Jean Chrétien

[International Aid, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious question that needs attention. We have decided that we want to proceed with a change in legislation to ensure that the medication is made available to the people who are suffering from AIDS and other similar types of disease in Africa and elsewhere.

We have been working on this file for a long time. We have been helping, for example, the foundation of former President Clinton on this matter. We have been at the forefront.

I am happy the member from the NDP knows that there are other problems rather than trying to destroy the reputation of members of Parliament.

[Liberal Government, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I really wonder why the ministers met with the federal finance minister on this matter last week.

Our contacts with them are ongoing. We have a budget. We gave considerable amounts of money for health in the last budget. In February we signed an accord with the provinces. They were very pleased with it, but as always they would like to have more.

Never once in the past ten years has a provincial premier called me to ask “Mr. Prime Minister, could I return some money?” This has never happened yet, and I do not think it is likely to happen any time soon.

[Liberal Government, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary committee is meeting. Meetings are being held all across Canada to gather people's opinions on the next budget.

There will certainly be a new finance minister come next February. The budget will again be a good one. Once again, the budget will be a balanced one. The budget for the coming year will make Canada the only country still capable of balancing its books.

[Liberal Government, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I can understand why the hon. member is nervous. It is because in the next election, his party will not even have official party status in the House of Commons.

And speaking of leaders, they have had three since I have been leader. We have no lessons to learn from them. Other parties have had eight leaders. We have one until he decides to leave.

[Liberal Government, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the reason of state is this: three years ago, the people of Canada gave the member for Saint-Maurice a mandate to be Prime Minister of Canada for the next five years. That is the reason. Nevertheless, I indicated that I would be leaving in February, and that is what I intend to do. It is clear to everyone.

The successor to the President of the United States is chosen in November and sworn in only at the end of January. So, there is nothing so strange. We are able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

[Ethics, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, for a person to get up from his seat and admit clearly that he double-crossed Mr. Orchard, after making a solemn promise on TV in front of all the nation that he would never make a deal with the opposition, even saying at one time that he would rather run for the separatist party of Nova Scotia than join that gang in front of him; and yet he has the gall to get up today and talk about ethics.

[Ethics, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. member, who is up on his feet on ethics, what David Orchard would say about the hon. member's ethics after he signed a document in writing making a promise and double-crossed him, and after that getting up in the House of Commons and talking about ethics. He should be ashamed of himself.

[Ethics, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have a process. Every gift is reported and listed. The staff does that. When I travel, I am offered gifts and they are reported dutifully and truthfully.

The leader of the other party gets up, but it was the members of his party that went to the people of Canada for three elections telling Canadians that they will never accept pensions. After that they turned around and took the money, and they talk about ethics.

[Ethics, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I just said that there is a code that everyone follows. If a person has doubts, they should consult the ethics counsellor, who will indicate whether the situation is acceptable or not.

When I hear that the interim leader of the official opposition revealed the source of only 13% of the contributions he received when he ran for leader of his party, I think he has some nerve standing in this House and pointing the finger at people on this side.

[Ethics, October 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I said that I put in place a process that did not exist. Ministers, as members of Parliament, have the right to accept an invitation to dinner or to sleep at a place. If they have doubts, they go to the ethics counsellor who gives them advice on whether it is the right thing, yes or no. The system did not exist before.

What I asked was, is that type of problem the biggest problem of the nation? They have all done the right thing; they went to the ethics counsellor and reported publicly.

I have been around the world and on returning to Canada I realize that the only thing that the opposition has in mind is to try to destroy the reputations of all the politicians. I think that the government--