[Editor's Note: Whereupon members sang the national anthem.]
Sixty-four hundred feet underground in Inco's Creighton mine in the town of Walden, the finishing touches are being added to a neutrino observatory. Underground and shielded from cosmic rays, the observatory will study neutrinos, small particles emitted from the centre of the sun. The results could very well change our understanding of the universe and the very foundations of physics.
The observatory represents an international consortium made of Canadian governments, the U.S., the United Kingdom, universities and Inco Limited. It is a model of how governments and the private sector can partner to achieve great things. It is also a partnership led by Canadians.
I wish to extend my congratulations to all the contributors and in particular to Inco for showing us once again that mining in Canada is on the cutting edge-
The Speaker: The hon. member for Wetaskiwin.
The years of lenient sentences, pampered prisoners and lax parole laws that favour offenders' rights over victims must end. Too many innocent lives have been snuffed out because this Liberal government is stuck in neutral.
Respondents to my recent householder demanded a return to law and order. Canadians want a say on capital punishment through a binding referendum. People want justice put back in the justice system.
Canadians are sending a wake-up call to the Minister of Justice. If he does not respond quickly, the voters will ensure that he and his colleagues are on this side of the House after the next election and will be watching a Reform government implement the changes that they were afraid to make.
This week Jean Swanson, president of the National Anti-Poverty Organization and Guy Caron, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, have launched in Ottawa a National Fast for Fairness co-ordinated by the Action Canada Network.
Their fast, joined and supported by people across Canada, including churches, universities, food banks and union locals, draws attention to the CHST and the devastating impact it will have on people's lives, our economy and our vision of Canada.
New Democrats join our voices in calling for national programs with national standards and adequate funding and in supporting the alternative federal budget.
Finally, we pay tribute to Jean Swanson and Guy Caron for their personal leadership on this profoundly important issue.
Those who know the history of this agreement know that it is long overdue. The Nisga'a have been turned away too many times by too many governments for too many years.
The signing marks the end of 20 years of negotiations, two decades at the negotiating table watching federal and provincial governments come and go. For the Nisga'a this has been going on a lot longer than 20 years. The Nisga'a people have been working at this for over 100 years, quietly, patiently, with dignity and persistence.
The time is long overdue. Our government has a chance to change history and we will do so.
In the end, on February 16, the Pontiac RCM mayors signed a joint statement asking: ``That the Prime Minister of Canada, provincial and territorial premiers spare no effort to reach a compromise eliminating the option that would result in altered territorial borders''.
The next day, a local paper ran an article under the headline ``Sixteen Pontiac Mayors in Favour of Secession''. This catchy title in no way reflected the content of the Pontiac mayors' final statement, and I question the real purpose of such statements.
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All programs were sold out and the economic impact to the city of Edmonton was over $40 million. The figure skating championships had a huge television audience with over one billion people from around the world watching the event.
I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz for a fantastic performance which won a bronze medal for Canada.
Once again I would like to thank the city of Edmonton for its outstanding work in hosting the 1996 World Figure Skating Championships.
The Mascouche board of trade has managed to stay the course and reach full maturity. Through hard work, efforts, motivation, and perseverance, its members, headed by Richard Boies, have shown their ability to help businesses.
Success in business requires a great deal of consultation and flexibility on the part of individuals, who must join forces to succeed. In these difficult economic times, we must recognize the need to work together and merge our energies to reach our goals.
I would like to congratulate all the members of the Mascouche board of trade who, I trust, will know how to be as successful and committed as during the past 20 years.
Given the number of conflicts that have arisen in both British Columbia and Quebec these past few years around road access, signing this agreement with the Nisga'as sets a precedent that will be a source of conflict and will cause more roadblocks to be erected.
Thus far, the Bloc Quebecois has been supportive of the agreement with the Nisga'a. However, if a similar agreement were negotiated in Quebec, they would have a problem with that and would probably not go along with it. Why does the Minister of Indian Affairs support this irresponsible precedent and how can the Bloc be in favour?
The Bloc has supported every major government initiative regarding aboriginal people outside Quebec. Interestingly enough,
the Bloc supports the minister on agreements concerning other provinces, when it would object to similar agreements being signed in Quebec.
The Valley Regional Hospital will be the first in the province to come under the jurisdiction of one of our four new regional health boards. These boards were established as part of last year's provincial health reforms.
Since its inception in 1904, the Valley Regional Hospital has had a distinguished history. This new designation does not represent the end of an era but is one more example of how the hospital has always responded positively to change.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the tremendous contribution of retiring director Peter Mosher, to Betty Mattson, the hospital's new acting general manager, the staff and many volunteers for their efforts to lead Nova Scotia's health care system into the future.
The people of Greece-birthplace of western civilisation, especially in the fields of arts and science-were oppressed by the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years without ever losing sight of their quest for independence.
Today, we salute the Greek people, who, through their determination, succeeded in regaining their freedom and their place in the world community. We share with Quebecers and Canadians of Greek origin the well-deserved pride of Greece for achieving its freedom and sovereignty.
[English]
The premier of Alberta calls the premier of Quebec a great Canadian. Why? Because he needs his support to grant federal powers and erode national standards. He does this without consultation, without the consent of any Albertan but himself and perhaps his cabinet.
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What about the great Canadians who live and work in Alberta, those who have positive and constructive suggestions for the renewal of our Confederation? Does he value what they think? Does he even ask what they think?
The most powerful message that I have heard from Albertans is that there is a need to be inclusive, to fully involve the people of Alberta. It is their collective wisdom that will build bridges of accommodation and understanding between people, provinces and regions.
Our Edmonton East Unity Roundtables included 300 people. A constituent of mine summed up the sentiments beautifully when he said-
The Speaker: The hon. member for Vaudreuil.
The work done includes the renovation of the administrative buildings, the construction of a new complex for visitors, and the refitting of the laboratories. The new additions and the modernized existing facilities will definitely increase the potential of the botanical garden and the interest that it generates among tourists, in Quebec and abroad.
Last year, the garden welcomed over one million visitors and the economic spinoffs greatly helped Montreal's economy. The Canadian government invested $5.7 million in this partnership initiative with the Quebec government, the City of Montreal and the Université de Montréal.
This shows once again that such partnerships between the governments of Canada and Quebec are the best way to ensure the economic recovery of the Montreal region.
What is the federal government doing to correct this unacceptable situation? Nothing. The mayor of Montreal, Mr. Bourque, came to Ottawa to ask for federal assistance. He went home empty handed. Minister Stéphane Dion wants to divide Montreal into small blocks, while the Minister of Human Resources Development calls the unemployed lazy people and agitators.
Montrealers are still waiting for the jobs promised by the Liberal Party during the election campaign. So far, they only got cuts in social programs, in the UI program and in the transfer payments to the provinces. The Liberal government's performance regarding Montreal is a real shame.
When will the justice minister wake up to the overwhelming demands to repeal section 745? Even when the public protest spreads to the grassroots of his own party, he insists on talking about weak-kneed amendments.
Yesterday the Canadian Police Association smoked him out on his use of convoluted logic to defend his foot dragging. The CPA also joined Reform in demanding a complete repeal of section 745. Amendments will not do.
This government likes to talk about the will of the majority, but this minister is stubborn as a rock, even when in the minority in public opinion, among victims groups, with police, even in the House of Commons.
This official announcement merely fulfils the commitments we clearly outlined in the throne speech and the last budget. By the end of 1997, this federal government project will allow students from across the country to communicate with one another and give them access to the vast pool of information known as the Internet.
The implementation of SchoolNet in all Canadian schools will be done as indicated in the budget speech, in co-operation with provincial and territorial governments. Through this announcement, our government confirms its intention to give Canada an information infrastructure that will enable it to assume real leadership at the global level.
[English]
The Bluenose, launched in Lunenburg in my riding of South Shore 75 years ago, is a continuing portrait of the heritage and industry in my riding. The lumber mills, blacksmiths, shipwrights, sailors, fishermen and all those who either helped to build her decks or worked upon them are the very roots of our heritage and our communities.
The Bluenose is not only a legend on the South Shore, she is known the world over as one of the greatest sailing ships of all time. The historic importance of the Bluenose as a fishing and cargo carrying schooner as well as her prowess as a racing vessel have marked her place. She continues to be celebrated on something each of us carries with us every day, the dime.
It is important that we recognize Canada's seafaring history and make it a part of our national identity. Nova Scotians will salute this vital part of our heritage this year by celebrating the Year of the Wooden Boat. We must hold on to the memory of this great national icon for generations of Canadians to come.