From Parliament

Mr. Wayne Marston: Thank you for the comprehensive testimony today. I believe, Canada, when we speak out we are at our best.

I come from a labour background. Dialogue and negotiations are something that I've seen day to day that have been very effective. When you talk revolution though and you think of Lek Walesa and solidair noche and the fact that they controlled the economy and it was how they were successful, I have trepidation about Iran at that level.

I was in Saudi Arabia in 1979. When I heard you refer to accidents and payments for injury, at the time I worked for the telephone company. If we ran over a Saudi by accident we paid $30,000. If they ran over one of us it was one riel which was 30¢. Of course the Canadian dollar was worth more then.

HOUSE OF COMMONS HANSARD

Response to Ministerial Statement to mark the Bi-centenary of the Aboliton of the Slave Trade

Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of humility that I rise on behalf of the NDP caucus to speak on this occasion of marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, one of the most evil enterprises in our history.

Millions of men, women and children in Africa were forcibly abducted and relocated across an ocean. Countless lost their lives in the journey and those who survived were subjected to some of the most heinous and reprehensible treatment imaginable.

HOUSE OF COMMONS HANSARD

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, for ordinary, hard-working Canadians, last week's budget is a total failure. It fails to address the growing prosperity gap and throws about new programs and tax credits to the few lucky enough to get a place around the boardroom table where it was written.

Governments, whether Liberal or today's Conservatives, continue to ignore the reasonable demands of a group of Canadian workers, our construction workers. There are no measures for construction workers by trade and apprentices to deduct travel and accommodation expenses incurred by employment away from their homes.

STATEMENT BY WAYNE MARSTON ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACISM

Ottawa – Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) is the NDP Critic for Multiculturalism and Human Rights.

“Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racism which is observed annually on March 21st as it was on this day in 1960 that police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa.

Shortly after the events of 9/11, a Hindu temple was destroyed by arson in my community of Hamilton. The police said it was a hate crime. The community responded: with a show of solidarity and support to eliminate racism in our neighbourhoods.

From Subcommittee on International Human Rights

Mr. Wayne Marston: In 1996 I led the largest civil demonstration in the history of this country, and during that we had 105,000 people, which was a significant amount on the streets of Hamilton. During that time, often we talked and thought about what happened in Tiananmen Square and the difference of how we could protest here, and the penalties and the cost. I have to say I have a great respect for the people who lived through that time. I want you to know that others were thinking of you.

Listening today, when you talked so eloquently about the needs of others and in China, and other people could have come here and talked about their personal pasts and their personal trials. I respect you greatly for doing that in the manner that you had today.

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East≈Stoney Creek) Mr. Speaker, working families across the country are suffering because of the government’s lack of action to protect manufacturing jobs.In the last two years alone 125,000 jobs were lost in this province. In my community the latest victim is Hamilton Specialty Bar where we are going to lose 300 jobs and 600 pensioners are going to lose 20% of their pensions, plus their benefits.If it is not in today’s budget, when will the government bring forward a plan to protect the manufacturing jobs in this country?

Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, CPC) : Mr.

MARSTON QUESTIONS FLAHERTY ON BANK MERGERS
Marston questions Minister on Bill C-37, ATM fees

OTTAWA – During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, Wayne Marston MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) asked Minister of Finance Flaherty why average Canadians are getting gouged while big banks reap the profits.

“While the big-six banks made record profits - $19 billion last year – Canadians coughed up $420 million of their own money last year at bank-owned ATMs. The Conservative amendments to the Bank Act in Bill C-37 don’t address the issue of unnecessary ATM fees even though the Minister has indicated that he would raise it with banks.” said Marston.

QUESTION PERIOD - HOUSE OF COMMONS

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East≈Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, China recently executed Ismail Semed, a Uyghur activist. With this troubling news, I fear for the life of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian being held captive in China.

We do not have time for more excuses. The Department of Foreign Affairs has failed to represent this man. It did not attend the court hearing. I understand the minister is furious, but fury and anger will not help Huseyin Celil.

Can the government tell Canadians today when the next court date is that so that Chinese officials know that Canadians will be watching to see that our citizens' rights are respected?

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
FROM HANSARD

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address Bill C-288. The summary of the bill reads:

“The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It requires the Minister of the Environment to establish an annual Climate Change Plan and to make regulations respecting climate change. It also requires the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy to advise the Minister—to the extent that it is within its purpose—on the effectiveness of the plans, and requires the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to submit to the Speaker of the House of Commons a report of the progress in the implementation of the plans.”

HOUSE OF COMMONS - HANSARD

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment, everyday Canadians are way ahead of this country's business and political elites. The rest of us are ready to move from a polluting economy to a sustainable one. Daily I hear from constituents who truly worry that our children will not have clean air to breathe or water to drink.

The Conservatives want Canadians to believe that they are getting serious about the environment. They have a new minister and a new legislative committee to fix their flawed bill.

The Prime Minister has an opportunity today to back up his words with action. He can make a real impact in Hamilton by funding two important local environmental initiatives.