House of Commons Hansard #38 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was foundation.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the member referred to Fiona Weller. This lady is an officer of the Vancouver police department, not of the RCMP.
Deborah Grey Canadian Alliance Edmonton North, AB
For goodness' sake, Mr. Speaker. Sergeant Weller just did an interview moments ago on CFRA. When she was asked “Are there any cross burnings in Prince George”, she said “No”. “In Kamloops?” “No reports”.
She was then asked “Are people upset in B.C.?” She said “They are upset they are being tainted with the idea of cross burning. The whole province is getting concerned”.
Then the question was “Does she have to address this with some finality”, the minister, and Sergeant Weller just said moments ago “We will be watching”.
When will the Prime Minister fire this minister, or is it just acceptable government policy?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, she got up in the House and said that she made a mistake and she apologized. There was a member of parliament on the other side who did the same thing.
When this member of parliament campaigned for seven years against pensions and claimed that she would never take a cent, that was all right, but right after the election, after telling everybody in Edmonton that she would never accept a pension, right after the votes were counted, she turned around and took the money.
David Pratt Liberal Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, in the absence of any questions from the opposition that have any relevance whatsoever to the lives of Canadians, I would like to ask the Minister of Industry for his reaction to the recently announced and very significant job cuts at Nortel.
EmploymentOral Question Period
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
EmploymentOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. There appears to be some disorder. Perhaps members would like to hear the hon. Minister of Industry who has the floor.
Brian Tobin Liberal Bonavista—Trinity—Conception, NL
Mr. Speaker, members opposite may not be interested in the fact that Canadians, those who work in the IT sector, may be affected by the layoffs announced by Nortel, but members on this side of the House are concerned about Canadians, their jobs and the Canadian economy.
I want to say to the member who asked the question that we do not know yet the impact of those job layoffs on workers here, in particular in the Ottawa area. We are monitoring the story closely. We are talking with Nortel and we are concerned that Rand D jobs be maintained in this country even as downsizing occurs.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Right Hon. Prime Minister. On Friday I asked that the Prime Minister table all the relevant documents.
The Prime Minister has gone some way toward meeting that request and has tabled some of the relevant documents, but there is still need for more light to be shed on the period between 1993 and 1999 where, by virtue of the very fact the Prime Minister lost money, we see the value of the shares was changing during that period of time.
In the interest of what the Prime Minister himself has said, that is to say letting parliament do its job, will he now initiate an inquiry?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I have replied to that. The RCMP and the ethics counsellor looked into that and reported. I gave all the documents. I have tabled everything. I said and I repeat, I never had any conflict of interest. I have not been the owner of these shares since November 1, 1993. I have no connection at all with the auberge since February 1993.
The only thing I have done is to help a business in my riding to create 20 jobs. It is part of the program that is supported by the provincial government, by the local authorities, by les caisses populaires, and by le Fonds de solidarité.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker my supplementary question is for the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa. Earlier today two Liberal MPs, including the vice-chair of the foreign affairs committee, called for the resignation of the minister because he courageously condemned the operations of Talisman in Sudan in fuelling that bloody civil war. The member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca was earlier singing the praises of Talisman.
Does the minister stand by his call to Canadians to sell their shares in Talisman? Does he stand by his call for a tougher sanctions law? How does he respond to this call by his own colleagues for his resignation?
David Kilgour LiberalSecretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada does not call for the divestiture of shares in any company including Talisman.
The Government of Canada is very concerned about the incalculable suffering that is going on among the people of southern Sudan. We call on all companies involved in Sudan to make sure they do everything they can to bring that tragedy to an end.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, the November 1993 document is not the official and complete bill of sale. Where is the registration number? Where are the copies of the corporate resolutions authorizing the sale of shares? Where is the evidence confirming that the stock certificates were endorsed?
There are documents missing. Could the Prime Minister ask his friend, Mr. Prince, to release all the documents, or are we to think that when he took the oath of office, a few days after the November 1993 election, the Prime Minister was still an owner of the golf club?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am not here to teach law. The hon. member is asking for ownership registration. It has nothing to do with a transaction involving shares. Such a transaction can be completed orally, provided there are witnesses. No documents are necessary. When I studied law, many years ago, I learned that no documents are necessary for such a transaction, provided there are witnesses.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, the mystery over the Auberge Grand-Mère continues to grow with more documents and more questions. It is beginning to resemble a cheap episode of the X Files , and the truth is still out there.
There is a six year gap between the original dodgy deal in 1993 and the final sale in 1999. This is an after the fact attempt to corroborate the Prime Minister's denial of conflict of interest. Will the Prime Minister voluntarily agree to table all the documents and account for the relevant six year gap?
Prime MinisterOral Question Period
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote the member who just asked the question. Two days ago he said:
—the Prime Minister could have put this matter to rest a long time ago by providing definitively that he did not stand to gain himself by his actions by tabling a document that would lay out the details of a sales agreement he had with an individual named Jonas Prince.
That is exactly what the Prime Minister did yesterday.
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, section 319 of the Criminal Code of Canada states that anyone who communicates statements in a public place inciting hatred against any identifiable group where it is likely to breach the peace is guilty, including cabinet ministers.
Since it appears that the junior multiculturalism minister has broken this law by inciting hatred against the people of Prince George and Kamloops, how can the Prime Minister continue to insist that she not step down?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, she got up in the House. She said “I made a mistake and I apologize”.
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
The minister has devoted many years working very hard to build understanding among Canadians.
Sheila Copps Liberal Hamilton East, ON
Exactly. If you know anything about Christians, you should change your tone.
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
Of course she said she made a mistake and she apologized. We have accepted the apology.
When a member of parliament on the other side made a much worse offence, he rose and said “I am sorry, I would like to make an apology”. We are people who respect the tradition of the House and we have accepted his apology, but I know that type of—
Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is not holding his minister accountable under the hate laws. His government vows to combat exactly these kinds of slurs. That is what the hate laws are for.
The only apology acceptable is for the minister to resign. Will she resign today?