Gilles Duceppe

[The Quebec Sepharad Community, January 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I attended last Sunday the convention of the Quebec Sepharad Community. I noted that this community is very active not only within the Quebec Jewish Community as a whole but also in Quebec society itself.

The Sepharad people are an example of community involvement for all Quebecers. Besides their strong solidarity as a group, they make ceaseless efforts to play a role in today's Quebec.

The exchanges and debates which took place during this convention allowed for a better knowledge, thus a better understanding of the various political tendencies in Quebec.

Such opportunities can only enrich democracy. I would like to thank and congratulate the Quebec Sepharad Community for holding such events.

[Foreign Affairs, January 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I request the unanimous consent of the House to continue sitting between one and two p.m.

[Member For Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville, January 24th, 1994]

This was my preamble, Mr. Speaker. How does the Prime Minister intend to deal with the case of the hon. member for Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville?

[Member For Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville, January 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I realize apologies were made this morning, but according to House security regulations, any person who had made such statements, whether or not he apologized, would be prohibited from entering Parliament Hill.

[Member For Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville, January 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I was just getting to my question.

How could the hon. member for Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville run for the Liberal Party, if the party executive was aware he had been fired because of these death threats?

[Member For Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville, January 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. In the Throne Speech last week, the government announced its intention to monitor the behaviour of ministers and members. We just heard that the Liberal member for Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville was fired in 1989 from his teaching position, after he sent a series of 17 threatening letters to his colleagues, the last one containing death threats-

[Speech From The Throne, January 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I suppose that the five minutes for questions and comments will follow right after the first ten minutes and not come at the end.

[Privilege, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege.

During the last Parliament, I recall a somewhat similar experience and I heard arguments from the government party. The Speaker told us at the time to consult with party officials and subsequently to notify the independent members who were not necessarily taking part in the negotiations. We know something about this. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that a ruling was

made at the time, that arguments were put forward by two parties which were official parties at the time and which no longer have this status, and that I for one was convinced by what they had to say.

[Human Rights, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that I share the minister's concerns, and our party will support every effort made by the minister to protect human rights. However, I would like to know if, when he talks about taking a very careful look, the minister considers that trade has nothing to do with human rights and that the uprising of natives is but an unavoidable adjustment episode in a period of economic development?

[Human Rights, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Some allegations have been made to the effect that the brutal crackdown by the federal Mexican army to quell the revolt of peasants and zapatist infantrymen violates human rights in several ways. Indeed, several observers have mentioned that people have disappeared, have been murdered or have been intimidated.

Can the minister tell us what is the government's official position regarding this issue, and can he tell us if he has asked the Mexican government to ensure that human rights arerespected and protected?