Raymonde Folco

[Jacques Parizeau, November 27th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the former leader of the yes side during the last referendum campaign in Quebec, Jacques Parizeau, once again accused the Greek, Italian and Jewish communities of being responsible for the sovereignists' loss, in 1995.

The former PQ leader and Quebec premier decided to treat us to more of what he said on the night of the referendum, when he claimed that the yes side had lost because of money and because of the ethnic vote.

Such comments from someone who claimed he could lead a nation are irresponsible and unbefitting. Today, I ask all sovereignists to dissociate themselves from the comments made on Tuesday by the former leader of the yes side. I feel personally insulted by Mr. Parizeau's remarks. Regardless of our origin, we chose Canada as our country and, as citizens of Canada, we take very seriously our duty and our responsibility to express our views on the future of our country by exercising our right to vote.

[Bloc Quebecois, November 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the former Bloc Quebecois leader said his party should leave the scene.

At last, a sovereignist has suddenly realized that the Bloc Quebecois was taking root, in spite of claiming to be a temporary party. It is the first time that a Bloc Quebecois official alludes so openly to the possibility of a defeat of the yes side in a future referendum.

The former leader also feels that, win or lose, the Bloc Quebecois should leave after the next referendum.

Under the circumstances, and until its demise, the Bloc Quebecois should work much more seriously to try to improve Canadian federalism. It is time for the Bloc to take on this task.

[Supply, October 30th, 1997]

He is being generous.

[The Late Rodrigue Bourdages, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, like the hon. member for Sherbrooke, I too wish to pay tribute to Rodrigue Bourdages, who died on October 12.

On March 31, 1958, Mr. Bourdages was elected to the House of Commons in the 24th Parliament as the representative for Montreal—Laval. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and graduated from the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal. He married Évelyne Arsenault, a native of Saskatchewan, and they had three children.

Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Bourdages, who played a major role in the building of Laval and was very involved in the community. He was also a Knight of Columbus. He was viewed by many residents of Laval as a successful entrepreneur, and he was an excellent manager at the Société immobilière du Québec.

He was also vice-president of the Corporation d'investissements de Laval, director of the Dicana corporation and vice-president of Rapidco. As a contractor, he was responsible for the construction of several schools and churches, which are now part of Laval's rich heritage.

Mr. Bourdages was proud to be a Canadian and was an example to all his French speaking compatriots. In 1962, he became the first French Canadian member of Parliament since Confederation in 1867 to give the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne in French. During this address, he expressed a wish that has since come to pass, for Canada now has the distinction of being the world leader in trade missions with its team Canada.

He said, and I quote: “We have reason to hope that other markets will soon be opened for our products and that the efforts of free enterprise ably seconded by the officials of the trade and commerce department will be successful”.

In this same address, Mr. Bourdages expressed his deep love for Canada, and I quote: “Canada is strong because it is united, because we have the feeling that its unity will develop into a closer and more efficient association—Canada is a great and grand country. Certainly in its geography, but even more so in its citizens”.

In 1989, out of a desire to give wider expression to his love for Canada, Mr. Bourdages published his memoirs.

I am honoured to pay tribute to him today, because it is through the pride of builders like Rodrigue Bourdages that Canada's francophones, whatever their province of origin, can proudly proclaim that they are part of our great country.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and the people of the riding of Laval West, I extend deepest condolences to Mrs. Bourdages, their children and his entire family.

[Guadeloupe, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we are witnessing today what appears to be an unprecedented conspiracy against our cousin and friend, France.

We have just learned that recently, without its own government knowing it, a foreign separatist movement had one of its experts attend a meeting of the Guadelupian movement, an organization dedicated to withdrawing this West Indian island from French trusteeship.

This truly looks like interference in the domestic policy of one of Canada's friends. In light of the seriousness of this situation, we demand a clear and unequivocal answer to the following question: Did the Quebec separatist movement delegate hand his hosts a note saying that Quebec will be with Guadeloupe on the road it chooses to take, yes or no?

[Dairy Industry, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The United States have announced that they will challenge our dairy production system before the World Trade Organization, on the grounds that we subsidize our dairy product exports.

What measures will the minister take to protect Canada's dairy industry?

[Supreme Court Of Canada, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Justice Michel Bastarache on his appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Justice Bastarache is not only an eminent jurist but also a champion of francophones' rights across Canada. His contribution to the advancement of the Francophonie was acknowledged even by the government of Quebec which, in 1991, inducted him into the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique.

I deplore that the Bloc Quebecois chose to use Justice Bastarache's appointment as an excuse to launch into another unwarranted attack against Canadian federalists.

It is very inappropriate for the separatists from the Bloc Quebecois and the PQ to question the integrity and legitimacy of an institution like the Supreme Court of Canada, because they never hesitate to reward their separatist friends, including some who are not even competent to sit.

[Quebec Premier, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Lucien Bouchard has barely started his sovereignist pilgrimage to France to find symbolic support for his separatist cause and already the truth he refuses to see is hitting him right in the face.

A document released at a press conference held by Lucien Bouchard and French business representatives states that the temporary removal of the referendum threat has resulted in lower short term interest rates in Canada.

French business people too recognize that the political uncertainty generated by the sovereignist threat is hurting Quebec's and Canada's economy.

What more does Lucien Bouchard need to hear to put an end to such a costly threat to our economy?

[Throne Speech, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as the member for Laval West, I want to congratulate the government on its Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 36th Parliament of Canada in which it set out its priorities for the years ahead.

Of particular note is its wish to maintain national unity. Our government should be congratulated on its clearly stated intention to contribute to the effort by federal, provincial and territorial governments to develop a more collaborative approach to strengthening and modernizing Canada's social union.

In order to build a stronger Canada, our government will invest in children, in quality care and good health, and will take steps to ensure the safety of our communities.

These are some of the goals that we believe will help bring all Canadians closer together as we head into the next millennium.