[Editor's Note: Whereupon members sang the national anthem.]
The report states that crime prevention is everyone's concern and challenges the community to imagine a community in which all members can be safe and feel safe. The report notes that while Waterloo region has a low relative crime rate, residents have an increased fear of crime.
The 50 recommendations of the report challenge the community to fight crime and be involved in crime prevention by dealing with the root causes of crime. The report notes that the offender of tomorrow is the vulnerable child of today, and that physically abused children are five times more likely to be violent adults.
I salute the council for its valuable work. It will help in maintaining Waterloo region as one of the safest and most secure communities in Canada.
[Translation]
This industry unquestionably plays a key role in Quebec. It employs over 17,500 people, pays $889 million in salaries, and generates over $3 billion in mining shipments.
The scheduled meetings with members of Parliament will provide these delegates with an opportunity to clearly state their needs regarding the regulatory reform that is required to promote investments in the mining sector. So far, the federal government has made nice promises, but taken little concrete action. I hope the representations made by industry officials will prompt the government to quickly take action.
Some of the most important factors in a child's life are: whether their parents have a well paying job; whether children grow up in a stable community with adequate health care and education; and whether they can look forward to getting a good job when they finish school. Keeping the successful mining industry flourishing in Canada will help provide all those things: good jobs for today and tomorrow; a sound tax base to pay for hospitals and schools; and stable communities, especially across rural Canada.
Therefore, I urge the government to deliver quickly on its many promises to streamline environmental regulations and other red tape which affects mining. If mining industry dollars are to remain in Canada, this government needs a fresh start to convince international investors that Canada once again wants mining jobs with their many spin-offs that benefit every sector of this nation's economy.
Atlantic Canadians have demonstrated they are sick of having their votes taken for granted by the Liberal Party as they receive bash after bash from Liberal policies. The federal Liberals will experience a similar fate in Atlantic Canada when the next federal election rolls around. Atlantic Canada is not a Liberal colony but a free and democratic region of Canada where real political choices are available and real political choices are embraced.
With Alexa McDonough as our leader, the choice for many Atlantic Canadians in the next federal election will be the NDP.
The Mining Association of Canada was the first mining body in the world to develop a national environmental policy based on the concept of sustainable development. In addition, Canadian mining companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental related projects, more than $300 million in 1993 alone.
(1405 )
One key example of the mining industry's commitment to the environment is its accelerated reduction and elimination of toxics program. Already Canadian mining companies have come close to meeting their emission reduction targets for the year 2000. This is almost five years ahead of schedule.
On behalf of all members of the House, I congratulate the Mining Association of Canada and its member companies on this outstanding achievement. I encourage them to expand upon their commitment to sustainable development with new and innovative initiatives.
[Translation]
[English]
This government is committed to a flexible and dynamic approach to federalism. The new minerals and metals policy is based on a fundamental recognition by this government of provincial ownership and management of mineral resources. The policy describes a sharply focused role for the government in minerals and metals that is tied to core federal responsibilities such as international trade and investment, science and technology and aboriginal affairs. Through the policy the government commits itself to building effective and durable partnerships with the provinces and territories.
[Translation]
By promoting the establishment of partnerships, the new policy on minerals and metals will help renew the federation and make sure the industry continues to make a major contribution to the economic and social well-being of Canadians, right into the 21st century.
The conference, sponsored by Placer Dome Canada and Inco Ltd. among others, will focus on maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship between mining companies and aboriginal communities. It demonstrates the willingness of these two communities to share in the economic and employment opportunities offered by Canada's mineral resources while simultaneously respecting our environment.
This event truly demonstrates how different stakeholders can work together effectively to their mutual benefit and to the benefit of the Canadian economy. I commend the conference organizers and participants for setting such an excellent example for all Canadian industries.
[Translation]
I have the honour of being the grandmother of two. I feel it is essential to tell our children that our future is their future since, some day, they will take over from us.
In Canada, one child out of five lives in poverty. This day reminds us that we have a lot of work to do to ensure a better future for these children.
We are overjoyed by the energy and the spontaneous love displayed by our children. Today, we are telling them that we love them.
There has been a total of $117 million in giveaways. No wonder Canadian Airlines employees feel there is a double standard.
If Canadian Airlines fails, it will cost the taxpayers almost $1 billion. It appears that the Liberal government would rather see Canadian fail than reduce some of the taxes that are bleeding the company dry.
The solution to saving Canadian Airlines and thousands of other businesses is simple: bring government spending under control, balance the budget, reduce taxes, and let companies remain profitable so their workers can keep their jobs.
The Parti Quebecois in its attempt to appease party hard liners before its policy convention this weekend has come out with a frontal attack on the rights of the English minority in Quebec, making access to services in their own language more difficult.
(1410 )
This exclusion act can only exacerbate tensions, erode social cohesion and heighten differences between Quebecers. This narrow minded policy comes at a time when the Quebec government is trying to polish its image by promoting the province as a tolerant and open society in order to attract foreign investment.
The rights and freedoms of all Quebecers should not be held hostage by the governing party in its appeasement of some of its rank and file ideologues. It is obvious that the spirit of Centaur needs to be revived. Please try to live it at the convention. Show openness to diversity, for these acts do not reflect the Quebec society that we love.
This morning I had the honour of presenting the ``You Made a Difference'' award to four distinguished youths who unselfishly risked their lives to save the lives of others. Mark Zuccala, Mike Nicolitsis and Kevin Albert were recognized for rescuing three young children trapped in an automobile. Another true hero, six-year old Christopher Ings sustained injuries himself as he attempted to protect these small children with his own little body.
The actions of these kids is truly remarkable. On behalf of my colleagues I would like to thank and congratulate them on a job very well done.
I would also like to thank Janis Machin and Bernard Muzeen of Our Kids Foundation who played a key role in establishing National Child Day and who continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Canada's children.
I invite all Canadians to join in celebrating National Child Day. Please make it a very special and memorable day. And for those who are celebrating their birthday today, Happy Birthday.
These measures have included, for instance, establishing the prenatal nutrition program, proposals for changes in the system for collecting support payments, an increase in the maximum annual contribution to the registered education savings plan, and so forth.
At its biennial convention, our party also adopted a number of high priority resolutions in which we made a commitment to fight child poverty and do everything that is necessary to put an end to the exploitation of children.
Our party and our government are already committed to this cause, and our work will not cease until all children will be able to enjoy freely the days of their childhood.
Last summer, Canada signed a free trade agreement with the state of Israel. Trade between Israel and Canada is worth about $450 million annually.
This week, Canada signed a free trade agreement with Chile. In 1995, trade between the two countries was worth $666 million.
In light of these agreements, we conclude that the Canadian government should have no reservations about reaching an agreement with a country with which trade is worth more than $60 billion annually, while also helping to maintain of 800,000 direct jobs.
Therefore, we have every reason to believe that a sovereign Quebec will be one of Canada's trading partners par excellence.
Today is National Child Day. I remind this House that in 1989 the United Nations passed the convention of the child which gave children around the world access to their families. Canada recognized that convention in 1991, so why do Canadian children not have access to their families?
The best interests of children reside in the family. The first step was taken in October when the House supported my motion to recognize the family as a building block of society and then unanimously agreed to protect and enhance family interests.
Now is the time for the government to fulfil this commitment on behalf of children, to commit to a fresh start for children. Surely on National Child Day it is not only time to acknowledge each child's right to his or her family, including grandparents, but also time to act on it.
National Child Day was designated to commemorate two historic United Nations events: the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
This convention, ratified by Canada in 1991, is aimed at ensuring the survival, protection and development of children. It provides a framework to value and respect children and youth as full-fledged human beings. The convention addresses many aspects of the lives of children and youth: proper nutrition; access to health care and education; protection from exploitation and abuse; and the right to express their opinions and to participate in matters that affect them.
Children are our future. As a society we must do everything we can to ensure their happiness, their good health and their ability to lead full and productive lives.
I call on all members of the House to join in the celebration of National Child Day.
Under this national agreement on environmental harmonization, the Canadian government will transfer major responsibilities to provinces.
This agreement, which was the subject of arduous negotiations during the past two years, is especially important because it will help improve environmental protection while eliminating duplication and jurisdictional conflicts.
In the throne speech in February, our Prime Minister launched an appeal to all Canadians to work together to protect the environment. This agreement is the appropriate response to this appeal and is a reflection of the many agreements concluded between our government and provincial governments to make our Canadian federation more efficient.