I will put my question more politely. Is the minister manipulating, arranging, or organizing-
Won his last election, in 2006, with 45% of the vote.
Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean March 10th, 1994
I will put my question more politely. Is the minister manipulating, arranging, or organizing-
Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean March 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the minister also said: "-when I appear before the standing committee dealing with the estimates. I will have all the information available at that time".
People do not understand the minister's decision. In Saint-Jean, they are preparing for a big demonstration to protest the minister's decision. Why is the minister stubbornly refusing to disclose the figures at this time? Could he be fiddling with them to justify his decision?
Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean March 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I can understand the frustration experienced by the hon. member who never has any questions to ask. He would like to ask his government a few questions.
Yesterday, on the subject of the eventual closing of the military college in Saint-Jean, the Minister of National Defense said:
It is one that I opposed, the Prime Minister opposed and many people opposed. We would have liked to have done it another way rather than close this college. However, from the point of view of financial sense, it seemed to us that the best business case was to concentrate the college in Kingston.
Can the Minister of Defence assure us today that the decision to close the military college in Saint-Jean was made "only" to save money and not for political reasons?
International Women's Day March 8th, 1994
Madam Speaker, on this International Women's Day, the Bloc Quebecois members want to acknowledge the exceptional work of all those who decided to
help women and children victims of violence by establishing a great network of shelters.
These women have given our society an absolutely essential kind of resource and they continue to give generously of their time and energy so that this network may really play its role in supporting women and children who are victims of violence.
What a marvellous thing to devote one's talents and resources to justice and human dignity. Hats off to all the women who give of themselves to establish and operate these shelters for victims of violence.
The members of the Bloc Quebecois want to assure you of their total support in your efforts to reach your goals.
Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean March 7th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, now that we know that Kingston is not a region where the Ontario law on francophone areas applies, that a Kingston French-language high school is even housed in portables without running water, and that the Kingston mayor's policy for integrating francophones is to let the English marry the French, does the Prime Minister still have the audacity to say that Kingston is the best possible place to integrate French-speaking communities into the armed forces?
Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean March 7th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the ranks of those opposed to the closing of the military college in Saint-Jean are growing every day: francophone associations throughout Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Mr. Goldbloom, General Jean V. Allard, the college's alumni, and even the Liberal Premier of Quebec, who finally changed his mind and now wants the college in Saint-Jean to remain open.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Is the government willing to use common sense and go back on its decision to close the college in Saint-Jean, to allow French-speaking students who wish to pursue a military career to train as officers in French, in their own environment?
Francophones In The Armed Forces February 25th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, once again I feel I must reassure the minister. I did visit Kingston, Ontario, and the military college as well only three months ago.
How can the minister justify his own statements and those of the Prime Minister to the effect that the problem of the integration of francophones in the Canadian forces has now been resolved and everything is fine, when someone like Mr. Liston, who is in the know and has experienced the situation firsthand, states the following, in referring to former staff college colleagues: "In the armed forces, they prefer francophones whose allegiance lies elsewhere than with Quebec".
Francophones In The Armed Forces February 25th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the minister that if he is sick and tired now of Bloc Quebecois members, he is in for a rough ride. We have four years ahead of us to put questions to him and we will continue to do so until we get some answers from him. I am sorry, but we do not intend to stop.
How can the minister seriously think that we will believe him when he says the French fact will be protected in Kingston, when according to Mr. Liston, who has firsthand knowledge of these matters, people have been saying for ten, maybe even twenty years now, that RMC in Kingston will become a bilingual institution. This is impossible, given that Kingston is located in the heart of traditional loyalist country. Does the minister really expect us to believe him?
Francophones In The Armed Forces February 25th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, "the cream of the crop of francophone officers in the armed forces will be assimilated if young francophones opt for RMC in Kingston". These words were spoken, not by a nasty Quebec separatist, but by Mr. Terry Liston, the former Commander of CFB Valcartier and the current Vice-President of MIL Davie.
How can the Minister of National Defence, who says he is sick of Quebecers, claim to be the great defender of the French fact within the Canadian armed forces when according to those in the know, those who have been there, his plan to shut down the Collège militaire de Saint-Jean will unquestionably lead to the outright assimilation of francophones?
Business Of The House February 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as is customary at this time, I would like the Government House Leader to tell us what the business of the House will be for tomorrow and next week.