Guy St-Julien

[Inuit Circumpolar Conference, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to inform you that the municipality of Kuujjuaq, in Nunavik, has been chosen to host the general meeting of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference in 2002.

I would like to recognize the hard work done by Johnny Adams, the president of the Kativik Regional Government, Michael Gordon, the mayor of Kuujjuaq, Pita Aatami, the president of the Makivik Corporation and their team, in making Kuujjuaq the host city for this meeting.

My hearty congratulations to the Inuit of Nunavik.

[Auditor General Act, February 16th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight on behalf of Canadian consumers who, for months, have been paying high prices for gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil.

Those who are at home having dinner or on the road, as well as truck drivers who are working, wonder why the price at the pump of a litre of gas is so high. The only reason it is so high is because people do not know what the price would be if it were not for the federal, provincial and other hidden taxes.

Last Friday, I watched a program with Paul Larocque on TVA in Quebec City. On this program, Denis Dauray, from Les Pétrole Maurice, called for a real inquiry into the oil market in Quebec and Canada.

He is asking for concrete measures from the federal government and the Government of Quebec. This is what I am asking for tonight on behalf of consumers, of people who are at home tonight, of those who are in their truck working and of those who are driving to work.

I am demanding that the Government of Canada take concrete action in co-operation with provincial and territorial governments, towards the reduction of the federal excise tax, a uniform reduction of the road tax in Quebec and the restoring of a special monetary subsidy on the price of fuel oil for families that have used this product since December 1, 1999. It would be in force for four months.

It would be the same thing the President of the United States just gave several Eastern States. In Nova Scotia, steps have been taken in that direction.

My question for the industry minister is the following: Why can we not strike as soon as possible, in February or March, a real, public inquiry into petroleum markets? It must not be conducted behind closed doors, as all studies have.

What we are asking for, and the request comes from consumers, is a real public inquiry that will include—and we must not forget them this year—independent producers, in order to shed light on the production costs of a litre of gas, of a litre of diesel and of a litre of fuel oil.

We want concrete action because we want to know what is really going on in the Canadian petroleum industry, and we want to know as soon as possible. That is what consumers want.

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 15th, 2000]

Can the government produce the list of employee groups within the Public Service, including salaries, that correspond to the employees of the Administration (ADS-D up to 10) and Nursing (OPN) sub-groups at the House of Commons, as of today?

(Return tabled)

[Gasoline Prices, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the increase in the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel in Canada does not reflect the gross price of a litre of gasoline before taxes. Consumers are always the ones footing the bill. Canadian oil corporations will have to make public across the country the cost of gasoline before taxes, and this every day.

The refinery sector is operating strictly to generate profits for major Canadian oil companies. Why do oil companies such as Imperial Oil, Petro-Canada, Shell Canada and Ultramar not respect consumers?

I would like to hear from the CEOs of the Canadian oil companies, by fax, at [phone], within a week.

[Gasoline Prices, February 9th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

For several weeks now, consumers and truckers have been angered by the price of gasoline at the pumps, of diesel and of heating oil in Canada and in Quebec.

Consumers are right and want to know why the price of gasoline is continuing to climb and why governments are doing nothing about it.

[Request For Emergency Debate, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I hereby request, under Standing Order 52, on behalf of Canadians, that the House now adjourn in order to hold an emergency debate on the dizzying increase in the price of gasoline at the pump, of diesel and of heating oil in Canada. The consumer has few if any ways to act.

My request is intended to remedy this by giving the Government of Canada the opportunity to take concrete action to bring costs to some reasonable level in the short term or for a temporary period.

I thank you, on behalf of the people of Canada, for considering my request and giving all members of this House the opportunity to intervene in this debate.

[Lilianne Perrault-Mercier, February 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Canada and all federalist members of this House, I would like to pay tribute to Liliane Perraud-Mercier, a native of Amos, who has always been heavily involved in the betterment of her community.

An excellent music teacher, she has provided countless young people with the basic foundations for further studies in the various cegeps of Quebec that offer music programs. She was awarded the Jeunesse musicales du Canada medal at its annual convention and has also had the great distinction of being appointed to the Order of Canada.

At the present time she is actively involved in the Liberal Association in the riding of Abitibi West. She has a deep conviction that it is vital to make room for our young people so that we will have the right kind of replacements coming up.

We can use the experience of this great Canadian and her ideas for maintaining Canadian federalism to good advantage.

[Committees Of The House, December 13th, 1999]

It is in that motion. It concerns the regional airports in Val d'Or, Amos, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Matagami, La Grande, Akulivik, Aupaluk, Inukjuaq, Ivujivik, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kangirsuk, Kangiqsujuaq, Kuujjuaq, Kuujjuaraapik, Umiujaq, Puvirnituq, Chisasibi, EastMain, Quaqtaq, Salluit, Tasiujaq, Waskaganish and Wemindji.

Could the hon. member tell me whether these airports should have the means to finance emergency response services and receive government assistance for this?

[Committees Of The House, December 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on the motion which states, and I quote:

That the First Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, presented on Tuesday, December 7, 1999, be concurred in.

I have a relevant document. I am referring to page 31 of the report, under recommendation 29. Incidentally, I am an associate member of the committee, and I have tabled a number of motions in the House of Commons. My motions, including motions M-333, M-334, M-335, M-336, and M-337, are listed in today's notice paper. Motion M-337 is important for the large federal riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik. The motion reads as follows:

That, in the opinion of this House, the government should examine the financial assistance available to airports under the Airport Capital Assistance Program, and on what terms, and consider the possibility of extending the Program to operating costs in order to sustain the provision of air transportation services at airports in the riding of Abitibi—James Bay—Nunavik, including the regional airport—

[Mna For Abitibi-Est, December 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on November 23, in an interview with Denis Labrecque of the Parlemenu , the daily newspaper of Abitibi's Vallée-de-l'Or, André Pelletier, the Parti Quebecois member of the National Assembly for Abitibi-Est made a statement in connection with a recent survey in which 59% of respondents reported they would have voted no in a referendum on Quebec independence. He said “The results will be far different when the real question is asked”.

According to PQ MNA André Pelletier, the real question should be “Do you want to disappear?”

Who is it that this MNA wants to see disappear? Once again this PQ MNA is stirring up fear and uncertainty, wanting to see Abitibi separate from Canada.

He will never get me to disappear, as a native of Abitibi, a Quebecer and a Canadian.

The culture of Abitibi is going to stand up steadfastly against the cynical threats by PQ MNA for Abitibi-Est André Pelletier.