT after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage Monday evening while on a flight from Winnipeg to Ottawa. He was 74. Mr. Reg Alcock (Winnipeg South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Gildas Mr. Molgat was elected five times to the Manitoba legislature, Molgat was first elected to the legislature of Manitoba in 1953 where he served as opposition leader from 1961 to 1969. He was when I was five years old. I became aware of him early on in my called to the Senate in 1970 and was Speaker there from 1994 to life as his work as the Liberal leader and leader of the opposition in January of this year. the Manitoba legislature was often the focus of some very heated discussion between my very Conservative parents. Senator Molgat was a great parliamentarian who was driven by the call to public duty. Above all, he was a gentleman and a true Later when I, having joined the Liberal Party, finally met this friend whom we loved deeply. often demonized man, I was delighted to find a proud Manitoban, a We have lost a great Canadian and an extraordinary public proud francophone and a committed Canadian. servant. He will be missed and long remembered. On behalf of the House and the thousands whose lives he touched, I extend condo- Elevated to the Senate by Prime Minister Trudeau, Gil Molgat lences to Mrs. Molgat and the family. was a formidable ally in the dark days when there was only one 1318 COMMONS DEBATES February 28, 2001 S. O. 31 elected Liberal, federally or provincially, west of the Ontario-Man- I commend their involvement in their communities and their itoba border. desire to protect their fellow man. D (1405 ) * * * He was tireless. When the troops were frustrated and dispirited, Gil and his lifelong partner Allison were there, working with us, VETERANS AFFAIRS leading us, teaching us, chairing campaigns, recruiting candidates, Mr. Peter Goldring (Edmonton Centre-East, Canadian Al- and always advocating for his province and his people. liance): Mr. Speaker, Canada’s soldiers have paid with their lives Since my arrival here in 1993 it has been an honour and a rare and their health in the service of our country since Confederation. privilege to serve in the same caucus with him. He served for six How well we attend to the concerns of our veterans is a matter of years in one of the highest offices in this country and yet he never our national conscience. forgot what it was to be the MLA for Ste. Rose du Lac. We will Today we mark the 10th anniversary of the end of the gulf war. miss him. With us today in the gallery are three retired gulf war veterans of Canada’s peacekeeping mission. They are Captain Louise Richard, * * * Petty Officer First Class Robert Clarke, and Captain Sean Bruyea. PATRICIA BAIRD Each bears deep scars to health and soul brought on through their service to our country. Each wants respect and recognition as a war Mr. Stephen Owen (Vancouver Quadra, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I veteran. am very pleased to inform the House of the appointment of a constituent from Vancouver Quadra, Dr. Patricia Baird, as an Today I call on the government to do right by these peacekeeping officer of the Order of Canada. veterans and to accord them the recognition and status that their sacrifices so clearly merit. I ask my colleagues to join me in Dr. Baird first came to the attention of Canadians across the welcoming our peacekeeping veterans. country when she produced her groundbreaking report on new reproductive technologies in 1993. This report quickly became the * * * touchstone for this controversial area of genetics and public policy, and Dr. Baird became a key contact when these issues arose across HEROISM the country as well as around the world. Mr. Carmen Provenzano (Sault Ste. Marie, Lib.): Mr. Speak- She began her illustrious career at the faculty of medicine at the er, I am pleased to share with the House a heartwarming story that University of British Columbia, the key institutional constituent of bridges the gap between generations and nations. Vancouver Quadra, where she was head of medical genetics and took that department to fame across the country in terms of We have in Ottawa this week a very special visitor from France, research and clinical care. Guillaume Faure, a grandson of André Faure, who put himself at risk to help a Canadian airman reach freedom during the second In her personal capacity she has published over 350 papers. She world war. has been a member of the Medical Research Council of Canada and a member of the Prime Minister’s National Advisory Board on During his 32nd bombing mission, Canadian airman Thomas Science and Technology. Dr. Baird is a most worthy officer of the Lynch, who served in the Royal Air Force, was shot down over Order of Canada. occupied France some 50 kilometres northwest of Paris. Thanks to Madam Faure and her teenage children who hid him from the * * * Gestapo, Mr. Lynch was able to contact the French underground and escape safely to England. HIV-AIDS More than 50 years later, Mr. Lynch and his grandson are Ms. Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Nunavut, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, meeting in person for the first time with the grandson of the family currently four remote Nunavut communities are hosting youth who saved his life. HIV-AIDS fairs in association with Health Canada and Pauktuutit This is a story that Canadians will be happy to hear. Through Mr. Inuit Women’s Association. Lynch, these two young men of a new generation are sharing the Much like a science fair, projects and posters on HIV-AIDS were experience that entwined their families. created and will be the basis of future community based HIV-AIDS education initiatives. * * * HIV positive youth will bravely share their stories with Inuit D (1410 ) youth and reinforce the message that it is so important to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS. AGRICULTURE The youth of Arctic Bay, Taloyoak, Pangnirtung and Iqaluit took Ms. Aileen Carroll (Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, Lib.): Mr. on this project with enthusiasm and I know the important message Speaker, our farmers have already told us and now a report on will be heard through Nunavut because of their courageous efforts. agricultural policy by the OECD is telling us that Canada’s support February 28, 2001 COMMONS DEBATES 1319 S. O. 31 for agriculture is much lower than that of most other OECD The separation movement in my riding would likely not have nations. started if the government had not neglected the agricultural areas of our country. I applaud the Liberal government’s commitment to a level playing field to ensure that our agriculture and agrifood industry Our next senator in Saskatchewan should be selected by the can compete at the international level. Canada has taken great people of Saskatchewan. The problem is not Canada. It is the strides toward this goal. federal government and the fact that we no longer have an effective democracy. It is more like an elected dictatorship. At this time, however, I would encourage the government to look within Canada and provide our agricultural producers with the Will the Prime Minister, who claims to represent the interests of tools they need to compete, including effective policies and all Canadians, allow this seat to be held in trust until the provincial programs and more financial support.