Mr. Keith Penner (Cochrane-Superior):

Mr. Speaker, I recently had occasion to glance through a colourful brochure entitled The House of Commons/la Chambre des Communes. Inside the pamphlet it states: "The House of Commons is the focal point of parliamentary democracy". I agree that it certainly is that.

My interest having been aroused, I looked further into this brochure only to be confronted by an empty Speaker's chair. Curious. It is not the chair itself which is vital to this focal point of democracy, but rather its occupant. Fearing the worst,

Mr. Speaker, 1 turned to the end of the brochure and, yes, there it was-an empty Chamber!

Whoever prepared this otherwise attractive pamphlet failed to realize that this lovely, old, noe-Gothic hall is irrelevant without its Members. Without the people's representatives, Sir, it ceases to be the focal point of democracy. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I hope that this publication will be withdrawn very soon and, when it is reissued, let it depict Your Honour presiding over a full and active House. Democracy is not an empty Chamber, it is a rigorous reality.

Mr. Jim Manly (Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands):

Mr. Speaker, regardless of who finally wins in Guatemala's presidential election, the fundamental problems of human rights abuses must be faced before Guatemala can have any international respect. Showcase elections cannot lead to an open, democratic society so long as 900,000 Guatemalans are forced into civilian patrols, a conscripted army of occupation over their own brothers and sisters.

There cannot be any open society so long as people are herded into so-called model villages where they are under constant military surveillance. There can be no open society so long as trade unionists, church leaders, and university students and professors are made to disappear whenever they speak out for change. There can be no open society so long as the undeclared war continues against Guatemala's Indian people.

The present, Government of General Mejia Victores has refused even to meet with high level mediators for the families of the disappeared who continue to occupy the cathedral in Guatemala City. The Canadian Government must speak out on these fundamental abuses of human rights, and I urge individual Canadians to join me in sending telegrams to the Guatemalan Government demanding a full accounting for the families of the disappeared.

Mr. Moe Mantha (Nipissing):

Mr. Speaker, recently the Canadian Pacific Railway, a private sector company controlled by shareholders, negotiated with three of its major bargaining groups representing about one-half of Canadian Pacific Railway's unionized employees. In their settlements it was agreed to eliminate free passenger passes for current employees. In its new pension plan the company will introduce an early retirement provision at age 55 and replace the pass privileges with a new extended health care plan. While the new health care plan could be commended, it does not necessarily enhance health benefits for current CP pensioners residing in

Ontario or Saskatchewan who already enjoy extensive health coverage.

Since the unions do not represent current CP Rail pensioners, nor are they legally allowed to negotiate on their behalf, the company unilaterally revoked pass privileges from its pensioners without sufficient consultation. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members on all sides of the House to offer their support to the pensioners in their efforts to have the option of retaining their pass privileges. The reason for my statement is to help the elderly who need help.

Mr. Edouard Desrosiers (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve):

Today, Mr. Speaker, 1 would like to pay particular homage to the best Government this country has had for a very long time. It has been years and years since the Canadian economy has felt so buoyant. Day after day it is becoming ever more obvious that this Government is rebuilding our economy.

In the first nine months of 1985, Mr. Speaker, the value of building permits has gone up 20 per cent over the same period last year. The inflation rate has been hovering at about 4 per cent for more than a year and the climate is more stable than it has ever been since 1971. In the first nine months of 1985 bankruptcies have decreased by 12 per cent as compared with the same period last year.

That is why I would like to congratulate this outstanding Conservative Party team and the greatest Prime Minister of all times.

Mr. Sergio Marchi (York West):

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Government's silence on the Japanese Canadian redress issue gets more depressing. Over the weekend in Calgary the President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians stated: "Mr. Mulroney indicated prior to the election that if he were Prime Minister he would surely compensate Japanese Canadians, but now he says they really aren't going to compensate us. 1 guess power does that".

The Government's attitude is distasteful. Despite his campaign pledges for a fair and speedy resolution, the Prime Minister shamefully and arrogantly continues to refuse even to meet the Association.

Also, the new Minister of State for Multiculturalism (Mr. Jelinek) has failed to make any public announcements on this

to date. Instead of resuming official talks between his Government and the National Association, he prefers to conduct ad hoc, informal chats. The issue demands and deserves much more than that.

There is well-founded fear within the community that the redress issue is not a priority of the Prime Minister. Moreover, they believe that the "reinvention of the wheel" process conducted by the new Minister of State for Multiculturalism is ineffectual and time-delaying. I, therefore, call upon the Prime Minister and his Government to maintain their electoral promises and to reconvene immediately official negotiations with the National Association so that the redress issue can be dealt with in an expeditious, fair, and honourable manner.

Mr. Mike Cassidy (Ottawa Centre):

Mr. Speaker, there is growing concern among employees of the federal Government about the Conservatives' budget decision to fire large numbers of federal public employees. Last May the Minister of Finance (Mr. Wilson) announced that the Government would eliminate some 15,000 public service jobs within five years. However, the reports that have leaked out give a rough count from just a few Departments of more than 10,000 cuts, many of which are scheduled to take place in the coming fiscal year. If this trend continues, we may see the 60,000 cuts that the Clark Government attempted to make in the Public Service. This will result in a significant loss of service to Canadians, and represent hardship for many employees who have honourably served Canada for many years.

Clear information is lacking, and the Government's system of redeployment of surplus employees simply will not be able to cope with the large number of lay-offs now being announced or threatened. As the Auditor General pointed out last week, the Public Service Commission is not effectively monitoring the situation.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to note that the Government's decision to use the reverse order of merit in determining staff cuts is inviting abuse on the part of departmental managers who are free to operate with a policy of vengeance and vindictiveness as they target for cuts employees they have never liked. I call on the Government to take private sector examples which show that, if lay-offs cannot be avoided, the seniority principle is the best way to determine who is to lose their jobs. I call on the Government to use the seniority principle, starting now, and to reinforce job security for public employees rather than undermining it.

Mr. Ross Belsher (Fraser Valley East):

Mr. Speaker, since coming to office one year ago the Progressive Conservative Government has initiated new programs and improved existing ones that directly benefit British Columbia. These include the over-all umbrella ERDA, a $525 million funding agreement for economic development, between the federal Government and the Province of British Columbia.

The five-year agreement will provide joint funding for initiatives in forestry, industrial development, tourism, agriculture, and mineral exploration. Over the term of the agreement it is expected that 15,000 person years of employment will be generated in forest management. A full-time federal forestry Minister was appointed in response to concerns expressed by British Columbia, which is by far the largest producer of forestry products in Canada.

The Government is actively involved in negotiations with the United States to head off U.S. tariffs on Canadian products.

The latest figures from Statistics Canada prove that the Government is doing a good job for B.C. The Retail sales in B.C. this August were up 11 per cent compared to August of last year. The unemployment rate in B.C. has fallen from 15 per cent to 13 per cent. There are 23,000 more jobs in B.C. since September of 1984. Business bankruptcies in B.C. in the first nine months of this year were down 16 per cent relative to the same time last year. British Columbia exports in the first half of 1985 are up by 8.3 per cent. Mr. Speaker, these are positive steps, but there is still more to be done.

Mr. Elliott Hardey (Kent):

Mr. Speaker, I was somewhat surprised by the Hon. Member for Essex-Windsor (Mr. Lang-don) raising a matter in the House last Friday concerning an environment problem in the St. Clair River and my riding of Kent.

I must emphasize that we can and indeed should trust the ability and expertise of the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Environment Ministry, as well as Environment Canada. Having said that, I want to encourage continuation of the extensive efforts to determine the source of toxic material found in the sludge at the bottom of the river, and to ensure on-site monitoring equipment at water intake points.

Quoting unidentified sources which indicate that the St. Clair River is more polluted than the Love Canal has succeeded in putting communities like the town of Wallaceburg in a panic position. The Town Council must and should rely on reports it is receiving from the Ministry. Politicians who attempt to gain visibility and recognition by spreading fear,

should be ashamed. Smearing the ability of a team of Canada's best scientists, who were already on the scene before the Member for Essex-Windsor made his pitch to panic residents, is appalling.

Wallaceburg Town Council should be congratulated for being aware of the seriousness of the situation, and also for the professional way in which they have co-operated with the health officials. It is safety first, along with common sense, in Wallaceburg. I would urge my hon. colleague from Essex-Windsor to confine fear tactics to his own riding.

Ms. Sheila Copps (Hamilton East):

Mr. Speaker, you would think that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Mr. Crombie) would have some say in Cabinet when it comes to issues like transportation in the North. However, much to my chagrin, Cabinet has not chosen to listen to the strong supportive letter which was directed to Ann Marie Dawe, President of the Consumers' Association of Canada, Yellowknife local, which states:

Dear Ms. Dawe:

I share your concerns regarding the removal of the $30 ceiling on the air transportation tax as expressed in your letter of July 24, 1985. I will be raising this issue with my Cabinet colleagues with a view to obtaining an exemption from the tax increase for northern and remote areas.

Such an exemption was also supported in a letter from another Minister, the Minister of State for Tourism (Mr. Murta). Such an exemption was also supported by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Nielsen) and by the Hon. Member from Yellowknife. Four eminent Members of the Conservative Party believe that it is wrong to impose further air taxes on travel in northern Canada.

Why have the Cabinet and the Government ignored the representations of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the representations of the Deputy Prime Minister, the representations of the local Member, and the representations of the Minister of State for Tourism on an issue which quite clearly penalizes the people of northern Canada?

I would ask that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance review this-

Mr. Speaker:

I must advise the Hon. Member that her time has expired.

Mr. David Daubney (Ottawa West):

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the recent recommendation by the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation, a non-profit organization funded by the

Presence in Gallery

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, that the Government fund the establishment of two silicon chip facilities.

Having worked over the past year with members of the Ottawa-Carleton high technology community in encouraging the Government in this initiative, I am particularly pleased that CMC has recommended Ottawa as one of the sites for the proposed centres. The corporation has suggested that the Ottawa centre would co-exist with the Ontario centre for microelectronics, presently located in my riding of Ottawa West.

This is an important announcement, not just for "Silicon Valley North" in that it recognizes this region's unparallelled high technology infrastructure, but for the development of science and technology in Canada that is so essential for the continued economic growth of Canada.