Tony Valeri

[The Budget, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have to take some exception to the hon. member's saying that members of his party are always here. They took a taxpayer paid afternoon off yesterday. I expect they will do the same today. If in fact they have a date--

[The Budget, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, does the member now speak for Saskatchewan and Alberta?

Once again I find it somewhat ironic that yes is not an acceptable answer. There are many groups with many activities that are going on in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. What is most important is that Thursday is a very reasonable date for a vote.

It is a clear question. It is a confidence vote. I am not sure why hon. members will not accept the fact that Thursday is the date for a budget vote.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, constitutional experts, procedural experts, including Patrick Monahan, indicated that Thursday was a reasonable date.

It was also very clear that the situation would only be a crisis or difficult in fact if the government refused to have a confidence vote.

I really do not know why yes is not an acceptable answer. The opposition party in particular was looking to have an opportunity to put a confidence motion in front of this House. It now has a legitimate one. It is called the budget.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the real difficulty here is that both the Conservatives and the Bloc continue to interpret the rules and procedures of the House for their own political purposes.

What is a requirement is that this House have a confidence vote. A legitimate confidence vote is in fact on a budget. I do not know why hon. members cannot accept yes for an answer. On Tuesday when there was a procedural motion in place, they continued to misrepresent it as a confidence motion. Now they have a real confidence motion and it will be on Thursday.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I really cannot understand why the leader of the Bloc and certainly the Leader of the Opposition cannot take yes for an answer.

There will be a confidence vote in the House. It will test the confidence of the government. The vote on Thursday does respect a number of investments made by Saskatchewan and Alberta and the people of those provinces. The vote is on Thursday. It is a reasonable date. I think Canadians believe it is a reasonable date. I hope that hon. members are here to vote on the budget on Thursday.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said over and over again, there is a reasonable date set for a confidence vote. I have asked for unanimous consent to put a motion to the House that would allow for the vote on Thursday. That vote on Thursday respects the investments made by the governments and the people of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Prime Minister will respect the outcome of that vote. If the budget is in fact defeated, there will be an election. The question is whether the leader of the official opposition and his close friend the separatist will respect the outcome of that vote.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, one can never prejudge or predetermine whether members are able to come to the House or not when there is a vote. We have set a reasonable time for a confidence vote. Procedural and constitutional experts have indicated that.

There is an opportunity to continue debate. Bill C-48 is in the House right now. I hope hon. members are not going to attempt to pass some motion to adjourn the House; it would be another afternoon off at taxpayers' expense that the Conservatives and the Bloc want.

The Thursday vote is a confidence vote. It will be on Thursday.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that because of the level of frustration that the hon. member is feeling and his inability to bring something forward on a procedural basis to have a legitimate confidence vote in the House, he continues to be mistaken about how things are interpreted.

There will be a clear question and a clear vote of confidence on Thursday in the House. I certainly hope the opposition party will be here to show whether it has confidence in the government and to ensure that the budget, which reflects the interests of Canadians, has an opportunity to pass.

[The Budget, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I find it hard to take coming from a party that once denounced Atlantic Canada for possessing a culture of defeat.

The Leader of the Opposition and his party fully understand that their friends, the separatist Bloc members, do not support these accords. If in fact the Conservatives wanted to assist Atlantic Canadians they would support the budget. The premier of Newfoundland said:

I'd like to see the budget passed. I can't take partisan positions on these issues. I've got to do what's in the best interests of the people of the province.

Vote for the budget and pass the Atlantic accord.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we will not get into signatures on paper, by the way, for the purposes of the hon. member.

We have set forward a reasonable date for a confidence vote. There is an opportunity to continue that debate. Bill C-48 is in the House today and it is an important piece of legislation.

Having the vote on Thursday also respects the investments made by both the people and governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan with respect to the Queen's visit. May I also suggest that the hon. member has no concern for the people of Alberta and Saskatchewan, who made that investment.