House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 76% of the vote.
Somalia Inquiry April 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about some clerk here. We are talking about Canada's representative to the world at the UN. This guy was around as a DND deputy minister for seven years. He is a Liberal friend. It is not enough to say that Mr. Fowler has not been proven guilty.
To do his job and to be sure Canada is not undermined at the UN-
Somalia Inquiry April 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the foreign affairs minister feigned outrage that Reform would ask questions about UN Ambassador Bob Fowler.
However, I remind him there have been clouds over Mr. Fowler for over two years. I remind him Mr. Fowler was deputy minister to the present defence minister, deputy minister during the Somalia affair. He was hustled out of town on December 23, 1994. He is a well connected Liberal.
Will the minister not agree that the allegations raised by the media, by former Prime Minister Kim Campbell and by Colonel Geof Haswell constitute a serious cloud of controversy that must be dealt with immediately?
Somalia Inquiry April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about charges. We are talking about questions that were asked two years ago before the appointment of this ambassador.
This systematic denial of reality is really where the whole problem started. Not only must there be a full investigation into these charges, but until it is complete it will be impossible for us to maintain our position in the UN with this tainted ambassador at the helm.
Why will the minister not spare Canada more embarrassment from future revelations of the Somalia inquiry and immediately reassign Mr. Fowler to Ottawa until all of the allegations against him are cleared?
Somalia Inquiry April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the pride and confidence of our military has been shaken, not only inside Canada but it is now being questioned internationally.
Colonel Geof Haswell has accused Canada's UN ambassador, among others, of instigating a cover-up, and I say a cover-up, in the Somali affair.
It is critical that those who were at the top in DND at the time these events occurred be brought back to Ottawa until these allegations are resolved.
Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs agree to recall Mr. Bob Fowler until all his testimony before the inquiry is complete and he has been cleared of these serious allegations?
The Budget April 15th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the minister's comments about Canada and about Alberta in particular.
In Alberta there is a great deal of pride developing. We have our deficit at zero. We now have a surplus budget. We now have a plan to take care of our debt. That is very positive particularly in the resource industry. We have a very positive feeling that things are moving forward. When is the minister's government going to develop that same plan at least to get the deficit under control and then show that vision that something further is going to happen?
On a second issue, the many businesses in my province of Alberta and her province of Alberta are very concerned that those provinces which have socialized their utilities are still going to receive the advantages of the federal government's tax deduction. Those provinces that have privatized and have a free enterprise efficient utility industry are now not going to get that refund. The effect of that on all business, in turning one province against the other and not creating a level playing field is of great concern to
many of my constituents and I am sure to many of hers and many others in provinces like Alberta. I would like her to commenton that.
United Nations March 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I believe Canadians have a great deal of difficulty understanding that sort of accounting.
The minister guaranteed that the command for our troops in Haiti would be 100 per cent in Canadian hands and that the mandate was for four months only. Now we find out we are paying the entire bill, the mission may be extended, the mandate is clouded and the control may be within the Haitian government.
Will the minister deny these reports, guarantee that this mission will be over in four months and that command decisions will remain in Canadian hands?
United Nations March 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, Canada has bailed out the UN on so many occasions it is hard to keep track anymore, but at least we have always been promised we would be paid for expenses.
However, this time it is $50 million that is unpaid and it does not appear we are going to be getting payment in the near future.
Will the government assure taxpayers that it will not sign any more blank cheques for the UN until this matter is taken care of?
Byelections March 21st, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the critical question is: When was the invitation issued?
The Haitians have told the Reform Party the truth. Liberal golden boy Pierre Pettigrew has used his government influence to bring in the Haitian president to help him win the byelection campaign.
Does the Prime Minister categorically deny that his government arranged for the Haitian president's Montreal visit just last week when it was discovered that the byelection was too close to call? If he will not deny this, will he admit that the government's actions have blatantly interfered with the byelection process and that was totally wrong?
Byelections March 21st, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party was told directly by the Haitian embassy and by our own foreign affairs protocol office that the Haitian president was not scheduled to come to Canada after his Washington visit until just last week. The arranging of this trip was directly connected to the byelection. The Prime Minister should have known this yesterday when he said: "There was no connection at all. There was none. There was none".
Will the Prime Minister withdraw his incorrect statements, admit there has been a serious manipulation of a byelection and ask the ethics counsellor to investigate this unfortunate misuse of power?
Borrowing Authority Act, 1996-97 March 21st, 1996
Mr. Speaker, there were a number of questions and I do not have enough time to answer them all.
I remind the member that a number of Liberals believe that support is an inch thick and a mile wide.
I tried to convey the feeling that Albertans have of the pride of ridding the deficit and who are now working on the debt. We are proud of that. The threat to everything in the country is the growing debt and the interest payments. That is the message; $50 billion in interest is what is threatening health care, pensions and jobs. Business will not provide more jobs until it sees a plan and light at the end of the tunnel. The only light at the end of the tunnel must be the lowering of taxes, a plan whereby people are treated equally and fairly.
With regard to his reference to polls, I go back to a much earlier politician from this place when he described that polls were for big dogs. That probably summarizes what we can do with these polls.
Why the great popularity of the government? After probably the most disliked Prime Minister the country has ever had, anything would be a breath of fresh air. I agree with that. We need light at the end of the tunnel. The debt and the deficit have to be dealt with and interest payments must be cut down.