Mr. Speaker, my question is for the acting prime minister.
Regarding reconstruction in Iraq, yesterday the foreign affairs minister said we have not yet exactly got a request yet.
Lester Pearson did not wait for a request in the Suez. We did not wait for a request on apartheid or in dealing with famine in Ethiopia. Leadership is about taking the initiative. That used to be Canada's trademark in the world. Now we are the country that ducks.
Our historic reputation is still strong enough that we can make a real contribution on the role of the United Nations in reconstruction.
What in the world is the Government of Canada sitting back and waiting for? Why not take a Canadian initiative--