Réal Ménard

[National Defence, December 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. The minister's new procurement policy, which consists in buying equipment already operational and available on the world market, will have harmful consequences on the Canadian defence industry.

In his white paper tabled yesterday, the minister recognizes that it is vital to promote defence conversion, but no concrete solutions are proposed.

How can the minister explain that his white paper does not contain any concrete initiatives on defence conversion, given the clear commitment made in the red book?

[Aids, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, today, on this first day of December, people throughout the world are stopping a few moments to reflect on what can be done to wipe out the terrible scourge called AIDS. This epidemic of a disease that scarcely ten years ago was little known to the public is today a cause for concern throughout the world and spares none of its victims.

According to the World Health Organization, by the middle of 1994, more than 16 million adults and one million children had contracted the AIDS virus since the beginning of the pandemic. Even worse, by the year 2000, the cumulative total of people infected by the virus will be between 30 and 40 million, while the total number of cases of full-blown AIDS will be close to 10 million. No responsible government, in the United States or in France, in Italy or in Africa, can afford to overlook the fact that the fight against AIDS must include a campaign to promote safe sex.

[Fight Against Aids, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, how can the Prime Minister justify that a mere four months before the end of the fiscal year we still do not know the intended use of this discretionary $1.1 million? I remind the Prime Minister that last year $800,000 lapsed. They were not spent because the minister failed to allocate them to community organisations.

[Fight Against Aids, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister did not know how Canadian programs regarding clinical research on AIDS worked. Yet, in 24 hours, he is supposed to discuss them in Paris.

Could the Prime Minister tell us whether his government has concurred with the joint proposal of the Canadian AIDS Society, the Canadian Hemophilia Society and the Canadian Public Health Association asking that the $1.1 million remaining in the discretionary fund be allocated to clinical and basic research to offset the acute lack of funds in this area?

[Fight Against Aids, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, how can the Prime Minister explain his sudden interest in the fight against AIDS when his government only reluctantly maintained the $42 million budget for phase 2 of the national AIDS strategy, an amount which-may we remind you-the Liberals found clearly insufficient when they were in opposition?

[Fight Against Aids, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Of the G7 countries, Canada spends the least on AIDS research, while Canada is third among the G7 countries for the per capita rate of HIV infection.

Two days before he leaves for Paris to take part in an important international conference on AIDS, how can the Prime Minister justify Canada's lagging behind in the fight against this terrible illness which affects and threatens the lives of thousands of Quebecers and Canadians?

[Research And Development, November 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I do not wish to make the minister's hair go even greyer, but will he recognize that the federal government's lack of rigour in the administration of all these R and D investments accounts largely for the poor performance of Canada in that regard, with Canada ranking second to last among G-7 countries?

[Research And Development, November 25th, 1994]

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

The federal government spends $1 billion each year on tax incentives to encourage research and development, its main contribution in that regard being a scientific research and experimental development investment tax credit.

Does the minister deem acceptable that the government not exercise any control over the refund of investment tax credits for scientific research and not conduct any formal evaluation of the impact of this program on the Canadian economy, as the Auditor General pointed out?

[Equal Treatment For Persons Cohabiting In A Relationship Similar To A Conjugal Relationship Act, November 23rd, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-290, an act providing for equal treatment for persons cohabiting in a relationship similar to a conjugal relationship.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata. You will understand that I am proud to introduce today a bill which, if it is passed, will end a more than secular type of discrimination by amending 40 acts, so as to formally recognize legal equality for same sex spouses. I do hope that the House will support this legislation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Human Rights, November 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, considering that several government members are in disagreement, will the minister confirm that he can go ahead and table his bill, the only condition being that a free vote be held on the issue?