Bill Graham

[Haiti, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question, which is extremely important.

Obviously, we are closely monitoring the situation in Haiti. Along with my counterparts in the Americas, meaning Mr. Powell, my counterparts in the Caribbean and elsewhere, I continue to pursue a political solution.

We are examining what other measures may be necessary, but for now, the opposition has assured us of an answer today to our request for its collaboration. We are maintaining political pressure and we are considering what other measures may be necessary.

[National Defence, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we have had two debates in the House about this extremely important issue. Let us not distort the facts. The facts that have come out in our debates have made it very clear this is a land based and sea based defensive initiative directed to a very limited possibility of an attack against North America.

In our view, it does not lead to an arms race, nor does it lead us toward weaponization of space. If, during our negotiations, we find out that such is the case, we will withdraw from those negotiations, but it would be improper to make that judgment before we even get into the negotiations.

[National Defence, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member well knows that the Prime Minister answered this question once before. He made it very clear we are engaged in negotiations with the United States with respect to the security of the North American continent and the security of Canadians, but that we will continue to pursue our longstanding policies in terms of disarmament. We are pursuing an initiative to try to get a treaty on the weaponization of space, to prohibit it.

The Prime Minister is clear. The government is clear. The weaponization of space is completely contrary to what the government stands for, what this country stands for, and what we are negotiating about.

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, obviously there is a great deal of concern. We are working, as I said in an earlier response, with all members of our community: the OAS, the United States, CARICOM, la Francophonie. We are working together to ensure that there is a political context in which any intervention would be appropriate and would be successful.

Any intervention in Haiti has to be seen in a way which can be effective, but it has to be the international community working together. Canada is working with our international community to ensure that we can intervene in Haiti in a way that will be effective. It depends upon a political solution worked at by Aristide and his--

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, we are looking at all the possibilities. We feel we have a duty to protect people's lives, while at the same time seeking a long term solution.

Canada cannot act alone. We will be working in conjunction with the United States, CARICOM, and the Francophonie to resolve the problem in Haiti, a problem that concerns the entire international community. We are continuing with our policy in this respect.

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the minister responsible for la Francophonie travelled to Haiti this past weekend. I myself have spoken with Mr. Powell and other leaders in the region. We are monitoring the situation closely. We belive that a political solution is necessary if any intervention is to succeed in the long term. We are continuing to consult all members of the community of the Americas to ensure that any intervention in Haiti would be successful in resolving this problem, which is so difficult for our hemisphere in the long term.

[Foreign Affairs, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the House will recall that after the tragic death of Dr. Goldberg, we united together in the House to condemn the terrorist attack and to regret his tragic death.

I also want to thank the hon. member for his question because the question clearly illustrates that members of the House want to make it clear to everyone in the international community that we in Canada condemn acts of terrorism.

We recognize that this terrible violence and the tragic death of Dr. Goldberg was destined and designed not only to kill an innocent individual, but to destroy the chances of peace in the Middle East for which we work. We urge all parties as a testimony for this to work for peace in the Middle East.

[Haiti, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel for his question. He shows great concern for his constituents and for this group.

I would like to assure the hon. member and the House that the government is following the situation in Haiti very closely. I am in communication and working in close collaboration with the foreign affairs ministers, and their administrators, in the Caribbean.

My colleague, the Minister responsible for the Francophonie, is in communication with the Francophonie. We are working together with the OAS, the United States, and the countries involved, to find a viable, long-lasting solution in Haiti.

We are continuing to work on this. I can assure—

[National Defence, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we had a debate in the House two nights ago and we are having a debate on this issue today. The government has been absolutely clear. The Prime Minister and the government are on the record.

We are entering into negotiations and discussions with the United States, our neighbour, to seek to protect Canada against a potential danger. We are not in any way engaged in, nor will we permit ourselves to be engaged in, anything to do with the weaponization of space. It is a clear policy of the Government of Canada and we will stick to it.

[Supply, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I find the analogy with what happened last year very interesting.

First of all, I reject entirely the comment that the member from Halifax just made when she said that it was public opinion that forced the government to change its position. That was not the case at all. The Prime Minister met with President Bush and stated clearly that Canada would not be taking part in the war against Iraq without a UN resolution.

Coming back to our good neighbour image, this clearly illustrates the nature of our relations. Last year, we got into a disagreement with the United States and we refused to follow their example. However, discussions have taken place. The Prime Minister discussed the matter with Mr. Bush several times. I myself had a few talks with Mr. Powell. There were discussions and negotiations. There was a disagreement, but we managed to solve it like neighbours.

There is a disagreement, but we first need to talk before we decide what we want to do. This is exactly what we are proposing to do by discussing this issue now.