Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Apec February 9th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has always said that the RCMP Public Complaints Commission would be able to cast full light on his involvement in the APEC affair.
Yet, last December, its chair stated: “The Prime Minister is not part of my mandate”.
How is it that the Prime Minister has told us on numerous occasions that the commission could investigate his involvement, when the chair of the commission says the opposite?
Canada Labour Code February 9th, 1999
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-470, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and the Public Service Staff Relations Act (prohibited provision in a collective agreement).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce a bill aimed at banning orphan clauses from any collective agreement which might be covered by one of three pieces of legislation: the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and the Public Service Staff Relations Act.
The purpose is to eliminate any discriminatory provision, particularly those affecting young people and setting out working conditions for them which are often not as good as those of their elders.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Apec Inquiry December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. A solicitor general has resigned, a CBC journalist was suspended, the hearings were stopped, and now commissioner Morin too has resigned.
What more does the Prime Minister need to convene a true inquiry, an independent judicial inquiry that will finally shed light on the role played by the Prime Minister and his office?
Apec Inquiry December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on Friday, APEC commission chairman Gérald Morin resigned and accused Shirley Heafy, the chair of the RCMP public complaints commission, of political interference. As we know, Mrs. Heafy's appointment was a political one.
Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that the allegations made by former commissioner Morin about Mrs. Heafy just destroyed any credibility this phoney commission may have had left?
Violence Against Women December 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989, 14 young women were killed in Montreal. As we know, violence is a worldwide problem. Everywhere, women and young girls are victims of psychological and physical violence, including rape, assault, mutilation, sex slavery, dowry crime and infanticide.
We have a collective responsibility to ensure safety, equality and justice for women and their children. I join the Urgence-Femmes organization in marking the national day of action to fight violence against women, on Sunday, December 6. To show that we will not tolerate such crimes, the Urgence-Femmes team is asking all of us to light a candle and put it in our window, on Sunday.
I invite all Canadians and Quebeckers to say no to violence against women through this symbolic gesture.
Organized Crime December 3rd, 1998
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today, but I am also a little bit disappointed.
To me, the ministerial statement by the solicitor general is nothing but lip service. It is a perfect example of the kind of promises the Liberal government makes, promises that are based on noble principles but, unfortunately, never materialize. The statement by the solicitor general is just cheap talk, despite the fact that nine Canadians out of ten think organized crime is a serious problem in Canada today.
This is even more so since recent events have shed some light on the true role of the solicitor general within the government. As we know, his predecessor was forced to resign and even admitted that he was covering for the Prime Minister.
Nothing can lead us to believe that the new solicitor general will be able to follow through on the intentions expressed in his annual statement. His role will be limited to that of the Prime Minister's valet, especially considering the fact that no Liberal member seems to have what it takes to be a true solicitor general. The solicitor general is really just a front. The true solicitor general is the Prime Minister and his staff.
Money laundering seems to be the new priority of this government. We must applaud this awakening that is kind of sudden but oh so salutary if we want to fight organized crime effectively.
In that context, the Bloc Quebecois, through me, has introduced Bill C-435 to withdraw the thousand dollar note from circulation. It is a simple legislative measure which, according to several experts who were consulted, would really hurt the gangsters who threaten our comfort and our safety.
No one can dispute the merit of the legislative measure the Bloc Quebecois has proposed. Canada is in fact the only western country with bills of such large denomination in circulation. In addition, it is a lot easier for money launderers to go about with ten $1,000 bills than with a suitcase full of $20s or $50s. It is worth noting that a study in the United States showed recently that most $100 bills bore traces of cocaine. We might well ask ourselves what is to be found on $1,000 bills.
A further bit of information. The Bank of Canada determined in August that 3,372,000 $1,000 bills were in circulation. In addition, 128,286,000 $100 bills are in circulation.
Withdrawing the $1,000 bill would be a positive step for the government. It has the support of a number of representatives of the police.
Before concluding, I would point out that the government should swallow its pride, stop being arrogant with the opposition and the public at large and give Bill C-435, which I introduced on September 24, proper attention.
It would show it is not simply a government of verbiage, but that it intends to take specific measures to fight this cancer known as money laundering and organized crime.
Apec Inquiry November 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general surely got the answer from the Prime Minister's office.
Everyone, including the students who filed complaints and the RCMP that is the target of these complaints, feels that the RCMP commission cannot get to the bottom of the whole APEC scandal.
Does the Prime Minister agree that, at this rate, not only will justice not be done, but that it will not even be seen to be done?
Apec Inquiry November 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, less than 12 hours after being sworn in, the new solicitor general already got himself into trouble.
Yesterday, he started off by saying that the report to be submitted by the RCMP complaints commission might not be made public, but he later backpedaled, under pressure from the Prime Minister's office.
Is this not more confirmation that the real decision maker in the whole APEC issue is the Prime Minister, and that the solicitor general is nothing but a puppet for the Prime Minister and his office?
Apec Inquiry November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister does not understand is that we do not want to know who pepper-sprayed the demonstrators, but who issued the order to do so and where it came from.
Apec Inquiry November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, what concerns us in the APEC affair is not only the problem of the police, it is primarily the problem of the Prime Minister.
Does the Prime Minister not understand that the RCMP public complaints commission is far too narrow a context for what needs to be investigated, because at issue, in addition to the role of the RCMP, is the role of the Prime Minister's office and of the Prime Minister himself?