House of Commons Hansard #3 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Grammy AwardsStatements By Members
The Speaker
Perhaps the hon. member could intervene on behalf of the House and ask her constituent to come to the House so that we can all meet and praise her.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, at 10:10 this morning, a Canadian Press release revealed the following:
Stéphane Dion, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, has reiterated that a cross Canada referendum is not out of the question. In a telephone press conference, Mr. Dion said no means of consultation had been ruled out. He did say that the government did not want a referendum with all the trauma it would entail.
We will remember that, on Wednesday morning, the Deputy Prime Minister completely ruled out the possibility and did not answer my question yesterday afternoon during question period.
My question is for the Prime Minister. I would like to know from the Prime Minister, because it is he who set match to kindling by raising the possibility of a cross Canada referendum in the throne speech, and because even his ministers are confused by his remarks-two of his ministers are contradicting each other-, whether he would be kind enough to clarify the issue once and for all so we can get on with other things and tell us, yes or no, whether he intends to hold a cross Canada referendum on the future of Quebec?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the minister expressed what we are all thinking, which is that we do not want another referendum. No one wants a referendum.
I hope the hon. Leader of the Opposition does not want a referendum and that he subscribes to the theory of Jacques Parizeau, who, on the night of the referendum, was going to tell Quebecers and Canadians that the result was irreversible, that democracy had spoken, that the page had to be turned and that everyone should rally behind the choice made. We are rallying behind the choice Quebecers made, we are going to stay in Canada.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, needless to say the Leader of the Opposition is rallying and does not want a cross Canada referendum, because it is up to Quebecers to decide their future.
The official opposition feels it is up to Quebecers to decide their future, does the Prime Minister share this opinion?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am of the same opinion as the Premier of Quebec, who is asking people to attend to public finances, to work to create jobs. This is what Quebecers want at the moment. This is what the speech from the throne proposed.
We proposed that we create jobs, especially for young people. We have proposed a program to improve the federation. I hope the Leader of the Opposition will take the time at least to read this part of the throne speech. It seems he read the word "referendum" in the throne speech, when it was not there.
Michel Gauthier BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, first, is the Prime Minister aware that he is the one who wrote the throne speech and not the Leader of the Opposition?
Second, all Canadian political observers, without exception, have raised the matter of the cross Canada referendum as a threat hanging over Quebec. I did not invent it, all the observers pointed that out.
Is the Prime Minister aware that his double talk and his thinly veiled threats to Quebec are today preventing us from moving on to other things, as he claims he wants? He is the one in the way.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I have just said that the throne speech focussed on the real problems of Quebecers and all Canadians, that we spoke of job creation, that we challenged business to come up with jobs now that the Minister of Finance and this government have managed to clean up public finances. Those are the real problems.
If the member is talking about the referendum threat, the matter is very clear: let him tell us that there will be no referendum in Quebec, and political stability will return, jobs will come back to Quebec and prosperity will reign anew in the city of Montreal.
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. In the throne speech, the government announces that it will withdraw from a number of areas of jurisdiction. Curiously enough, these areas-namely job training, forestry, mining, and recreation-all come under the exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces. With a few exceptions, the areas in question are the same as those listed in the Charlottetown accord.
Does the Prime Minister confirm that his new constitutional position is based on the Charlottetown accord, but with something missing?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, improving federal-provincial relations is a matter of public administration. We decided to improve the situation.
I had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the premiers, during our trip to Asia for instance, and everyone agrees that the time has come to improve the federation. This is a plan that we put
forward unilaterally. We will hold a federal-provincial conference, which I hope the premier of Quebec will attend. We will review all the possibilities and find a solution that will allow us to restore Canada's political stability, thereby promoting economic growth.
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, how can the Prime Minister believe for one moment that his timid constitutional proposals can meet Quebecers' expectations, when the Charlottetown accord-whose content the Prime Minister is obviously trying to water down in order to respond and make his proposals acceptable to the rest of Canada-was rejected by a majority of Canadians and Quebecers?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are working and will be working with the provinces to ameliorate the federation for the 21st century. We put forward, on our own initiative, some propositions that seem to have been quite well received by the premiers and the provinces.
I hope the Government of Quebec will look objectively at these propositions which are aimed at making the federation work better. In doing so, everybody will benefit from these initiatives, particularly the people of Quebec.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister said that his government has delivered, but what a delivery it has been.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, they clap now but let me tell them about the delivery that it has been; drifting targets that leave the deficit at $30 billion-no clapping now-an 8 per cent drop in disposable income-no clapping now. There is no prospect for tax relief, despair instead of hope and a near defeat in the Quebec referendum. Applause, please. None, Mr. Speaker.
How can the Prime Minister have the nerve to claim victory? No clapping now. How can he claim victory when $50 billion a year is going to pay just interest on the national debt. The average Canadian paycheque is $200 less a month than it was in 1989 and the prospect of tax relief is absolutely nowhere in sight. What kind of victory is that?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, two years ago in this House the hon. member was complaining about the level of interest rates in Canada compared to the United States. The level of interest rates between Canada and the United States today for the short term is exactly the same.
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
For every point in reduction in the interest rates, the treasury is saving $1.7 billion a year. The finances of the country have improved tremendously. That is the judgment of the market. Of course, it will never be enough for the Reform Party because it wants to get rid of medicare and the social network that protects Canadians. We have a balanced approach.
We can run the affairs of the nation and at the same time make sure that people are not going into the streets as a result of a government that does not care for them.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that he is bragging about low interest rates with the recession that we are going through. There is nothing to be gained in that reply.
Yesterday the Prime Minister said that he has broken the back of the deficit. That is not true.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, again comes the clapping and the arrogance. They have not broken the back of the deficit. They have broken the back of the Canadian taxpayers who are leading the battle in making ends meet. The best way to create real, sustainable jobs is to lower taxes. The best way to do that is to eliminate the deficit.
When will the Prime Minister and his finance minister announce a firm date for balancing the budget and give Canadians much needed tax relief?
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
Mr. Speaker, the rest of the answer has been given by the whole caucus.
Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, speaking of hands being put together, by waving the white flag with that hand, the Prime Minister is declaring that he is surrendering the war on the deficit and government overspending. He is condemning Canadians to many more years of insecurity and mediocrity.
When is the Prime Minister going to get his hands on the throat of the deficit, rather than on the taxpayers?