House of Commons Hansard #223 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.

Topics

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

An hon. member

Shame.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

An hon. member

Kowtowing like Stéphane Dion.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. That is enough.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to be a French Canadian.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC

I am very proud to be the Prime Minister of this country, a country of tolerance and generosity.

The pettiness of the leader of the Bloc Quebecois is very clear; I have spent 36 years defending francophones both in and outside Quebec so that they can remain French, and continue to be proud to be part of Canada, the best country in the world.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

He sold out.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

International RelationsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. I would ask the hon. member for Bourassa and other members to lower their voices. The hon. member for Medicine Hat.

The EconomyOral Question Period

May 6th, 1999 / 2:45 p.m.

Reform

Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, first I want to inform the House that I am humiliated the Prime Minister has not arranged a meeting with the Pope for me. I am very disappointed in him.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, the low dollar has been masking the underlying weakness in the Canadian economy. My question is for the finance minister. The finance minister cannot wish this problem away. The dollar is strengthening right now. When will he cut taxes to save Canadian jobs?

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, in his own mind I thought the member for Medicine Hat was the Pope.

The conference board said that many factors affected our ability to operate efficiently. These include organizational effectiveness, the capacity of management, the skills of employees, investment market, firm size and the policy framework set out by governments. What the conference board has done is to confirm exactly the policy of the government.

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, I invite the minister to kiss the Pope's ring.

If the government does not want to believe the conference board, maybe it will believe the KPMG study that the government trumpeted just a month ago. In that study the government was arguing, by virtue of that study, that as the dollar strengthened more Canadians would lose their jobs. We would lose our competitive advantage.

Why will he not cut taxes so that Canadian business does not have to compete with one arm tied behind its back?

The EconomyOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the full monty that the fact is, as the hon. member knows, that we have cut taxes. It has been spelled out very clearly here with $16.5 billion over the next 36 months. We began cutting taxes faster than any other government after the elimination of the deficit.

The country is on the right track and we will continue to do that. At the same time we will invest in education. We will invest in health care. We will invest in future generations of the country.

KosovoOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC

Mr. Speaker, we have learned today that the ministers of foreign affairs of the G-8 countries meeting in Bonn have reached an agreement on the Kosovo question, an agreement described by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs a little earlier today as still having a few sticking points.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Is not one of the major sticking points the nature and scope of the participation of the NATO member countries and of the force deployed in Kosovo, but also and above all—-

KosovoOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

The Right Hon. Prime Minister.

KosovoOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the ministers of the G-8 countries have made considerable progress. In my opinion, having an agreement that includes the Russians is an extremely positive thing. There are details on the nature of the operation and on how it could be organized.

It is, however, obvious that there must be NATO troops over there, because there is not just the Serbian side. There is also the matter of disarming the Kosovars who are involved in violence. That is why the belligerents need to be kept completely separated in order to allow the people of Kosovo to return to their homes in safety.

Human ResourcesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Sarmite Bulte Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

As our elderly population increases and health care moves from the hospital to the home, could the minister tell the House if Canada has given any kind of consideration to providing some form of compassionate or eternity leave which would allow employees to take care of terminally ill relatives without fear of losing their jobs?

Human ResourcesOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for asking this very important question, one that is important to those Canadians who find themselves in such trying circumstances.

There are two main questions to examine around this issue. Is it about protecting peoples' jobs while they are on leave or is it about providing temporary income support? Is compassionate leave the best way to help? I have asked my officials to look into the matter.

Violent OffendersOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a question about protecting public safety. There is more bungling by the solicitor general. Two convicted serious criminals walked away from Elbow Lake Camp in my riding two weeks ago. The only reason we know about it is that they are now prime suspects in a double murder case.

If public safety is the government's number one priority, why does it take a double murder before my constituents are even informed about this walkaway?

Violent OffendersOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Brossard—La Prairie Québec

Liberal

Jacques Saada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, the tone of the question suggests rumours or perceptions that are totally inaccurate.

This is a case of considerable concern. Correctional Services Canada has carried out an investigation. The RCMP is carrying out an investigation. They are working together in order to pick these people up, and until such time, I believe that the hon. member across the way should comply with the principle that a matter under investigation is not to be commented on in the House.

Violent OffendersOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is not rumour that two convicted criminals walked away from a camp in my riding. That is a fact. It is not rumour that they are now the prime suspects in a double murder.

Why is it that the government says that safety is its number one priority when people only find out about these things when those individuals commit a double murder?

Violent OffendersOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Brossard—La Prairie Québec

Liberal

Jacques Saada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada claims that safety is the number one concern because it is.

Outside of that, the matter is under investigation. I am not in a position to comment any further.