Jean Chrétien

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am not one who would presume that some Canadians are guilty of something in that like the opposition. The fact is that this gentleman was deported from New York to Syria by the government of the United States, and the government of the United States should have informed Canada before acting.

We have complained to the government of the United States. We want to know the name of the Canadian person who might be involved. Secretary Powell said to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that if such a name exists, it will be given to Canada.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this is just another fishing expedition. The people who are responsible for the deportation of the gentleman to Syria are in the government of the United States, not the Government of Canada. I cannot understand why the opposition wants to blame the Government of Canada for the actions of the Americans. This gentleman should have come to Canada. He should not have been sent to Syria.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have revealed all the facts that we know about it. There is nothing the government knows that has not been made public.

I find it very hypocritical from the opposition because on the 18th of November, 2002 the Leader of the Opposition criticized us for having “participated in high level consultations to defend a suspected terrorist”. The same day the hon. member for Calgary--Nose Hill criticized us for “chastising the U.S. for sending Arar back to Syria”. What a bunch of hypocrites.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is completely unacceptable and deplorable what happened to this gentleman who is a Canadian and who was sent to Syria rather than to his country of Canada. We have protested. This morning I asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Prime Minister to get in touch with their counterparts. A few minutes ago Secretary Powell said that he would try to find out if there is in reality one Canadian involved in that. The name will be given to Canada if there is one and we will act accordingly.

[Foreign Aid, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada fully supports the agreement reached by the World Trade Organization to allow poorer countries better access to the medicines needed to respond to public health problems, especially those resulting from HIV-AIDS and other epidemics.

Today we have served notice to the House that we will introduce legislation this week to implement the WTO agreement. Canada will be the first country to introduce legislation to implement the WTO agreement. We hope that our quick response will encourage other countries to follow our example.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this is the hon. member who told her electors three times that she would never accept a pension from the people of Canada, who is complaining now, while she is taking the pension, that she would like us to pay any amount of money for a helicopter without having a real competition to have the best product at the best price.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is because we have been very responsible that today we can say that we have very low interest rates. We are having a bidding process. There are many competitors. They are following the rules and the best offer to the government will win. That is why we have public bidding.

I see that the opposition members do not want to have public bidding. They have already made up their minds about one helicopter. I do not know why they know better than the experts.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am not in a position like the member to pretend that one is better than the other because I am not an expert. However we are the guardians of taxpayer money and we want a machine that can do the job at the least cost possible to the taxpayers.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are seeking, the best for our money, which is why we are having a bidding process. We hope three or four companies will put in bids so we will get the best helicopter at the lowest cost possible. What taxpayers will have for their money is what they are investing in these helicopters.

[Minister of Finance, November 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this has absolutely nothing to do with the duties and responsibilities of the Minister of Finance. He clearly stated his opinion in the House of Commons and said that he knew this person who, at the time, was no longer the president of the Brewers Association of Canada. This is no big thing, really.