VOLUME 133 NUMBER 223 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, June 21, 1995 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, June 21, 1995 The House met at 2 p.m. industry’s viability, the government chose to let the investment climate deteriorate. _______________ We must make sure that our mining sector will be able to Prayers develop in the future and continue to create thousands of jobs in Quebec and Canada instead of abroad. _______________ * * * STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS [English] [English] NATURAL RESOURCES HIRE A STUDENT WEEK Mr. George S. Rideout (Moncton, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as the committee on natural resources requested during the examina- Mrs. Georgette Sheridan (Saskatoon—Humboldt, Lib.): tion of the Department of National Resources Act, the Minister Mr. Speaker, the Canada employment centre for students is of Natural Resources tabled this morning the fifth annual report celebrating its annual hire a student week across Canada, June to Parliament, ‘‘The State of Canada’s Forests, 1994’’. 19 to 23. Canada’s forests continue to be a major engine of economic The goal of hire a student week is to gain support from growth for Canada, particularly in certain regions of the country potential employers and to heighten awareness of the services such as my home province of New Brunswick, but they are also available through the Canada employment centre for students in essential to our environment. Saskatoon as well as in other parts of the country. The theme of this year’s report, ‘‘A Balancing Act’’, de- People will notice the hire a student buttons being worn by scribes the challenges of maintaining timber for our industry students at the events planned to celebrate this week. In Saska- while conserving habitat for wildlife. toon we had button day on Monday, flag raising day was yesterday, today is a hot dog sale, fitting for students, tomorrow As the world’s largest exporter of forest products, the eyes of is job shadowing day and on Friday, most important, is employ- the world continue to watch how well Canada is able to balance ment appreciation day. its economic and environmental needs. I extend a big thank you to the hard working young people in [Translation] the Canada employment centre for students office in Saskatoon, in particular Thomasina Burke, for all the hard work they do in I would like to take this opportunity to urge all my hon. helping students find much needed summer employment. colleagues to read the fifth annual report tabled in Parliament and to participate in the public debate on the future of the most * * * precious of our natural resources: our forests. [Translation] * * * MINING INDUSTRY [English] Mr. Bernard Deshaies (Abitibi, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I have to CHILD POVERTY deplore the government’s inaction regarding the mining indus- try. In spite of several initiatives on the part of parliamentarians Mr. John Maloney (Erie, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am deeply and the natural resources committee, this government never troubled to address the issue of child poverty, a phenomenon agreed to provide assistance to this major industry which generally attributed to the third world. employs tens of thousands of Canadians and Quebecers. Canada is not a third world nation and yet there are nearly 1.3 On June 5, I supported the motion put forward by the hon. million Canadian children living in poverty, enough to form the member for Timiskaming—French River to implement a mining fifth largest province. Think about it: shocking, incredible, incentives program. Instead of taking steps to ensure this terrifying, intolerable; yes, all of these. 14309 COMMONS DEBATES June 21, 1995 S. O. 31 Five years ago the Government of Canada in the House If a Canadian vacation is what you need, come to Calgary this resolved to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among our July for the greatest outdoor show on earth. We will be glad to children by the year 2000. Resolutions and objectives are not show you our western hospitality. enough. Effective anti–poverty initiatives and immediate action are warranted, indeed demanded. Two final notes. Liberals who have been disciplined for voting against the party line should pay close attention to the None will deny the necessity to eliminate the deficit as calf roping event. Any MP who is not opting out of the MP expeditiously as possible but let us strive to bring this deficit to pension plan should avoid the greased pig wrestling contest. zero in a compassionate and reasonable way. Let us not forget the children in poverty during this era of fiscal restraint. Our * * * country’s future depends on solving both problems quickly and fairly. SAFE GRAD Mr. Glen McKinnon (Brandon—Souris, Lib.): Mr. Speak- * * * er, high school graduation time is again upon us. I take this opportunity along with my colleague from St. Boniface to G–7 SUMMIT commend the laudable actions of many students across Canada for their participation in the safe grad program. Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, This year’s students from across the country including Man- I offer an alternative version of the interpretation being put on itoba will again take part in the safe grad program. This the G–7 summit by the Prime Minister. combines student graduation celebrations with realistic mea- The G–7 summit did not deal in any significant way with a lot sures to prevent accidents and other problems which could be of the serious problems facing the international economy. The associated with drinking and driving. G–7 summit did not deal with growing polarization between rich Safe grad is a student run program with input from parents, and poor within industrialized countries and between industrial- teachers and police. Safe grad is geared toward the needs and ized countries and the third world. It did not deal with the wishes of individual schools and their students. international debt problem of third worlds. I am most impressed with the students of our country and their Finally and most significantly, because this is what the Prime support of safe grad. Along with the member for St. Boniface, I Minister likes to talk about, it did not deal with the whole commend them on their actions. On behalf of the House and my question of money speculators. colleagues, I wish all students a safe and happy graduation. All it did was provide that the IMF might have more money in * * * the end to bail out economies damaged by speculators. When we bail out those economies in the current context we bail out the (1405) speculators themselves. [Translation] What we have increased here is the global welfare state for money speculators rather than dealing with the root of the BURMA problem which is curbing speculation— Mr. Philippe Paré (Louis–Hébert, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I The Speaker: The hon. member for Calgary North. would like to point out that today is the 50th birthday of an outstanding woman, Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner who is fighting for democracy in her country, * * * Burma. After winning the 1990 elections with an 82 per cent majority, CALGARY STAMPEDE Mrs. Suu Kyi was imprisoned by the Burmese military authori- ties and has been under house arrest for nearly six years. Mrs. Diane Ablonczy (Calgary North, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, on July 7 a western tradition continues and that wild west show, The Canadian government must take positive action in sup- the Calgary Stampede, kicks off its 10–day extravaganza. port of those values set out in its foreign policy statement, should there be any left, and bring pressure to bear on Burmese I invite all members and Canadians across the country to authorities for her release. come and experience all the parades, pancake breakfasts and the rodeos. Try horseback riding, line dancing and all the other fun The Bloc Quebecois salutes the courage of this woman and that marks this favourite time of year for Calgarians and thanks her for fighting for democracy, liberty and human rights thousands of visitors. under extremely difficult conditions. 14310 June 21, 1995 COMMONS DEBATES S. O. 31 [English] shows once again the government’s true commitment to pro- mote greater participation of women in all lines of activity. ROGERS SURREY [English] Mr. Paul E. Forseth (New Westminster—Burnaby, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, Rogers Surrey community channel has served New Louise Fréchette began her career with the Department of Westminster with excellence for many years and now local External Affairs and has since occupied various posts, including producers are reaping the rewards of their hard work. Ambassador of Canada to Argentina and Uruguay and most recently as Canada’s first female ambassador to the United On May 30 in Halifax, Nova Scotia executive producer Nations. Catherin Ackroyd and co–producers Jim Reis and Archie Miller were recognized for their documentary ‘‘Lest We Forget: Cana- Prior to her appointment as deputy minister of defence she dians in Normandy’’. was the associate deputy minister of finance and G–7 deputy. The Canadian Cable Television Association awarded the hour This appointment is a testament to Mrs. Fréchette’s hard work long program as the best documentary in Canada in 1994. The and perseverance. I wish her much success in her new post on program also won best documentary of the Pacific programmers behalf of all my colleagues. Félécitations et merci beaucoup. region for provincial awards of excellence. * * * From a Canadian perspective ‘‘Lest We Forget’’ shows the dramatic events of the D–Day landing with interviews of veterans from the Canadian Scottish regiment and the 1st LEADER OF THE REFORM PARTY Canadian parachute battalion. Mr. Morris Bodnar (Saskatoon—Dundurn, Lib.): Mr.