Debates of April 13th, 1994

Manpower Training

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, his voice breaking with emotion, is trying to be convincing, when he knows very well that even if we did have an agreement in this area, tomorrow morning he would still want to take Quebec out of Canada. This from the same member who, only a few years ago, defended francophones outside Quebec and who today, does not have the courage to rise in this House to defend bilingualism in this country. This is ironic, coming from someone who changes his mind as often as the Leader of the Reform Party changes suits. We are taking a serious look at ways of providing all Canadians, including Quebecers, with the best possible social security system and job creation initiatives.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for five years, there has been a broad consensus in Quebec on the need to repatriate all powers with respect to manpower. Five years of

amicable negotiations, as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs put it, have proved fruitless.

Finally, yesterday, Mr. Speaker-

[The Speaker]

Question, please.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Finally, yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the answer came: "Not for another two years". Does the Prime Minister realize what this means? If nothing is done for another two years, $600 million will be wasted, $600 million that could have been used to help the unemployed in Quebec as well as those who are waiting for job training.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Question Period is not the appropriate time for speeches, but if you want me to make a speech, I will. No question was asked. This is sheer hypocrisy-

[The Speaker]

This is a day for caucuses.

I would ask hon. members to put their questions as succinctly as possible. This is not speech period but question period.

The Chair recognizes the hon. member for Roberval.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we want answers. That is what I am trying to get across to the Prime Minister.

Are we to understand from what he said that all this pussyfooting around at the expense of the unemployed in Quebec is sure proof that the federal system does not work and never will? That system is rotten because of infighting between ministers within his own cabinet.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the hon. member is ranting and that he will do the honourable thing and resign his seat after losing the referendum on Quebec separation.

Government Expenditures

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to interrupt the family feud and bring us back to sanity and an issue of concern to all Canadians.

Yesterday the Prime Minister three times affirmed that the government will be making additional spending reductions not presently included in the budget to further reduce the deficit.

We welcomed that announcement. We assume it is supported by all members of cabinet and now expect various ministers to bring forward revised estimates containing these additional spending reductions.

My first question today is for one of those ministers, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. What additional expenditure reductions will he be putting forward in his $5 billion departmental budget in order to further reduce spending as the Prime Minister has promised?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it was not a very suitable way for the Leader of the Opposition to put a question. I would like to tell the leader of the Reform Party that it was not a family fight. I understand there was one on Monday night in his family.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have been elected by three times as many Canadians in English Canada as he has. I am the Prime Minister of all Canadians. I resent him trying to portray my defence of Canada as a family fight with the temporary Leader of the Opposition.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

The question of departmental budgets is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance in his budget. He presented a very good budget and it has been voted on by the House of Commons. When spending cuts are made by the government, they will be announced in due course.

The technique of having every minister get up one after another is nothing but grandstanding which shows they do not know how to operate in the opposition. The leader of the Reform Party should know that type of question should be asked of the Minister of Finance.

[The Speaker]

If the questions are long and the answers are long, we could have a very long question period.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the intensity of these answers reminds me a little bit of the old preacher who got fired when his-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. I am sure we would like to hear the story about the old preacher, but I would like to hear the question from the member.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister made a commitment that there would be spending cuts in addition to those already contained in the budget. My line of questioning today is to try to find out from the other ministers who must have been a part of that decision precisely what those cuts are going to be.

The Prime Minister has not allowed the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to answer, so I would like to direct my question to another minister.

I would like to ask the Minister of Industry what additional spending reductions he is contemplating in his $2.7 billion departmental budget in order to further reduce the deficit as committed to by the Prime Minister.

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, let me say to the hon. member that I am sure he is aware the budget making process is one that is under the direction of the Minister of Finance. If a further budget is to be presented it will be up to the Minister of Finance to do it.

However let me say as well that the budget we are directing in Industry Canada is very much targeted at those sectors of the economy in which we expect to see the greatest economic growth. The key to reducing our deficit is not just to cut expenditures but is to see growth in the economy. That is the objective of the government.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we are not having much luck in finding these expenditures. I therefore would like to direct my second supplementary question to another minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Could the minister tell us what additional expenditures he is planning in his department's $3.7 billion budget in order to further reduce spending as the Prime Minister has promised.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that is a waste of time of the House of Commons and a lack of imagination of the leader of that party. I know he has a problem with his neighbour next door. He should work with him in order to solve his problem, along with the members from Calgary.

He keeps asking the types of questions that are irrelevant in the House of Commons. We have a normal budget process.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

No, no, we have a Minister of Finance for that.

If he does not perform very well, Mr. Harper, his neighbour, will give him a promotion to the third row.

[The Speaker]

It would probably facilitate matters in question period if we did not refer to the names of members.