Mr. Speaker, at that time the member for Lethbridge was a member of the cabinet in Alberta, which accepted a veto for Quebec. Mr. Strom was the premier and the member for Lethbridge was a minister at that time.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Preston Manning Reform Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, rather than comment on the non-answer, let me go on to the most unbelievable aspect of the federal strategy, this makeshift strategy for unity.

The government seems to be seriously considering giving a constitutional veto to the Government of Quebec, a separatist government committed to breaking up the country. Perhaps the Prime Minister intends this as a parting gift to the Leader of the Opposition if he goes to Quebec City.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

I would beg hon. members not to impute motives one way or another. I would ask the hon. member to please put his question.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Preston Manning Reform Calgary Southwest, AB

Let me put the question and let the Prime Minister listen, because it is really simple.

Is the Prime Minister really serious in saying that he is willing to give the separatist Government of Quebec a veto over the Constitution of Canada?

National UnityOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the hon. leader of the third party should take the time to read my speech. I said it would be a veto for the people of Quebec.

Constitutional ChangesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, less than 48 hours after the Quebec referendum, there is no longer any agreement in English Canada on the nature of the changes that everybody was willing to offer Quebec a few days

before the referendum vote. The promises for change and the outpouring of love appear today less and less sincere and credible.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Where are those thousands of people who last week were claiming they loved Quebec?

Constitutional ChangesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, thousands went to Montreal and, last Sunday, tens of thousands of citizens met in cities all over Canada to tell all Quebecers: "We want you to remain Canadian citizens". This happened in every provincial capital, in cities and villages all over the country. But, of course, the Bloc Quebecois is only interested in separating.

It is not interested in meeting the needs of the people, but rather in having bourgeois ambassadors at the UN, in Paris and elsewhere, whereas people want Quebec citizens to have jobs and economic stability.

Constitutional ChangesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Constitutional ChangesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, are we to understand, less than 24 hours after the referendum, in the midst of all the contrary statements by premiers in English Canada, that all the promises for change and declarations of love were nothing short of hypocritical?

Constitutional ChangesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I would like the Bloc members who agree with the statement made by Jacques Parizeau on referendum night to rise in this House.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB

Mr. Speaker, one sure thing that came out of this referendum is that Canadians from every province are demanding change. They want more of a say in the decision making process that will determine the future of their country. They have given up and they are sick to death of the politicians and their deal making, trying to resurrect Meech Lake and Charlottetown.

Will the Prime Minister guarantee Canadians that they will be involved in any decision that affects the future of their country?

National UnityOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, they are always involved. They have members of Parliament who are here in this Parliament all the time who represent their constituents very well.

If the hon. member does not think she is able to represent the interests of her constituents, that is her own judgment. But I know that the members of Parliament who have been elected generally feel pretty good when they get up that they have a mandate to speak for the people of their riding. I believe that is the way democracy works. If our judgment is bad, there will be an election.

When I campaign during the next election in the ridings of the Reform Party, the people will remember what the Reform Party members did in the last week of October 1995.

National UnityOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the Prime Minister that if he comes to my riding he will know that they and I voted no on the Charlottetown accord. It was dead then and it is dead now. No distinct society status ever more.

All Canadians must be involved if we hope to avoid defeat in another Quebec referendum. It is an idea that can work. It is an idea that has support from the provincial premiers, such as Newfoundland's Clyde Wells.

Is the Prime Minister willing to hold citizens assemblies across this country, or is he determined to resurrect Meech Lake and Charlottetown one more time?

National UnityOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of doing any of the three things the member mentioned.

International TradeOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for International Trade.

The Canadian government is now negotiating a free trade agreement with the Israeli government. Current negotiations are expected to lead to an agreement that would eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries as of January 1.

Could the minister give us a progress report on current negotiations and indicate what steps he intends to take to, for instance, give give Quebec bathing suit and lingerie manufacturers a chance to prepare for the advent of the Israelis on the Canadian market?

International TradeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Etobicoke North Ontario

Liberal

Roy MacLaren LiberalMinister for International Trade

Mr. Speaker, the discussions with Israel are progressing. They were undertaken some six or eight months ago. They are still at a stage where various details are being considered, including manufacturing, garment manufacturing for example. There are some aspects of the agricultural trade between us that need clarification.

I cannot give the member any definitive report other than to say the negotiations are proceeding.

International TradeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, the minister ought to know that the Israelis enjoy privileged access to the European textile market, unlike Quebec manufacturers.

Since manufacturers in Quebec are concerned about any concessions the federal government might make, does the minister or does he not intend to discuss the matter with the Government of Quebec as requested by the Deputy Premier of Quebec on October 23?

International TradeOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Etobicoke North Ontario

Liberal

Roy MacLaren LiberalMinister for International Trade

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will see.

Canada PostOral Question Period

November 1st, 1995 / 2:55 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for Canada Post.

Canada Post is about to enter into a $300 million sale and lease back for all of its outside furniture. The government's partner in this deal is a consortium headed by SNC Lavalin, a name well known as friends of the government, which in fact contributed $73,000 to the Liberal election campaign in 1993.

Will the minister responsible for Canada Post make available a cost benefit analysis of this lease back deal? And will the minister make public the tendering process that is used to put this deal together?

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Cochrane—Superior Ontario

Liberal

Réginald Bélair LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, given the absence of the minister of public works who is also responsible for Canada Post, I will take this question under advisement and a written answer will be given.

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, this is not a nickel and dime deal. I am surprised the minister's representative is not aware of this.

My supplemental is directed to the minister responsible for Canada Post. Georges Clermont, the CEO of Canada Post, is a well-known name to this House as a result of his involvement with the developer José Perez. Apparently a major figure in the consortium that is putting this deal together as the partner of the government is in fact related to Mr. Clermont through a marriage arrangement. Can the minister confirm if in fact the CEO of Canada Post is related through marriage to the head of this consortium? Does he feel it might-

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

I am not sure that relates to the administrative responsibility of the minister.

Canada PostOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.