Pauline Picard

[Point Of Order, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table in the House an article from the newspaper Le Devoir of February 19, 2000, entitled “Partisan Politics and Federal Grants”.

According to this article, the Prime Minister made a statement at a fundraising cocktail, saying “It is quite normal that we, the Liberals who form the government, come out and say that the Liberal Party is the one in government and doing things. To those who contend there is something wrong with that, I say it is routinely done. I cannot see why, if we want to get credit for what we are doing, we should be embarrassed to do so”.

The Prime Minister was reported as saying that he thought it was normal and in keeping with Canadian political standards that elected Liberals would take credit, for partisan politics purposes, for billions of dollars in grants provided by the Department of Human Resources Development.

I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table a document that will enlighten the members of this House.

[Point Of Order, February 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, following the introduction by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of a bill denying Quebecers their fundamental rights, I have here a newspaper article about a visit of Mario Dumont to the Bois-Francs region, where he is quoted as saying that, in a democracy, a result of 50% plus one is in keeping with a principle recognized throughout the world.

I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table this article, which can enlighten the members of this House.

[Petitions, February 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House a petition from people in the riding of Drummond and the area. The riding of Drummond being located in the center of Quebec, there are also people from the Montérégie who signed this petition. I am now tabling my third petition on this issue, for a total of over 2,000 signatures.

The petitioners call on parliament to quickly pass legislation to make it mandatory to label all foods that are totally or partially genetically modified.

[Points Of Order, February 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, following the announcement by the government of its intention to introduce a bill which will change referendum rules in Quebec, I would like to table an extract of the Referendum Act—

[Points Of Order, February 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have here a document from a reader of La Voix de l'Est who says “Whom do they think we are in Ottawa? Some numbskulls who do not even know French? They called their bill the clarity bill, and yet there is nothing clear about it. They must not be trying to enlighten the people”.

If sovereignty is mentioned, they will say we should talk about independence. If independence is mentioned, they will say we should talk about separation.

[Snow Sculpture, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, “Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver”, sang Gilles Vigneault. Last week, the Quebec team proved it once again by winning the third snow sculpture competition here on Parliament Hill.

Normand and Martine Rousseau, of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, and Camilien Belhumeur, the mayor of St-Guillaume, took first place with a magnificent sculpture of the “Rocket”, Maurice Richard, a hero to Quebecers and the ideal person to illustrate the passion of our people.

This trio from the Drummondville area is not savouring its first success. Martine and Normand Rousseau have just won for the second consecutive year the international snow sculpture competition at the Quebec City carnival. Camilien Belhumeur has participated three times in the Parliament Hill competition, coming second in 1998.

On behalf of the people in the riding of Drummond, I would like to pay tribute to the members of the Quebec team, past masters at their art.

Mr. Belhumeur and Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau, we are proud of you.

[Supply, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry for his speech and thank him for enlightening us on the underhanded dealings by the government in its efforts to deny the basic rights of the people of Quebec.

Subclause 3(2) of Bill C-20 contains an unacceptable threat to territorial integrity and a threat whose intent is to limit the right of the people of Quebec to freely choose its status and its political future.

I would like to ask my colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry: in Quebec whose task it is to set the terms of its authority over all parts of its territory?

[Petitions, February 15th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I have here a petition concerning VIA Rail and the future changes to be made to the railway network.

I am pleased to table in the House this petition signed by people from the riding of Drummond. The petitioners are asking parliament to be vigilant with regard to the anticipated changes to the railway network and to make sure that this decision takes into account services provided to the public. As we know, taxpayers' money is invested in the railway network.

The petitioners are therefore asking parliament to be vigilant, because a reduction in services would have a negative impact on the riding that I represent, and also on the general population.

[Points Of Order, February 15th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, following the introduction by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of a bill denying fundamental rights of Quebecers, I ask for unanimous consent of the House to table a document which will enlighten it.

This document is entitled “A separated Quebec has the moral and legal right to use the Canadian dollar”. I would like to quote the following “Quebec will continue to use the Canadian dollar. We actually have close to one-quarter of the total Canadian money supply through bank notes, deposits and assets in financial institutions, and that represents more than $100 billion Canadian. We legally own—”

[Health Transfer Payments, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, following a consensus among premiers at the February 3 meeting, it was decided to ask Ottawa to restore health transfer payments to the 1994-95 level, and to make up the $4.2 billion shortfall predicted for next year.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Does he intend to respond favourably to the unanimous request of the provinces, stakeholders in the health care sector and the public, and restore health transfer payments to the 1994-95 level?