Raymonde Folco

[Gratien Gélinas, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, all of Quebec is saddened by the death of Gratien Gélinas, an actor, author and composer, who gave theatre in Quebec a momentum it has never lost.

Gratien Gélinas had the talent of being a writer and an actor simultaneously. He was particularly careful in anything he wrote or said to maintain a certain standard of French. He leaves behind a legacy we will treasure forever.

We will remember Gratien Gélinas as an energetic man who brought enthusiasm to his artistic endeavours and who was a pillar of theatre in Quebec.

As an author, he will be remembered for Ti-Coq and Bousille et les Justes , two epic descriptions of Quebec as it was after the war and on the eve of the Quiet Revolution.

We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Gélinas' family.

[Education, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, has just released a report on the performance of Canada's francophone students.

It reaffirms the great importance for governments, parents and organizations concerned with our children's future to do their utmost to ensure that our children are prepared for the new millennium with a quality education.

Not only does the future of our society depend on it, but so do the individual futures of our young people, who will have to deal with realities that are different, and perhaps more difficult, than they are today.

[Women's Health, March 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

Since this is International Women's Week, could the Minister of Health tell the House what Health Canada has done to improve the health of women in our country?

[International Women's Day, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today, March 8, is International Women's Day, and the first day of International Women's Week.

Moreover, this year's theme “Going Strong—Celebrating Older Women” dovetails very nicely with the International Year of Older Persons.

Often older women find themselves alone in the world as they approach the end of their lives, and require an increasing proportion of health care.

Our government has announced the investment of over $13 billion in health services, prevention and research. That is thirteen billion dollars.

The Liberal government clearly has the health of women, and of all Canadians, at heart, and is prepared to prove this with concrete actions.

[Business Leaders, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, according to a survey carried out in January, 42% of respondents reported that they had complete, or considerable, trust in business leaders.

Three quarters of them felt business leaders ought to be actively involved in major societal debates. The economic role played by business leaders plays a determining role in the economy of Quebec.

Instead of using all manner of approaches for promoting the separation of Quebec, the sovereignists should devote that same amount of resources and energy to the political stability of Canada and of Quebec, and thus gain the confidence of those who have a definite impact on our lives.

The separatist government should build bridges for collaborative efforts, instead of driving away potential investors by attempting to sell them on this option of separating Quebec from the rest of Canada.

[Landmines, March 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Ottawa convention on landmines comes into force today and becomes international law.

Could the minister explain to the House the changes this law will mean for the people in countries where there has been conflict in recent years?

[Mayor Of Montreal, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the reaction of the Quebec intergovernmental affairs minister, last Friday, to a speech by the Mayor of Montreal was disgraceful.

The mayor had been explaining to a group of young entrepreneurs that another referendum on Quebec's separation would be inappropriate.

He held the view that the public had realized that we are better off living together, a remark that the sovereignists obviously did not like.

What a fine example of tolerance on the part of the sovereignists.

[The Budget, February 18th, 1999]

We have established a Canadian system that respects Canadians and we will continue to do so.

[The Budget, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to be able to continue. I did not interrupt the hon. member when she spoke.

When I raise the issue of fairness, and I am not the only one to do so, I include fairness between individuals. And here, through transfers and equalization payments to provinces, we will see that each individual will be treated fairly on the basis of the income earned over the year.

That is what fairness is all about in Canada. That is what being a Liberal is all about.

[The Budget, February 18th, 1999]

Take Quebec for example, where the population—