Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1998

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I repeat again that the commission will finish its job. It was set up under a law of parliament, a law introduced in parliament and voted on by parliament. The member of parliament was a Tory at that time and voted for that law and today he is attacking the leader who got him to the House of Commons at that time.

Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member opposite that her claim that I did not intervene in the case of Nagano is absolutely false.

I would ask her to withdraw the false remarks she just made in this House.

Suzanne Tremblay Rimouski—Mitis, QC

Mr. Speaker, everyone thinks the minister should have abstained from political meddling with the olympic committee.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister not consider, once again, that one of his ministers was lacking in judgment by intervening as the Minister of Canadian Heritage did with the olympic association?

Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, if the member does not remember, I will remind her that in a letter written in the hand of Suzanne Tremblay dated August 14, 1998, she said “I remind you that during a similar incident at the Nagano games—”

Sheila Copps Hamilton East, ON

In a letter written in the hand of the member for Rimouski—Mitis, she says clearly that yes, I should have intervened in the case of Nagano, and congratulated me on doing so.

Myron Thompson Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, first there was a Mountie named Hughie who was being set up to take the fall. Now the solicitor general has sacrificed himself to protect the Prime Minister. That still does not get at what started this whole scandal.

My question is easy and is directed to the Prime Minister. What role did he play in having a crackdown on the students at the APEC conference last year?

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the long answer is none.

Myron Thompson Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, now that the Prime Minister has said that, then surely he will be happy to set up an inquiry and testify before the inquiry that his answer is none.

The solicitor general said that a senior Mountie named Hughie was going to take the fall. Take the fall for whom, the Prime Minister?

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that there is an inquiry and the inquiry will do its job.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that in my reply to the member I thought he was still a member of parliament at that time but he had turned to being a Socred in British Columbia. So I do not know. Now he is a Reformer. It is difficult to follow. I am sorry. I made a mistake.

Yves Rocheleau Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans introduced the concept of intraharbour transit to exempt the Quebec City-Lévis ferry service from icebreaking charges. However, the Sorel and Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferries also run an intraharbour service.

Why, therefore, has the minister not announced an exemption for the Sorel—Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferry service?

David Anderson Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, last week, I replied to several questions on this topic, and I pointed out that we were considering what we heard about the region's industry. When we have considered all submissions, we will announce our fee schedule.

Yves Rocheleau Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, when all is said and done, does the minister realize that it is not just the ferries, but Quebec shipping in its entirety that will be penalized by his unfair policy on icebreaking fees?