André Ouellet

[Turkey, March 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for asking me a question similar to the one I just answered. I can confirm that the negotiations regarding the sale of the CF-5 jets are at a very preliminary stage. Canada is studying the possibility of selling them to a number of people who have shown interest.

I can also confirm what I just said to the hon. member, which was that there is no cause for concern with regard to Turkey, since negotiations are at a very preliminary stage and since, at any rate, the government rigorously reviews sales of this kind and obtains specific commitments from purchasing countries. Undoubtedly, we will take every action necessary to ensure that whatever country buys the jets, be it Turkey or another, it would not use them against civilians.

[Turkey, March 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have already said in this House that we were only at the preliminary stages of negotiating the sale of these airplanes and that a number of countries or potential buyers

were being considered. Therefore, the hon. member is wrong when he implies that we are pursuing advanced negotiations with Turkey. They have not reached an advanced stage at all.

[Turkey, March 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member's question, I can say that we have not done so.

[Burundi, March 23rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, again, I think it is important to remind you that the government did not wait for the opposition to ask us a question in this House before taking action. My colleague, the Secretary of State, travelled to Burundi to attend a conference with officials from other countries concerned about this matter and about Rwanda.

Several weeks ago, we appointed a special roving ambassador on these issues, Ambassador Dusseault, who, week after week, visits Burundi, Zaire, Rwanda and other countries interested in what is happening over there.

Of course, Canada wants to avoid a bloodbath. Of course, these ethnic conflicts are reprehensible, but I will remind the hon. member that the representations we have made at both the UN and the Organization of African Unity to try to convince other countries to join Canada in taking action cannot be attributed to Canada's lack of interest. On the contrary, we are very interested, very concerned, but Canada alone cannot resolve this persistent ethnic problem in Africa.

[Burundi, March 23rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind the hon. member of what I said before in this House, namely that Canada, too, was concerned about what is happening in Burundi. In addition, I would like to correct the hon. member, who attributes to our representative in Burundi an assessment of the situation which is not the one he gave.

On the contrary, he explained that the situation was difficult but that, despite these difficulties, it should not be compared to the situation that existed in the days preceding the massacre in Rwanda. I think that, objectively, she should not ascribe to our representative comments he has not made.

[Journée Internationale De La Francophonie, March 20th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, in 1990 the 47 countries and governments of the francophone community declared March 20 the Journée internationale de la Francophonie. It was on March 20, 1970 that the Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT) was founded in Niamey, Niger. This year, the Journée internationale de la Francophonie marks the 25th anniversary of the ACCT, which, as it happens, is directed by a Canadian, Jean-Louis Roy. It is interesting to remember that the first secretary general of that organization, Jean-Marc Léger, was also a Canadian.

Today, I would like to pay tribute to the visionaries of the Francophonie, men like Senghor, Diori and Bourguiba from newly independent countries who dreamed of an assembly that would establish new lines of dialogue, co-operation and solidarity between French-speaking nations. Madam Speaker, let me quote Léopold Senghor, who attributed to the Francophonie "an all-encompassing humanism that encircles the planet". Today more than ever, we must be guided by this humanism if the Francophonie is to become an even more dynamic forum.

The recent tragic events in French-speaking countries concern us directly, indeed command our attention. The Francophonie is being called upon to take a stand and I give my word in this House that Canada will support it in its efforts.

Next week, as I said in reply to a question from a colleague in this House during question period, I will have the honour of meeting my colleagues from French-speaking nations around the world. Together we will discuss ways of strengthening French-speaking institutions in preparation for the next Summit of heads of state and government in Cotonou, Benin.

These summits provide an opportunity to promote common objectives. Canada plays an important role at the summits, represented by the Canadian government, and also of course by the governments of Quebec and New Brunswick, who play a very important and useful role there.

This felicitous formula, which led to harmonious relations between France, Canada and Quebec, was the result of lengthy negotiations by intelligent, resourceful people respectful of the interests of the parties concerned.

Because he is here with us in this House, I would like to mention the exceptional contribution of one of the great archi-

tects of this historic success, the present Leader of the Opposition, who as Canadian ambassador at the time, did an outstanding job of resolving this matter satisfactorily in the interest not only of Canada but also in the interest of Quebec and of the good relations we have always had and wish to maintain with France.

This felicitous formula enabled all speakers of French in Canada, and especially in Quebec, to play a role internationally. This formula still allows Quebec to play an important and vital role within the Francophonie.

We will continue to promote, within the Francophonie, the basic values which are so dear to our fellow citizens. Earlier, in answer to a question in the House, I mentioned the values of democracy, human rights, equality for women, child welfare and education.

To mark this important day, we had the pleasure to participate in a ceremony where we unveiled, along with officials from member countries of the Francophonie, their ambassadors and several fellow citizens who are active in that field, a postage stamp commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Technical and Cultural Co-operation Agency.

I also had the pleasure of handing out Francophonie awards to deserving students and teachers from across Canada. This initiative is a reminder that the vitality of our linguistic and cultural heritage was, and remain, essential to our unity, our specificity and our existence as an independent entity.

Canada is well aware that the Francophonie is not a territorial issue. The greatest lesson we learned is that Francophonie knows no boundaries: It is a universal reality. The Francophonie in Canada, which thrives in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and other regions, and which I salute, must of course rely on a strong, dynamic and credible worldwide francophone movement.

Let us not forget that over eight million Canadians can speak French. This number includes of course close to 75 per cent of Quebecers, but also over 25 per cent of the other Canadians, including close to 1.2 million in Ontario, half a million in western Canada, and some 400,000 in the Maritimes.

In closing, today, we celebrate the Francophonie and a language which is so dear to us. The French language spread throughout the world and is enriched by the different accents from various islands, plains, ricefields and bushes, where it is thriving.

I invite all members in this House and in other Canadian legislative assemblies to celebrate together this Journée de la Francophonie internationale, which marks the beginning of a week dedicated to the Francophonie in Canada.

[French-Speaking Countries, March 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to answer this question on this Journée nationale et internationale de la Francophonie.

Indeed, on the initiative on the French minister, Mr. Jacques Toubon, ministers of French-speaking countries will be meeting next week in Paris to discuss ways to better prepare themselves for the Francophone Summit that will take place later this year, in Cotonou, Benin. This summit will bring together the heads of state of member countries of the Francophonie.

Over and above the efforts made in terms of cultural and technical co-operation, we want the Francophonie to play a broader political role in the promotion of human rights, democracy, equality for women and child welfare.

We think the Francophonie has an important part to play in the attainment of these objectives.

[Taxation, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we are supporting a revision and an improvement of international financial institutions. We will be presenting recommendations in this regard at the time of the Halifax summit.

We have asked a parliamentary committee to look at it. I remind the hon. member that his party is represented on the committee. We hope the representatives of the Reform Party on the committee will make valuable recommendations.

[Taxation, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is important for the hon. member to remember

that we are making a major breakthrough by bringing to the agenda of the G-7 meeting the question of the revision of the international financial institutions.

During the course of discussions a number of alternatives will be discussed. The Tobin tax, which seems to be very interesting to the hon. member, is one of many subjects that will certainly be looked at and discussed at that meeting.

[Burundi, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes. In the event that the United Nations are not in a position to intervene, we also contacted the Organization of African Unity to see if a regional approach might be more appropriate. A number of countries concerned by the situation in Rwanda and in Burundi could intervene, with the support of the UN, but they would do so on a regional basis, rather than in the context of a global operation under the UN.