I cannot help but be pleased to see that the Prime Minister has made representations to the Premier of Ontario, encouraging him to consider the importance of properly serving not just the francophone minority but all of the population in the eastern part of this province.
[English]
The commission has demonstrated its lack of sensitivity and understanding of the reality of the French speaking population of eastern Ontario. This was more than apparent in its ineptitude in not producing a French version of its report on release of the English version and the inability of its members to respond to questions in French at the recent press conference.
[Translation]
The community has three weeks left to express its opinion and it will be very vocal in doing so.
His first reaction to the announced closing of the only French language hospital in Ontario was to refuse to support the francophones. In so doing, the Prime Minister clearly demonstrated what Canada is: a country which rushes to the defence of the slightest complaint by English Quebecers, but barely reacts to the conditions in which francophones in English Canada find themselves, particularly when those conditions favour their assimilation.
The Prime Minister finally gave in to public pressure and spoke to the Premier of Ontario. He must, however, do more than that; he must also speak out against all of the other English speaking provinces which, like Ontario, offer neither health services, social services or cultural services in French, thus making it clear that the only language in use in Canada-
The Speaker: I am sorry to have to interrupt the hon. member, but his time has run out.
[English]
The Speaker: The hon. member for Lisgar-Marquette.
(1400)
The government has implemented 36 tax increases and craftily used the deindexed income tax system to its benefit. The Liberal government has increased the national debt by $100 billion, and we still have unemployment rates of nearly 10 per cent.
If the last four Liberal budgets were so successful why were there a record number of bankruptcies last year? Why are Canadians carrying record debt loads? Why are personal savings at record lows?
Canadians know the truth. They will not be fooled by a Liberal budget that spins rhetoric instead of offering hope.
There are plenty of other reasons to visit Charlottetown. In particular, on Canada Day weekend we have the Festival of the Lights. On Labour Day weekend we have the Festival of the Fathers. At Province House, the provincial legislature and site of the 1864 Charlottetown conference, an audio-visual program is run by Parks Canada.
Throughout the summer we have the Confederation Centre of Arts including the Charlottetown Festival Young Company. Besides showing the famous Anne of Green Gables play there are number of heritage events such as a film series, speakers series and a summer lecture series.
These are just some of the highlights of our summer season. I encourage all Canadians and all visitors to visit this summer the birthplace of Confederation.
Yet these organizations which are really one and the same have been receiving $500,000 yearly from Health Canada. This is unacceptable. Health Canada should not be bankrolling an organization that is trying to crush an MP who is merely doing the job he was elected to do. This has to stop.
Health Canada should be using taxpayers' dollars to finance health care and not lobbyists.
Since women's struggles were officially recognized through the first International Women's Day in 1911 great strides have been made but much remains to be done.
In Canadian politics, for example, less than 20 per cent of the members of the House are female compared to 52 per cent of the general population.
A more shocking imbalance occurs in science where less than 5 per cent of faculty and engineering are female, a statistic women like Dr. Lillian Dyck are working hard to correct. A biochemist at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Dyck takes very seriously her duties as a role model for girls and women in science.
Having completed her own chemistry degree without ever encountering a female professor, Dr. Dyck hopes to encourage more female students to seek careers in science and engineering. The supportive atmosphere and changing stereotypical attitudes are crucial if the imbalance in this male dominated field is to be corrected.
Just as in politics, women in science need to see other women in the jobs to which they aspire. Scientists like Dr. Lillian Dyck are making sure this happens.
Last week at the meeting of national chiefs the AFN agreed to stage a national day of protest on April 17 due to Liberal inaction. Again last week the Prime Minister and the minister refused to meet the AFN to discuss the $60 million royal commission. Why do they duck and weave?
Two weeks ago an aboriginal Liberal senator said the federal government should stop funding the Assembly of First Nations. This week the minister is barging ahead on the misguided Indian Act II to give the appearance of doing something.
The Liberals are so compromised on aboriginal affairs that their solution has become spend, spend, spend. David Nahwegahbow has a word for the minister. Last week this author of the aboriginal affairs section of the Liberal red book said: ``For the Liberals to say they fulfilled their promises in the red book was a lie''.
The Speaker: As the member is well aware, we cannot use other people's words to say what we are not permitted to say in the House. I would like the hon. member to withdraw those words.
(1405)
Mr. Duncan: Mr. Speaker, he said it. I will withdraw it.
The Speaker: I put the question to you. It is just a straight yes or no. Will you withdraw?
Mr. Duncan: I will withdraw, Mr. Speaker.
For three years now, Tran Trieu Quan has been a prisoner in Vietnam in a matter of fraud in which he is the victim rather than the perpetrator. The policy of effective influence based on dialogue and encouragement has not produced any of the results we might expect.
The government continues to prefer a trade approach to international relations combined with a muted human rights policy. In November 1994, during his trip to Asia, the Prime Minister said: ``-I prefer opening markets and trading; the walls will eventually come down''.
In the prison where he has been languishing for more than three year, Tran Trieu Quan is still waiting for the walls to crack and let in the light of day. When will the government decide to speak up?
On another point I want to congratulate every hard working Canadian for contributing a total of $26 billion over the past three years toward reducing the federal deficit. I am pleased the Prime Minister has acknowledged their contribution. These Canadians are solely responsible for reducing our federal deficit and the Prime Minister must not take any credit for this. The victory is not his and Canadians know this.
The hard working middle class Canadians had their pockets drained once again and we must thank all of them for their generosity.
There is no better example of this than South Africa's use of the Whitehorse mining initiative as a means of bringing stakeholders together to promote mining. The Whitehorse mining initiative brought together Canadian governments, the mining industry, and labour, environmental and aboriginal groups to set out common principles and an agenda to deal with issues facing the mining industry.
Now South Africa is following Canada's lead to assist it in reforming its minerals and mines policy. I applaud our Minister of Natural Resources and all participants in the Whitehorse mining initiative for their leadership on mining issues.
[Translation]
The health services restructuring committee has just recommended the closure of the Montfort hospital, the only French language hospital in Ontario. To close the Montfort is to threaten French life in Ontario, particularly in eastern Ontario where 40 per cent of the francophones live.
Mike Harris should be ashamed. The Ontario Minister of Francophone Affairs, Noble Villeneuve, the only francophone in cabinet, should also be ashamed for not defending the rights of Franco-Ontarians in this matter.
(1410)
You will no doubt recall that International Women's Day was instituted after the major strikes that took place in the middle of the 19th century, when industrialization drew women to the labour market in droves.
In 1977, the United Nations officially invited nations to dedicate one day to celebrating the equality of women. As a new century draws near, efforts in support of gender equality must not only continue but increase.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, please join me in celebrating International Women's Day.
In the name of corporate restructuring, 379 employees will lose their jobs in Montreal North, a community which is already struggling with more than its fair share of unemployment and poverty as it is. Some of the jobs will be transferred to Toronto, where Zellers moved its head office in 1996. With its anti-Quebec policies, the federal government is largely responsible for this closure and the resulting human tragedy.
To Zellers employees, I offer my support and solidarity. Of the federal government, I ask that the necessary steps be taken to get this company to reconsider its decision and remain in operation in Montreal North, where they have a well-trained, skilled and qualified workforce.
Here is a reality check:
Every time we raise the contribution rate for the CPP or the QPP-we increase the tax burden on workers and employers-such increases are difficult to justify.The current Minister of Labour said that.
How about this one?
When you look at the burden of payroll taxes on small firms, you have to include, of course, the Canada pension plan employer contributions-the combination of all these taxes impose an onerous burden, especially on small and medium sized businesses.Our industry minister said that.
Since the two ministers most associated with employment know that the finance minister's 73 per cent CPP increase will kill jobs, why do they not speak up? So much for the jobs, jobs, jobs promise. It looks like the only jobs and pensions this government cares about are its own.
This centre, which will receive funding from the Canadian government of more than $1 million for the next three years, is desgined to promote social integration of young black anglophones in the Greater Montreal area. The activities are aimed at a clientele from 0 to 25 years of age. In co-operation with the qualified staff and the many volunteer organizations that will be involved, the centre will try to develop an awareness of the psychosocial, health, education and economic needs of the youth from that community.
This is another example of our government's interest in working, in partnership with the stakeholders in the sector, toward improving living conditions for our young people.
The tourism industry supports over half a million jobs Canada-wide. It is a $26 billion industry and the Canadian Tourism Commission has been successful in achieving a 13 per cent increase in our international tourism receipts which is leading to even more jobs.
This year's budget builds on that progress. The $15 million annual increase to the Canadian Tourism Commission means that we will be better positioned to market Canada around the world. Our commitment of $50 million to the Business Development Bank of Canada will result in $250 million in new loans for tourism operators in rural Canada, in areas like mine where the operators have been starved for capital in the last few years.
Our government is committed to tourism. It is committed to creating jobs for Canadians. It is committed to rural Canada.