Mr. Guy Saint-Julien (Abitibi):

Madam Speaker, in the hardest penalty ever handed down in Canada on an

environmental case, Mr. Justice Paul A. Belanger of the Quebec court in Sorel yesterday sentenced the Tioxide Company of Tracy to pay $4 million for dumping heavy metals and sulfuric acid in the St. Lawrence River. Three million dollars of this will be used for fish habitat restoration projects and the other million dollars is a fine.

Mr. Justice Paul A. Belanger's decision follows the guilty plea made by Tioxide and five of its directors named in a complaint filed in October 1992 by Environment Canada. The message for corporate directors is very clear: The only way to protect yourself from such situations is prevention.

On behalf of Canadians, I wish to thank Mr. Justice Paul A. Belanger and to say how much I respect him for his ruling.

Mr. Russell MacLellan (Cape Breton-The Sydneys):

Madam Speaker, the Cape Breton Oilers are the Calder Cup champions. The Oilers' success can be attributed to a strong team effort, superlative individual performances and superior coaching.

The final addition to the successful mix was the loyalty, dedication and fervour of the Cape Breton fans. The knowledgeable fans of Cape Breton Island have overwhelmingly supported the Oilers since 1988, their first year of operation in the American Hockey League.

Cape Breton has always been a hotbed of hockey activity and has contributed many fine players to the premier leagues of the nation and the world. The capture of the Calder Cup is a source of immense pride and encouragement to Cape Bretoners.

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We are hoping that it is a forerunner of future success. I know that all members of the House will join with me in congratulating the Cape Breton Oilers and their fans.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Marcel R. TVemblay (Quebec-Est):

Madam Speaker, on one of my many visits to the riding of Quebec-Est, I had the privilege to see a major initiative that has so far required some 500 hours of work. To make their environment healthy and peaceful, a group of retired residents have undertaken a project to landscape their housing complex.

The Floralie Project initiated by Guy Michaud, a resident of Duberger, will encourage people to be active and help provide a better quality of life. The residents had the get-up-and-go and resourcefulness to collect the funds required to carry out the project. I commend them for undertaking this mission to improve their environment.

Mrs. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal):

Madam Speaker, this past weekend at the very gates of Parliament Hill we saw hate and intolerance rear its ugly head once again in Canada.

A white supremacist Toronto group called the Heritage Front travelled to Ottawa to recruit new members. While claiming it opposes violence its members marched arrogantly in the streets espousing hatred and shouting "seig heir and "white power", which itself provoked violence. Innocent bystanders and people opposed to their presence were deliberately attacked.

Alan Rose of the Canadian Jewish Congress said that the appearance of this Nazi group on Parliament Hill should "shake up the politicians". It has already shaken up citizens in our communities and today it should trouble us all.

Government must act and act now if we are to have the cultural mosaic that is our true reality. We need stiffer penalties for inciting hatred, broader definitions of hate crimes, a special RCMP anti-racist unit, an anti-racist education campaign and stronger gun laws.

We should never, never again hear "seig heil" or "white power" in this country.

Mr. Gabriel Desjardins (Temiscamingue):

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today out of solidarity with my constituents in Rouyn-Noranda and McWatters. Today a general strike was called in Rouyn-Noranda for a few hours as a public protest against a decision by the Quebec government to move the headquarters of the Service de conservation du Nord-Ouest.

The Premier of Quebec must listen to the voice of the people. They say this decision is wrong and a waste of money. I want to ask the Quebec Premier to meet a regional delegation for a frank discussion of this matter and then make the right decision, which is to keep the Service de conservation du Nord-Ouest in McWatters.

Ms. Lynn Hunter (Saanich-Gulf Islands):

Madam Speaker, three years ago this month a unanimous call to action was sent by the environment committee to this government. Members from all parties reached one overpowering conclusion: Ozone depletion is a threat to the continuation of life on Earth.

Rising rates of skin cancer now show that the future health threat of ozone depletion is potentially devastating. Yet this government has not even taken simple steps such as exempting sunscreens and protective sunglasses from taxation and introducing mandatory standards for them both.

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As for preventing further ozone depletion, even industry has urged the government to bring in stiff regulations against ozone depleting chemicals.

Research into the impacts and adaptation to UV radiation must be a priority considering that dangerous levels will damage everything from fish in the sea to crops in the field.

I call on this government to accept that action on its part is a necessity. Time is running out.

Mr. Andre Harvey (Chicoutimi):

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that I join the Minister of State for Seniors in reminding Canadians that June is Senior Citizens Month. Senior citizens built this country. Their experience and values are a legacy we cherish as a nation. Our view of society is one where the young and not so young share a common experience and where senior citizens have an important role to play in the future of this country.

Every year the provinces and territories organize activities from the end of May to the end of June in recognition of our senior citizens. For instance, during the last week of May, Quebec organized a number of activities to honour seniors in our province. The federal government will inaugurate Senior Citizens Month with an exhibition to be held in Ottawa on June 1 and 2 at the Citadel Hotel.

I ask all members of this House and all Canadians to join their communities in celebrating Senior Citizens Month.

Hon. William Rompkey (Labrador):

Madam Speaker, in 1743 a Quebec merchant named Louis Fornel sailed into Hamilton Inlet, Labrador and established the first trading post at North West River. This year North West River celebrates its 250th birthday.

North West River has been the home of many important historical figures. Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, the man who drove the last spike in the CPR, was a Hudson Bay factor there from 1848 to 1868.

I think also of Dr. Tony Paddon, a long-time Grenfell doctor in Labrador. He became the first Labradorian to become Lieutenant Governor of the province.

There are many other graduates of North West River's Yale school, of which I was principal at one time. They are people who have made valuable contributions to their communities.

In our 250th anniversary year I know that all members will want to join with me in wishing former residents and present residents of North West River a happy anniversary. I look forward to celebrating this occasion with them this summer.

Mr. Gilles Bernier (Beauce):

Madam Speaker, the member for Beauce is gratified to see that the federal government has, as of April 1 this year, changed its procedure for helping industry and creating jobs. From now on subsidies over $100,000 will be refundable. I have constantly asked the Minister of Finance to change our procedure. Although this particular approach has been used from time to time, I have often suggested it should be incorporated in legislation. This change in procedure will certainly be well received by the business community and all Canadians.

Once again the riding of Beauce and its member of Parliament have helped initiate a financially responsible decision. From now on subsidies will be refundable. It goes to show that perseverance pays.

Mr. Howard McCurdy (Windsor-St. Clair):

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Government of Ontario tabled an environmental bill of rights that met with the approval of business and environmental groups alike.

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For the first time for Ontarians a healthy environment is considered a right in law. No longer will Ontarians be stopped at the court-house doors when we tiy to halt the slow destruction of the water we drink, the air we breathe or the land that sustains us.

The Ontario New Democrats have opened the doors of government. Now we have a say in the decisions that shape the world we pass on to our children. Thanks to the environmental bill of rights Ontario employees will have the right to blow the whistle on employers who abuse the world we live in. While the federal Tories dither with a green plan that is more PR than plan, the Ontario government is empowering the people.

All Canadians want the same sort of environmental rights their cousins in Ontario are going to have. How long are they going to have to wait?