House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 45% of the vote.
Bosnia June 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I think we would agree that all Canadians are eager to find out what sort of commitment the government will end up making in this difficult matter.
By continuing to fight in Bosnia, the Bosnian Serbs and the Muslims have clearly rejected the formal warning of the G-7 last night. What new initiative does Canada plan to propose to its G-7 partners and to the Russian President, who are meeting in Halifax today, in order to resolve the continuing impasse in Bosnia?
Bosnia June 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, with the UN Security Council ratifying the establishment of a rapid reaction force of 12,500 this morning, could the Minister of National Defence now tell us once and for all whether Canada intends to participate in this force?
Bosnia June 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government says it is concerned about the situation of the peacekeepers held hostage in Bosnia and about the confrontations between the Serbs and the Muslims. Canada's position remains unclear on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, particularly with regard to participation in the rapid reaction force.
Would the Minister of National Defence bring us up to date on the situation of the 12 Canadians held hostage in Bosnia and the 800 peacekeepers confined to their camp without any possibility of leaving, it appears, as fighting intensifies on the outskirts of Visoko?
Bosnia June 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, since the Prime Minister is now at the G-7 summit, together with some very important players in this unfortunate series of events, could the Minister of National Defence tell us whether today, the Prime Minister intended to make it clear to the G-7 heads of state that quick action is urgently needed to save our troops, to save Canadian soldiers who are now in the worst possible situation in that part of the world?
Bosnia June 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, during a previous question period, the Minister of National Defence said they were in a very delicate situation.
I wish the Minister of National Defence would explain what he meant by this very delicate situation and why these peacekeepers still have not been released? Could he be a little more specific?
Bosnia June 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Group of Seven summit opened this morning in Halifax, while 12 Canadian peacekeepers and observers are still being held hostage by the Serb forces. They are literally being used as a shield, as Bosnian government troops launch an offensive on the outskirts of Sarajevo to break the Serb siege of the Bosnian capital.
Could the Minister of National Defence tell us what specific steps have been taken to provide a safer environment for some 850 Canadian peacekeepers deployed in Visoko who are now caught between the two sides in a confrontation between Bosnian government troops and Serb troops north of Sarajevo?
Electoral Boundaries Readjustmentact, 1995 June 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order which concerns the procedure in this House. When a whip asks for a division to be deferred-and I looked up a number of precedents-the Chair always defers the division at the request of the whip who rises in the House, when there is just one.
Perhaps you could tell us why you are now asking the whips to consult with each other, since there is only one valid request before the Chair and, in our opinion, the Chair must consider that request?
Electoral Boundaries Readjustmentact, 1995 June 15th, 1995
Madam Speaker, our Standing Orders are very clear on this issue, and I am going to take the liberty of reading you an excerpt to refresh everyone's memory.
Our Standing Orders very clearly state that the Chief Government Whip or the Chief Opposition Whip may approach the Speaker, while the bells to call in the members are being sounded, to request that the division be deferred. The Speaker can defer the division until a specified time, but, in any case, no later than the normal time of adjournment for the following day, etc.
But, it has been the custom and actually the practice in this House, certainly since this Standing Order was put in place, that in cases where the request to defer the vote is presented for the following sitting day, only one request is made and it is made immediately, the Speaker automatically grants the request. Even if, subsequently, a second request is made by another political party, never has it been decided to grant the second request.
The standing order is clear: the first request takes precedence. Therefore, I ask you to grant my colleague's request.
Canada Social Transfer June 14th, 1995
Well, I am dumbfounded. Mr. Speaker, I will give the minister a second chance.
Since the funds allocated to the provinces for social assistance will dry up in two years because of the federal cuts announced in his budget, will the Minister of Finance frankly admit that it would have been impossible for him to impose federal standards on the provinces had he not invented the Canada social transfer ruse?
Canada Social Transfer June 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am speechless. In case he forgot, the Minister of Finance announced $7 billion in cuts in his last budget. Today, he tells us that there are no cuts.