December 19, 1988 (34th Parliament, 1st Session)

Mr. John Harvard (Winnipeg-St. Janies):

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in this House for my first address. It is with a great sense of pride that I stand in this place as the representative of the people of Winnipeg-St. James.
At the outset, I wish to thank the people of Winnipeg-St. James for the trust they have placed in me in choosing to have me represent them in this the Thirty-fourth Parliament. I shall endeavour to be worthy of that trust, and I promise to serve them to the best of my ability.
Might I also take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate you on your re-election to the chair of this House. I am certain that Members may rely upon you to continue to preserve and safeguard the great traditions of this House.
The constituency of Winnipeg-St. James comprises the western-most portion of the City of Winnipeg, north of the Assiniboine River, and is predominantly urban.
If one travels to Winnipeg by air, one lands at the Winnipeg Airport, which is located within the boundaries of the riding. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Grey Cup champions, play their games in the Winnipeg Stadium, which is located within the boundaries of the riding of Winnipeg-St. James. As well, the Winnipeg Jets-who I am confident will one day, in the near future, win the Stanley Cup-play their home games at the Winnipeg Arena, which again, is located within the boundaries of Winnipeg-St. James.
Like the Prairie people in general, the people of Winnipeg-St. James have a strong belief in fairness, a strong belief in what is right. They are willing to place their trust in others. However, when that trust is betrayed, when that trust is violated, when that trust is left in tatters, they do not forget. While they may not show anger, they will get even. This Government learned that lesson on November 21 last when its shafting of the people of Winnipeg-St. James in respect of the CF-18 maintenance contract came back to haunt them.
The theft of the CF-18 contract was a gross injustice. It was an attack on the voters of Winnipeg-St. James; an attack on their integrity. In fact, it was an attack on the integrity of the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba.
I note that when the Minister of National Health and Welfare (Mr. Epp) spoke a few moments ago, a man

December 19, 1988
Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement
from my home Province of Manitoba, he did not say one word about that act of grand larceny, the theft of the CF-18 contract-and that is exactly what it was. And it was done for cynical political purposes.
The people of Winnipeg-St. James can rest assured that I shall never betray their trust, as this Government did in respect of the CF-18 maintenance contract. And that is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Flouse to oppose the Free Trade Agreement.