Mr. Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough-Agincourt):

Madam Speaker, I will be rising later today to present a petition containing approximately 5,000 names which were gathered by two residents of Scarborough, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, who are with us today in the gallery.

This petition, which calls for strengthening the provisions in the Young Offenders Act, came about after the son of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford was viciously murdered in a Scarborough storm sewer by three young offenders. Crimes such as this must not be dealt with in a superficial way. Changes are needed in the legislation and needed today.

Canadians from every corner of the country have

called for changes for many years now and this government has failed on all accounts. I would like to call on the government, which indicated in the House on Wednesday that it might table a white paper on the Young Offenders Act, to stop its delaying tactics and use what time is left in the life of the session to table sensitive changes to the YOA. Failing this, I ask it to set up a public inquiry over the summer to let the people of this country have the opportunity to express their concerns over this flawed act.

The time for change is now.

Mr. Bruce Halliday (Oxford):

Madam Speaker, this being National Access Awareness Week, in which you have shown special interest, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of the hon. member for Calgary West, as well as the members of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disabled Persons, to recognize the recipient of the 1993-94 Centennial Flame Research Award, Mr. Michael Ho of Calgary, who is visiting us in Ottawa today. This award is funded by the coins thrown into the Centennial flame fountain.

Mr. Ho, a lawyer who because of a head injury is no longer able to practise, has been active in organizations providing services to individuals with head injuries including the Head Injury Association of Alberta.

He is proposing to research the success stories of survivors of head injuries to serve as guiding lights for people dealing with this type of disability.

The main subject of his study will be Laurie Cormack, who not only experienced a head injury but has struggled with the trauma of being a battered wife.

It should also be recognized that Mr. Ho's contribution to Canada was acknowledged when he received the Canada 125 Award in 1992, as well as a personal testimonial from the Prime Minister which he received in 1989.

June 4. 1993

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Ho who is an inspiration to his fellow citizens.

Mr. Brian L. Gardiner (Prince George -Bulkley Valley):

Madam Speaker, concerns have arisen about the Minister of the Environment and his performance in office. Under legislation that creates the Department of the Environment, the minister is given responsibility to promote and encourage practices and conduct that lead to the preservation and enhancement of environmental quality.

Where was the minister when cabinet acted to accept the Kemano project, an action recently declared illegal by a Senate-Commons committee? Where is the minister on other pressing environmental concerns addressed at Rio a year ago?

I agree that the minister should come under closer scrutiny, closer scrutiny for failing to protect our precious environmental resources, in particular our water resources.

Mr. John Reimer (Kitchener):

Madam Speaker, as the Ontario government concludes its social contract talks and is looking for ways to reduce its deficit, it is sadly missing a very simple action it could take.

According to Ontario government treasury figures it would realize a net gain of $500 million if it harmonized the provincial sales tax with the goods and services tax. That represents 25 per cent of the money it is looking to save through the social contract talks.

Second, according to federal finance department figures, Ontario businesses would stand to gain a net benefit of between $2.1 billion and $2.3 billion in 1992-93 figures. This money could be used for investment and job

creation rather than losing it to time required to administer two separate sales tax systems.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business strongly endorses one harmonized system because of lower compliance costs to business in Ontario.

Rather than practising crass politics the premier should harmonize the sales tax system for the benefit of the people of Ontario-

Madam Deputy Speaker:

I am sorry but the member's time has expired.

Mr. Gilbert Parent (Welland -St. Catharines-Tho-rold):

Madam Speaker, Statistics Canada has released some numbers on unemployment today. My riding has the highest unemployment rate of the province of Ontario, well over 13 per cent, and places among the top unemployed centres in Canada.

No matter what the OECD says, it is obvious that Canada is still in a recession. The statement made by OECD that our country is on the upswing offers cold comfort for my constituents looking for a job and, at times, looking for the next meal.

The government could help us in our riding through funding of the Peter Street bridge in Thorold. If we lose the bridge through inaction or lack of help from the St. Lawrence seaway, it will mean greater loss of jobs for us, not only for the city of Thorold but for the riding. The loss of the bridge would substantially affect the dollars we need from tourism, and that is not to mention the safety factor.

I urge the government to pay immediate attention to my riding by giving us very desperately needed funds and helping us create new jobs.

# * *

Mr. Ray Funk (Prince Albert-Churchill River):

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Agriculture kicked the legs out from under the Canadian Wheat Board and the co-operative grain marketing system.

By unilaterally opening a continental market for barley, the minister is threatening the work of four

June 4, 1993

generations of farmers to use democracy and mutual self-help to improve their position in the market.

It gives me pleasure today to announce that it remains the position of the New Democratic Party to fully reinstate barley under the Canadian Wheat Board Act.

We know where the government stands. I would like to challenge the Liberal Party to make its position crystal clear as well.

Why is the minister doing it now? By making his announcement in the middle of the Alberta election campaign, he is clearly signalling that a few votes in southern Alberta are more important than maintaining the most successful grain marketing system in the world.

Mr. Bob Porter (Medicine Hat):

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Agriculture announced that the Cash Flow Enhancement Program has been extended to the 1993-94 crop year. The cash flow program will provide low interest cash advances on crops farmers have produced but not yet sold.

For the 1993-94 crop year the federal government and farmers will share interest costs on cash advances of up to $60,000. The previous program provided cash advances of up to $50,000. Increasing the cap from $50,000 to $60,000 will help farmers and corn growers with high carry-over from last year's crop. Florticulture and row crop producers who traditionally take out larger advances will also benefit from the increased cap.

This announcement in advance of the crop year will help producers plan cash flow requirements for this year's harvest. This program, with a cost of $32 million to the government, will direct up to $1 billion to the farm sector this fall.

Despite cuts in the federal budget, programs designed to stabilize farm income have been protected.

Mr. Douglas Young (Acadie -Bathurst):

Madam Speaker, the fisheries in northeastern New Brunswick are in dire straits. The compensation and training program announced by the federal government is not even-handed and fails to meet the expectations of an

industry that has been severely affected by the reduced quotas for groundfish.

The sit-in at the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Tracadie-Sheila is one more symptom of the desperation and frustration of the plant workers and fishermen of Acadie-Bathurst. I understand why the fish plant workers in my region feel powerless and discouraged. They can only look forward to another year without a hope of finding decent jobs because, once again, there has been a lack of planning on the part of Fisheries and Oceans and Employment and Immigration.

I urge the Government of Canada to announce, as soon as possible, programs to help all workers affected by a situation that has become intolerable.

861 SILVERFOX SQUADRON

Mr. Ross Belsher (Fraser Valley East):

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the young people involved in 861 Silverfox Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

I had the pleasure last Saturday of attending the Silverfox Squadron's fifteenth annual inspection at the Matsqui-Abbotsford recreational centre. It was an enjoyable afternoon as the cadets of 861 squadron presented a number of demonstrations for the crowd in attendance. The marching band deserves special recognition for an excellent performance.

I also want to note specifically the squadron's commanding officer, Captain Ian Anderson, for his efforts. He has a large responsibility in guiding the training and recreational activities of the cadets under him. In the process these cadets are improving their own skills and positively contributing to our community.

Again, well done and congratulations to 861 Silverfox Squadron of Abbotsford and Matsqui.

Mr. Vic Althouse (Mackenzie):

Madam Speaker, according to the treaties signed with Indian peoples, status Indians must have suitable housing, modern education and health care equivalent to that available in Canadian society. Populations on Indian lands are growing. In Saskatchewan that population doubles every 20 years. Therefore housing becomes an urgent need.

June 4, 1993

There are bands in my riding that have a housing backlog of more than 20 units but no funds are available from the federal government, so band members have to move off reserve. What happens then? By the refusal of the federal government to live up to the treaty right for shelter, the Conservatives are forcing band members off the reserve who then become the financial responsibility of the province's welfare system.

The federal government is saving twice by not providing housing and by forcing provinces to pay sustenance costs through their welfare systems. This is cheating. The government should be ashamed.