Bill Graham

[National Defence, February 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot include all the negotiations and dances in the Speech from the Throne. The purpose of the throne speech is to show Canadians the direction that this government intends to take and, like all my colleagues on this side of the House, I am proud of that direction.

As for a star wars scheme, it is a figment of the imagination of members opposite, not a reality in our negotiations with the United States.

[National Defence, February 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has said, and the government has been very clear, we are presently trying to find out from the United States about a plan, which it intends to proceed with, that deals with the defence of North America from ballistic missiles based on land and on sea.

This issue has nothing to do with going into space. There is a lot of speculation about going into space. A lot of people are talking about it. The present plan has nothing to do with the weaponization of space. We have made it clear that we will not engage in discussions with the United States that will lead to the weaponization of space, as the Prime Minister has said. What we do want to find out is if we can help the security of North America for Canadians.

[Foreign Affairs, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has clearly indicated in our vote in the United Nations that in our view this wall is not contributing to the ultimate security and peace of Israel. We strongly support Israel in its security measures, but we believe that the construction of the wall and where it is going is such that it is inhibiting the peace discussions.

That said, Canada has continually urged the parties to work with the Security Council, to work with all the partners, to dialogue between them. It is a dialogue that will ultimately solve this. It is a political solution. Canada's balanced position in urging the parties to this political solution makes a contribution to that process.

[National Defence, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, our tradition has always been to hold a debate in the House on important issues concerning foreign and domestic affairs. We are continuing this policy. We will do so. As I indicated yesterday, the government has committed to a discussion with the United States on this issue. A decision has not yet been reached, but it will be based on our security needs, on the one hand, and maintaining our independence, on the other.

[Terrorism, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the actions of our troops in Afghanistan speak for themselves and speak for the Canadian people, and speak of the pride of this country and what we are doing about terrorism.

I do not have to take lessons from that party about what we have been doing at every international conference. Since this Prime Minister has been present, he has already raised this with President Bush. He has established his record as being firmly against terrorism. We are active on all international levels against terrorism, both militarily and diplomatically.

[Speech from the Throne, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is a diplomatic gallery in this House. There is a diplomatic way in which diplomats can come to this House and are always received well here.

The hon. member has obviously decided to make an issue of something which none of the diplomats in question have chosen to raise with me. I can only assume that he is raising it for his political purposes, not because it is a problem with the diplomatic corps.

[National Defence, February 3rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows very well that discussions are under way. My colleague, the Minister of National Defence, wrote a letter to Mr. Rumsfeld. We must now participate in the discussions. We have to wait to see what the outcome will be.

The Government of Canada always acts in the interests of Canadians and their safety, and determines the best way to proceed for Canada. We would never agree to anything that would threaten our sovereignty or undermine our control over our own destiny. That is what we are doing. That is the spirit in which we will conduct all our negotiations.

[National Defence, February 3rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I think all the members of this House are well aware that the world is not waiting for the results of our reviews. The Prime Minister said that we are going to consider how to give Canada a stronger world presence, and we will. However, at the same time, we must act in the best interests of Canadians.

As a result, the Minister of National Defence and I are examining the best way to protect Canadians. Naturally, we are holding discussions with our American colleagues on this.

[Committees of the House, November 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade entitled “HIV-AIDS and the Humanitarian Catastrophe in sub-Saharan Africa”.

I would like to thank the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the members of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development for their work on this important report.

As the response sets out, the government has already taken, and continues to take, significant actions and has increased financial resources consistent with the report's recommendations. These recommendations highlight the tremendous problems in Africa and other places where people are suffering because of HIV-AIDS.

Yesterday in the House, we introduced a bill that has been pointed out as being a historic moment in providing the opportunity for Canada and Canadians to help deal with this issue. I think we can be proud of that bill.

I want to thank the committee for this important report and helping our ability to understand how we can deal with this terrible problem.

[Foreign Affairs, November 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, like the hon. member, and other hon. members in the House, we take this case extremely seriously.

I have not had the opportunity, unfortunately, to meet Mr. Sampson. I have an appointment with him this afternoon and I will be meeting with him then

I want to assure the hon. member that I, and I have already asked my department to do this, will looking at everything we do in our department in light of not only this case, but other cases which have come to our attention.

Our object is to secure the security of Canadians abroad in often very difficult circumstances.

I come back to the fact that extraordinary efforts were made on behalf of Mr. Sampson, and I will be discussing that with him. We are certainly more than willing to learn from him how we could do better.