Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Group of the Interparliamentary Union which represented Canada at the 101st Parliamentary Conference held in Brussels, Belgium from April 10 to 16, 1999.

Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, we are all pleased with the discussions that are going ahead to stop the conflict in Yugoslavia. However we also know that with the withdrawal of Serb forces, they leave behind silent killers, live ordinances and land mines.

Is Canada going to participate in the removal of these anti-personnel land mines so that refugees can return to their villages and to their homes?

Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, on May 21 it was my distinct privilege to witness the presentation of a heraldic coat of arms to the 231 year old Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal. Its design reflects the cultural origins of this unique institution.

Red and gold colours encircle the crest representing its members Sephardic Jewish origin from Spain and Portugal. Four columns in silver symbolize the four different locations they have occupied since 1768. The 10 commandments crested by a red maple leaf on the crown reflects Canada, where the Jewish population found haven and security from war and discrimination.

This synagogue has evolved over the years. Today it is multicultural and multilingual, with members coming from the Middle East and Europe.

The congregation, led by Rabbi Howard Joseph, has had many distinguished community and civic leaders who have contributed to our society's growth and development, including a Montreal police chief, as well as the founders of the Montreal Waterworks, the Montreal Board of Trade, the Bank of Montreal, la Banque Nationale, Canada Steamships Lines, the Theatre Royale and its members who continue to be active and contributing citizens.

In essence, this coat of arms says—

Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I present the following petition from Mount Royal riding constituents concerned with the use of chemical pesticides for cosmetic purposes, that is for use on lawns and golf courses as an example.

The petitioners believe that an immediate moratorium on these products should be enacted until it has scientifically been proven that these chemicals are safe and do not affect the water or the lives and health of our children.

Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, the first meeting of state parties to implement the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel land mines and on their destruction took place last week in Mozambique.

Tribute was paid to those countries which spearheaded this humanitarian security cause and Canada was noted for its courage of true leadership.

Experience warns us that it can take decades to remove these life destroying mines once conflicts have ended. I have seen firsthand the excruciatingly labour intensive procedure that demining entails, prodding every square metre of soil 600 to 700 times. There are tens of millions of these mines to remove worldwide.

Casualties in war are 80% civilian. Too many are land mine victims, even after conflict ends.

We must free this world of these abominable, evil weapons so that we can limit the suffering of civilians, make the world a safer place and enable those affected areas to become liveable and productive once again.