Last week the world's best racers assembled for the opening event of the world cup season. Dozens of volunteers worked hard to perfect the course. And then the heavens opened up. Four days in a row it snowed and snowed and snowed, metres of it, dry and fluffy.
The village is a winter wonderland. The slopes are paradise, the powder snow knee deep. I know, because I made my share of fresh tracks. Even the racers revelled in it.
In the end, the race had to be cancelled. Too much snow. What a pity, what luck.
Come all ye skiers and enjoy it. Better luck next year, racers.
With the holiday season approaching, this is a heavy blow to the affected farmers. I wish to express my sympathy to them in these most difficult of circumstances.
Such situations demand solidarity and mutual assistance. I am sure that the people of my riding will rise to the occasion. In closing, I would like to express thanks, on behalf of my constituents, to the 200 or so firefighters who came from eight Quebec municipalities, and several others in New York State, for their efforts in fighting these fires.
Today postal workers will be setting up information pickets at major postal stations across Canada as part of their campaign to save the jobs of 10,000 men and women, most of whom work less than 15 hours a week and therefore are not eligible for EI.
In the red book the Liberals promised that a Liberal government would put jobs and economic growth at the forefront of its objectives. Instead, here we have a Liberal government that gave absolutely no thought whatsoever to the devastation and hardship this cruel and tasteless act will bring to the lives of those workers and their families.
(1400)
The government should rescind this decision, save the jobs of the admail workers and promote the healthy future of a public postal service.
For the record, I am not in favour of this harmonized tax with tax in pricing or any proposal that puts our Atlantic provinces out of sync with the rest of Canada.
I have met with the Retail Council of Canada on two occasions on the Hill and have made arrangements for the Retail Council to come to Saint John to speak to the business community. I have met with our local chamber of commerce and it is working actively to have the HST delayed until all provinces are on side.
It is no wonder that the third party is at 1 per cent in the polls in Atlantic Canada. Reformers should read the local papers. They would know that this type of small p politics does not sit well with my constituents.
Heather owns the Thousand Island tax and duty free store at the Thousand Island bridge in my riding. She has instituted a plan to allow every full time employee one working day per month with pay to do volunteer work with a community organization. This allows Heather to recall a laid off worker for some part time work until that person can come back full time.
I would like to congratulate Heather on her initiative and her generosity toward her employees. It is an interesting model in work sharing and one which other employers across Canada should be encouraged to examine.
Today I would like to congratulate Monica Moisander from Lindsay, Ontario on becoming the Canadian national downriver kayak champion. This is her fourth title as she won in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
In her event Monica was up against a strong field of competitors but she still managed to win by a comfortable 10-second margin. Monica also competed for the first time in the slalom event where she finished a very respectable seventh.
Who knows, by the year 2000 we could see her competing at the summer Olympics. Way to go, Monica. Congratulations on your success.
I have received many letters and phone calls from Canada Post employees and members of their families who will be affected should the Canada Post mandate review recommendation for withdrawal from the delivery of economy unaddressed admail be acted upon.
Before making a final decision on Canada Post's withdrawal from the delivery of economy unaddressed admail, I urge the minister to consider the impact which these lost jobs will have on these people and their families in Cambridge and across Canada.
In defending his federalist ideal, the ambassador exploited the misfortune of the two Canadian victims of the bombing in Paris last Tuesday. According to him, Hélène Viel, who was killed, and her husband, who was wounded, illustrated what he described as the ability of anglophones and francophones in Canada to understand each other in a very special way.
It is distressing to find such cynicism and lack of judgment in Canada's representative. I ask him today to issue a public apology for having exploited the misfortune of the two families for his own partisan purposes.
The only respectful thing to be done is to offer, on behalf of the official opposition, our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms Viel and to wish her husband a speedy recovery.
[English]
In 1972 I was the victim of a drunk driver and was very fortunate to survive on that occasion. The driver was 16 years old and I was his second victim that year. While I had a skull fracture, broken pelvis and other injuries, the previous victim was paralyzed. I use this example only to point out that drinking and driving must be eradicated.
As my wife and I attended the Mothers Against Drunk Driving memorial in my riding last weekend, I underwent two emotions: I was thankful I had recovered and I was deeply touched as each candle was lit representing a victim whose life had been taken by a drunk driver.
I urge all members to make a statement in each and every riding across Canada.
The Reform Party's ``stale start'' says that immediate tax cuts will help the economy. In fact, tax cuts will now cause more government cutbacks. Just look at the Harris government in Ontario. Already having cut billions, it still needs to make another $3 billion in program cuts to reach its targets. But Harris has not got a clue of what to eliminate next because his so-called plan lacked common sense to begin with.
The people of Ontario were hoodwinked by the Harris Reform-a-Tories. The people of Canada will not be hoodwinked by Manning's Tory-Reformers.
The Speaker: My colleague, I would urge you not to use any member's name in the House of Commons.
Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world. Canada was rated first in the world in 1995 and 1996 on the United Nations human development index. This index measures a country's achievements in life expectancy. This is truly one of the best countries in the world in which to live. However, I am concerned about the direction our health care system is taking.
At a recent conference on Canada's children and their future, the Minister of Health expressed concern that too many Canadians are falling through the cracks in our system and that many of these are children.
One of these children comes from my riding. A family from the Courtice area currently has their son enrolled in a special needs residential program funded by the province of Ontario. The province is going to cancel the funding. Ironically, the funding could continue if the child was made a ward of the state through the Children's Aid Society. Craig and Gloria Brown believe that it takes families to raise children, not the state. It is the purpose of the state to support its families.
I would ask the province of Ontario to review its policy on special needs in order to keep families together.
[English]
Also, out of province students will pay additional fees for their education in Quebec.
More problems will result from this action taken by the Quebec government. Quebec students will get fewer opportunities to dialogue with people outside the province. Other Canadian students will get fewer opportunities to interact with their counterparts in Quebec.
[Translation]
Certain groups of Canadians, for example francophones outside Quebec, will be limited in their choice of university, and the dialogue with their brothers and sisters in Quebec will be silenced.
[English]
Finally, Quebec businesses will lose tax. There will be fewer students from outside Quebec spending money.
Stop. Rethink. Education is for everyone.
[Translation]
Please reconsider.
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Unfortunately, we have learned that the company's commitment to human rights is more rhetoric than reality. In fact, various non-governmental organizations, including Development and Peace, have observed firsthand in the Philippines how poorly Levi's workers were treated.
Discussions are under way between the Canadian government and the private sector regarding voluntary codes of conduct, but they are not likely to be followed if the government does not demonstrate the will to implement an independent control mechanism. Without such a mechanism, this government could, once again, put financial considerations before human rights.
We urge companies operating in developing countries to submit to independent inspections and to have policies providing fair wages and working conditions.
We must be concerned about the effects which pornography produces on individuals, families and upon society as a whole. We must be particularly concerned about the effects this type of material may produce on sexual predators and others who may be inclined to commit sexual offences.
I know that all Canadians are opposed to the exploitation of women and children for sexual, economic or any other purpose. I have been contacted by and have been in touch with a number of groups and individuals within my riding. They have urged me to promote the white ribbon campaign.
It is therefore with a great deal of pride and sense of social responsibility which I know all members share that I draw this worthy cause to the attention of this House.
[Translation]
In a document entitled ``Recognition and Interdependence'', the Quebec Liberal party's committee on the future of the Canadian federal system proposes a positive and practical approach to renewing Canadian federalism.
On the whole, this report effectively reflects an understanding of what Quebecers really expect in terms of a renewed federal system. It puts forward innovative ideas that will no doubt provide an interesting basis for discussions.
The Liberal Party of Quebec has taken note of last year's referendum results and its response is clearly set out in this document. As for the PQ and BQ members, they keep denying the people's decision and still have nothing better to offer than the separation of Quebec, an option that the people of Quebec have rejected twice already.
These men risked their lives to help the stranded vessel. These men knew that if they did not respond quickly, they would be looking for bodies rather than survivors. After more than three hours of wrestling with the elements, their rescue efforts managed to bring these people in safely. Their heroic efforts will never be forgotten by the survivors.
Recently, Stanley along with 27 other outstanding citizens received the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General of Canada to recognize their acts of bravery. It is a great honour to congratulate Stanley Hutchings on this memorable day.
From September 1995 to October 1996, the private sector created 220,000 jobs in our country. Since 1993, total employment has increased: 664,000 net new jobs were created, the majority of them being full time jobs, while unemployment rates have fluctuated.
We are also just starting to feel the positive effects of our basic economic factors, namely the lowest interest rates in 40 years, and the lowest mortgage rates in 30 years.
Contrary to what Louise Harel said last week, Quebec's employment situation did not deteriorate because the ``no side'' won, but because of the political instability that prevails.
Her name is Rose-Anna Nobert, the wife of Rosaire Nobert and mother of seven children. She is also the proud grandmother of 36 grandchildren and the great-grandmother of 23 great-grandchildren.
I should point out that Rose-Anna Nobert, who currently lives at the senior citizens home in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, lived in her own house until she was 103 years old, which is simply extraordinary.
As the member for Champlain, I am proud to pay tribute to Rose-Anna Nobert. I join all the members of her family, and all her friends at the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade home, in wishing her health and happiness on her 105th birthday.