Michel Gauthier

[Immigration, April 24th, 1995]

But, Mr. Speaker, apologies were in order.

My supplementary question is for the Prime Minister. Does he intend to demand a public apology from not only Mr. Coderre but also his Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, because he was there when Mr. Coderre made his remarks and he did not feel it was important, as a member of the government, to immediately dissociate himself from them?

[Immigration, April 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, during the March 27 meeting of federal Liberals from the Bourassa riding, which the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs attended, the president of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party, Denis Coderre, made some derogatory remarks regarding immigrants and refugees, to the effect that there should be a law providing for the deportation of sovereignist immigrants.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Will he tell us whether Mr. Coderre's remarks are indicative of the government's new policy on immigration, despite the fact that he himself declared yesterday that hatred, ethnic nationalism, religious fanaticism and racism would not be tolerated?

[Business Of The House, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as incredible as it may sound, I rise to ask the traditional question for a Thursday, even though today is the last time we meet for two weeks. I still wish to ask the hon. Leader of the Government in the House to tell us what is on the agenda for that period of time.

[Job Creation, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, could it be that the minister's passionate plea in favour of job creation by the private sector hides the government's inability to help the unemployed?

Will the minister recognize that the sad picture in Quebec, where 21 per cent of the population now live below the poverty line, the highest rate in Canada, might I add, is the result of federalism and irrefutable proof of the failure of a system totally unable to promote economic development in Quebec and powerless in the face of deepening poverty in Quebec?

[Job Creation, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, on numerous occasions, we offered to co-operate with the government to create jobs. It brushed aside all our suggestions.

How can the government claim that it is working to create jobs when it refuses to implement a real defence conversion strategy, to come to the rescue of the MIL Davie shipyard, and decides to stick to a monetary policy obsessed by inflation control instead of job creation?

Will the minister dare say that the laissez-faire attitude of this government will contribute to job creation?

[Job Creation, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of Human Resources Development.

In a report released yesterday, the National Council on Welfare reveals that, in 1993, poverty kept on increasing in Canada, especially in Quebec where 20.7 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

In view of this worsening problem of poverty, how can the government explain that it has not implemented any job creating measure and that it has reduced its participation in the infrastructure program, its only initiative to create jobs since it came to office?

[Firearms Act, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in this House, traditions have a significance that cannot be overlooked. I think we have an obligation to conform to what is customary in this respect.

It is assumed that if a member is present, he will make his opinion known as his constituents have asked him to do, whether he is for or against a bill. To abstain is not an option, as we see it, and we therefore object.

[Canada Social Transfer, April 5th, 1995]

Will the Minister of Finance admit that withdrawing his financial commitment and changing the rules go hand in hand? He is putting this in practice now with the Canada social transfer, in order to give himself the means to ensure compliance with current and future national standards, for example in the areas of health care, post-secondary education and social assistance.

Will he at last reveal his intentions?

[Canada Social Transfer, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, two things are clear. First, the Minister of Finance is cutting transfer payments, second, he is trying to get a stranglehold on provincial programs to serve his own purposes. Everybody agrees that this much is obvious.

[Canada Social Transfer, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

By setting up the Canada social transfer as a block payment for health care, post-secondary education and social assistance, the federal government has given itself more power to impose national standards while continuing to reduce transfer payments for these programs.

Will the Minister of Finance admit that the Canada social transfer will allow him both to continue reducing transfer payments to the provinces and to tighten his grip on social programs under cover of the new standards being planned now for health care and eventually for social assistance and post-secondary education?