Pierre Pettigrew

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the government has been fully engaged on every trade file with the United States.

The Minister of International Trade and the Prime Minister never lose an opportunity to raise it, whether in Santiago or wherever we meet with them in the world.

The member said that the foreign affairs minister has only been to Washington once in four months. I have met Secretary of State Powell numerous times, in Santiago at the APEC, in Sharm El-Sheikh at the G-8 meeting, with the Arab League we met in New York.

This is the way diplomacy functions nowadays. The government is fully engaged and raises these files every--

[Middle East, December 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, our longstanding policy toward the Middle East has not changed. It continues to be fair-minded and based on principles. Again, we review each resolution with a view to ensuring that our voting position is consistent with our policy. Our approach with these 22 resolutions is to assess them on their merits. This year we have decided to change our vote on three of them.

Tomorrow we will vote in support of a resolution that, among other things, is calling on Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, because we believe that this would be a good step toward--

[National Defence, December 2nd, 2004]

First, Mr. Speaker, allow me to very clear. President Bush did not make any specific request to Canada concerning a missile defence shield. He did indicate he hoped Canada would participate at some point, but he did not make any specific request one way or the other.

If he chose to bring it up in his speech, well, he is the one who writes his speeches. Nonetheless, I can assure you that our government is not under any pressure to act either now or later. We will make the decision that best serves Canada's interests.

[National Defence, December 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it was the Bloc Québécois that wanted to give the impression that there was some sort of vow of silence, that something was going on behind the scenes, and that our government was trying to avoid talking about this issue.

Since the government did not follow the agenda the Bloc would have preferred for President Bush's official visit, they are now acting offended. We will take that into consideration next time.

Nonetheless, we will continue to work with the United States government to best defend the interests of Canadians as we perceive them.

[Foreign Affairs, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. Senior Canadian representatives have already interceded on several occasions with the Chinese authorities, in Beijing and in Ottawa, concerning Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

Representatives of Canada have expressed our concerns about the impartiality of his trial, particularly at meetings held this year in Beijing. We have asked them to prevent this execution.

We have also recently joined with other foreign governments in making our concerns about this known to the Chinese authorities.

[Foreign Affairs, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the inauguration of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as transitional president of Somalia. Canada has never stopped recognizing the Somalian state.

Canada is committed to addressing the serious humanitarian situation in Somalia. We recently provided a $1 million contribution to the World Food Program. We have provided more than $45 million in humanitarian aid to Somalia since 1991.

[National Defence, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been very clear and we say an absolute no to the militarization of space. Our government has been clear on that and I repeat it in this House of Commons today.

As to the respect for the Canadian flag, our Prime Minister does not need to take any lessons from the NDP leader. We will stand for the Canadian flag as we stand for our country. We will continue to make decisions in Canada in the best interests of Canadians, but with a wide perspective.

[National Defence, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we had a very successful visit yesterday by the President of the United States and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Indeed, we had exchanges of the utmost importance for the future of our continent that is really the envy of the world. We must continue to ensure that.

We will continue to be deeply interested in the defence and security of our continent. As to the participation in the ballistic missile defence system, this is a decision that will be made in due course in Canada after a vote in this House of Commons in the best interests of Canadians.

[National Defence, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is a contradiction here. On the one hand, the Bloc Québécois is telling us that the government has not made a decision but should make one, while, on the other hand, it is claiming that the President of the United States announced a decision. I would love to know what that decision is, since we are told, on the one hand, that there is a decision and, on the other hand, that there is not. This is unusual, but, obviously, Bloc Québécois members are not very well prepared when it comes to discussing Canada's most important relationship, namely that with the United States.

The decision on our participation in the missile defence shield will be made in Canada, following a vote in the House of Commons, and in the best interests of Canadians.

[National Defence, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate the very clear position that I just stated. Our government has not made any decision on the missile defence shield as such. It goes without saying that we are deeply committed to NORAD. We supported the NORAD amendment, as we announced in August. NORAD must undergo some changes over the next two years. NORAD is at the core of Canada's defence and it will continue to be.

As regards the missile defence shield, this is another decision that we will make at the appropriate time. We are under no pressure from the United States on this issue.