Michel Gauthier

[National Unity, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this is the limit. The minister tells us there is in fact a rule that if you do not defend Canadian unity, you may not get your grant. Maybe you will, but it is not a sure thing. It is up to the government.

How can the minister responsible for Francophonie, who is attached to Foreign Affairs, and I am not sure in what capacity he is answering my question, how can he be so matter of fact about a program that is trying to control all Canadian artists and Quebec artists as well who are more specifically on the receiving end?

[National Unity, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we thought we had seen everything with this government, but it seems more is yet to come.

Apparently, from now on, Canadian artists and creators will be able to obtain financial assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs for tours abroad only if they promote Canadian unity. The federal government has decided to impose its political views on the creative process. This is absolutely incredible.

My question is directed to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. How can the minister, who is responsible for culture on behalf of the Canadian government, allow this government to set political criteria for the creative of work of Canadian and Quebec artists?

[Goods And Services Tax, February 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, what is unfortunate about the calculation of this compensation is that it only came to everyone's attention after Quebec demanded the same treatment as the maritimes. Then, the minister came up with might be called the McKenna formula.

But in refusing to grant Quebec fair treatment, despite the repeated demands of the provincial finance minister, is the federal finance minister not forcing Quebecers to foot the bill for Frank McKenna's poaching expedition, when he tried to woo Quebec businesses with the more advantageous tax situation in New Brunswick? Is the finance minister not forcing Quebecers to foot this bill?

[Goods And Services Tax, February 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance of Canada is considered a reliable authority on public finances, and he should hang on to his reputation.

Will the Minister of Finance of Canada admit that the losses incurred by the maritimes through harmonization with the GST are the result of fiscal decisions that, in the past, were made by those who set fiscal policy for these provinces, making it possible now, for example, for New Brunswick to woo Quebec businesses by offering much lower payroll taxes than in Quebec?

Will the Minister of Finance not admit that, in fact, the reason sales taxes are as high as they are in these provinces is because different fiscal decisions were made?

[Goods And Services Tax, February 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's finance minister is asking the federal finance minister for $1.9 billion in compensation for having harmonized that province's sales tax with the federal GST, so that Quebec will be given the same treatment as the maritime provinces, which will be receiving almost $1 billion in compensation for having agreed to harmonization.

Quebec is backed in its demands by Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, which also find it unfair that this deal was only offered to the maritimes.

On the eve of his budget, does the federal finance minister intend to do anything about this unfair treatment of Quebec?

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am coming to my question, because whether it is youth programs, the right of veto or distinct society, it all boils down to a big zero for Quebec.

How can the Prime Minister, how can the government, hold up these examples of how well Canadian federalism works and still keep a straight face?

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Yes, Mr. Speaker. They are so blind they applaud. Let us look at the results. But let us look at the facts. With regard to manpower, nothing has been settled with Quebec. As for the infrastructure-

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Even the minister of defence.

On a more serious and much sadder note, the Prime Minister, in his interminable speech, gave as examples of how well the Canadian federal system works the manpower training agreement, the infrastructure, the youth programs, the right of veto and distinct society-

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, some members across the way think they will miss me. Let them come to Roberval and defeat me, if they can. They can run any candidate-

[Canadian Government, February 13th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been listening to this line for three and a half years. The government members sound like broken records.

The Prime Minister of Canada-