[Editor's Note: Whereupon members sang the national anthem.]
Each day however this industry generates approximately one million tonnes of waste rock and 950,000 tonnes of tailings; some 650 million tonnes of waste per year. We have approximately 6,000 abandoned tailing sites and over 10,000 abandoned mines resulting in clean-up costs conservatively estimated at $6 billion, costs which will likely be borne by taxpayers.
A sustainable mining industry would ensure that the price paid for its products includes the costs of repairing damage to the environment. To further the implementation of sustainable development the government could ensure the efficient use of minerals and metals through the removal of tax barriers favouring the use of virgin material over recycled material.
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.
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 federal government has promised to hand full responsibility for mines back to the provinces. It will then be the Government of Quebec's responsibility to help the mining industry to develop, and 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.
Mothers have a tremendous influence on the future of a nation. Families are the basic building block of society. Children that are free to grow and develop in contact with loving caring parents are the healthiest with the greatest potential to contribute to those around them at the community, national and international levels.
All government programs need to be evaluated by a standard that seeks to determine whether it will encourage mothers and fathers to 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.
the price of gasoline. How can the government allow oil companies to exploit us in this way, especially with the profits they are 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 this unjust and unacceptable increase. Must we assume that the oil producers are exploiting those with cars by plotting together to fix prices at a high level?
The industry's retail price setting mechanisms must be examined to ensure there has been no collusion. The people feel they are being exploited.
Canadians are proud of their health care system. As a compassionate society we expect that care and support will be available for those most in need. Part of this need which concerns us all is palliative care.
The Canadian Palliative Care Association is to be commended for its excellent work. The association provides important leadership in the pursuit of excellence for terminally ill persons and their families. Last year Health Canada contributed $70,000 to the Canadian Palliative Care Association to assist with further developments of the association's structure and national services.
Death is a natural part of the life cycle. We need to understand and address the health care needs of those who have terminal diseases.
This was one hundred years ago. Wilfrid Laurier was going back and forth from Victoriaville, on his way to becoming the first 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, on the right of way of the railroad Wilfrid Laurier used to use. This project will be completed thanks to federal-provincial-municipal financial co-operation and regional fundraising activities.
Today, like yesterday, people look to their elected representatives at all political levels for co-operation.
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Today, Save the Children through its partners in 24 countries and 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 with local partners on local needs.
As a founder of the rights of the child, Save the Children is a key player in helping young people build a future that includes education, love and protection from neglect and disease.
I thank Save the Children and its volunteers, especially in Guelph-Wellington, for their valuable contribution to all of our children.
Happy anniversary.
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 abroad, government contracts and other trade related information.
The goal of this site is to provide our companies with a temporal advantage over companies in other countries that wish to compete with us. I hope Canadian companies will use this information to their competitive advantage in order to secure valuable contracts for Canadians, thereby creating jobs and increasing economic growth.
I share this with all members of the House. I hope that they will visit this site at www.reform.ca/martin.
one of Canada's most highly decorated second world war veterans, John Patton, who died died yesterday at the age of 80.
He served in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was one of only three Canadians awarded the George Cross for bravery. This medal, which is almost in every way equivalent to the Victoria Cross, is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous circumstances of extreme danger.
After a daylight raid on an aircraft factory in the United Kingdom, John Patton, with no thought for his own safety or any knowledge of German bombs, volunteered to remove an unexploded 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 deepest respect for a Canadian who was a true hero.
It is also an opportunity for all Canadians to salute the men and women who have chosen to dedicate their life to serving and protecting the public, often at the risk of their own safety. If we want to ensure order effectively in Canada, we must ensure that relations among all involved are solid.
[English]
Police men and women in Canada are doing a tremendous job and their accomplishments must not go unnoticed. I know that I have the support of this House when I say we in government recognize the dedication of our police forces across the country. We pledge our continued support and gratitude for the work they accomplish daily.
Brother and sister Stéfane and Renée Filion returned home to 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 veterans of the science fair movement having won gold medals at the past four Canada-wide science fairs. This is a scientific accomplishment that underlines the excellence of our science students in Canada. Stéfane and Renée have represented our country well.
I wish all the Canada-wide science fair participants the very best during this important week in North Bay. To Stéfane and Renée, congratulations. Canada is proud of your accomplishment.
[Translation]
Two cases in point are the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's inadequate monitoring of the closure of CFB Cornwallis, in Nova Scotia, and the equipment wasted by the Department of National Defence during peacekeeping missions.
How can we accept the fact that the architects' fees for the building housing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service headquarters were twice as high as originally estimated?
Even the auditor general is concerned about the way the Income Tax Act is applied to family trusts and capital gains.
How can we trust a government that appears more eager to cut benefits for the disadvantaged and the unemployed than to end waste and abuse of all kinds?
I want to inform the Prime Minister that the people are hopping mad. This government jammed through Bill C-33 without giving time for consultation. The democratic process was trampled on
with closure at all stages of the bill. There was no time for the minister or MPs to receive letters.
Phone calls, faxes and letters that did get through were ignored. Very thoughtful presentations in committee by organizations which represent millions of Canadians were ignored. Over 110,000 names on petitions were ignored. That is shameful.
The words of the red face book are for election purposes only. What the Liberals say and what they do cannot be harmonized. The voters have been-
The Speaker: The hon. member for Anjou-Rivière-des-Prairies.
The Liberal and former Liberal members accused by the director general of elections not only refused to co-operate with investigators, but some of them even went further, like current Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin, the main organizer of the Montreal rally, who said he would not hesitate to do it again.
I condemn the attitude of all those who violate Quebec's democratic rules. I remind them that, in a democracy, it is one voter, one vote, not one voter, one dollar. The people of Quebec will never be fooled by their fraudulent tactics and their money. Our fellow citizens will remember this in the next referendum.
Such remarks are completely thoughtless, inappropriate and indicative of a total lack of knowledge of the global geopolitical reality.
This man who, when defeat became imminent, deserted his post as ``second in command of the light brigade'', leaving his commanding officer to die alone in action, should take note that our government recognizes, promotes and respects the democratic values of our society.
In light of the ongoing bloodshed in Chechnya, I ask that Bernard Landry withdraw forthwith his remarks, which misrepresent the Canadian federation and constitute a thinly veiled incitement to the taking of illegal means to effect Quebec's secession.
[English]
The Speaker: The hon. member for Carleton-Gloucester. Welcome back, Eugène.
[Translation]
I also wish to thank Dr. Keon and his team at the Ottawa University cardiology center for the great care I received.
I assure you that I greatly appreciate Canada's health system and I am proud to serve in a government that does such a fine job of preserving it.