Debates of Sept. 23rd, 1998

Pierre De Savoye Portneuf, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to honour a cheesemaker from my riding who was recently awarded the Dairy Farmers of Canada Grand Prix in Halifax. The jury also awarded him the trophy for Grand Champion, all categories.

This cheesemaker, Luc Mailloux, owns Piluma de Saint-Basile farm in Portneuf county, which produces Saint-Basile, Chevalier Mailloux, Sarah Brizou and Sainte-Angélique, which are all raw milk cheeses.

I would just like to point out that, had it not been for the Bloc Quebecois' initiative two years ago, raw milk cheeses would have been banned by the Government of Canada. Fortunately, Luc Mailloux and his wife Sarah Tristan have been able to continue to produce these excellent cheeses—

Randy White Langley—Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, members of the House of Commons and all Canadians, this summer Canadians watched a team of young men from Langley, British Columbia capture the Canadian Little League Championship. We then watched this outstanding team as they progressed to the semifinals of the Little League World Series.

This Langley, British Columbia team consisted of dedicated young men, coaches, a manager, parents and a caring community all contributing and striving to be the very best they can be. Langley in my riding is well known for its beautiful scenery, community involvement and strong family values. It is now also known as the place where the Canadian Little League champions reside.

We in this House of Commons and indeed we in Canada want these young ambassadors, their parents, supporters and sponsors to know that we are very very proud of their strength, dedication and achievements.

Preston Manning Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the greatest security risk at the APEC summit was not from peaceful protesters, it was from armed bodyguards surrounding dictator Suharto of Indonesia.

Some of these bodyguards even talked about shooting Canadians for carrying signs. Five of them became so violent they actually had to be arrested themselves.

What does it say about the Prime Minister's priorities when foreign hit men are allowed to do their own thing on Canadian streets but Canadian students are not?

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, they were arrested.

Preston Manning Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, five were arrested—

Preston Manning Calgary Southwest, AB

Five were arrested, Mr. Speaker. The rest were not and none of them were pepper sprayed.

Surely it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to stand up for human rights, at least at home, and not to fluff the pillow for some foreign dictator.

What Canadians do not understand is why the Prime Minister went to such extraordinary lengths for a foreign dictator who is reviled in his own country, even suppressing the rights of Canadians in order to protect him simply from embarrassment.

The next time the government invites a brutal dictator to Canada, does the Prime Minister intend to conduct himself in the same way?

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the APEC meeting rules were established to protect the security of all the leaders. The rules apply to all the leaders: the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Prime Minister of Japan.

We had a system to make sure that they could come to the APEC meeting, a very important meeting, and deliberate in a peaceful atmosphere. The exact same rules applied to everyone.

Preston Manning Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are still waiting to hear precisely what was the Prime Minister's role in authorizing the special treatment of Suharto and the attack on the Canadian students.

The public complaints inquiry will not tell us that because, according to the RCMP Act, that inquiry only investigates the conduct of RCMP officers and not their political masters.

Who will be investigating the role of the Prime Minister in this whole affair? Will the Prime Minister co-operate fully?

Jean Chrétien Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I have nothing to hide. There is an inquiry and in fact it has asked two members of my staff to appear. They have volunteered to be there. The sherpa responsible for the conference will appear also.

The commission will decide who it wants to hear. It will do its work. Let it do its work.

John Reynolds West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Forty boxes of evidence were turned over to commission counsel and virtually nothing in those boxes had any evidence from the Prime Minister's office or the PMO.

What assurance can the Prime Minister give Canadians that, unlike the Somalia affair, documents of the APEC affair will not be shredded?