Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party I would like to extend my condolences to the Jordanian royal family and to the people of Jordan on the loss of King Hussein.
As world leaders today mourn the loss of this great man, the question arises: Where is the Prime Minister of Canada? U.S. President Bill Clinton and three former U.S. presidents have managed to make the time to go to King Hussein's funeral. The leaders of all G-8 countries, except Canada, are in Jordan. Even the Russian Prime Minister with his failing health, Boris Yeltsin, is defying his doctors and has left the hospital to attend the funeral of King Hussein. But our Prime Minister is skiing in British Columbia. According to the PM's office he just would not be able to get to Jordan in time for the funeral despite 24 hours' notice and a government jet at his disposal.
This is a diplomatic snub. It is a slap in the face to Jordan, an international news story and an embarrassment to Canada. It is an affront to our historical leadership in the Middle East. While we should be mourning the loss of Jordan's King Hussein—