House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 45% of the vote.
Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs March 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs made the statement, in case he has forgotten, on March 15, 1995 in Toronto before a group of intellectuals. He said “The more it hurts, the less support there will be for sovereignty”.
Is he now going to deny that his entire speech and the government's plan B are based on his long held belief?
Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs March 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we are going to carry on wasting time. I am going to quote the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
In his role as adviser to the Prime Minister not so long ago, his theory was to make Quebec suffer. Yesterday, the day after the Liberal show on the weekend, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs went back to his old line.
Are we to understand that it is not the Prime Minister or the other ministers who set the tone in the government, but rather the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs? Whose idea it is to punish Quebec and who gave us plan B.
Option Canada March 19th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we will never know the end. How sad!
The last time the heritage minister gave that kind of answer, it was in the GST matter in which she had to resign. This is disturbing.
It is she who is misleading the House. Is she willing to make that letter public, as she just said? Will she instruct her officials to make that letter public when she leaves this House?
Option Canada March 19th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in the controversial matter of Option Canada, in which money was spent without us really knowing where it went, we can say that the Minister of Canadian Heritage is as transparent as the door of a safe.
She just said that the letter she wrote was made public. If so, why has her office refused to give us a copy? If this is true, will she ask her assistants, upon leaving this House, to give us a copy of that letter?
Points Of Order March 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, following up on the minister's action, I request the unanimous consent of the House to table the letter from the president of the organization in question, which was the object of—
Semaine Nationale De La Francophonie March 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I can say it out loud because it pains us to see the Minister of Canadian Heritage resorting to blackmail.
How can she justify “I will give you a grant if you do this against your will”? It is revolting. What does she have to say?
Semaine Nationale De La Francophonie March 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, to say to someone “I will give it to you only if you do this against your will” is blackmail and that is what the minister did with respect to the Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française.
Semaine Nationale De La Francophonie March 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we are going to set the record straight for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
In a letter dated March 5, the president of the Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française, Louis-Gabriel Bordeleau, said, and I quote “Less than a month before the event, greatly disappointed and with reluctance, we had to let the private firm of Leroux Rhéal & Associés use our trademarks until March 31 in exchange for a grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage”.
What explanation does the minister have for resorting to such blackmail?
Supply March 17th, 1998
When are people going to realize that 25% of every dollar spent here comes from Quebec. They are not shy about spending our money. However, we would prefer to manage it ourselves.
Supply March 17th, 1998
Let the rest of Canada begin by giving francophones the same room and opportunities for development that Quebec offers anglophones, and we will take notes.
The hon. member has just said “It was the Bloc member who went to Nagano at taxpayers' expense”. Are you aware that Quebeckers pay more income tax than Manitobans, than Albertans, than British Columbians? Do you realize they pay 23 per cent of Canadian income tax?