Stephen Harper

[Questions On The Order Paper, September 27th, 1994]

With regard to grain cars purchased or leased using federal public funds, ( a ) who is responsible for allocating their use, ( b ) what is their present geographic distribution, and ( c ) how is the revenue resulting from their time-mileage use accounted for?

[Taxation, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, earlier in question period in refusing to rule out new taxes on RRSPs and private pension plans, the Minister of Finance referred to the necessity to consult Canadians on this issue.

Will the minister tell the House precisely which Canadians have been demanding new taxes on their RRSPs and private pension plans? Is it not true in fact that only this government and this minister want to see these new taxes?

[National Unity, September 21st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question.

It is in the interests of this party and should be in the interests of the government to get the views of all Canadians on the unity of the country. I am surprised that the Prime Minister does not want that.

Here is my supplementary question: Does the Prime Minister intend to contact officially the new Quebec Government to urge it to respect its commitment and hold its referendum as quickly as possible, on the simple question of Quebec separation?

[National Unity, September 21st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, you will know there has been some debate outside the House this week concerning the date of a referendum in Quebec. You will also know that many Canadians, after 25 years, are sick and tired of this separatist merry-go-round.

I would like the Prime Minister to clarify for the House whether he has clearly communicated the position of his government, of the vast majority of members of the House and the vast majority of the population of Canada that the premier of Quebec should fulfil his commitment to have this referendum as soon as possible. What assurances has he received in that regard?

[Questions On The Order Paper, September 19th, 1994]

For the last five years, ( a ) how many Canadian Forces members have filed an application for a redress of grievance, ( b ) what is the mean length of time to process a redress from date of filing to final resolution, and ( c ) what percentage of redresses are decided in favour of the applicant?

[National Defence, September 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, since the budget in February there has been growing concern in Calgary regarding the cost of the government's plan to transfer the Lord Strathcona's Horse and the First Service Battalion from CFB Calgary to CFB Edmonton.

Initial government estimates placed costs at $23 million. However, the government has now admitted revised costs of an additional $21 million for construction and renovation. Another $30 million is likely needed to clean up existing ranges. The cost for defaulting on leases will probably be around $16 million and of course there are other costs.

Recently released documents indicate that DND's primary rationale for this is to compensate Edmonton for the loss of three AIRCOM squadrons.

I call on the minister to obtain an independent cost assessment in light of all new information and to hold this decision in abeyance until that time. A failure to re-evaluate this decision can only be interpreted as contempt for the intelligence and the money of taxpayers.

[The Economy, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the minister has been.

Yesterday, the government changed strategies. It used to blame everything on a Conservative government that no longer exists. Now it blames a Parti Quebecois government that does not exist yet.

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that the real problem is federal management and that a $500 billion federal deficit is not one of the benefits of federalism.

I direct my supplementary question to the Minister of Finance. What specific effort will he make come September to convince the people of Quebec and the rest of Canada that his government will not bankrupt this country?

[The Economy, June 22nd, 1994]

I do not know what I did.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Yesterday the government acknowledged that higher than expected interest rates are impacting on the government's budget projections but he said that this would be offset by higher than expected revenues.

We know that higher interest rates are already impacting on the economy and on consumer spending. I ask the Minister of Finance whether he recognizes that continued high interest rates could slow economic growth and put off his revenue projections.

Will he produce new projections on all of these matters in September?

[The Economy, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker-

[National Referendum, June 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, does the Prime Minister agree that Canadians should be consulted by national referendums on major constitutional changes, yes or no?