House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Justice June 12th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are really confused about the Airbus deal and whether there is something in the works behind the scenes to settle the $50 million libel suit regarding Brian Mulroney out of court. CBC and its sources say yes. Government lawyers say no.
I would like to ask the minister what he thinks about this and what he has to say. Is there a deal in the works with Brian Mulroney? Yes or no? Has the federal government ever offered to settle this matter out of court? Yes or no?
The Constitution June 12th, 1996
They said no in Charlottetown.
Hamilton East June 12th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have kept my word and gone to the battlefront in Hamilton East and, lo and behold, my opponents are not there.
A few weeks ago the finance minister, in the cosy comfort of this House, challenged me to meet him on the doorsteps of Hamilton East to talk about his broken GST promise. Where is he? Is the finance minister afraid to go door to door with me and defend his broken promise?
I was on the doorsteps in Hamilton East last night, ready to go toe to toe with Sheila Copps but I did not see her, or any minister. Is she afraid? I will be there today and I will be there again tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing them soon because, after all, there are only four days left until the vote.
Is the justice minister afraid to defend the inept Young Offenders Act that I spoke about with young people last night? Is the Prime Minister afraid to defend his broken promises on the GST, immigration, child care, free trade and MP pensions?
Once again I challenge the timid souls on the front benches here. Come with me this afternoon at 4 p.m., Canadian flight-
Justice June 11th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I can hardly believe that the minister would be able to tell a victim: "I am sorry, the murderer who killed your daughter or your son just murdered one person, so it is okay". That is shameful and is exactly the reason it just does not work.
There is no justification for these kinds of changes. The minister said the bill will speak for itself. What about the thousands of victims across the country who are speaking for themselves and calling for an outright abolition and repeal of section 745?
What we are hearing is that one murder is okay and two murders are bad. Murder is murder, no matter how many people are killed and murderers should not get early release, period.
Instead of introducing these arbitrary half measures, why does the justice minister not simply scrap section 745 altogether and make all first degree murderers serve their entire sentence? Why not?
Justice June 11th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Justice said that he would not pass legislation based on individual cases, yet today we see that he wants to do exactly that by splitting murderers into categories in section 745 changes. Instead of doing what Canadians want, an outright scrapping of section 745, the minister plans to just modify it slightly. Commit two murders and you are out of the running. Commit only one murder and you have a chance at early parole.
What is the difference? Why should any first degree murderer, regardless of the number of people he kills, get early release?
Points Of Order May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, while we are sitting around waiting for the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to come, I wonder what the chances are of me presenting a couple of petitions? Is there time?
The Late William Kempling May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I too rise for a few moments on behalf of my caucus to pay tribute to the memory of the late Bill Kempling. It is appropriate that today we are honouring former parliamentarians because he was one of them.
Mr. Kempling's military accomplishments and his accomplishments here in the House of Commons as parliamentary secretary and government whip have already been mentioned.
One young man, who is now working for our caucus, worked for Bill Kempling some years ago in the House. He has this memory of Bill: "The only thing he told me when he hired me was `this is hard ball we are playing here and don't forget it"'. I believe that is good advice for anybody who comes here as an MP or works on the Hill.
Bill Kempling was the Conservative whip who refused to come down the aisle, causing the famous 14-day bell ringing incident. The Table is nodding. I am sure they remember that all too well. Charles Turner, the government whip at the time, was reported to have camped out in the government lobby. He had his pillow and blanket there waiting for Bill to come to the House. He eventually did show up brandishing his whip. Those are just some really personal memories.
It was mentioned earlier that he won six elections. It is just incredible that anyone would sit in this House for that length of time.
I want to quote the Toronto Star of May 2, 1993 when Bill Kempling announced that he would not be seeking re-election. He said: ``I have so many other things in my life and I am going to do them with all the strength and vigour that I have''. He was 72 at the time.
It is one thing to run in six elections and win them but it is another thing to know when to go out gracefully. He did that in May 1993. I am sure his family members were very grateful when he retired from politics because they had two and a half years to enjoy his company. I am sure those are memories they will treasure forever.
I extend our sympathy to his family, Mrs. Muriel Kempling, her children and grandchildren. I believe she is here today in the gallery. We want to pay tribute and thank her and her family for the sacrifice they gave. God bless you.
Minister Of National Defence May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your rulings on these things, not those of the minister.
I grant what we are talking about here is a tender issue for the minister. It is so tender that every contract more than $30,000 is literally supposed to go out to tender and this has not happened.
Stephanos Karabekos has received more than three contracts, every one of which should have gone out to tender. When it is split up, then it looks okay because it is under $30,000.
Mr. Speaker, you can call that unethical, I can call it unethical, I know the Canadian public thinks it is unethical. It is deplorable. Why has the minister allowed this contract splitting to take place? Why has he allowed this to become such a tender issue?
Minister Of National Defence May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, it is easy to talk about Treasury Board guidelines, but I want to talk specifically about project work. A ministerial budget is one thing, a member of Parliament's budget is another.
The Canadian public that is paying the bill for this wants to know why in the world this soothing of the Greek community is always happening in his riding. Surely there are enough communities across the country from which he can hire people to do the work for him out of his ministerial budget.
It seems ironic that every time a name comes up it is someone specifically from his constituency. The Liberals railed against this when the Mulroney government was in power. Now they are saying that they are proud of it, that everything is okay.
Will the defence minister admit that he is guilty of the same Mulroney-like patronage that he and his colleagues criticized while in opposition? Will he repay the $150,000 spent on these unethical contracts?
Minister Of National Defence May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, it has been well documented that the defence minister gave his campaign pals over $150,000 in questionable public contracts out of his ministerial budget. Stephanos Karabekos, one of his campaigners, received $100,000 to help soothe feelings in the Greek community in the minister's Don Valley East riding.
Instead of coming clean with Canadians, the minister and the Prime Minister have chosen to defend this patronage saying that it was really good value for the money. It was good value for his money, but the Canadian taxpayers are paying the bill.
How can the defence minister justify doling out thousands of dollars in public contracts specifically and explicitly to his former campaign workers?