CANADA VOLUME 134 S NUMBER 047 S 2nd SESSION S 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, May 15, 1996 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) The House of Commons Debates are also available on the Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 2803 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, May 15, 1996 The House met at 2 p.m. The men and women of the mining sector toil long and hard, often putting their lives and their health at risk. They deserve our _______________ admiration and respect. Their work is essential, for it contributes to our quality of life and our collective wealth. Prayers The mining industry provides us with the raw materials that are _______________ transformed into high technology products we find in many items used in our daily lives. The Speaker: As is our practice on Wednesdays, we will now sing O Canada, which will be led by the hon. member for Fraser The federal government has promised to hand full responsibility Valley West. for mines back to the provinces. It will then be the Government of Quebec’s responsibility to help the mining industry to develop, and [Editor’s Note: Whereupon members sang the national anthem.] we are confident that Quebec will be equal to that task. _____________________________________________ In the meantime, we are asking the federal government to live up to its promises, for once. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS * * * [English] [English] MOTHERS MINING INDUSTRY Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Ref.): Mr. Speak- Hon. Charles Caccia (Davenport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the er, Sunday was Mother’s Day. Who are the most influential people Canadian mining industry consists of very dedicated people. in this nation? They are the parents who teach and train the next Each day however this industry generates approximately one generation, especially mothers who nurture and shape the values million tonnes of waste rock and 950,000 tonnes of tailings; some and direction of our children during the time of their lives that 650 million tonnes of waste per year. We have approximately 6,000 determines to the greatest extent what each child will grow up to abandoned tailing sites and over 10,000 abandoned mines resulting be. in clean-up costs conservatively estimated at $6 billion, costs Mothers have a tremendous influence on the future of a nation. which will likely be borne by taxpayers. Families are the basic building block of society. Children that are A sustainable mining industry would ensure that the price paid free to grow and develop in contact with loving caring parents are for its products includes the costs of repairing damage to the the healthiest with the greatest potential to contribute to those environment. To further the implementation of sustainable devel- around them at the community, national and international levels. opment the government could ensure the efficient use of minerals All government programs need to be evaluated by a standard that and metals through the removal of tax barriers favouring the use of seeks to determine whether it will encourage mothers and fathers to virgin material over recycled material. establish healthy lifelong relationships with their children. * * * I thank god for the mothers of the nation that faithfully serve in circumstances that often go unrecognized. Thanks, Mom. [Translation] * * * MINING INDUSTRY [Translation] Mr. Bernard Deshaies (Abitibi, BQ): Mr. Speaker, nearly one million people are directly or indirectly involved in the mining OIL INDUSTRY sector. This week, national mining week, offers us an opportunity to draw attention to their contribution to the economies of Quebec Mr. Gilles Bernier (Beauce, Ind.): Mr. Speaker, I would like to and of Canada. express the anger of the people of Beauce at the latest increase in 2804 COMMONS DEBATES May 15, 1996 S. O. 31 the price of gasoline. How can the government allow oil compa- Today, like yesterday, people look to their elected representa- nies to exploit us in this way, especially with the profits they are tives at all political levels for co-operation. already making? * * * I am calling upon the government, and the minister responsible, to take the necessary steps to put an end to this abuse, to condemn [English] this unjust and unacceptable increase. Must we assume that the oil producers are exploiting those with cars by plotting together to fix SAVE THE CHILDREN prices at a high level? Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain (Guelph—Wellington, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, May 19 marks the 75th anniversary of Save the Children- The industry’s retail price setting mechanisms must be examined Canada. Its supporters have included Prime Ministers and Cana- to ensure there has been no collusion. The people feel they are dians from every walk of life. being exploited. D (1405 ) * * * Today, Save the Children through its partners in 24 countries and [English] its volunteers across Canada assists in improving life for children throughout the world, including Canada. Furthermore, Save the Children programs are managed by its country directors working NATIONAL PALLIATIVE CARE WEEK with local partners on local needs. Mrs. Anna Terrana (Vancouver East, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am As a founder of the rights of the child, Save the Children is a key pleased to inform the members of the House that May 12 to 19 is player in helping young people build a future that includes National Palliative Care Week. education, love and protection from neglect and disease. Canadians are proud of their health care system. As a compas- I thank Save the Children and its volunteers, especially in sionate society we expect that care and support will be available for Guelph—Wellington, for their valuable contribution to all of our those most in need. Part of this need which concerns us all is children. palliative care. Happy anniversary. The Canadian Palliative Care Association is to be commended for its excellent work. The association provides important leader- * * * ship in the pursuit of excellence for terminally ill persons and their families. Last year Health Canada contributed $70,000 to the IMPORT-EXPORT LINK Canadian Palliative Care Association to assist with further devel- Mr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, Ref.): Mr. opments of the association’s structure and national services. Speaker, in Canada exports are the most important vehicle upon which we create jobs, economic growth and maintain our standard Death is a natural part of the life cycle. We need to understand of living. We must continually be aggressive in trying to find new and address the health care needs of those who have terminal markets and devising better ways to compete internationally. diseases. In an effort to aid this process I have created an import-export * * * link on my web site on the Internet. This page will assist companies in gaining valuable information on import-export opportunities [Translation] abroad, government contracts and other trade related information. The goal of this site is to provide our companies with a temporal SIR WILFRID LAURIER advantage over companies in other countries that wish to compete with us. I hope Canadian companies will use this information to Mr. Denis Paradis (Brome—Missisquoi, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, their competitive advantage in order to secure valuable contracts the electoral campaign is in full swing. It is vigorous and exciting for Canadians, thereby creating jobs and increasing economic from one end of the country to the other. growth. This was one hundred years ago. Wilfrid Laurier was going back I share this with all members of the House. I hope that they will and forth from Victoriaville, on his way to becoming the first visit this site at www.reform.ca/martin. Quebecer to be elected Prime Minister of Canada. * * * In the region of Victoriaville—Arthabaska, one hundred years later, people are gathering to make a multi kilometre bicycle path, THE LATE JOHN PATTON on the right of way of the railroad Wilfrid Laurier used to use. This project will be completed thanks to federal-provincial-municipal Mr. John Richardson (Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, Lib.): financial co-operation and regional fundraising activities. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we learned of the death of May 15, 1996 COMMONS DEBATES 2805 S. O. 31 one of Canada’s most highly decorated second world war veterans, Brother and sister Stéfane and Renée Filion returned home to John Patton, who died died yesterday at the age of 80. North Bay on Sunday just as we welcomed over 1,000 participants to our city for the Canada-wide science fair. Stéfane and Renée are He served in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Engineers. veterans of the science fair movement having won gold medals at He was one of only three Canadians awarded the George Cross for the past four Canada-wide science fairs. This is a scientific bravery. This medal, which is almost in every way equivalent to the accomplishment that underlines the excellence of our science Victoria Cross, is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the students in Canada. Stéfane and Renée have represented our most conspicuous circumstances of extreme danger. country well. After a daylight raid on an aircraft factory in the United I wish all the Canada-wide science fair participants the very best Kingdom, John Patton, with no thought for his own safety or any during this important week in North Bay. To Stéfane and Renée, knowledge of German bombs, volunteered to remove an unex- congratulations. Canada is proud of your accomplishment. ploded bomb from the site and so ensured that essential wartime production could be maintained. * * * We offer our condolences to the members of his family and the D (1410) deepest respect for a Canadian who was a true hero.