Also I learned about the Napan Pond demonstration project which is a collaborative effort between the school, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Ducks Unlimited. Together they are developing a small wetland/woodland site on the Napan Research Farm. This site will be used to educate school children about wildlife and farming and to demonstrate to farmers the potential value of wildlife habitat on farmland.
Today I congratulate and commend the principal and the students of the Jonathan McCully school for their efforts to improve environmental awareness and to promote Canadian nationalism.
The human rights violations, particularly the arbitrary arrests and executions as well as the persecution of the Ogoni minority, are all reasons in favour of the international community taking swift and firm action against the Nigerian government.
Consequently, at the Commonwealth conference next week, Canada must actively promote the imposition of sanctions, including an oil embargo.
It has been more than a year since the Prime Minister raised the issue with Commonwealth officials; it is high time that concrete action were taken against Nigeria, as was done previously against South Africa.
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Liberals exonerate the Bloc after it tried to divide the Canadian army in Quebec. They make shamelessly partisan appointments to the Senate and install race based fisheries on the west coast. Their promise on the GST is blatantly broken, blamed on acts of God and loose lips and finally, a billion dollar bribe is offered to shore up their image.
The referendum debacle, the divisive distinct society and now the crowning glory-
The Speaker: Order. I ruled the other day on the word ``bribe''. I wonder if the hon. member would withdraw that word.
Mr. Strahl: Mr. Speaker, I do withdraw that word.
We have had the referendum debacle, the divisive distinct society and now the Pearson airport fiasco. It took two and a half years for them to totally botch the Pearson privatization deal and now Canadians are left with nothing in the way of airport improvements and a $600 million lawsuit to boot.
In the throne speech the Prime Minister said: ``No one can question the integrity of this government''. Mr. Speaker, you cannot question something that does not exist.
Astra AB, the parent company of Mississauga East based Astra Pharma, has launched the development of a revolutionary new treatment for osteoporosis. In a new partnership with Allelix Biopharmaceuticals, also of Mississauga, Astra will provide Allelix with $50 million in licensing and development funds to move this new product forward aggressively.
I congratulate Astra Pharma and Allelix for bringing $50 million worth of jobs and investment to Mississauga and offering relief to the world's 200 million sufferers of osteoporosis.
Now we have the American coast guard stopping Canadian pleasure boats in mid-Great Lakes and demanding entry permission certificates that incidentally cost $20. These same people are threatening our citizens with seizure of their boats for future non-compliance.
The last time I looked there was no white line in the middle of the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. Canadian boats out for a cruise wander in and out of U.S. waters.
Perhaps the Ministers of National Revenue, Fisheries and Oceans and Foreign Affairs will collectively reciprocate with some of the 830,000 pleasure craft in the state of Michigan. At $20 per boat we could use the $16.5 million windfall.
A leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Hoeschst Marion Roussel is one of the five leading pharmaceutical companies in Canada. At the unveiling ceremony of the head office's new corporate signature, the company's president, Gérald P. Belle, announced a $200 million investment in research and development, at least one third of which will be invested in Laval.
At a time when the federal government is shamelessly withdrawing from high technology areas, to chose Laval as the site of a major research centre shows how much private enterprise values and respects the skills, innovation and reliability of Quebec researchers. This gives me one more reason to be proud to be from Laval and to be a Quebecer.
Marcia Guno is a Nisga'a from the Nass Valley who wants to research how aboriginal students can be more successful in pursuing education. She wants to work toward ensuring tomorrow is a brighter day for the next generation.
The celebration of national aboriginal day should celebrate the success of community minded role models.
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Education is a basic building block for full participation in Canadian society. I endorse the principle that Marcia Guno espouses in her academic endeavours. I wish her and the aboriginal community every success in achieving education for its young people.
The Liberals who opposed airport privatization reversed the deal with Bill C-22, based on their fresh democratic majority and the Nixon report. Reform and much of the business community opposed Bill C-22 because it ``broke a contract''.
Strangely, the contract argument is ignored when these same people want to reduce pensions, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation or medicare. The Senate is now the focus. Senators are not elected. Neither are the Transport Canada officials who made the deal. The real question is, what happened to Liberal opposition to privatization of Canada's infrastructure like ports, railways, airports, et cetera?
The voters thought they had thrown out privatization along with the Tories. Who won the last election, the Liberals or Transport Canada's freedom to move. It certainly was not the people.
[Translation]
According to the poll results, 54.9 per cent of the 1,003 respondents support Quebec sovereignty, while at the same time 65.3 per cent of them hope that Quebec will remain in Canada.
Beyond the impression of ambiguity created by these figures, one thing remains clear: a substantial majority-over 60 per cent-of the people are asking Lucien Bouchard to work with us at renewing the Canadian federation.
Let us hope that the Quebec premier will hear their message and finally agree to shelve his separation option.
With the more than $1 million they raised, the Foundation for Gene and Cell Therapy has been established to promote research into genetic disease.
I am pleased to report that on May 20, 1996 at the first annual family day to celebrate Jesse's journey in Springbank Park in London, an agreement was signed by the foundation and the Medical Research Council of Canada.
Nine post-doctoral Jesse Davidson research fellowships will be established. The Medical Research Council will provide some matching funds to the foundation and will contribute its expertise in the selection and awarding of the fellowships.
Most important, this could not have been accomplished without the thousands of Canadians who gave their heartfelt support to a courageous young man.
To Jesse and John Davidson and to all those who gave so generously to this cause, our heartfelt thanks and gratitude.
The two Waterloos, after years of exchanges, officially twinned their two communities in October 1995 during the Octoberfest celebrations in Waterloo, Ontario.
The mayors of the two Waterloos, Bernard Provencher and Brian Turnbull, were in Ottawa on October 19, 1995 to exchange their respective municipal flags in the presence of the Prime Minister. The mayors made the point that people to people contact among Canadians is important to build understanding and to promote national unity.
Waterloo, Quebec voted yes to Canada and no to separation.
We commend the two Waterloos for continuing their ties and for promoting understanding and goodwill among Canadians.
National aboriginal day offers us an opportunity to understand our collective history and renew our efforts to build a better future.
I am proud to represent members of the Mi'kmaq community living in my riding of Annapolis Valley-Hants. Together I believe we have taken steps to improve local economic opportunities while ensuring the preservation of the Mi'kmaq culture.
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I ask all members of the House to reflect on the importance of this and, in so doing, we can embrace all cultures by sharing our collective wisdom and experience.
demonstration. It talks about building a country, returning to our roots, and about the primacy of the notion of freedom.
It was in 1977 that Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day became Quebec's national holiday. How far we have come in 20 years. The people of Quebec have come of age and are preparing for their long-awaited country to become reality.
To all the men and women of Quebec, I wish a happy national holiday.
I was smart enough to be born in B.C., Canada's fastest growing province, which has been described as a large land mass entirely surrounded by envy.
Many eastern and central Canadians envy the fact that British Columbia has Canada's tallest mountains, oldest trees, longest frost free growing season, lowest per capita provincial debt and is the greatest distance from Ottawa.
B.C. produces most of Canada's sawn lumber and plywood. Its ports handle most of Canada's grain and coal and is Canada's gateway to the Pacific rim. Vancouver is closer to Hawaii than to Halifax.
I invite all my hon. colleagues to come to see for themselves as B.C. celebrates 125 years in Confederation.
They come from the United States, so they bring a new perspective to our offices. Best of all, they take back a good impression of Canada and become ambassadors throughout the United States on behalf of Canada.
To interns like Matthew Zweig and all of his partners, congratulations. Thank you for joining us. We look forward to the next group of Michigan interns next year.
This $140 million investment will provide work for 1,000 people every year during construction and create 150 direct and indirect jobs once the plant is up and running.
It should be noted that the process that will be used at the Quebec plant to produce hydrogen peroxide is non-polluting and that it will also reduce the toxicity level of the waste generated by pulp and paper mills during bleaching.
The hon. members representing the Quebec City region will surely join me in citing this as additional evidence of the benefits resulting from intergovernmental co-operation and consultation designed to promote economic development and create jobs.
The OECD today pointed to Canada to lead the way in economic growth. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts that Canada will have the fastest growing economy in the industrial world.
Thanks to a concerted focus on trade and lower interest rates, Canada's economic growth is projected to average 3.5 per cent over the next 18 months. The unemployment rate is expected to continue its downward course, averaging 9 per cent in 1997.
Canadians are a hard working, determined, results oriented people and so too is the government.
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[Translation]
This project will maximize spinoffs within the Canadian economy. Natural gas is an environmentally friendly source of energy. Making it available to businesses in the lower St. Lawrence, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia regions will promote their economic growth.
For eastern Quebec, this project will make it possible to set up several businesses that will be competitive thanks to this initiative. The Bloc Quebecois will work to ensure that the project becomes a reality, since it will be a mutually profitable economic partnership for Quebec and Canada.
All over the country, including in Quebec, French Canadians will be honoured for their contribution to the greatest country in the world, Canada.
Back home, in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, thousands of francophones and francophiles will get together in Alfred, Ontario, to celebrate the village's 125th anniversary, as well as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
On Sunday, we will welcome the Deputy Prime Minister, Sheila Copps, who will come to our riding to celebrate the Saint-Jean with all French Canadians, and also with those who will honour their contribution to our country.