House of Commons Hansard #155 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was provinces.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member places such faith in Mr. Toole's affidavit, then he ought to give equal and overall weight to paragraphs 21 and 22 which show that the hon. member's premise is wrong.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, although at the time certain commentators were labelling him a saboteur, yesterday the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs was boasting that he had been the main architect of the regulations on French and English school boards and on manpower.
Will the minister acknowledge that, in order to settle the manpower question, which the Prime Minister at one point labelled a whim of Quebec, it took a sovereignist delegation to Ottawa and a sovereignist government in Quebec, and his role was merely that of a messenger of the federal government?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I did not understand whether the question was on the manpower agreement or the school boards. However, I can assure the House that in both cases the Government of Canada had to do the bulk of the work. We did so despite the fact that there was a pro-independence government in Quebec which was trying to prove that federalism did not work.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, if the minister is so efficient and so extraordinary, how can he explain that, in the important matter of social union, which was supposed to be his responsibility, the Prime Minister chose to foist it off onto the Minister of Justice?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of negotiating something very important, the enhancement of federation as it affects social programs for the people. We have one of the best social unions in the world and we are going to improve it still further. That improvement will be a lot easier when we have a government in Quebec which wants a stronger Quebec within a united Canada.
Randy White Reform Langley—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, about seven hours ago I was in the same room in this city as the solicitor general. About three hours ago the government whisked the solicitor general out of town on an airplane to avoid the responsibility he has in the House to answer.
Is the solicitor general now at home writing a resignation, or will the government demand his resignation?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, in the same spirit as the hon. member's question, where is the leader of the Reform Party? Is he out in the lobby writing his resignation?
Randy White Reform Langley—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, that response is absolutely disgraceful.
For fellow colleagues and people watching, this is an issue about integrity which the solicitor general is lacking. I want to say to members of the House that this issue of integrity affects everybody.
I would like to know when the government, in the face of—
Solicitor General Of CanadaOral Question Period
The Speaker
I did not hear the question. If the Deputy Prime Minister wishes to address it, I will let him do it.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I will answer the question and in reply I will ask the hon. member a question.
Why are both front rows of the front bench of his party completely vacant? Where are all the people? Where—
Solicitor General Of CanadaOral Question Period
The Speaker
It is a long time tradition of our House that we do not mention whether a member or members are here. I will ask the Deputy Prime Minister to withdraw the last statement.
Solicitor General Of CanadaOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wonder if I could ask the Deputy Prime Minister just to withdraw.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister surprised everyone when he announced yesterday that no icebreaking charges would apply to the Quebec City-Lévis ferry service, which suggests that charges will apply to all other ferry services in Quebec, starting December 21.
My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Does the minister realize that ferries, which provide an essential public service, must all be completely exempted, as are the Newfoundland ferries?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of what the hon. member is talking about. I am also well aware of the fact that the federal government is spending $36 million a year on bridges crossing the St. Lawrence River in the Province of Quebec.
This is the single largest amount we spend in any Canadian province in this respect.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister also told us that discussions were under way concerning the status of ferry service not covered by constitutional guarantees.
Could the minister tell this House with whom he is having these discussions?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Of course, Mr. Speaker. At present, we are reviewing the comments received to date, at the request of industry stakeholders. A revised scale of fees will be distributed for public consideration. However, a final decision has yet to be made.
Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is simply and totally unbelievable that the government continues to defend the solicitor general.
Yesterday Fred Toole's sworn statement proved that yes indeed the solicitor general said that a Mountie named Hughie would take the fall. We are still missing the answer to the very most important question. Who is Staff Sergeant Stewart going to take the fall for? Is it the Prime Minister?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
The hon. member is doing exactly what he is accusing the solicitor general of doing and that is trying to prejudge the matter. Why does he not let the commission do its work?
Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, on October 5 when the solicitor general gave his now infamous stun scrum he said he could not remember anything about his conversation just a few days prior. He could not remember what he talked about, who he was sitting with, even if it was a man or a woman.
In yesterday's affidavit he swore on the Bible that he knows he did not say anything wrong even though he does not know what he said. Who over there is going to take responsibility and fire this clown?
Apec InquiryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I ask the hon. member to withdraw that last word.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is doing exactly what he has been quite wrongly accusing the solicitor general of doing.
He is not only prejudging the matter. Now he wants to conduct the hearings, including a discussion of affidavits, right here in the House. This is not the place for that. That should be done before the commission. Why does he not let the commission do its work?