Deborah Grey

[Goods And Services Tax, May 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the former member for Hamilton East's decision to honour the promise she made to her constituents puts the rest of the Liberal caucus in a pretty tight spot. I think we can see that today.

Like Sheila Copps, they ran on a platform that included scrapping the GST. I am sure there will be a lot of soul searching going on in Liberal offices today now that the former Deputy Prime Minister has blown the GST red book sham completely out of the water.

I ask the Prime Minister one more time, what does he have to say to Liberal MPs who got elected on a promise to abolish the GST and are now considering whether to follow Sheila Copps' lead?

[Goods And Services Tax, May 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, a challenge has been put out for me to be in Hamilton East. I will be there, you betcha.

The member for Hamilton East-

[Goods And Services Tax, May 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is funny that Sheila Copps did not see it that way and all we have left in her memory are roses on her desk used as a prop.

Sheila Copps said today in her press conference that she overstepped the red book. She had every opportunity to overstep the red book when it was lying on the floor because that is where that red book belongs, especially page 22.

Liberal candidates campaigned on a promise to abolish, scrap and kill the GST and they know it. What Canadians demand to know now is why has the Prime Minister tried so hard to hide the fact that the Liberals broke their number one election promise.

I ask the Prime Minister again, why did he not simply come clean with Canadians from the very start and tell them that he had absolutely no intention of eliminating the GST?

[Goods And Services Tax, May 1st, 1996]

She made a promise and is now keeping that promise.

The Liberals promised to abolish, scrap and kill the GST and broke that promise. Now even Sheila Copps realizes that the government cannot continue to justify the unjustifiable.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Will he now finally admit that his government has broken its election promise to abolish, scrap and kill the GST?

[Goods And Services Tax, May 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, although under great public pressure, the former Deputy Prime Minister has done the right thing and resigned her seat in the House of Commons.

[Deputy Prime Minister, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw it and will let the Globe and Mail know that.

Will she do the right-

[Deputy Prime Minister, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, again we are talking about commitment and a promise that was made before the last election. That promise was made several times after the election.

The editorialist at the Globe and Mail today said that the Liberal's shameful performance in the GST affair feeds the very disillusionment with politics and politicians that brought these people to power in 1993.

The article went on to say that if the government truly wants to restore honesty and integrity to public life and teach Canadians to trust their leaders again, the Deputy Prime Minister must "do the honourable thing and resign".

I ask the Deputy Prime Minister again, will she in the words of the Globe and Mail continue to bring ``dishonour on herself, her government and-

[Deputy Prime Minister, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I just say again that I am committed to the equality of all people in the country, and all politicians as well. When one politician breaks a promise after that promise has been made with real commitment, then it puts all of us to shame.

The Toronto Star in its editorial column states that the Deputy Prime Minister should quit now to help restore public faith in the system and face her voters in an immediate byelection''. The editorial went on to say:Her departure would also help staunch the tidal wave of public cynicism that has greeted Liberal pronouncements''.

I ask the Deputy Prime Minister, not her little answer man, if she will restore public faith in the political system, live up to her commitments and face the voters of Hamilton East in an immediate byelection? Will she do that today?

[Deputy Prime Minister, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Hamilton Spectator is full of letters from constituents angry and embarrassed by the Deputy Prime Minister's inaction.

Susan Kalbfleisch writes: "How can we teach our children that honour, integrity and personal responsibility are important when one of our leaders sets such a poor example?"

Ivy Brittain from Hamilton writes: "I don't think any of her constituents in Hamilton think too much of her right now. She was the one who said she would resign if the promise to abolish the GST wasn't kept".

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Why will she not put personal responsibility and integrity ahead of her political career and resign her seat now in the House of Commons?

[Goods And Services Tax, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I stand by what I have said and I stand by what I have done. There is one place for the red book because it simply has not been completed.

Yesterday the Prime Minister said the Liberals have kept 75 per cent of the red book promises. That is not true. We have gone through the numbers. Of 157 promises made in the red book, 37 have been fulfilled; 23.5 per cent. That is shameful.

On the campaign trail the Deputy Prime Minister told the voters of Hamilton East and every other Canadian: "I have already said personally and very directly that if the GST is not abolished I will resign". It is fine that she thinks I may throw things around, but I know one thing: the voters of Hamilton East will throw her out in the next election. They want to know, will she resign?