Debates of Dec. 3rd, 1999

Tempsdem Dance Company

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the considerable accomplishments of the Acadian dance company Tempsdem, which has developed a worldwide reputation in recent years.

As ambassadors of Acadian culture, they touch us deeply with their imaginative choreography and remarkable talent. In 1998 they showcased Acadian culture in Ottawa on Canada Day. Now they are headed to Nice for its Carnaval, where they will proudly represent Canada and Acadie.

The high calibre of their performances reflects the long hours of practice that lie behind them. I congratulate the members of the dance company, their parents and the organizers. You are the pride of the Acadian peninsula.

World Hockey Challenge

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to inform the House that Pictou county, in another sporting triumph, will be welcoming the world to our community in January 2001 when it hosts the under 17 World Hockey Challenge.

This tournament brings together the best 16 year old hockey players in the world, many of whom will go on to star in the NHL. Joe Sakic, Pierre Turgeon, Mike Recci and Wade Redden, to name a few, are all former participants of the tournament.

The talents of these young men will be showcased at the New Glasgow stadium, which in 1998 hosted the Air Canada Cup and this summer raised to the roof the sweater of Stanley Cup champion John Sim.

They will be participating in the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge and will be surfacing again representing their country at the world junior championships and, quite possibly, the Olympic Games.

My congratulations are extended to those who have worked so diligently to bring this winning bid in the first ever world hockey championship to be hosted by the province of Nova Scotia. As any Nova Scotian will tell us, this province is no stranger to hosting these types of tournaments.

On behalf of the PC Party, I extend our support and encouragement to all participating teams.

National Unity

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the official opposition presented a clear unity plan for everybody to see. On one side we have issues that will improve the federation and on the other side clear rules on the issue of secession.

Why, after the government has been in power for six year, is there not more than one clear unity plan on the table for Canada?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have a clear unity plan. Its good results are shown by the fact that the unemployment rate is lower than at any time in the past 20 years.

Our plan is based on balanced budgets, low interest rates, low inflation, lower taxes, strategic investments and a strong social safety net.

We have a plan. It is working.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our unity plan is focused on fixing the way the federation works, working on the democratic processes, working on the way this parliament works and fixing things like the supreme court.

Why, after the government has been in power for six years, is there only one clear plan A on unity in this country?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have a clear plan A. It is exemplified by the evidence of the lowest unemployment rate in 20 years, and especially lower unemployment in Quebec.

The Reform Party is whining, but Liberals are working in the interests of Quebecers and all Canadians and we will keep doing that to maintain the unity of our wonderful country.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our unemployment rate is down in spite of the policies of the government.

Our plan has a strong position on the issue of secession. If in fact a province decides to leave the country there needs to be a two-pronged question, for surely if Canada's borders are divisible, so are a province's borders divisible.

Why, after six years in government, is there only one clear position on secession in this country?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I recall the clear position of the Reform Party when it had those shocking ads with the Xs across the faces of Quebecers, saying that they were not supposed to be ministers. Now Reformers have the nerve to talk about a better plan for Canada. It is to laugh. Mr. Speaker, it is to laugh.

Fundraisers

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party is the only party that has had a plan in place for five years.

On another topic, the chairman of the National Battlefields Commission spent $1,700 of taxpayers' money at Liberal Party fundraisers. Mr. Juneau claimed he was actually saving taxpayers' money because it would be cheaper for him to attend the fundraiser to talk to Liberal cabinet ministers than to fly to Ottawa.

In March the government issued a policy directive to prevent this kind of thing from happening. Why has the Liberal government broken its promise and allowed this kind of thing to happen?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the exact opposite is the reality.

The hon. member knows that on March 5 I issued a statement on behalf of the government. On March 19 we put the rules in place. The government acted right away on this issue.

I would remind the House that when the Reform Party talked about crown corporations donating to the Liberal Party in March, it had received some of those contributions itself.

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there we go. The Liberals are trying to deflect their own record once again rather than taking responsibility for their actions.

The policy directive that the minister talks about has forbidden agencies and boards from donating to political parties. How can the government possibly justify spending taxpayers' dollars on Liberal Party fundraisers?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, again the hon. member is factually incorrect. The funds were given back. The hon. member knows that the individual paid for it himself. I just hope that the Reform Party has itself reimbursed funds that it may have received from contributions it was not entitled to receive.

Referendums

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to this morning's Globe and Mail , the government's real objective is to introduce legislation that will justify in advance its refusal to negotiate, regardless of the results of any future referendum in Quebec.

Will the government confirm that its bill has but one purpose: to keep Quebec in Canada forever, regardless of the irreproachable democratic process Quebec has adopted to decide its future?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think I should quote what the Prime Minister said yesterday. He said: “Mr. Speaker, the government intends to introduce an initiative in the House of Commons, and it is the House of Commons that will reach a decision. All members will have the opportunity to speak out”.

I suggest that the hon. member wait for the Prime Minister's initiative.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that this government has already made up its mind that Quebec will never leave Canada.

I remind the House, however, of something Robert Bourassa said when he was premier: “Canada must understand very clearly that, whatever is said and done, Quebec is and always will be a distinct and free society, able to assume responsibility for its own destiny and development”.

Will the government promise that its bill will respect the rules of democracy that must prevail in any modern society?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this government introduced a bill to confirm that Quebec was a distinct society and the Bloc Quebecois voted against—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Some hon. members]

That was not a bill.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Liar.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Windsor West, ON]

Raising this issue shows a lack of credibility.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Liar. It was not even a bill.

[The Speaker]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Berthier—Montcalm used the word “liar”. I would like him to withdraw that word immediately, please.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw that word if the member gives a—

[The Speaker]

Order, please.

I simply ask that the hon. member withdraw that word, and we will leave it at that.