Michel Gauthier

[Democracy, November 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am serious. The federal Minister of Justice says the federal government wants or may wish to use the power of disallowance to go over the head of the Quebec National Assembly. The minister is off topic and using all kinds of excuses to try to evade the issue.

How could the federal government even consider ignoring the powers of the Quebec National Assembly by using a power that, according to the Supreme Court, has become obsolete? Are we to understand that with this government, democracy comes second to federalism?

[Democracy, November 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday on Téléjournal , the Radio-Canada news program, the Minister of Justice clearly mentioned the possibility of resurrecting a federal power that has not been used for more than half a century, the federal government's power of reservation and disallowance, to try and prevent Quebecers from voting when they see fit on their political future.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree it is inconceivable the federal government should try to use a power that has become obsolete, as the Supreme Court of Canada admitted, to prevent Quebecers from voting democratically on their political future?

[Business Of The House, November 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise, not on a point of order, but to ask the Thursday question. I would like our colleague to tell us what is on the legislative agenda.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

Are we to understand that the Prime Minister of Canada has just taken upon himself to decide the limits of democracy in Quebec?

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there are limits. The Prime Minister of Canada has just said we are lucky he allowed us to hold a referendum. We question the Deputy Prime Minister on it, on the right of Quebecers to decide their future themselves, and she answers any old thing. This is scandalous.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

Are we to understand, Mr. Speaker, that the Prime Minister of Canada is now questioning the right of Quebecers to decide their political future? That is the question.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

In addition to our warmest thanks to the Prime Minister.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

What generosity, Mr. Speaker.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

They should listen, Mr. Speaker, this would show them what their Prime Minister thinks. It is not always nice.

In his speech in Toronto, the Prime Minister said that the rest of Canada had been extremely generous in letting Quebec hold not one, but two, referendums.

[The Referendum, November 2nd, 1995]

-quoting words from all over the place. This is not the question at issue.

This is not the issue, Mr. Speaker. The issue is respecting democracy. In his speech in Toronto, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the rest of Canada had been-