Debates of Nov. 2nd, 1995

Parti Quebecois Leader

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Saint-Denis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Parti Quebecois has announced that he will be leaving the political arena. This announcement comes on the heels of one of the most incredible statements of intolerance ever made by the leader of a political party in the history of Quebec.

Some separatist strategists are already busy trying to convince us that, with their leader gone, any trace of racism or xenophobia that may have existed in the ranks of Quebec separatists will now disappear. Let us not forget that the PQ leader was not the only one to make this kind of racist comments.

Many of his associates have also indulged in this kind of discriminatory remarks, but have not yet resigned. What are they waiting for?

Only by respecting the verdict of the majority and finally getting down to the real problems will the separatists convince the people of Quebec that they really represent all of them.

Quebec Referendum

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, remarks by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister reveal their contempt for the principles of fairness and unity.

While the Reform Party leader advanced a vision of Canada with Quebec, it was the Prime Minister who proved to be the most destructive force in the "neverendum" referendum.

Last night the Prime Minister compared the slim no vote victory to a hockey game where one team wins by a goal. The coach should be fired. This team went into the third period with a nine-point lead and almost blew it.

The Deputy Prime Minister praised the Liberal do nothing campaign in Quebec and the efforts of their Mulroney soul mate from Sherbrooke. She also attacked her opponents as being vultures. In fact the only vultures that will be seen will be those across the way, hovering over the discredited leader of the Liberal Party as they look to replace him.

Still, this type of Liberal Party tactic does not surprise Canadians because, as they know, if it looks like a rat, if it walks like a rat and if it squeals like a rat, it is a member of the Liberal rat pack.

Prime Minister Of Canada

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last night in Toronto, the Prime Minister of Canada delivered an important speech in front of a large audience of business people.

Not only did he highlight our government's main achievements and reiterate our commitment to our red book promises, but he also raised the issue of national unity. In his first major speech outside Quebec since the referendum, he urged all Canadians to join forces in bringing about the changes that are so anxiously awaited from coast to coast.

The message delivered by our Prime Minister is one of stability, reconciliation and optimism. I am pleased to associate myself with what my leader said and I can assure the people of Canada that we are fully committed to making this country a symbol of unity and of prosperity.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over the last few days, the Prime Minister once again showed his true colours. The architect of the unilateral patriation of the constitution in 1982 has once again decided to put Quebec in its place. Indeed, after stating that he would not abide by Quebecers' decision if they voted yes, the Prime Minister is now saying that he will muzzle them by keeping them from holding another referendum.

The Prime Minister said that he would not hesitate to use every power available to keep Quebecers from exercising that legitimate right again. Nothing has changed. The uncompromising and centralizing federalism of Pierre Elliot Trudeau is still very much alive in the Prime Minister's mind.

As far as he is concerned, Quebec is a province like any other, and it must stay that way. Just forty-eight hours after Monday's referendum, Canada is in a catch 22 situation since federalism remains impervious to any real change, while Quebecers are not interested in the status quo.

National Unity

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are rare occasions in the history of a nation when fate opens up a window of opportunity that can change the course of a country forever. Such an opportunity now exists.

The referendum process and subsequent results show Quebec to be a province that is deeply divided and have highlighted the intense desire for all provinces to deal with the problems that affect us all.

We must seize the opportunity now to move ahead to decentralize federal powers. The people must also be allowed to choose their representatives in the Senate and in the Supreme Court. However, let there be no mistake. These changes must occur for all provinces because when preferential treatment is afforded to one province over another it only creates divisions and resentment.

We must move ahead. The time now is for leadership. We must not look back in history and use past history to justify breaking the country apart. We must move ahead and heal the wounds that exist in the country today to bring all Canadians together in a strong and united Canada forever.

Tribute To Quebec Premier

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Mr. Jacques Parizeau who, two days ago, resigned and announced his intention to retire from political life.

Notwithstanding our conflicting views on Quebec's future, the fact is that Mr. Parizeau has played an extremely important role in the building of a modern province.

He was an economic advisor to several premiers. He helped set up the Quebec deposit and investment fund. He provided advice to the government of Mr. Lesage on the government's takeover of the hydro sector. He was a key player in the quiet revolution.

Mr. Parizeau was also a man of conviction who worked hard to achieve his objective. I want to express my deep respect toMr. Parizeau and to his wife, Lisette Lapointe, as they begin another stage of their lives.

The Referendum

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in a speech he made last night in Toronto, the Prime Minister made a new contribution to Canadian democracy. First, he confided it was frustrating to see Quebecers vote in a referendum on their sovereignty and thus undermine Canada's political stability. In concluding his speech, he made it clear that he would intervene to prevent any more votes of this kind.

My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. Would she oblige by telling us what the federal government intends to do to prevent democracy in Quebec from voting in accordance with its own laws?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the difference between the Prime Minister and the Premier of the next party the Leader of the Opposition will soon be leading is that the Prime Minister of Canada says he recognizes the fact that all Quebecers have the same right to vote.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Except that he wants to take that right away from them, Mr. Speaker.

The same rights, meaning that no one will be able to vote.

Mr. Speaker, living in a democracy is clearly getting to the Prime Minister.

Are we to understand that from now on, instead of rejecting the results of the referendum, as he was about to do if the yes side had won, the leader of the federal government will prevent any future referendums? By even considering such extreme positions, is this gentleman not demonstrating the depth of his despair and his utter inability to overcome his inertia?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the difference between the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister of Canada is that the Prime Minister accepted the results of the referendum.

We heard the Leader of the Opposition say on the night of the referendum that he accepted the people's decision. I hope that when he arrives in Quebec City very shortly, he will listen to his own ministers, including Serge Ménard who said Wednesday, and I quote: "It seems sensible to have only one referendum. This effort to reach a consensus, which is the whole point of a referendum, means we must consult before imposing. We will have to wait until the next election when we will tell them what our plans are. We must deal with the problems of Quebecers, get our public finances back into shape and govern".

Mr. Speaker, we also heard comments from the Minister of Justice in Mr. Bouchard's new government, who said, and I quote: "You do not have a referendum because you lost the first one and you think you will have a better result three weeks later". That shows respect for the democratic system.

[The Speaker]

Again, my dear colleagues, I would ask you to refer to each other by the names of your ridings.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, all sovereignist Quebecers who voted Yes, 49.4 per cent, are still paying taxes to Ottawa and observing federal laws because they acknowledge the fact that democracy in Quebec has spoken. I said it before and I say it again: We are democrats first and foremost, and the first duty of democrats and citizens is to respect a democratic vote like the one held Monday in Quebec.

That being said, we should also realize that the people are masters of their right to vote and that if some day the people of Quebec decide to have another referendum, they can do that. We just had a reference to what was said by the Minister of Justice, who was merely referring to the Quebec law that provides that, in order to have another referendum, there must first be an election. And eventually we will have an election in Quebec, since we are a democracy and elections are part of being a democracy.

People will always be able to vote in Quebec. That does not seem to be the case in Canada.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister admit that the federal government is now resorting to such undemocratic measures as banning a vote, simply because it is afraid that a future referendum will make Quebec a sovereign country?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the difference, and I say this again because it is very important that it be remembered, is that on the evening of the referendum, Mr. Parizeau himself said that they lost because of the ethnic vote and people with money.

Three weeks before, the leader opposite made an appeal to the white race and never apologized. The difference between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition is that the Prime Minister respects the word and the vote of all Quebecers. All Quebecers voted in the referendum, and the majority voted no. We respect the outcome. And we assumed he would do the same.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister cannot get off like that. When we are talking to her about respect for democracy-

[An hon. member]

What respect?

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

-quoting words from all over the place. This is not the question at issue.

This is not the issue, Mr. Speaker. The issue is respecting democracy. In his speech in Toronto, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the rest of Canada had been-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

They should listen, Mr. Speaker, this would show them what their Prime Minister thinks. It is not always nice.

In his speech in Toronto, the Prime Minister said that the rest of Canada had been extremely generous in letting Quebec hold not one, but two, referendums.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Such generosity.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

What generosity, Mr. Speaker.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Thank you very much.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you so much.

[An hon. member]

Quebec, we love you.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

In addition to our warmest thanks to the Prime Minister.

[An hon. member]

Thank you so much.