Ed Harper

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, a second supplementary question. Last week certain native Canadians threatened an armed response to any attempt by the RCMP to

enforce existing smuggling laws. This situation has caused understandable concern among law enforcement officers involved.

Does the Prime Minister's definition of self-government include the right to disregard the laws of Canada and to threaten police who may be called in to enforce them?

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect the rumours are very strong.

Health organizations across Canada are outraged by the government proposal to cut tobacco taxes.

Would the government calculate the long term increase in health care costs which would result from these cuts in tobacco taxes?

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

It is rumoured the government is considering a major reduction in tobacco taxes. If this is true, to avoid any increase in the deficit these cuts will have to be offset by matching spending cuts or replacement tax revenues.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House which programs he intends to cut or which taxes he intends to increase.

[Voter's Recall, February 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that democracy demands that members be allowed to fill out their term.

Is the Prime Minister suggesting that democracy is served when MPs who betray the trust of voters are rewarded with a four-year no-cut contract and that democracy is endangered when the voters have the opportunity to remove such an MP and force a by-election.

[Voter's Recall, February 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Without the power of recall, voters will not have an opportunity to replace an MP who has lost their confidence. This situation is clearly unacceptable and intolerable to Canadian voters who have a right to proper representation.

My question for the Prime Minister is this. If the voters in a riding submit a petition that demands the removal of an MP and the calling of a by-election, and if the number of voters signing that petition is greater than 50 per cent of the number of people who voted in the last federal election, will the government respect the wishes of the petitioners and enact a recall process?

[Voter's Rights, January 28th, 1994]

A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.

If the Prime Minister is not prepared to support recall, how does he propose to restore voters' confidence and their respect for their Parliament?

[Voter's Rights, January 28th, 1994]

A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. I would point out to the Prime Minister that the right of recall belongs to citizens in many other democratic jurisdictions.

Will the Prime Minister tell the House when he might consider responding to the wishes of millions of Canadians who believe that they should also have the right to recall MPs who fail to represent their interests or who betray their interests or who misrepresent themselves to the people?

[Voter's Rights, January 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Is the Prime Minister now prepared to accept and act on the need for quick passage of legislation permitting voters the right to recall?

[Auditor General's Report, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, a supplemental for the Minister of National Defence.

It was only yesterday the Prime Minister explained to this House that sometimes the figures of the Auditor General are misleading.

Does the minister believe that in this case the Auditor General has again misled the House?

[Auditor General's Report, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

On January 25 the minister told the House that he is seeking further clarification on the discrepancy between the accounting principles of his department and those of the Auditor General. Also on January 25, when the minister was asked about civil servant accountability in his department, the minister stated:

I do not think that is a question that should be addressed to me. That is a question for government, and I do not know who can answer that.

The minister says that he is not responsible for the actions taken by the civil servants in his department. On this basis, could the minister explain to this House his concept of ministerial accountability?