Mr. Jim Fulton (Skeena):

Madam Speaker, for several years my New Democrat colleague from New Westminster-Burnaby and I have been writing to the ministers responsible for the status of women and health and welfare about a heart-breaking case.

Helen Davis was married for 33 years and had eight children with her husband. She divorced him when he became a physically and mentally abusive alcoholic, but later she moved back in with her former husband to take care of him when he developed cancer. She has been denied a CPP survivor's pension because the government says she did not live with her ex-spouse for one full year before his death.

Survivor's benefits should be prorated to correspond to the number of years the couple has spent together. That this woman is forced to live in poverty after so many years of service to her family and to Canada is outrageous and an insult to women, particularly homemakers and seniors.

I urge the government to change this unfair policy now.

Mr. Ross Belsher (Fraser Valley East):

Madam Speaker, I want to extend my congratulations to each of the candidates in this past weekend's Progressive Conservative leadership convention.

Before and during the convention period all the candidates put forward their positions on party and public policy issues. As the economy is such a pressing issue, I am grateful that so much time was spent on proposals to stimulate the economy while maintaining our goals of reducing the deficit and increasing business opportunities.

I want to thank all five candidates for their contributions to the leadership process. Each of them worked hard to present their ideas to party members, and as a result of the debate which followed our party is stronger for it.

I have talked to many colleagues and many members who supported various candidates. All recognize the value of party solidarity and unity. I look forward to working with my colleagues in support of our new leader. We extend to her our best wishes and support in the future.

Ms. Beth Phinney (Hamilton Mountain):

Madam Speaker, the record of the Conservative government over the past four years has been dismal, particularly as it affects the disabled community. The $158 million budgeted by the National Strategy on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities works out to be approximately a loonie a year for each person with a disability, hardly something to brag about.

This government, while claiming concern for the disabled community, under the direction of the then Minister of Justice and soon to be Prime Minister, chose to scrap the Court Challenges Program which was so vital in protecting the rights of Canadians with disabilities. As well, the cap on Canada Assistance Plan payments put in place by the government has reduced the ability of the provinces to maintain and create programs for people with disabilities.

Tributes

It is obvious the Tory commitment to the disabled rings hollow. Disabled Canadians do not want hollow gestures. They want recognition and integration into a society in which they can become full partners.

Mr. Stan Darling (Parry Sound-Muskoka):

I rise today to pay tribute to a very special person within our caucus, our party and this honoured place. I hope, Madam Speaker, that you will give me leave to mention the name of the government House leader, the hon. Harvie Andre.

This great bear of a man has been our leader in the House of Commons since February 1990. Before that he held many important positions in cabinet, including that of Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and associate defence minister, and he has been the longest serving minister responsible for Canada Post.

[Editor's Note: And the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence having entered the Chamber.]

Hear, hear.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

I think the House will agree with me that the hon. member for Parry Sound-Muskoka should finish his statement.

Mr. Darling:

Madam Speaker, he earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering when he was only 26 years of age.

He has proudly served the people of Calgary Centre since 1972 and represented the interests of Albertans for over 20 years. Our pit bull once wondered why it was better to know Harvie Andre than to be Harvie Andre. That is easy to understand as he is so influential around the cabinet table.

All I know is that I am glad to say I know Harvie Andre, and on behalf of our colleagues I would like to say thanks.

Right Hon. Brian Mulroney (Prime Minister):

Madam Speaker, I know the world-wide audience tuned in through CNN and C-SPAN will be delighted to have learned so much about Harvie Andre.

On June 21, 1957 the cabinet of the newly elected Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, was sworn in, to which Mr. Diefenbaker welcomed the Hon. Ellen Fair-clough as Secretaiy of State, thereby making her the first woman in Canadian history to become a member of the federal cabinet.

In the same month of June, 36 years later, I am honoured to enter the House today with the hon. Kim Campbell, who on June 25 will be sworn in as Canada's first woman Prime Minister in 126 years.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Mulroney:

She is our first elected Prime Minister from British Columbia. She brings to the post of Prime Minister very impressive skills, a strong dedication to public service, a sharp sense of history and a very powerful love of Canada.

The leadership of a modem democracy in these difficult economic times is a great challenge. The most important responsibility of a Canadian Prime Minister as all members of the House know and as prime ministers of any political party have learned is the preservation and enhancement of Canadian unity.

Since I took on the responsibilities of Prime Minister of Canada nearly nine years ago, national unity has been my constant concern. Although we did not succeed in completely rebuilding the unity of Canada's constitutional family, I have always felt that Canadians everywhere have a profound love for and a fierce pride in their country. Whether we are from Bonavista, Baie-Comeau or Burnaby, whether we speak French or English, we all share the immense privilege of being Canadian citizens.

Canadians place great expectations and properly so on the shoulders of their elected leaders of all political

June 16, 1993

parties, leaders of the opposition, leaders of the House and leaders of the government. These must be borne seriously and serenely in sometimes quite difficult circumstances.

The member for Vancouver Centre has already demonstrated great poise, sound judgment and clear vision of public policy in three portfolios. I think she is marvellously equipped to discharge the responsibilities of the office of Prime Minister with efficiency, decisiveness and compassion.

I know I speak for all members of the House irrespective of politics when I say that all members and all Canadians wish her Godspeed and well.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Mulroney:

I will be leaving this House and Parliament today. I can say that I would normally miss the members of the opposition but I have a feeling I will be seeing a lot of them. Some of them will be leaving with me too, including some who do not expect to. Public life is not always as rewarding as some people think. Imagine, 10 years of sparring across the aisle with Tobin and I do not even get a gold Timex.

I would also like on behalf of us all-I know he has been retained elsewhere because of an important commitment, but he should be here shortly-to congratulate the hon. member for Sherbrooke who won the respect and affection of thousands of Canadians during these past months. Members of this House are familiar with the remarkable qualities of the Minister of the Environment. I know they will also want to congratulate him on the dignity, the intelligence and the sense of principle with which he conducted his campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party.

He and Michele waged a superb campaign that we will always remember for its class and eloquence and his extraordinary contribution to the public policy debate. On behalf of all members, I wish the Minister of the Environment every success.

Hear, hear.

Tributes

Mr. Mulroney:

This is my last day in the House of Commons as Prime Minister of Canada. I have been very privileged to have been accorded the opportunity of serving with all of you. We seek to defend the interests of Canada in different ways and in different political parties but the commonality of our approach in the most important values is that at the end of the day everyone in the major political parties in this House has sought to defend their beliefs that Canada is and Canada must remain the finest united country in the entire world in which to live.

Hear, hear.