Madam Speaker, I am a little surprised to hear the remarks made by the member for Bourassa, who portrays himself as the champion of democracy in Quebec and in Canada. If my memory serves me correctly—he will correct me in his response—he was the one who told one of our colleagues, the incumbent candidate in Bourassa, to go back home if he did not agree with his political option. I do not consider that to be a very democratic gesture.
I do not recall hearing him apologize, but I am sure that, if we give him the opportunity to apologize in this House today on his own behalf and on behalf of Canadians, because people are entitled to their opinions, he will certainly take this opportunity and apologize for these nasty remarks. The member sitting next to him will certainly join me in urging him to do so.
He named two individuals, Mr. Martineau and another man, who gave $900 and $1,000 respectively. As a matter of fact, the provincial legislation on the financing of political parties says that only individuals can contribute to election funds, which is perfectly legal and honest. I do not think that a person should be denied the right to contribute to a political party's coffers because he or she holds a position in a company, organization or institution. The law gives everybody this right.
We are talking about two people. I would like to ask the very determined member for Bourassa, who tried four times to join us because he liked it so much, what he thinks of David Berger being appointed ambassador to Israel so that he could make room for a new candidate? What does he think of Lucie Blais, the Liberal candidate who was defeated in Abitibi in 1993, who was appointed to the board of directors of the National Council of Welfare? What does he think of Margo Brousseau, the Liberal candidate who was defeated in Louis-Hébert, who was appointed to the board of directors of the Quebec Port Corporation, with a per diem of around $300? What does he think of Gaétan Dumas, the former member for Richmond-Wolfe, and of Pierre Gravel, Delton Sams and Maurice Tremblay, who must have got their smiles back after landing some very generous contracts with Justice Canada?
What does he think of the hon. member for Laval West and of Joan Kouri, who were defeated in Laval East and Brome—Missisquoi respectively in 1993 and are now earning $86,400 as immigration commissioners? What does he think of Angéline Fournier, a Liberal candidate and a good friend of Guy Bertrand, who was awarded a major contract by the Council for Canadian Unity? What does he think of Aurélien Gill, the Liberal candidate who was defeated in Roberval, who was appointed to the National Economic Development Board, with a per diem of $500?
What does he think of Senator Hervieux-Payette being appointed to the Senate so that she could let another candidate have her seat? What does he think of Rita Lavoie, the Liberal candidate defeated in Manicouagan, being appointed to the board of directors of the Business Development Bank of Canada? What does he think of Eric Lemieux, the Liberal candidate defeated in Bellechasse, being appointed to the board of directors of the National Museum of Science and Technology with a salary of $300 a day?
What does he think of André Ouellet's appointment to Canada Post with a $160,000 salary? What does he think of the awarding in 1993 to the hon. member for La Prairie, who was then an election candidate in La Prairie, of a CIDA contract worth $99,500, since a $100,000 contract would have required a call for tenders? What does he think of the awarding to Michelle Tisseyre, the Liberal candidate defeated in Laurentides in 1993, of a seven-month $60,000 contract from the Privy Council? Not too shabby, is it?
What does he think of the appointment of Kimon Valaskakis, the defeated Liberal candidate, as ambassador to OCDE with a $115,000 salary? What does he think of the appointments to ministers' offices of defeated candidates like Claire Brouillet, Guy Chartrand, Benoît Chiquette, Jean Pelletier, Camille Samson and himself. Is this partisanship?