Debates of Feb. 22nd, 2000

Point Of Order

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

I can see a slight escalation. It is bad enough we are depositing one document, but if each of us stands to describe two or more where will it end? Let us leave it at one document. Does the hon. member for Charlevoix have unanimous consent of the House to deposit the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Odina Desrochers, Bloc, Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following the introduction of Bill C-20, which is now called the gag law against the Quebec people, I ask for the unanimous consent of this House to table a very recent text from the February 22 issue—today's issue—of Le Devoir . It is entitled “Clarity Bill: Ryan Criticizes The Federal Initiative”.

The article says “In attempting to have the federal parliament decide whether the question and the referendum results are clear, despite the prerogatives of the National Assembly prerogatives, the Chrétien government is going against the very principles—”

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

We get the idea. Does the hon. member for Lotbinière have unanimous consent of the House to deposit the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I also have news for the government.

In the February 22 issue of the Journal de Montréal , we read that Claude Ryan would vote against the clarity bill, and he did not mince his words. He sharply criticized the bill on the referendum conditions, becoming the first federalist known both in Quebec and on the federal level to openly express his dissent.

I could give in detail all the reasons he opposes this bill. Some say that this bill will be a black mark on democracy in Quebec.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

If there were unanimous consent of the House to deposit the document we could all save ourselves a dollar by not buying the paper. Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has introduced a bill denying Quebecers their fundamental rights, I ask the unanimous consent of the House to table a document that will enlighten it.

It is a short history of monetary unions between independent states; it deals with states where monetary union failed and others where it succeeded. There are very good examples, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Italy, the United States, Panama and Liberia. I believe this document could enlighten the House.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is there unanimous consent for the member to table the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following the introduction, by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebecers, I ask for, and will no doubt obtain, the unanimous consent of the House to table a document that will enlighten this House.

It is a document on Quebec's political and constitutional status. With your permission, I would like to read the covering letter sent by the Quebec Minister of Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, Joseph Facal.

It starts like this “This document focuses on the main events relating to the constitutional political status of Quebec. It shows the evolution of a federal system that has progressively moved away—”

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is there unanimous consent of the House to table that document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, we are in the middle of a debate on a rather unfair bill that was introduced by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

I have here a study on the social union, which could enlighten my colleagues on the government side. This is a study by Jacques Frémont.

In his study, Mr. Frémont said—and I would like to quote him; it is only one sentence—“Instead, the signatories have chosen to adopt a clause that imposes obligations as well as severe restrictions on the signatory governments”. In any debate, one must show openness and draw from all possible sources of information.

I urge my colleagues on the government side to give their unanimous consent to the tabling of this study, so that they can draw from it in their debates.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Saint-Eustache—Sainte-Thérèse, QC]

Mr. Speaker, further to the introduction of a bill by the hon. member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, I have here a copy of the speech made by Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard on Bill 99, which was introduced at the National Assembly, and on Bill C-20 concerning referendum rules.

I seek the consent of the House to table this very interesting document.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is there unanimous consent of the House to table this document?