CANADA 2nd SESSION • 36th PARLIAMENT • VOLUME 138 • NUMBER 46 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, April 10, 2000 THE HONOURABLE GILDAS L. MOLGAT SPEAKER CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue.) Debates: Chambers Building, Room 943, Tel. 996-0193 Published by the Senate Available from Canada Communication Group — Publishing, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa K1A 0S9, Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1057 THE SENATE Monday, April 10, 2000 The Senate met at 4:00 p.m., the Speaker in the Chair. He is equally familiar with the economic engine of Saskatchewan, namely, the agricultural industry. When he said Prayers. that agriculture was something he had done all his life, he was not exaggerating. Senator Wiebe is a long-time farmer. He has NEW SENATORS been very involved with the cooperative movement and has served on the Main Center Wheat Pool Committee, the Herbert The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the Credit Union, the Herbert Co-op, and the Saskatchewan honour to inform the Senate that the Clerk has received Co-operative Advisory Board. From 1970 to 1986, he was owner certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that and president of L&W Feeders Ltd. the following persons, respectively, have been summoned to the Senate: His personal success, balanced with a strong commitment of public service to his province and to his community, has made John Edward Neil Wiebe Senator Wiebe sensitive to the aspirations and challenges of Thomas Benjamin Banks, O.C. fellow citizens. As Premier Romanow said earlier this year: INTRODUCTION Jack Wiebe has a tremendous capacity to relate to the everyday issues and concerns of the people of this province. The Hon. the Speaker having informed the Senate that there was a senator without, waiting to be introduced: It is this understanding and empathy, together with his The following honourable senators were introduced; presented undoubted expertise about agricultural matters in particular, that Her Majesty’s writs of summons; took the oath prescribed by will make Senator Wiebe such a strong and welcome addition to law, which was administered by the Clerk; and were seated: this chamber. Hon. John Edward Neil Wiebe, of Swift Current, Senator Banks has taken a less traditional route to the Senate Saskatchewan, introduced between Hon. J. Bernard Boudreau, but a route not any less interesting or worthy. The fact that he is P.C., and Hon. Joyce Fairbairn, P.C. popularly known as “Mr. Edmonton” tells us more about the man than a mere dissertation of honours he has garnered over the Hon. Thomas Benjamin Banks, O.C., of Edmonton, Alberta, course of a long and rewarding musical career. This is not to say introduced between Hon. J. Bernard Boudreau, P.C., and that a Gemini Award, a Juno Award, an officer of the Order of Hon. Nicholas W. Taylor. Canada, and an Honorary Diploma of Music from MacEwan College are not noteworthy in their own right. These are just a The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that the partial listing of the honours that have been bestowed upon our honourable senators named above had made and subscribed the newest colleague. declaration of qualification required by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the The title of “Mr. Edmonton” is an indication of the popular Commissioner appointed to receive and witness the acclaim and affection he enjoys in his home province and said declaration. hometown. • (1610) Given that my background is law, I would be the last to Hon. J. Bernard Boudreau (Leader of the Government): suggest that there are too many lawyers in the Senate. However, Honourable senators, it is with genuine pleasure that I welcome with the arrival of Senator Banks, we add a new talent and a new to this chamber our two new colleagues, Senators Jack Wiebe perspective to our endeavors. A country is not held together by and Tommy Banks. Both have built careers that have made them laws alone; it needs a culture, a soul. Senator Banks, very well known and admired in their respective fields. Mr. Edmonton, has nurtured that soul of our country for more than 40 years and, in my view, it is high time that he take his Senator John Wiebe is very familiar with the rough and tumble place in this chamber, not only in his own right but also as a of political life, particularly coming as he does from the province representative of a community that has brought so much of Saskatchewan which has given the Senate some of its most enrichment and so much joy to Canadians. illustrious members, past and present. Senator Wiebe was twice elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in the 1970s, To him, and to Senator Wiebe, I say: Welcome to the Senate. and, more recently, he has completed his term as Lieutenant We all look forward to the addition that you will make to Governor of the province. He is very familiar with public life. our work. 1058 SENATE DEBATES April 10, 2000 Hon. John Lynch-Staunton (Leader of the Opposition): On September 25, 1998, Senator Ghitter requested that Honourable senators, I am pleased to join with the Leader of the we retract our statements and donate $2,500.00 to the Government in welcoming our new colleagues on behalf of all Alberta Cancer Society. We refused to do so, and instead senators of the P.C. caucus. There is little that I can add to what made further inaccurate and demeaning public statements Senator Boudreau has already said. His was an excellent about Senator Ghitter through various media outlets. On summary of the qualities and experience which the new senators bring to this place. October 21, 1998, Senator Ghitter commenced a defamation action against us. I wish to stress Senator Wiebe’s familiarity with the western Our attack on Senator Ghitter was unfounded and we now agricultural situation, which will be of particular value at a time when comparisons with the Depression are, sadly, not admit having defamed Senator Ghitter. We further exaggerated. His colleagues from Saskatchewan on both sides, acknowledge that some of our statements were based on led by Senator Gustafson, have been giving western farmers the facts that were false and on out of context interpretations. highest of priorities, and another knowledgeable voice at this time is more than welcome in the Senate. We regret preparing and sending the letter and wish to apologize to Senator Ghitter and his family for our lack of Senator Boudreau, in outlining Senator Banks’ background, civility and our inappropriate actions and comments. neglected to mention, no doubt as an oversight, one of the highlights of his career. In 1983, our new colleague took out Rob Anders, M.P. membership in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Ezra Levant This is not a day to indulge in too much partisanship, but I want to tell Senator Banks that if at any time he wants any help in NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK renewing that membership, any one of us on this side would be more than willing to lend a hand. Hon. Sharon Carstairs (Acting Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, National Volunteer Week is • (1620) a special time set aside in April to honour the people who donate their time and energy to the benefit of their fellow citizens. It is I should like to say to both of our new colleagues: I wish you also meant to raise awareness of the vital contribution volunteers the very best and look forward to your participation as you make to our communities and to the identity and values of assume your new responsibilities in the Senate. our country. Congratulations. In the fall of 1997, more than 18,000 Canadians, aged 15 and over, were interviewed by Statistics Canada as a supplement to the national labour force survey. The National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating found that almost one in three Canadians volunteer their time. Almost three in four Canadians SENATORS’ STATEMENTS help people directly by doing housework, driving someone to appointments, or providing some other assistance. Four in ten APOLOGY TO THE HONOURABLE RON GHITTER Canadians give money directly to people who live outside of their home. Hon. John Lynch-Staunton (Leader of the Opposition): Canadians gave more than $4.5 billion in donations in 1997, Honourable senators, I should like to read to you a statement that with an average donation of $239. Canadians spend an additional will be published in the Calgary Herald, The Calgary Sun and $1.28 billion on non-profit goods, raffle or lottery tickets, and The Edmonton Journal on Friday, April 14. It will be entitled, charitable gambling. “Apology to Senator Ghitter from Rob Anders, M.P., and Ezra Levant.” I should like to pay tribute today to all Canadians who work to better their community through volunteering. In particular, In September of 1998, we unfairly and inaccurately though, I should like to pay special tribute to a volunteer from described the character, statements, commitment and work Calgary by the name of Margaret Newell. Margaret Newell is the of Senator Ghitter in a fundraising letter circulated to ChairofthePrairieaction Foundation. In partnership with 31,000 Albertans in connection with the Alberta Senatorial donors, the Prairieaction Foundation supports solutions to Election. The letter was prepared by Ezra Levant and signed violence and abuse by sustaining RESOLVE and other Canadian by Rob Anders on behalf of the Reform Party of Alberta. charities seeking solutions to violence and abuse. Margaret has worked tirelessly over the past three years to The letter was insulting and demeaning of Senator Ghitter establish an endowment fund to provide long-term research who has dedicated over 30 years of his life to public service funding to issues of family violence and violence against women.