The health protection branch and international Codex proposals threaten those choices in Canada. For example, melatonin has now been banned. Is there any proven harm? No. Is there any proven side effect? No. Is there any proven impurity? No.
Reform's position on this issue is clear. An informed consumer is a far better judge of their health care needs than some distant bureaucrat in Ottawa. Our message is also clear to the health protection branch and to Codex. Get out of our faces.
[Translation]
Close to 2,500 people signed a petition asking the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make representations to Venezuelan authorities, so as to bring this most preoccupying situation to a positive conclusion. At the request of Mr. Zbikowski's mother, I sent the petition to the Prime Minister's office.
We do hope that, given the concrete support shown by all these signatures, the Prime Minister will give this issue all the attention it deserves.
First, more and more Canadian families are slipping into poverty and more families cannot escape poverty.
Second, wages have stagnated or declined in Canada over the last two decades at the same time as taxes have been consistently raised. Wealth and income in Canada has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the gap between rich and poor is at 19th century levels. In other words, the middle class has all but disappeared.
I urge the government to include the Canadian middle class as an endangered species in the legislation currently before Parliament. Maybe if we can do that we can save the middle class from going the way of the dodo bird.
The opening ceremony was organized by the regional municipality of Peel, the Police Services Board and the Peel Regional Police. The community station concept, which was first developed in Japan, allows for more accessible, less intimidating interaction between police officers and the general public. Not only will this station increase citizens' sense of safety and security, it will also enhance the current level of police enforcement in the region.
I encourage the community of Malton to lend its full support and cooperation to officers working at the new station. Only by working together can we continue to maintain good law and order in this country.
Mr. Gauthier brings to FADA over 27 years of experience in the automobile industry, including 14 years as president of Gauthier Pontiac Buick, in Montreal. In 1993, Time Magazine named Mr. Gauthier top dealer in the Montreal region.
FADA represents over 3,000 automobile dealers across Canada, 10 of whom are in my riding of Vaudreuil. As small businesses, they provide jobs for over 100,000 Canadians.
On behalf of all members, congratulations and good luck to Mr. Gauthier.
[English]
It is my hope that as we enter the next millennium the current provocations and tensions in this region will be completely eliminated. It is my suggestion that both nations should now concentrate on infrastructure and economic development.
The energies of their people, particularly their youth, should be focused on creating a peaceful environment which, in turn, will lead to a prosperous future.
As John Lennon of the Beatles once said, please give peace a chance.
[Editor's Note: Member spoke in Greek.]
[English]
Canada has recognized the importance Canadians of other origins place on their cultures and traditions and has encouraged all Canadians to take pride in their heritage.
In Montreal, where Greek immigrants began settling at the turn of the century, 1997 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Hellenic Community of Montreal.
Tens of thousands of Canadians of Hellenic origin as well as other Montrealers will converge in Saint-Denis on Sunday, March 30, in a show of ethnic pride. It will be my honour this year to serve as a co-grand marshall of the independence day parade along with the Mayor of Athens who will be in Canada to finalize plans for the twinning of Montreal and Athens.
[Translation]
On March 25, I invite all members of the House to wish Canadians of Greek origin: Zito i Ellas! Zito o Kanadas!
I hope that Quebecers and Canadians will take part in this day to combat racism by developing the values of equity, justice and mutual understanding.
I would like to underscore the exceptional contribution made by ethnocultural communities to Quebec and Canadian society. The riding of Bourassa, which I am proud to represent in the House of Commons, is a good reflection of the pluralistic nature of Quebec.
This day should be an incentive to us to show greater tolerance, open-mindedness and respect for differences.
[English]
It has been my experience while appearing before the justice committee to witness a letter sent to the chair of the committee and copies distributed to members, apparently for their information, immediately prior to the calling of witnesses speaking in favour of the bill.
This letter bore the letterhead of the Canadian Bar Association and the signature of a lawyer who was the chair of the national family law section.
This letter gave misleading information to the committee members and strongly urged the members to defeat the bill. I know that this was not an isolated circumstance.
My concern is the influence the Canadian Bar Association appears to have on legislation in this House. In this case, for example, I believe that since most of the justice committee members were also members of the Canadian Bar Association, they were placed in a questionable position, maybe even conflict of interest.
Who is in charge of this country, elected members of Parliament or the Canadian Bar Association?
Through its programs and funding the council has helped this country to grow and flourish. Canada is now renowned internationally for its cultural excellence, and its artists and arts organizations compete favourably in markets abroad.
The arts community is a dynamic force in Canada's social and economic life. It is the basis for our film, sound recording, publishing and broadcasting industries.
Several of Canada's artists who have enjoyed support from the Canada Council for the Arts are in the House audience today.
I acknowledge and salute them and all other artists in Canada who have made and are making an enormous contribution to the great nation that Canada is today.
(1410)
[Translation]
The Francophonie plays a vital role in Canada. One Canadian in four has French as his or her mother tongue, while one in three can speak that language.
Because of its linguistic duality, Canada is one of many French speaking countries, while also a member of the Commonwealth. For that reason, Canada, in co-operation with the participating governments of Quebec and New Brunswick, maintains a special relationship with close to one hundred countries, half of which are French speaking nations.
As a member of the Francophonie, Canada is proud to show its national identity at the international level.
I would like members of this House to take this opportunity-
The Speaker: I am sorry, but the hon. member's time is up. The hon. member for Essex-Windsor has the floor.
The multicoloured bow that I am wearing, the harmony ribbon, is the symbol of the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, designed by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County. The harmony ribbon is worn as a visible symbol of the mutual respect and understanding that we have for one another and as a sign of our desire to live in a community that is free from racism and discrimination.
The colours of the ribbon, green for the land and blue for the sky and ocean, represent our unity as citizens of earth. Red roses represent love, respect and courage. Together they symbolize the beauty and harmony created when our diverse community comes together.
The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County has played a long and active role in working to ensure a society that is multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith and free from all forms of racism and discrimination.
Each year the multicultural council hosts the Carousel of Nations Festival celebrating the diverse multicultural character of Canada.
I encourage all Canadians to get involved. Working together, we can eliminate racial discrimination.
French has been celebrated for 20 years. It all began when the ministers and chiefs of French speaking delegations attending an extraordinary session of the General Conference of the Agence de coopération culturelle et technique, in Paris, proclaimed March 20 the Journée mondiale de la Francophonie.
The Francophonie is, to use a line coined by Léopold Senghor, ``this integral humanism which is being knit around the world; this symbiosis of dormant energies from all continents, all races, waking up to the new warmth''.
The Francophonie is a human force which lives and flourishes on every continent. Let us pursue our efforts to make the Francophonie a haven for peace and solidarity.
This has made it possible for B.C.'s most listened to radio station, CKNW-98, to provide members with close to 300 of those beautiful daffodil blooms.
Yes, that is compliments of CKNW. Canadians know good weather and it is all on the west coast, which also happens to be the leader in federal political trends, good common sense and fresh starts.
Members of the House have probably already received their blooms from the Sergeant-at-Arms. If they have not, there is plenty more in the lobby.
To the House, a happy first day of spring from Vancouver, from CKNW and from co-sponsor General Paints.
[Translation]
Quebec minister Serge Ménard opposed the Bloc member for Argenteuil-Papineau, and the resolution was readily defeated.
Last weekend, the same Bloc member submitted to his party's convention an emergency resolution so watered down that it represented no threat or obligation for the PQ, which meant that it readily passed.
The hon. member for Argenteuil-Papineau was justified last November in calling for the PQ government to come out in favour of Mirabel. With the response he received at that time, he now knows who is blocking the development of Mirabel airport.
(1415 )
In the deciding match, the Silver Seven defeated the Montreal Victorias eight to nothing. That memorable game was played in my riding at the former Dey's skating rink. In all, the Silver Seven played seven Stanley Cup series at the Dey's between 1903 and 1906.
Today in Ottawa Centre a monument will be unveiled to commemorate the cultural and sporting significance of the Dey's skating rink. In 1905 a team from Dawson City travelled nearly 4,000 miles to challenge the Silver Seven for the cup. Members of a Dawson City team re-enacting the adventure will be present at the unveiling.
I congratulate the organizing committee for making this historical commemoration of Canada's greatest sport a big success. Now we can look forward to another Stanley Cup coming to Ottawa in the near future.