Stéphane Dion

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 6th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party has every right to question the treaty with the Nisga'a.

What is not legitimate is that it has tried to analyse what we mean by the spirit of our country, comparing what would be seceding with an agreement on what is within the Canadian constitutional framework.

[Budget Implementation Act, 1999, May 6th, 1999]

moved that Bill C-71, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in parliament on February 16, 1999, be read the third time and passed.

[Bloc Quebecois, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has inherited from its past the opportunity, the obligation and the privilege of promoting the cause of the French language and the French cultures in Quebec, throughout Canada and around the world and to make this rich heritage available to Canadians of all origins.

It is part of our heritage, of today's reality and of tomorrow's future as a united Canada.

[Motor Vehicle Transport Act, 1987, March 25th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-77, an act to amend the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, 1987 and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[International Cultural Forums, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs has said that he did not believe that his colleague regretted her actions. That is all he said.

The Government of Canada, which has a profound respect for the political sovereignty and territorial integrity of the one indivisible French Republic, always takes for granted that the French government respects the political sovereignty of Canada.

And we would certainly not go stirring up separatism in Guadeloupe.

[International Forums, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let us not confuse two different issues.

The first has to do with improving this federation, which is already well advanced compared to others, including in its ability to express its views internationally.

The second concerns how to react to the obviously separatist ploys of the Bouchard government internationally.

I have here a document released two years ago entitled “Plan stratégique de ministère des relations internationales”. It contains the following “Actively promote the various facets of Quebec society internationally... so as to be able, when the time is right, to count on support in realizing the government's political project”.

Let us not confuse these two issues.

[International Forums, March 16th, 1999]

—and play a major role by sharing in the sovereign country called Canada.

Yesterday, the Premier of Quebec said a very shocking thing. He said that a Canadian government official cannot represent the culture of Quebeckers.

I would like to quote something the Premier of Quebec said in February 1996 “I have worked in Ottawa at the highest level. One cannot become an expert in this overnight, and we have not had an opportunity in Quebec City to develop this expertise”.

[International Forums, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers are extremely fortunate to belong to a country that is one of the most influential in the world—

[The Budget, March 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we respect the social union agreement and we note that the only government criticizing it is the one that did not sign.

[The Budget, March 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this question was fully answered last week. I think that people understood perfectly well.

If the Government of Quebec had played a more active role in the discussions instead of relying on the policy of the empty chair, there would have been far fewer problems.