Debates of Oct. 31st, 1995

Purchase Of Submarines

[Jean H. Leroux, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can the minister justify such a purchase of submarines at the cost of half a million dollars at this time, when the cold war is well and truly over and Canada has no need of such submarines?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I find it very difficult to justify a purchase which has not been made.

The Constitution

[Stephen Harper, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in recent days and again today the Prime Minister has indicated he may soon pursue some constitutional negotiations.

Is it his intention to pursue constitutional negotiations with the Parti Quebecois in Quebec. Based on past history, would he expect those to be fruitful? Would he expect to find Mr. Parizeau an open, positive and constructive participant in constitutional negotiations?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, of course if we were to have such negotiations they would be with all provinces. I hope that if they are in the interests of Quebec Mr. Parizeau will accept.

[Stephen Harper, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, based on his past experience after the referendum in 1980, does the Prime Minister really think it is wise to enter into constitutional negotiations with a PQ government which has lost its own constitutional mandate and which could well find itself isolated and weak at the bargaining table?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we do not intend to get involved in long constitutional discussions, as was the case after 1980. That is not the intention of the government. If something can be done with the agreement of the provinces we will do it. Quebec will assess the proposition and will render a view.

I do not intend to put on the table a long discussion on constitutional change. A lot of changes can occur in Canada without touching the Constitution.

We are doing that all the time. To give an example, the Minister of Transport has planned over three years to reduce the size of his department from 20,000 people to 3,000 people. He is giving airports to municipalities and other things are being privatized. There are lot of things we can do without having to change the Constitution and the Minister of Transport is doing some now.

[Some hon. members]

Liberal Tories.

The Economy

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in case some members are mistaken, this is not about Liberal Tories, this is about standing up for Canada.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

My question is to the Prime Minister. My colleague from Saint John and I campaigned about change in this referendum. I know the Prime Minister also talked about change.

Given the fiscal situation of the country, I would like to know whether he would contemplate seizing this opportunity to propose to the provinces a common national plan for deficit and debt reduction so that the country could deal with the issue with one single mind and look at common objectives to balance our books and get our fiscal house in order and help all Canadians deal with what is the most pressing issue facing them today.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to offer my congratulations to the hon. member for his great contribution during the referendum.

We are political opponents and we will remain political opponents. Despite our political differences, we were both fighting to keep this country together. I was very proud to walk with him.

I would like to thank him on behalf of all Canadians, including Quebecers, for the passionate speeches he made during the referendum. It was very much appreciated. He did not try to score any political points. He just wanted to keep his country together.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

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

In terms of talking with the provinces about a program to reduce the deficit of every level of government, I have to report to the hon. member that the Minister of Finance is always in communication with other ministers of finance. That is a goal every provincial government is trying to reach at this moment. We try to do it in collaboration with each other because it is very important that we manage this problem.

Today, now that political stability has come back to the country the interest rate went down by 1.5 per cent and the Canadian dollar increased its value to 75 cents. We now have to get back on the real agenda of putting the affairs of this nation on the right track and creating jobs. The people will be better off for that.

Constitutional Reform

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

At a time when Quebec has the highest poverty rate in the country, the Liberals are making massive cuts to social programs and unemployment insurance. Given the extremely close results of the referendum, will the Prime Minister drop his devastating policies, reject the demands of the Reform Party to dismantle the federal government and keep his recent promises of constitutional reform, including recognition of the people of Quebec as a distinct society?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. We intend to go ahead with our legislative program, which is widely known, and with what I announced in my speeches last week. I intend to keep my word. How will we proceed? As I said earlier, the matter will have to be discussed with the provinces, because there are certain ways we can do it with the provinces, and there are other ways we can act only here in Parliament. So we are looking at various possibilities.

As I have always said, I recognized Quebec as a distinct society and I did so during the campaign. I supported the Charlottetown accord, whereas the Leader of the Opposition did not. I supported the Charlottetown accord, which recognized a distinct society. I know that the hon. member also supported it. I also know he would do so again, if he had another opportunity.

The House resumed consideration of Bill C-103, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Income Tax Act, as reported (with amendment) from the committee; and Motions Nos. 1 and 2.

Excise Tax Act

[David Walker, Liberal, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Just before the break for question period the member for York-Simcoe was in the middle of her speech, but unfortunately because of other parliamentary business she will not be able to finish her speech. Therefore I think the House is ready for the question on the first motion.

[The Speaker]

Is the House ready for the question?

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Speaker]

The question is on Motion No. 1. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.