36th Parliament, 2nd Session
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 1
CONTENTS
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
| OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 36TH PARLIAMENT
|
1450
1455
1600
| OATHS OF OFFICE
|
| Bill C-1. Introduction and first reading
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| The Speaker |
| The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
| VACANCIES
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| York West
|
| The Speaker |
| Mount Royal
|
| The Speaker |
| Hull-Aylmer
|
| The Speaker |
| COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE
|
| Appointment of Deputy Chairman
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
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| Mr. Randy White |
| Appointment of Assistant Deputy Chairman
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
| SUPPLY
|
| Hon. Lucienne Robillard |
| Motion
|
| COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
|
| Procedure and House Affairs
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
1610
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| Address in Reply
|
| Mr. Rick Limoges |
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1620
1625
| Motion
|
1630
| Ms. Raymonde Folco |
1635
1640
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Motion
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
| Appendix
|
(Official Version)
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 1
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
Prayers
OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 36TH PARLIAMENT
1450
[English]
The Parliament which had been prorogued on September 18, 1999
met this day at Ottawa for the dispatch of business.
The House met at 2.30 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
The Speaker read a communication from the Secretary to the
Governor General announcing that Their Excellencies, the Governor
General and John Ralston Saul, would arrive at the Peace Tower at
2.50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, 1999 and that when it was
indicated that all was in readiness Their Excellencies would
proceed to the chamber of the Senate to formally open the second
session of the 36th Parliament of Canada.
1455
A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as
follows:
Mr. Speaker, it is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor
General that this honourable House attend her immediately in the
Senate chamber.
Accordingly, the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate
chamber.
1600
And being returned to the Commons chamber:
* * *
OATHS OF OFFICE
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.) moved for
leave to introduce Bill C-1, an act respecting the administration
of oaths of office.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time)
* * *
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
The Speaker: I have the honour to inform the House
that when the House of Commons did attend Her Excellency the
Governor General this day in the Senate chamber, Her Excellency
was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament. To
prevent mistakes I have obtained a copy which is as follows:
It is an honour for me, today, to open this Second Session of the
Thirty-Sixth Parliament of Canada. I appreciate having the opportunity so
early in my mandate to represent the Queen as one of the three elements of
Parliament. It is a responsibility which I take seriously, and I intend to
follow your deliberations closely.
Unlike my immediate predecessors, I have not had the privilege of serving
among you. I do, however, value highly the role that you play and the
dedication that you show in making this remarkable institution work
effectively as the centrepiece of the Canadian democratic system. I am very
aware of the sacrifices that so many of you make in your personal and
professional lives in accepting the challenges of public office. The
commitment you have made is one that I share, and I look forward to
working with you over the next five years in the service of the people
of Canada.
Today, the representatives of the Canadian people gather to open the
session of Parliament that will carry the country into the new millennium.
We stand before a new century confident in the promise of Canada
for our children and grandchildren. Technology is altering every
aspect of our lives. Knowledge and creativity are now the driving
force in a new economy. And collaboration is becoming more
essential as the issues facing our diverse society grow in their
complexity. But Canadians will succeed in this changing world,
just as we have succeeded throughout our country's history.
The promise of Canada was born in an age when countries were
forged through war or revolution. Our nation's founders chose a
unique path, which has become the Canadian way—creating a
country dedicated to peace, order and good government for all its
citizens. It took foresight and commitment to break the mould of
the nation-state founded on a single language, culture or
religion. That foresight and commitment have been greatly
rewarded.
Canada began as a small colony with little industry and no role
of its own in global affairs. Over generations, individual
Canadians built a better future for their families and their
communities. Canadians and their governments overcame barriers of
distance and a harsh northern climate to build a national
railway, a system of highways, a postal service, and national
cultural institutions, as well as hospitals, universities, and
other institutions. Canadians and their governments also put in
place a modern social safety net. Together, these achievements
have provided the foundation for our quality of life.
Within a few generations, we evolved into an independent nation
with an advanced industrialized economy and a voice in the
councils of the world: the United Nations, the G-8, the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, NATO, and
many others. Canada is now serving its sixth elected term on the
United Nations Security Council.
Ours is a voice for peace. Canada was the first to propose the
use of troops for peacekeeping. Today, Canadians are keeping the
peace in many countries around the world. But whenever tyranny
has threatened peace and security, Canadians have never hesitated
to answer the call. Together with our proud Canadian veterans, we
remember those who paid with their lives at Vimy Ridge, on Juno
Beach, and at Hill 355 in Korea.
In the tradition of the coureurs des bois, we have explored the
frontiers of science. From the invention of newsprint to the
creation of advanced computer languages, Canadian ingenuity has
helped to build the information age. From the discovery of
insulin to the earliest pacemaker, Canadians have given new life
to millions around the world. Canada was a pioneer in the
peaceful use of space, becoming a leader in satellite
communications and remote-sensing technologies. Today, our
astronauts are using Canadian technology to help assemble the
International Space Station—the largest scientific project in
history.
In a complex world, diverse approaches, skills and ideas are
essential to building a higher quality of life. Canada is a
bilingual country in which both men and women of many different
cultures, races and religions participate in economic, social and
political life. Our diversity is a source of strength and
creativity, making us modern and forward-looking.
Our actions and our history make us at home in a world of change
and increasing interdependence. Our human talent, our values and
our commitment to working together will secure Canada's
leadership in the knowledge-based economy.
Today, Canadians can look with pride on Canada's success. We
have a dynamic economy, a strong and democratic society, and a
sense of community. We are recognized throughout the world for
our quality of life. We will build a higher quality of life for
all Canadians—for our children, ourselves, and our neighbours.
A Strong and United Canada
A high quality of life for Canadians and a strong, united Canada
are inseparable. The Government will continue to take a
comprehensive approach to strengthening the unity of our country.
All its actions will serve to strengthen Canada by enhancing the
quality of life of Canadians.
Our federal system allows us to value the different strengths of
each region of our country. It guarantees all citizens equal
rights and freedoms. And it enables Canada's wealth to be shared
by all citizens no matter where they live—from Newfoundland in
the east, to British Columbia in the west, to our newest
territory, Nunavut, in the north.
Over the last two Parliaments, Canadians have built a foundation
for even greater success. Our economy is strong. Our citizens
enjoy expanding opportunities and increasing choices. Our
artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers draw admiration from
around the world. And Canada itself earns the respect of the
community of nations as a symbol of peace, democracy and
compassion.
The best way to achieve the promise of Canada for every citizen
is to work together to build the highest quality of life for all
Canadians. But there are some who would pull us apart rather than
bring us together. Even though Quebeckers do not want a third
referendum, the Government of Quebec continues to talk about
holding another one. The Government of Canada therefore reaffirms
the commitment it has made to Quebeckers and all other Canadians
that the principle of clarity, as set out by the Supreme Court of
Canada, will be respected.
To seize the opportunities and meet the challenges of a new global
economy, we must work together in the Canadian way and concentrate on
what matters most to Canadians. We must take bold steps today to make
Canada even stronger in the next century. This requires national will,
national strategies and partnerships across the country. Citizens and
governments must collaboratively build an even stronger and more united
Canada, a Canada that remains an example to the world.
Canadians expect their national government to focus on areas
where it can and must make a difference. And they want this done
in the Canadian way—working together, balancing individual and
government action, and listening to citizens. Canadians expect
their Government to be fiscally prudent, to reduce the debt
burden, to cut taxes, and to pursue the policies necessary for a
strong society. The emerging global marketplace offers an
enormous opportunity to create more Canadian jobs, more Canadian
growth and more Canadian influence in the world. It provides
expanding opportunities to secure a higher quality of life for
all Canadians. To seize these opportunities, we must build on our
strengths.
Achieving a higher quality of life requires a comprehensive
strategy to accelerate the transition to the knowledge-based
economy, promote our interests and project our values in the
world. Together, we will strive for excellence. This demands that
we collaborate with our partners to:
develop our children and youth, our leaders for the 21st century;
build a dynamic economy;
strengthen health and quality care for Canadians;
ensure the quality of our environment;
build stronger communities;
strengthen the relationship with Canada's Aboriginal peoples; and
advance Canada's place in the world.
Children and Youth: Our Leaders for the 21st Century
Our Children
Because of the changing nature of the world economy, the
prospects for a high quality of life in any country will
depend—as never before—on having a population that is
adaptable, resilient and ready to learn throughout life. The
foundation for this is laid in the very early years. No
commitment we make today will be more important for the long-term
prosperity and well-being of our society than the commitment to
invest our efforts in very young children. Parents and families
have the primary responsibility for the care of their children.
But all of society must work together to ensure that our children
develop the abilities to succeed.
The Government will extend and make more accessible Employment
Insurance benefits for parental leave, to help parents take more
time from work to spend with their children. It will make its own
workplace policies and those of federally regulated employers
more family friendly. Through further tax relief, it will put
more dollars in the hands of families with children. And, with
its provincial and territorial partners, it will work to reform
family law and strengthen supports provided to families to ensure
that, in cases of separation or divorce, the needs and best
interests of children come first.
Federal, provincial and territorial governments are developing
together the National Children's Agenda. As part of this work, it
is the Government's objective to reach an agreement among
governments by December 2000 on a national action plan to further
support parents and families. This plan will be consistent with
the Social Union Framework Agreement. It will set out common
principles, objectives and fiscal parameters for all governments
to increase resources and further strengthen supports for early
childhood development.
To make it easier for families to break the cycle of poverty,
the federal, provincial and territorial governments also
established the National Child Benefit. The Government of Canada
is already investing an additional $1.7 billion annually in
low-income families with children, while the provinces and
territories are investing in complementary services. The
Government wants no family to have to choose between a job and
benefits for their children. Therefore, by 2002, the Government
will make a third significant investment in the National Child
Benefit, while seeking a commitment from its provincial and
territorial partners to increase their investment in services for
families with children.
Young Canadians
Young Canadians are the leaders of tomorrow. Already, they are
at home in the wired world. They have energy, ideas and
technological savvy, and they want to contribute to building
their country in the 21st century. In our global and connected
world, young Canadians are acquiring knowledge and skills at an
earlier age. They deserve more and earlier opportunities to get
involved, develop their talents and expand their skills. In doing
so, they will become active and engaged citizens.
The Government will focus on providing young people with more
opportunities to connect to the Canadian experience, to view
their country in all its splendour, to gain a first-hand
understanding of the different regions, and to be challenged by
what they learn from their fellow citizens across this land. The
Government will:
draw on the expertise of young Canadians to help connect rural
and urban communities to the information highway, by hiring them
to put in place additional Internet access sites for public use;
create a single-window service—Exchanges Canada—to give
100,000 young Canadians every year the chance to learn about
another part of the country;
ensure that younger Canadians—from age 13—are given an
opportunity to apply their creative abilities, by providing them with a
chance to produce their “first works” using traditional approaches
and new technologies in the arts, cultural, digital and other
industries;
actively engage tens of thousands of young Canadian volunteers to
participate in community and national environmental projects and
to help others improve their literacy skills; and
enable young Canadians to apply their energy and talents overseas,
by participating in international internship programs and helping
developing countries get connected to the Internet.
In addition, the Government will continue to place a priority on
providing young Canadians with career information, access to work
experience, and learning opportunities.
A Dynamic Economy for the 21st Century
In the global, knowledge-based economy, the advantage goes to
countries that are innovative, have high levels of productivity,
quickly adopt the latest technology, invest in skills development
for their citizens, and seek out new opportunities around the
world.
Canadians have built a strong and dynamic economy. It is the
cornerstone of our quality of life—providing Canada with the
means to continue building a more equitable society, a healthier
population, and stronger communities. In the space of only a few
years, our nation's finances have gone from deficits and debt to
balanced budgets, with low inflation and low interest rates. Laws
and regulations have been modernized and the role of government
in business decisions has been reduced.
The Government will continue to build a better environment for
economic growth and enhanced productivity by reducing the debt
burden, cutting taxes, and making strategic investments. Such
investments will help small businesses grow, encourage trade,
support citizens in developing the skills they need, and ensure
that Canada has modern infrastructure.
The Government is committed to prudent fiscal management. It
will never let the nation's finances get out of control again. It
will keep the ratio of debt to GDP on a permanent downward track.
It will deliver on the commitment it made at the beginning of
this Parliament to devote half the budget surplus to debt
repayment and tax relief, and the other half to investments that
address the social and economic needs of Canadians.
Lower Taxes
As the nation's finances have improved, the Government has begun
to deliver broad-based tax relief—totalling $16.5 billion over
three years. As the nation's finances continue to improve, the
Government will further reduce taxes to increase the disposable
income of Canadians, enhance innovation and risk taking, and
create a more robust economy.
Tax reduction is a key component of a strategy to increase
individual incomes and to ensure an economy that produces the
growth and wealth which enable those public and private
investments necessary for a high quality of life.
In its next budget, the Government will set out a multi-year
plan for further tax reduction.
Increased Trade and Investment
Canada's economy is more open than any of the leading
industrialized countries. We are blessed with a population that
comes from countries all over the world. Foreign markets for our
goods and services provide us with new opportunities. Foreign
investment provides us with capital, new ideas, new technologies,
and innovative business practices.
To build on Canada's advantage, the Government will increase its
trade promotion in strategic sectors with high export potential—sectors
ranging from biotechnology and environmental and
information technology to tourism, culture and health. It will
also continue to support innovation and the development of new
technologies in leading export sectors such as agriculture,
agri-food and natural resources.
It will launch Investment Team Canada—a co-ordinated effort by all
governments and the private sector to make the international community
more aware of the unique opportunities for investment and growth
in Canada. The Government will also modernize legislation to make it
easier for global corporations to locate their headquarters in Canada.
The Government will use the upcoming round of World Trade Organization
negotiations, including those on agriculture, to help build a more
transparent, rules-based global trading system—one that ensures a level
playing field, provides better access to world markets for Canadian
companies in all sectors, and respects the needs of Canadians, our culture,
and the environment. In addition, the Government will work with its
partners in the hemisphere toward the establishment of the Free Trade Area
of the Americas by 2005.
Skills and Knowledge for the 21st Century
A skilled workforce and a capacity to innovate continuously are
crucial building blocks of a successful 21st century economy.
Over the last three years, the Government has put in place a
strategy to build on Canada's advantage as the country with the
most highly educated workforce in the world. It has made it
easier to save for a child's education. It will make college and
university more affordable through Canada Millennium
Scholarships. It has improved student debt relief and provided
better tax assistance to finance lifelong learning.
We will continue to build on this strategy. The Government will
forge partnerships with other governments, public- and
private-sector organizations, and Canadian men and women to
establish a national action plan on skills and learning for the
21st century. This plan will focus on lifelong learning, address
the challenge of poor literacy among adults, and provide citizens
with the information they need to make good decisions about
developing their skills.
Over the next two years, the Government will work with its
partners to:
enable skills development to keep pace with the
evolving economy. This work will be led by the Sectoral Councils,
which bring together representatives from business, labour,
education and other professional groups to address human resource
issues in important areas of the Canadian economy;
make it easier for Canadians to finance lifelong learning; and
provide a single window to Canada-wide information about labour
markets, skills requirements and training opportunities—on the
Internet, over the telephone or in person in communities across
the country.
To ensure that the Public Service of Canada remains a strong,
representative, professional and non-partisan national
institution that provides Canadians the highest quality service
into the 21st century, the Government will also focus on the
recruitment, retention and continuous learning of a skilled
federal workforce.
Infrastructure for the 21st Century
For Canada to generate jobs, growth and wealth, it must have a
leading, knowledge-based economy that creates new ideas and puts
them to work for Canadians. To do this, it is essential to
connect Canadians to each other, to schools and libraries, to
governments, and to the marketplace—so they can build on
each other's ideas and share information. Achieving this
objective will require new types of infrastructure.
Knowledge Infrastructure
Improving Canada's knowledge infrastructure means supporting a
new generation of leaders, attracting the best researchers, and
encouraging our graduates to put their talents to work here at
home.
The Government will introduce the legislation necessary to
create the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. These
institutes will provide a model for world-leading research,
bringing together for the first time all the researchers who have
an impact on health to undertake shared research priorities. This
innovative approach recognizes the importance of collaborative
research for improving the health and well-being of Canadians and
for building a high-quality health system.
The Government of Canada has for many years been one of the most
important contributors to research at Canadian universities. In
the last two years, the Government has pursued an ambitious
agenda to improve its support for advanced research in Canada. To
build on this agenda, the Government will:
increase its support to the Granting Councils, enabling them to
forge new partnerships with our universities to attract the best
research minds in the world through an innovative program of 21st
Century Chairs for Research Excellence;
foster greater international research collaboration by Canadian
universities and institutes and expand Canadian expertise in such
areas as genomics, climate change, and advanced engineering; and
find new markets for new products and services developed through
research by universities and government research centres.
The Government will also ensure that it has a modern and
effective research and science capacity to promote the health,
safety and economic well-being of Canadians.
Information Infrastructure
Improving Canada's information infrastructure will support the
exchange of ideas and the conduct of business over computer
networks, connect Canadians to the information highway, and
accelerate the adoption of electronic commerce. The Government
will:
take steps to make Canada a centre of excellence for electronic
commerce and encourage its use throughout the economy;
re-introduce legislation to protect personal and business
information in the digital world and to recognize electronic
signatures; and
provide increased access to high-speed Internet service for
classrooms and libraries and stimulate the production of Canadian
multimedia learning content and applications. This will build on
the success of SchoolNet.
The Government will become a model user of information
technology and the Internet. By 2004, our goal is to be known
around the world as the government most connected to its
citizens, with Canadians able to access all government
information and services on-line at the time and place of their
choosing. We will build on a pilot project now under way to make
www.access.ca a personal gateway to government information and
community content on the Internet, and we will encourage all
Canadians to make use of this address.
Our knowledge-based economy is more than high-tech companies. It
is an economy in which all sectors strive to use leading
technologies and processes. It is an economy in which old
barriers to access or of distance matter less—where
technology enables urban and rural communities from the Atlantic
to the West to the North to compete globally, and where
technology opens new doors to all Canadians. It is an economy in
which rural Canada also benefits from value-added activity,
environmentally astute land management, and new job skills and
opportunities. It is an economy in which clusters of technology
development already exist in smaller communities all over Canada.
Indeed, it is an economy in which technology can lead to greater
economic stability for the primarily rural regions in which
cyclical resource industries—agriculture, fisheries, forestry,
mining and tourism—are the dominant sources of wealth. The
Government will encourage the development and adoption of new
technologies in all sectors.
Cultural Infrastructure
The strength of Canada is reflected in its rich diversity.
Across this country, Canada's culture comes alive through our
writers, singers and performers, through our filmmakers and
artists, and through those who chronicle our history and preserve
our heritage.
New technologies offer new opportunities to strengthen the bonds
between Canadians. The Government will bring Canadian culture
into the digital age, linking 1,000 institutions across the
country to form a virtual museum of Canada. It will put
collections from the National Archives, National Library and
other key institutions on-line. It will also increase support for
the production of Canadian stories and images in print, theatre,
film, music and video. In particular, it will increase support
for the use of new media.
Physical Infrastructure
Canada must also continue to improve its physical infrastructure
for the 21st century. To increase trade and economic growth, we
must ensure that we have the capacity to move people and goods
safely and efficiently. To maintain the quality of life in our
cities and rural communities, we must ensure that we have clean
air and water.
The Government will work with other levels of government and the
private sector to reach—by the end of the year 2000—agreement
on a five-year plan for improving physical infrastructure in
urban and rural regions across the country. This agreement will
set out shared principles, objectives and fiscal parameters for
all partners to increase their resources directed toward
infrastructure. It will focus on areas such as transport,
tourism, telecommunications, culture, health and safety, and the
environment.
Health and Quality Care for Canadians
Good health and quality care are essential to the well-being of
all Canadians and are part of our strength in today's global
marketplace. Advances in technology, research and information are
opening tremendous new opportunities for improving the health and
well-being of citizens.
Canadians expect their governments to work together to ensure
that Canada's health care system is modern and sustainable. The
Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to medicare by
investing an additional $11.5 billion to modernize the health
system for the beginning of the 21st century. The Government will
continue to move forward with its provincial and territorial
partners and the health care community on common priorities.
With its partners, the Government will support the testing of
innovations in integrated service delivery in areas such as home
care and pharmacare, working toward a health system in which all
parts operate seamlessly. As the results of these innovations
become available, we will be better able to make informed
decisions about the next significant investments in health—ensuring
that our health system meets the evolving needs of all
Canadians.
A modern health information system will give health professionals and
individual citizens improved access to up-to-date information about health
issues and treatment options. The Government will ensure that citizens in
every region of the country have access to such information so they can
make better-informed decisions.
The Government will protect the health of Canadians by
strengthening Canada's food safety program, by taking further
action on environmental health issues, including the potential
health risks presented by pesticides, and by modernizing overall
health protection for a changing world.
We will also continue to address the serious health problems in
Aboriginal communities, supporting their efforts to promote
wellness and to strengthen the delivery of health services.
The Quality of Our Environment
The long-term economic and social well-being of every Canadian
depends on the state of our natural environment. Canada's ability
to adopt innovative environmental practices and technologies will
increasingly be part of Canada's strength in the 21st century.
Canadians have long recognized the underlying relationship
between a healthy environment and a high quality of life.
Canadians and leading businesses are already working in their own
communities to preserve the natural environment, pushing the
frontiers and opportunities of environmental technologies and new
eco-efficient practices.
The quality of the environment in our communities is also linked
to the environmental health of other communities around the
world. Problems such as climate change and dangerous levels of
persistent toxins can be resolved only through concerted
international action.
Within Canada, the Government will work with other governments
and citizens to meet our country's commitment under the Kyoto
Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will set and
enforce tough pollution standards, in particular to better
protect the health of children, seniors and residents of the
North. It will place greater emphasis on sustainable development
in government decision making. It will also address the
structural weaknesses that have been identified in the management
of toxic substances. Internationally, Canada will provide
technical assistance to developing countries in adopting
sustainable practices.
The Government will introduce legislation and stewardship
programs, working with provinces and territories to ensure that
species at risk and their critical natural habitat are protected.
The Government will also continue to extend Canada's national
parks system.
In its own operations, the Government will make itself a model
of environmental excellence. It will do more to clean up
contaminated federal sites. It will strengthen its capacity for
conducting environmental science research. It will also explore
new environmental clean-up technologies.
The Government will report regularly on the results achieved in
addressing the top environmental concerns of Canadians.
Building Stronger Communities
Working Together
Our history has been one of Canadians helping Canadians to seize
opportunities and rise to challenges. This commitment to working
together—by Canadians, their governments and their
communities—will ensure Canada's continued success in addressing
the complex issues of the 21st century.
The Social Union Framework Agreement, reached earlier this year,
is a commitment by governments to work together for Canadians. It
calls for governments to report publicly on the effectiveness of
social programs. It also commits governments to eliminating
barriers that unjustifiably impede the mobility of citizens
within Canada. These barriers include rules that prevent some
citizens from obtaining recognition of their qualifications when
they move to another province, that deny some students use of
their student loans when they study out-of-province, and that
restrict access to essential services for some
citizens—including those with disabilities—because of their
province of origin. The Government of Canada is committed to
working together with its partners to meet the deadlines set out
in the Social Union Framework Agreement, thereby removing all
unjustifiable barriers to mobility no later than 2002.
In 2001, Canadians will mark the International Year of
Volunteers—a time to celebrate the achievements of Canada's
everyday heroes. The Government recognizes the need to build
partnerships with communities and to renew its relationship with
the voluntary organizations that serve and sustain them. The
Government will enter into a national accord with the voluntary
sector, laying a new foundation for active partnership with
voluntary organizations in the service of Canadians.
Strong communities depend on the participation of all their
members. To this end, the Government will pursue its efforts with
other governments, the private and voluntary sectors, and all
citizens to build communities in which Canadians with
disabilities are fully included and in which new Canadians feel
more at home.
In addition, the Government will continue working with its
partners in all sectors to address the root causes of
homelessness and help communities respond to their members' needs
for shelter and other support.
Promoting Safer Communities
Canadians are justifiably proud of having built communities
where citizens feel safe. This is a key component of our quality
of life and a contributor to Canada's comparative advantage.
The Government will work with Canadians to ensure that our
communities continue to be safe. Its focus will be balanced,
combining prevention and a community-centred approach with action
to deal with serious crime. It will expand the community-based
crime prevention strategy and re-introduce legislation to reform
the youth justice system. The Government will combat drug
trafficking while helping communities aid those most affected. It
will also launch a program of restorative justice to help victims
overcome the trauma of crime and provide non-violent offenders
with a chance to help repair the damage caused by their actions.
The Government will focus attention on new and emerging threats
to Canadians and their neighbours around the world. It will work
to combat criminal activity that is becoming increasingly global
in scope, including money laundering, terrorism, and the
smuggling of people, drugs and guns.
The Government will strengthen the capacity of the RCMP and
other agencies to address threats to public security in Canada
and work with enforcement agencies in other countries. In
addition, it will work to modernize legislation to better ensure
public security.
The Government of Canada will also continue to work closely with
the Government of the United States to modernize our shared
border for the 21st century.
A Stronger Relationship with Canada's Aboriginal Peoples
The contribution of Canada's Aboriginal peoples has shaped our
country's heritage and will continue to enrich Canada in the new
century. The Government will continue to build on the strong
foundation of reconciliation and renewal created by Gathering
Strength—Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan.
We are now building stronger partnerships with Aboriginal
people—concentrating on improving their living conditions and,
increasingly, on strengthening their economies. As a result,
Aboriginal people will be able to more fully participate in and
contribute to Canada's economic development and social
well-being.
Fostering good government and strong accountability in First
Nations communities will increase investor confidence, support
economic partnerships, and improve living conditions. Land claim
agreements, in particular, are essential to create certainty for
Aboriginal people and their surrounding communities—providing
the climate needed for partnerships, investments and economic
opportunities. Early in the new session of Parliament, the
Government will introduce legislation to implement the historic
agreement with the Nisga'a.
Canada's Place in the World
As we move into the 21st century, Canada has the momentum to
lead the way toward a safer and more secure world. Canadians have
built the highest quality of life in the world by focussing on
the needs of people. We have the expertise to advance an agenda
of human security—protecting people from threats to their
rights, their safety and their lives.
Canada is an outward-looking country, with a trade-oriented economy and a
population drawn from every corner of the globe. We have a reputation
internationally for making a difference—through our contribution to
eliminating landmines, our work with NATO and the United Nations
in Kosovo, our development assistance to Asia and Africa, our efforts
to establish the International Criminal Court, and our work to renew the
international financial system.
As the Cold War recedes into the past, there is a greater need
to complement national security with an approach that addresses
the growing challenges that undermine the security of
individuals. Human security is challenged when children are used
as soldiers in combat, when citizens are denied their rights,
when civilians are caught in conflict, and when people are the
victims of economic crisis, natural disaster, widespread disease,
or environmental degradation.
Canadians recognize that their quality of life depends in part
on the quality of life of their neighbours—those who share this
planet with us. A world where people are secure is a world where
fewer people are forced to flee their homes, where there is less
crime and terrorism, and where there is a reduced threat of
disease and pollution.
The Government will give increased prominence to human security in its
foreign policy, working to achieve meaningful progress in the councils of
the world on a global human security agenda.
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a special
session on children. In the spirit of partnership that led to the
historic treaty banning landmines, the Government will work to
reach key international agreements to protect the rights of
children. Canada will champion efforts to eliminate the
exploitation of children, including the use of child soldiers in
armed conflict, and will help address the crisis of children
affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The Government will act with like-minded countries to reform and
strengthen international institutions such as the United Nations,
International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.
It will also work to develop a new approach internationally to support the
diversity of cultural expression in countries around the world.
To advance Canada's leadership in the Arctic region, the Government will
outline a foreign policy for the North that enhances co-operation, helps
protect the environment, promotes trade and investment, and supports the
security of the region's people.
The Government will increase international development assistance and
work in innovative ways to enable poor countries to improve the quality
of life of their citizens.
The Government will also continue to ensure that the Canadian Forces have
the capacity to support Canada's role in building a more secure world and
will further develop the capacity of Canadians to help ensure peace and
security in foreign lands.
Honouring Canada's Promise for the 21st Century
As we prepare to celebrate the turn of the millennium, we can
look to our past with pride and to our future with confidence.
Like previous generations, we will face new challenges. But
guided by our values and our collective experience, we can ensure
that Canada remains the best place in the world in which to
live—the best place to raise children, to learn, to pursue
opportunity, to share in rich, diverse and safe communities, and
to admire the beauty of nature.
All Canadians—every citizen, every government, every business and
every community organization—have a part to play. We will build the
21st century together.
You will be asked to appropriate the funds required to carry out
the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament.
As the representatives of the Canadian people across this great land,
yours is a special duty—a higher responsibility to strive for excellence in
the service of your country.
Let the Canadians of tomorrow look upon this Parliament and say, Here
were men and women committed to building a stronger Canada and a better
quality of life for their children and grandchildren.
May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.
[Translation]
The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.) moved:
That the speech of Her Excellency the Governor General,
delivered this day from the throne to the two Houses of
Parliament, be taken into consideration later this day.
(Motion agreed to)
* * *
[English]
VACANCIES
YORK WEST
The Speaker: It is my duty to inform the House that a
vacancy has occurred in the representation, namely Mr. Sergio
Marchi, member for the electoral district of York West, by
resignation effective August 3, 1999.
[Translation]
Pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act,
I have addressed on Tuesday, August 3, 1999, my warrant to the
Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election
of a member to fill this vacancy.
MOUNT ROYAL
The Speaker: It is my duty to inform the House that a
vacancy has occurred in the representation, namely the Mrs.
Sheila Finestone, member for the electoral district of Mount
Royal, by resignation effective August 10, 1999.
[English]
Pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act,
I have addressed on Tuesday, August 10, 1999 my warrant to the
Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election
of a member to fill this vacancy.
[Translation]
HULL-AYLMER
The Speaker: It is my duty to inform the House that a
vacancy has occurred in the representation, namely the Hon.
Marcel Massé, member for the electoral district of Hull-Aylmer,
by resignation effective September 10, 1999.
[English]
Pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act,
I have addressed on Friday, September 10, 1999 my warrant to the
Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election
of a member to fill this vacancy.
* * *
COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE
APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I move:
That Mr. Ian McClelland, member for the electoral district of
Edmonton Southwest, be appointed deputy chairman of committees
of the whole House.
1605
Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
it is a pleasure to second the motion. It will allow the member
for Edmonton Southwest another two years in training in the House
to perhaps one day become the Speaker of the House. We would
like to make sure that everybody in the House knows that the
Reform Party is fully prepared to send more Speakers to the
chair. When we are the government after the next election we
look forward to him being in the Speaker's chair.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that
the hon. member seconded my motion. I think he is getting ready
to propose a lot of motions in the legislative assembly of
British Columbia in the years to come. He has to practise a bit.
(Motion agreed to)
[Translation]
APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I
move:
That Mrs. Thibeault, member for the electoral district of
Saint-Lambert, be appointed Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the
Whole House.
(Motion agreed to)
* * *
SUPPLY
Hon. Lucienne Robillard (President of the Treasury Board and
Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I
move:
(Motion agreed to)
The Speaker: It is my duty to inform the House that five days
must be designated for the period reserved for the business
of supply, ending on December 10, 1999.
* * *
[English]
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I move:
That the following changes be made to the membership of the
Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs: Ms.
Bakopanos, Mr. Bonin, Mr. Lee, Mr. McNally, Ms. Parrish and Mr.
Pickard for Mr. Adams, Mr. Baker, Mr. Charbonneau, Mr. Fontana,
Mr. Grewal and Mr. Myers.
(Motion agreed to)
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I believe you would find
unanimous consent for the following:
That the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be
permitted to meet on October 13, 1999 for the purpose of Standing
Order 106(2).
1610
The Speaker: Is there unanimous consent to proceed in
this fashion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the
motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I move:
That the speech of Her Excellency the Governor General, together
with the address of welcome made by the Prime Minister in the
Senate Chamber on October 7, 1999, be printed as an appendix to
the official report of debates of the House of Commons and form
part of the permanent record of this Parliament.
(Motion agreed to)
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
ADDRESS IN REPLY
The House proceeded to the consideration of the speech delivered
by Her Excellency the Governor General at the opening of the
session.
Mr. Rick Limoges (Windsor—St. Clair, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
it is with a profound sense honour and humility that I move the
motion, seconded by the hon. member for Laval West, on the
address in reply to the Speech from the Throne.
I would like to pay my respects to Her Excellency the Governor
General and thank her for delivering the speech to both Houses.
I offer the governor general my sincere congratulations on her
historic appointment and wish her much success in the years
ahead.
I would also like to thank the Right Hon. Prime Minister and the
government for the honour conferred on me, the recently elected
member of parliament for the riding of Windsor—St. Clair.
As hon. members know, earlier this year I succeeded my friend
and hon. members' former colleague, the late Shaughnessy Cohen.
Shaughnessy had a heart of gold and an infectious personality.
She served her constituents well and I intend to be just as
enthusiastic as she was in representing the interests of my
constituents.
The riding of Windsor—St. Clair is a special riding in that the
people who live there represent the very best of what makes
Canada such a great place to live. They are hard working people
who play by the rules, raise their families and care deeply about
their community and their country.
Proof of this can be seen in the fact that for the last 30 years
the Windsor-Essex county area has led the country in per capita
donations to the United Way. The tremendous sense of pride and
community I see every day in Windsor and Tecumseh is what makes
serving as their member of parliament so meaningful to me.
[Translation]
Along with numerous other localities in Canada, Windsor—St. Clair
has an active and vibrant francophone community to which I am
proud to belong. My parents, and their parents before them,
were aware of the importance of preserving their language and
culture and equally aware of the challenge involved. I face
that same challenge every day, as do my children. Our
government has done much to enshrine the rights of francophone
Canadians from sea to sea.
Windsor is proud of its heritage as Canada's car capital.
Windsor is equally proud to be the home of Hiram Walker,
producers of the famous Canadian Club whisky.
Windsor's long-established industries are doing very well under
our government, but the city has progressed beyond its
traditional industrial base of assembly and manufacturing
plants.
1615
The Windsor casino, with its 20,000-plus visitors daily, has
become Canada's number one tourist attraction. Among its
positive economic effects are the thousands of well paid jobs it
has created, and the millions of dollars in new revenue to the
provincial government, in large part from U.S. visitors.
[English]
Windsor's economy is changing in other ways as well. For
example, aided by our government's investment in technological
and skills development Windsor is now the tool and mould capital
of the world. Our city is home to well over 100 high tech design
firms using state of the art computers, machines and robotics.
Industrial leaders in our community such as Tony Toldo, the
Rodzik family, Michael Soltz and Steve Reko are demonstrating
Canada's leadership in quality manufacturing, industrial design
and research.
During our government's time in office there has been
considerable corporate investment in Windsor. The big three
automakers, General Motors, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler, have all
made significant investments to the lasting benefit of Windsor
and Canada.
In addition to the investment in new factories and the
modernization of existing plants and equipment we have seen the
establishment of the cutting edge automotive research centre, a
partnership involving the government, the University of Windsor
and Daimler-Chrysler Canada. The centre is using state of the
art computer assisted design and telecommunications technology.
Such investments are a clear demonstration of confidence in
Canada's economy and an acknowledgement that Canadian workers are
highly skilled, well educated and efficient. It also reflects a
great degree of confidence in our government and our Prime
Minister.
Of course, coming from Windsor I have very large shoes to fill.
Paul Martin Sr., Eugene Whelan and Mark MacGuigan served in
government with great distinction as very effective
representatives of their fellow citizens.
My colleague, the member of parliament for Windsor West,
the Deputy Prime Minister, has not only served our part of the
country throughout his long and distinguished career, he has
worked on behalf of all Canadians.
These men and my immediate predecessor provide me with inspiring
examples of what it means to be a member of parliament, but I
must say that my own sense of public service came from my
parents. They instilled in their children the importance of
making a meaningful contribution to our community and the world
around us. That is why I spent 14 years on city council in
Windsor prior to joining members here.
When I decided to run for parliament it was because I wanted to
help Canadians realize their dreams. I wanted to help build
on the accomplishments of this government.
In my previous career in the banking industry I had many
opportunities to help people realize their dreams. I worked with
men and women who were applying for student loans, loans for
their first cars, mortgages for their first homes or starting new
businesses. I helped people invest their life savings and plan
for their retirement years. I listened to their dreams and their
plans for the future.
I also remember when Canadians were uncertain about the future,
insecure about their jobs or unable to find one. I remember when
there was a huge budget deficit, high interest rates and a
ballooning national debt. Most of us seriously doubted that the
nation's pension plan would be there for us when our turn came to
retire.
There was little talk about dreams and the future and more about
just making it to the end of the week. That was six years ago.
[Translation]
The leadership and balanced approach of the Prime Minister and
the Minister of Finance have meant that this government has been
able to accomplish many things. Over the years the government
has introduced major tax cuts, eliminated the deficit and begun
to reduce the national debt.
Our government is investing in priorities such as health care,
education and technological innovation to prepare Canada for the
21st century. Today the unemployment rate in Windsor is a mere
half of what it was in 1993 and the local economy is very
strong.
Now when I run into my former clients they are again talking
about their dreams. They have renewed hope for the future.
1620
Canada is now experiencing the longest stretch of economic
growth since the 1960s. The unemployment rate now stands at
7.5%. This is the lowest it has been since June 1990, and it is
now almost four points lower than the 11.4% our government faced
when it came to power in October, 1993. Over 1.7 millions jobs
have been created since that date.
In the last budget, we announced $7.7 billion in tax cuts over a
three year period, and the tax cuts of $16.5 billion announced
in our last two budgets will benefit all taxpayers.
In fact, 600,000 low income Canadians will pay absolutely no
federal income tax.
We have brought down a second balanced, surplus budget. We
have proposed a tax plan of four consecutive balanced, surplus
budgets. This is only the third time since Confederation that
such a feat has been accomplished.
As part of the Canadian equal opportunity strategy, we announced
an additional investment of over $500 million for the purpose of
creating Canadian institutes for health research.
[English]
This is a record of commitment, a record of achievement, a
record in which our government can take pride. It is a testament
to the vision and the leadership of our Prime Minister. More
important, this is a record that has improved the life of every
Canadian.
There is still much more that remains to be done. We must
continue to reduce the tax burden on Canadians in a meaningful
and responsible manner. We must continue to reduce the national
debt and we must continue to foster a climate where entrepreneurs
can succeed, where we reward talent and hard work, and where
Canadians can be confident in their economic future.
At the same time we must build on the strengths of our national
health care system and take steps to modernize it so that it is
ready for the challenges of the 21st century. We must provide
families with the support framework they need to ensure that
Canada's children, our children, get the best possible start in
life.
Working with provinces and territories, we have opened a new
front in the war on child poverty with the creation of the
national child benefit system, the most important new social
program since medicare. It takes an innovative national approach
to helping low income families with children. It boosts programs
and services for children. It helps parents make the transition
from welfare to work. The Government of Canada's contribution to
the national child benefit system is the Canada child tax
benefit, CCTB. We have pledged to increase the CCTB by $2
billion by Canada Day 2000. This means a family earning $20,000
with two children will get over $3,700 through the CCTB.
We must invest in higher learning and scientific research to
secure our place in a knowledge based economy. This year Canada
became the first country in the world to connect every public
school and every public library to the Internet. Connecting all
Canadians remains a priority for our government. High speed
access is essential to give Canadians a competitive edge.
Investments like the millennium scholarship fund
will generate over 100,000 scholarships each year for low
and middle income post-secondary students over the next decade.
As well, there are programs such as the Canada savings education grant
in which our government is topping up new contributions through the
registered education savings plan, RESP. These are an enormous
hit with parents saving for their children's future education.
Over 300,000 new RESP accounts have been opened since the new
grant was announced last year.
1625
There are programs such as the youth employment strategy which
has consolidated over $2 billion in new and existing funding for
the programs and services young people need today to acquire
skills and work experience, to find jobs and to build careers, a
program our Prime Minister renewed last December with a
substantial increase in funding.
[Translation]
Since we must act in all these areas, I am pleased to see that
the Speech from the Throne proposes a proactive agenda. The last
throne speech of the 20th century is truly an action plan that
sets the foundations for a promising future.
As a federal member of parliament, one of my priorities is to
try to improve our national roadway system, because it is
critical to the quality of life of all Canadians.
Our roads are used to transport the products we sell and the
food we eat to Canadian cities and towns.
The roadway system is the backbone of our tourist industry and
the lifeline of our foreign trade. As such, it must be safe and
effective to ensure our prosperity.
[English]
Another priority for me is the environment. In my riding of
Windsor—St. Clair we are the victims of cross border pollution
in addition to what we ourselves add to the mix. In recent years
Canadians have become increasingly aware of all types of
pollution. While many industries are working to clean up their
act, like the Ford Motor Company attaining ISO 14001
certification in our local plants, citizens are worried that
individuals in the various levels of government are neglecting
their environmental responsibilities. This growing awareness is
one of the reasons that environmental activists are no longer a
fringe group. They are now the mainstream population.
Getting to know our new Minister of the Environment has given me
a renewed sense of confidence in our ability to make real
progress. That message is also reinforced in a vision expressed
in the Speech from the Throne. One of the best ways to succeed
is to support the development of clean technologies. For
example, this spring Daimler-Chrysler revealed the first zero
emission fuel cell car in North America. The Ballard fuel cell
is Canadian technology that is also being successfully tested in
mass transit. Such a development could dramatically reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
In closing I leave the House with this thought. In the last
election Canadians chose our government to lead the nation into
the 21st century. Canada has been recognized for six straight
years by the UN as the best country in the world in which to
live. With our government's inspiring vision for the future
unveiled earlier today we have indicated that we are ready for
the new millennium. Together we can build a society that strikes
the right balance between economic investment and respect for the
environment, the right balance between support for innovation and
support for our cultural diversity.
With a balanced approach we can build a society where every
Canadian has a place and where we all share the rewards. Together
we can ensure that Canada remains the best country in the world in
which to invest, to learn, to work and to live in the 21st
century. In doing so we will strengthen Canadians' sense of
pride and belonging to this vast, diverse and beautiful nation, a
nation woven from caring communities like my own.
I hereby move, seconded by the hon. member for Laval West, that
the following address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor
General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, a
member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and
Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and
Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and
Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
May it please Your Excellency:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of
Commons of Canada, in parliament assembled, beg leave to offer
our humble thanks for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency
has addressed to both houses of parliament.
1630
[Translation]
Ms. Raymonde Folco (Laval West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is a
great honour for me to second the motion for the address in reply
to the Speech from the Throne.
First of all, I would like to thank the Prime Minister
for giving me the opportunity to second the motion before
the Parliament of Canada. I would also like to thank the voters
in the riding of Laval West who have put their trust in me to
represent them in the federal parliament, which is a great
honour.
As their elected representative I will continue to work with my
colleagues as well as with the private sector and NGOs to meet
the challenges of the new millenium, which were outlined in the
Speech from the Throne.
The riding of Laval West Quebec, is very representative of
the population of both Quebec and Canada. It is home to
Canadians of various origins, mostly francophone, but there are also many
anglophones and Canadians of Greek, Portuguese, Armenian,
Lebanese, Egyptian, West Indian, Jewish and other origins.
The riding has a major rural component, depending mainly on
horticulture, and a very urban component, namely the great
city of Laval. There are low, middle and high income families.
It is a community that works hard together and, like Canada
as a whole, finds a way to affirm its diversity in unity.
Laval is the second largest city in Quebec. Since its
inception its activities have shifted toward the secondary
sector, without eliminating all of its primary sector.
In the past 15 years Laval's focus has been on high tech and
the industrial, commercial and financial sectors.
The priorities set by our government in the throne speech are
completely in line with the expectations and priorities of the
families in Laval: a prosperous and healthy society.
Children are the foundation of the society of
tomorrow. The more attention we focus on the children of today
in their early years, the better their future and our future
will be. Dozens of community and not for profit organizations
are already involved every day in helping low and middle income
families. Our government intends to adopt a positive and
responsible attitude to bring hope to the families of
Laval, the families of Canada.
While I was listening to Her Excellency reading the Speech from
the Throne, something kept crossing my mind. I believe
that every member of this House, above and beyond any
differences of opinion, was thinking exactly the same thing: the
progress this country has made in the past six years, the work
that has been accomplished by all Canadians, is truly
remarkable.
I would like to take a moment to review the position Canada was
in six years ago. Unemployment was at 11.4%. Inflation and high
interest rates were undermining our economy. There was
a record deficit of $42
billion which was constantly rising, adding to our country's debt.
In a nutshell, Canada was on the verge of bankruptcy, and
something drastic definitely needed to be done.
This government was therefore elected with the mandate of
remedying the situation.
Canadians realized this was going to mean some difficult years
and numerous sacrifices, but they also realized they could count
on us to listen to them, to work along with them, to make the
necessary choices, keeping in mind their values and their
priorities. We had the confidence of Canadians and we knew that
we could have confidence in them as well.
1635
Let us look at what we have become today: a country of over 30
million people, with unemployment at its lowest level in ten
years. The era of budget deficits is behind us.
With inflation and interest rates under control, many Canadians
are now able to buy a house and start a family without having to
worry about going deep into debt.
Canadians are also seeing their tax bill drop. The news in the
throne speech is that their net income will rise in the years
ahead.
Aware that running a country is more than an exercise in
accounting, our government has done all this.
Balancing a budget is not an end in itself and neither is
lowering taxes. Rather, these are ways of bringing about a
vision, our vision, the vision of all Canadians for a strong,
united, and prosperous Canada with a quality of life unequalled
anywhere else in the world, a Canada whose successes know no
limitations.
[English]
While some would have us live in the past, this government has
always had its eye on the future, on the future of this country
and on the future of every single Canadian, and the future begins
with families and children. It begins by giving every young
Canadian a chance to succeed in the new knowledge based economy
and build a better quality of life. This government has no
higher priority.
That is why over the last few years we placed the cornerstones
of the national children's agenda with a special focus on the
problems of low income families with children. Along with our
partners we have made considerable progress so far. We created
the national child benefit through which low income families
receive in total $1.7 billion every year while provinces and
territories are reinvesting in complementary services. Our
government has already pledged new funds that will bring the
total to $2 billion a year by July 2000. And that is not all.
As we speak, hundreds of projects to help children and parents
are under way in communities across Canada with the assistance of
federal programs, projects that benefit from programs such as
aboriginal head starts which were recently expanded to include
children who live on reserves, the Canadian prenatal nutrition
program which funds community groups that counsel and help women
at risk of having unhealthy babies, the community action
program for children which funds community groups that assist in
meeting the developmental needs of at risk children from birth to
age six. We did all this as we were fighting to bring the
nation's finances under control. Imagine what we will be able to
do now.
Our government has committed to increasing resources for early
childhood development, providing targeted assistance for low
income families with children and fostering family friendly
workplaces. We will continue to work with our partners, the
provinces and the territories, to further improve community support
for early childhood development. We will continue to invest in
the national child benefit. We will continue to put more money
in the hands of families through further tax relief. We will
give parents the freedom to spend more time with their children.
We will implement workplace policies that are more favourable to
families and we will modernize family law with an eye to placing
the needs of children first.
[Translation]
This is not all that our government has done to help children.
In recent years we have also introduced the Canadian
opportunities strategy to provide Canadians with easier and more
affordable access to education and training.
We have established the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
and set up a $2.5 billion fund that will begin distributing over
100,000 scholarships a year to postsecondary students from low
and middle income families starting in January.
1640
We have created the Canada education savings
grant to help Canadians invest in their children's future. We
have introduced a tax credit for interest payments on student
loans. In addition, we have implemented other programs, the
benefits of which will continue to be felt for years to come:
the youth employment strategy, SchoolNet, a program promoting
community access to the Internet, and the computers for schools
program.
The Speech from the Throne clearly indicated that we will be
building on these sound foundations in the years to come, that
we will be relying on the modern infrastructure currently being
put in place, not only to improve the skills and prospects of
young Canadians, but also to help them to better know their
fellow Canadians from other regions and our society, which is
one of diversity within unity.
We took office at a time when major changes were taking place.
These changes, which include globalization, the rapid emergence
of new technologies and their application in all areas of the
economy, have a growing impact on the daily lives of Canadians.
Canadians had every reason to be concerned. Not only was our
country at the mercy of events, but the government had very
limited means to start the process of catching up. The burdens
of the past were preventing us from moving toward the future.
Today's throne speech is indicative of a complete turnaround. It
reaffirms Canada's position at the forefront of a knowledge based
economy, it stresses our country's attachment to social justice
and equity, it shows a Canada that is united by the compassion,
optimism, determination and deep conviction of its citizens,
and it will be the best country in the 21st century.
I am proud of our government, but I am particularly proud of my
fellow Canadians. We never let go of our values. We never
listened to those who wanted us to take the easy way out.
Instead, we rolled up our sleeves and set out to do the task at
hand.
We took advantage of the solidarity and determination of
Canadians and we marched together toward our common objective,
which is to make Canada a country with a future, a country
constantly striving for ever greater success.
[English]
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition I would like to
extend our congratulations to Her Excellency the Governor General
on both her appointment and on the presentation of her first
speech from the throne.
Second, I would like to congratulate the deputy chairman and the
assistant deputy chairman of committees of the whole House on
their appointments.
Third, I would like to extend congratulations to the member for
Windsor—St. Clair and the member for Laval West on their
speeches in support of the government's legislative program.
There are of course two sides to every story and we are looking
forward to presenting the other side tomorrow.
Therefore, I move:
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the
motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) Mr. Speaker, I move:
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the
motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until tomorrow
at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
(The House adjourned at 4.45 p.m.)
Her Excellency
the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
Governor General of Canada
Installation Speech
The Senate
Thursday, October 7, 1999
Prime Minister,
You have expressed to me the affection, loyalty and esteem of the Canadian
people,
which it will be my honour to convey to our gracious sovereign, Queen
Elizabeth II. I am
pleased to accept the responsibility of being Her Majesty's representative
in Canada, with
all that entails, through our history and our custom. Knowing better than
anyone my own
shortcomings, I undertake this task with humility and ask you all, as
Canadians, to help
me.
I take on the responsibility of becoming Canada's 26th Governor General since
Confederation, fully conscious of the deep roots of this office,
stretching back, to the
Governors of New France and to the first of them, Samuel de Champlain. In
our beloved
Georgian Bay, which lies on the great water route he took from the French
River to
Huronia, there is a cairn, placed on a small island, between a tennis court and
Champlain's Gas Bar & Marina, which commemorates his passage and quotes
from his
journal:
Samuel de Champlain
by canoe
1615
“As for me, I labour always to prepare a way for those willing to
follow”.
Those willing to follow have embodied the institution of the Governor
General in ways
which have demonstrated the evolution and constant reaffirmation of this
country.
Canada's institutions have never been static. They are organic—evolving
and growing in
ways that surprise and even startle us. In a mere 30 years, between 1952
and 1982, we
repatriated the Governor Generalship and our Constitution. We adopted our
flag, we
formalized our understanding of Rights and we strengthened and expanded
the bilingual
nature of our country. The Governor General is one skein in the woven
fabric of what
Eugene Forsey characterised as our “independent sovereign
democracy”.
Champlain's successors have had many activists among them. Lord Elgin, who
helped
Baldwin and LaFontaine to anchor the Canadian model of democracy in 1848,
stands out
as somebody who appreciated the originality of a country which would
promote such a
project. He loved to wander about our few small cities, on foot, glorying
in snowstorms,
eschewing the formality of his office and speaking of his admiration for
“this glorious
country” and “its perfectly independent inhabitants”. He also said, that
in order to have
insight into the future of all nations, it was necessary to come here.
Vincent Massey, our first Canadian Governor General, laid the groundwork
for practically
all of our modern cultural institutions—the Canada Council, the National
Arts Centre, the
Order of Canada, among others. And my predecessor, Roméo LeBlanc,
reinforced the
central fact of French Canada across this country, culminating in the
success of last
month's Summit that put New Brunswick and Acadia at the centre of the map of
francophone reality. This was only fifty years after the great painter,
Paul-Emile Borduas,
had exhorted Quebec, and by implication, all of us, to abandon “the smooth
and slippery
walls of fear” by refusing “to act knowingly (or consciously)—beneath
(our) psychic and
physical possibilities.”
Allow me a moment of personal reflection. The Poy family, arriving here as
refugees, in
1942, was made up of my parents, my brother and myself. Three of us are in this
Chamber today. We did not arrive as part of a regular immigration
procedure. There was
no such thing for a Chinese family at that time in Canadian history.
My mother's intense and abiding love is here in spirit today. My brother,
Dr. Neville Poy,
was seven when we arrived. And my father, Bill Poy, is here—extraordinary,
in his 92nd
year. Lance-Corporal Poy, dispatch rider with the Hong Kong Volunteer
Corps, received
the Military Medal for his bravery during the battle of Hong Kong. Like
many soldiers, he
never speaks of those actions, but it is his bravery, which is the
underpinning of his
children's lives. To have been brought up by courageous and loving
parents, was a gift
that made up for all we had lost.
As I have said before, the city of Ottawa, then, was small and
white—like
most of
Canada. Much of its psyche was characterised by what Mavis Gallant has
called “the
dark bloom of the Old Country—the mistrust of pity, the contempt for
weakness, the fear
of the open heart”. But it was also the place where our family was
befriended by the
Molots, who owned the local drugstore, the Marcottes and the Proulx, among
whom we
lived in Lower Town, and our guardian angels, the Potters.
Because my father had a job with the Department of Trade and Commerce and
because
we lived among French Canadians, I became fixated, from the age of five,
with the idea
of learning French. I remember the day when I was dressed up in my patent
leather
shoes and pink smocked dress, and was taken up the street by my parents to the
convent of Ste. Jeanne d'Arc, where I was interviewed by a kindly woman
wearing white
all around her face, while a dim crucifix glowed in the background.
Walking home, I
sensed that there was dejection in the air and disappointment. It had been
explained to
my parents that it was not possible for a Protestant to receive French
language education
in Ottawa. In my lifetime, this has changed to such a radical degree that
I don't even
need to comment on it. But that early sense of something being impossible,
which
actually was nonsensical, put steel into me.
Farley Mowat has pointed out that a little adversity in childhood is a
very good thing for
animals—including human ones. Our family, like many others, had lost a
great deal but
we had also gained an enormous amount: a country with lakes, with small
mouth bass
and with free public education. We became addicted to the wilderness
because, as Pierre
Morency says, “Le nord n'est pas dans la boussole; il est ici”.
[“The
North is not on the
compass. It is right here.”]
As John Ralston Saul has written, the central quality of the Canadian
state is its
complexity. It is a strength and not a weakness that we are a “permanently
incomplete
experiment built on a triangular foundation—aboriginal, francophone and
anglophone”.
What we continue to create, today, began 450 years ago as a political
project, when the
French first met with the aboriginal people. It is an old experiment,
complex and, in
worldly terms, largely successful. Stumbling through darkness and racing
through light,
we have persisted in the creation of a Canadian civilization.
We are constructing something different here. As Jean-Guy Pilon describes
in one of his poems:
«Racines tordues à vaincre le feu
À cracher au visage des étoiles.
C'est ici que respirent, grandissent
les constructeurs».
“Tormented roots that defy the flames
Spitting in the face of stars.
Here the builders breathe, and grow.” (Translation)
We have the opportunity to leave behind the useless blood calls of
generations, now that
we are in the new land that stretches to infinity. Wilfrid Laurier
understood this clearly:
“We have made a conquest greater and more glorious than that of any
territory”, he said,
“we have conquered our liberties”.
There seem to be two kinds of societies in the world today. Perhaps there
have always
been only two kinds—punishing societies and forgiving societies. A
society like
Canada's, with its four centuries of give-and-take, compromise and
acceptance, wrong-doing
and redress, is basically a forgiving society. We try—we must
try—to forgive what
is past. The punishing society never forgets the wrongs of the past. The
forgiving society
works towards the actions of the future. The forgiving society enables
people to behave
well toward one another, to begin again, to build a society in hope and
with love.
We know, that in joining Canadian society, we will be able to accept the
invitation,
offered, in 1970, by Grand Chief John Kelly: “As the years go by, the
circle of the Ojibway
gets bigger and bigger. Canadians of all colours and religions are
entering that circle.
You might feel that you have roots somewhere else, but in reality, you are
right here with
us.” That the aboriginal circle enlarges to include all of us—native and
immigrant—arriving
by boat and plane to a vast and beautiful land, has been characterised by
Michael
Ondaatje, as a “vision of nature beyond the human ego”. This is a place,
he said, “fixated
by the preoccupying image of figures permanently travelling or portaging
their past—we
are all still arriving. From the Filles du Roy to Dionne Brand's new
Canadians is a
miniscule step”.
We must not forget that this complexity is whole. To be complex does not
mean to be
fragmented. This is the paradox and the genius of our Canadian civilization.
In the contemplation of our wholeness, lies the symbolic importance of the
Governor
General: the identification of this post with inclusiveness—the
inclusiveness that lies at
the core of Canadian society, at its best. This is the essence of our
notorious decency,
our infamous desire to do good. And it is important to recall that with
the great waves of
immigration, there has been, since the beginning, an underlying motif: the
lost, the
rejected, and those who dreamed of another life would come here and would
make a
contribution to the whole.
In a 1913 photograph, a group of Scandinavian immigrants in Larchmont,
Ontario is
huddled around a blackboard on which is written:
Duties of the Citizen
1. Understand our government.
2. Take an active part in politics.
3. Assist all good causes.
4. Lessen intemperance.
5. Work for others.
It would be easy to focus obsessively on all the pitfalls and prejudices
that undoubtedly
landmined this path of good intentions. But in examining the intent, you
see the
underlying central assumption. It was expected that the immigrant, along
with everyone
else, would join in the social process, which was democratic, co-operative
and other-directed.
The fact that it would take another 50 years for this kind of
inclusiveness to
become colour blind, means, simply, that it took another 50 years. Too
long, of course.
Far too long. But in other countries, it would take a hundred. In some, it
has never come.
The essence of inclusiveness is that we are part of a society in which
language, colour,
education, sex and money need not, should not divide us, but can make us
more aware
and sensitive to difference.
I learned to be a Canadian through a series of eternally virginal public
school teachers,
who treated me only as bright—and not bright yellow. They were mostly
small-town
Ontario women who, given some of our history might have been narrow-minded; but
without exception they had the ability to reach out and understood,
instinctively, the need
for compassion and the stirring of imaginative curiosity.
I believe that my parents, like so many other immigrants, dreamed their
children into
being as Canadians. And, as the explorers pushed, every day, beyond the
limits of their
knowledge, what were Cavelier de la Salle, La Verendrye, Hearne and
Mackenzie doing,
if not imagining themselves spanning this astonishing space. Luckily, all
of us came to a
land where the aboriginal peoples have always dreamed life into being.
It is customary to talk about how hard immigrants work and how ambitious
they are, but
those of us who have lived that process, know that it is mainly the dream
that counts.
I'm not talking here of fantasy. I am talking of the true dream that is
caught in the web of
the past as it meets the wind of the future. All of us have this, even if
we do not express
it. This is what gives a nation, such as ours, its resonance, its depth
and its strength.
The dream pulls us on and transforms us into Canadians. The dream gives us the
strength to avoid being stereotyped by the past or limited by the
expectations of others.
The dream brings openness, adventure and, of course, pain and confusion.
But, as
Leonard Cohen observes, “There is a crack in everything. That's how the
light gets in”.
Through the light that is in us, we have created a place of dynamic
innovation. Innovation
in political structures. New approaches toward social relationships,
towards citizenship.
Military innovation in peace keeping. Economic innovation in cutting edge
industries, from
the railway of 150 years ago to aeronautics, today.
We must not see ourselves as a small country of 30 million people,
floundering in a large
land mass. We are among the healthiest, best-educated people in the world,
with great
natural riches. We have two of the world's great languages.
We must not see ourselves as people who simply react to trends but as
people who can
initiate them.
We must not see ourselves as people to whom things are done but as people
who do
things.
Our history demonstrates that we have the self-confidence to act and to
act successfully.
We can—when we trust ourselves—seize hold of the positive energy,
flowing out of the
choice we have made to be here and to continue what remains an unprecedented
experiment.
The streetcar our family often took on Sunday afternoons to Rockliffe
Park, used to pass
the closed gates of Rideau Hall. I'm so glad that has changed. I'm
delighted that crowds
of people now come through the grounds and the Visitor Centre. I look
forward to
continuing the tradition of welcoming Canadians to what is, in effect,
your national house.
But we will not always be in Ottawa. John and I intend to travel and
re-travel this whole
country by plane, train, car, canoe and kayak. We are initiating the
holding of a public
levee in each province and territory we visit. You are all invited. In ten
days we will be in
Alberta for our first official provincial trip. Our first levee will be
held on Saturday, October
16th at 4 p.m. at the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary. In November, we
will be in
British Columbia and our levee will be on Sunday, November 21st in Vancouver.
We want to meet as many of you as we can, not only on special occasions at
Rideau Hall
and at La Citadelle in Quebec City, but where you live and make your lives.
We bring to this new work, a deep commitment to the relationship between
francophone
and anglophone, which is the essential and central fact of our political
history. We have
already long-established, personal interests in French immersion
schooling, shelter for
the fragile in our society and human rights. And I am committed, as I have
always been,
to affirming and furthering the full expression of that more than half of
society to which I
belong—a group which modestly calls itself women. We also have a history
of deep
involvement in and love for the arts. Beauty and excellence are not the
property of a
select group. They are the means by which we most profoundly express our
society and
they belong to every one of us.
As I take up this task, I ask you to embark on a journey with me.
Together, I hope that we
will be able to do it with the Inuit quality of isuma, which is defined as
an intelligence that
includes knowledge of one's responsibility towards society. The Inuit
believe that it can
only grow in its own time; it grows because it is nurtured. I pray that
with God's help, we,
as Canadians, will trace with our own lives, what Stan Rogers called
“one
warm line
through this land, so wild and savage”.
And in the footsteps of Samuel de Champlain, I am willing to follow
Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
At The Installation Ceremony of Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson
October 7, 1999
Ottawa, Ontario
Your Excellency, Madame Adrienne Clarkson.
Allow me to offer the best wishes of the Government, Parliament and people
of Canada as you take the oath of
office.
I would also like to express appreciation to the Right Honourable Romeo
LeBlanc and Mrs. Fowler LeBlanc.
With quiet dignity and abiding good grace, they have left an indelible
mark on this high office. Especially through
the creation of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Awards, which now
give long overdue honour to our
voluntary sector. Those countless Canadians whose daily acts of generosity
and compassion are the strongest fibre
of our national character.
When he took office in 1995, this proud Canadian became the first Acadian
to serve as Governor General. And I
know that the opportunity to participate in the 8th Summit of La
Francophonie in his native New Brunswick at the
end of his mandate gave him special pleasure.
I was touched by his show of pride at the historic meeting between French
President Jacques Chirac and our
Acadian community. At the emotional way that Mr. Chirac renewed the
unbreakable bond of fraternity that connects
Acadians with the home of our ancestors, and praised the exemplary
accomplishments of Canada.
I know that for Mr. LeBlanc this was truly a moment to savour in a long
career of public service to Canadians. One
that has known many, many high points.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered to honour a person of singular
talent, discernment and achievement. Who
today becomes the representative of our Head of State in Canada. Whose
selection as Governor General is just one
more remarkable stop in an incredible personal journey. One that began as
a little girl in a refugee boat heading for
Canada. Fleeing the dispossession and cruelty of a terrible war.
From this uncertain beginning, the arc of her life has taken a steady
upward course. An arc that has run parallel with
the development of the Canada we know today. A cosmopolitan nation. At
home with our diversity. Comfortable
acknowledging the rights of all of our citizens. Willing to give those
rights full recognition in our laws and
institutions. In practice as well as theory.
She and her family were initially turned away when they sought refuge in
Canada. Because they were Chinese. Her
presence here today tells us how far we have come as a nation. A nation
built by immigrants. By those who sought
our national dream and our safe haven.
It is not for me to tell Canadians what they already know about Madame
Clarkson. Her list of accomplishments as a
journalist and commentator speaks for itself.
But I would like to say a few words about that special quality that makes
her so worthy of this office at this time in
our history.
We live in a time of globalization. Of a global village. In which people
and nations are coming together as never
before. Across time-zones, borders and cultures. And in which we wonder
what place there will be for diversity.
What room to protect and nurture unique voices and experiences.
As few others, Madame Clarkson has sensed the essential harmony in that
distinctive blend of voices and
experiences that gives Canadian culture its unique flavour. Blessed with
extraordinary insight, she has put her gifts
to work creating venues of expression for our artists, musicians and
writers. From every corner of our great land.
From all backgrounds and walks of life.
This has been a high act of public service. A moving statement of
affection for her adopted country. And a powerful
qualification for the duties that she is about to undertake.
Above all, I believe that her selection as Governor General sends a
powerful message. One that makes clear our
resolve as a nation to ensure that our voices and our stories remain a
vibrant part of our shared experience. And a
vital aspect of a strong and distinctive Canadian presence in the global
village.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are coming to the close of the 20th century. A
great and a terrible century. One of bright
dreams and dark nightmares. When we often had reason to wonder whether
there was any hope for the world.
For me, the success of Canada has been about proving—to ourselves and
the world—that there is always hope. For a
brighter tomorrow. For new opportunity. For tolerance and understanding.
Madame Clarkson, your experiences and
success fortify me in this belief.
On behalf of all Canadians, I thank you for accepting these new
responsibilities. And I also wish to extend my
thanks and best wishes to Mr. Saul. I know he will be an able companion in
the days to come.
I wish you every success in the service of the best country in the world.