House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Goods And Services Tax April 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, on October 18, 1993 the Deputy Prime Minister promised Canadians on national television: "If the GST is not abolished under a Liberal government I will resign".
Today in a press conference she said: "Making a fast lipped comment in the middle of an election campaign should not put me in a position to resign".
Which way is it? If you make a promise, you make; do not break it. Will the Deputy Prime Minister resign right now?
Privilege April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I guess he is throwing the book at me.
The member talked about the fact that members need to control ourselves. Yes we do. This is a very emotional debate. The member talked about purging contempt of Parliament. I hardly think that throwing me, one single member of Parliament, out of the House is going to do anything to purge contempt in this place.
I think this is a point of debate. In terms of decorum I have just celebrated my seventh anniversary in this place. I have talked about decorum in the House of Commons. No, I do not think it is cute or theatrical to do stunts.
The Prime Minister waves the red book around constantly. When I bring it forward or even show it, all of a sudden I am using a prop. But he can wave it and flail it around and it is acceptable because he is the Prime Minister. I do not think that is acceptable.
My frustration today about the red book was watching the Prime Minister wave it around. Then I got into trouble when I even lifted it up to read from it or make reference to it. My frustration stems from the fact that I sat in opposition with these people when this debate was raging and saw the emotion attached to it from their side when the rat pack went hysterical over it. I am now sitting on this side of the House watching these people defending it amazingly.
I appreciate the member's bringing this to the concern of Parliament. I certainly do not want to challenge the Chair or any member in the House, but I firmly believe because of what we have seen happen over the GST yesterday and today that the red book truly belongs on the floor.
Goods And Services Tax April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, nobody in western Canada can do a two step that fancy. This red book means nothing, absolutely nothing. It is a prop. It is a sham.
Goods And Services Tax April 24th, 1996
Get the facts right and get the time right.
This government has shown its contempt for the Canadian people. It has shown complete disregard for the promises it made in the last election. It has destroyed whatever credibility the red book might have left. It just goes to show that the Liberals will say anything, do anything and believe anything to get elected.
The Prime Minister supported the GST when he ran for the Liberal leadership. He opposed it in the last election and then he supported it again now that he got Canadians' votes.
They can wave the red book all they like but can Canadians trust anything in the red book?
Goods And Services Tax April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I was elected four months after the Tory government in the spring of 1989 and the GST had not even been talked about then. Nice try.
Goods And Services Tax April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, Liberal MPs across the country promised Canadians that they would scrap, kill and abolish the GST, just as they said.
They have delivered, a billion dollar bribe to hide the GST and hide their broken promises. The Prime Minister has gone back on his solemn word to Canadians and the finance minister simply said yesterday: "We made a mistake in the last election campaign".
The Prime Minister can wave the red book all he wants, but the question to be answered is this. Will he apologize to Canadians for breaking his number one promise of the 1993 election?
House Of Commons April 22nd, 1996
You sound like Mulroney.
Goods And Services Tax April 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, with all respect and in supporting the member for York South-Weston, he did not want to support the government. "You got that right" is what he would say to the government and to the Canadian people. He knew what he had campaigned on in 1993.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who campaigned to resign if the GST were not scrapped, is still here. The Liberal member for York South-Weston, who was merely living up to the campaign promises in the red book, got the boot.
The government can hide the GST. It can spend billions trying to harmonize the GST. It can ditch all the anti-GST Liberals it wants. However, Canadians will not be fooled. They know these people campaigned on scrapping, abolishing and killing the GST.
Why does the Prime Minister not simply admit he has no intention of keeping his election promise? Why does he not simply tell Canadians not to believe a word they read in the red book?
Goods And Services Tax April 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have seen on parallel here that instead of replacing the GST he will harmonize it. He is now replacing MPs. It is as simple as that. He has gone back on a promise and those people who campaigned in the last election know full when what they campaigned on.
By his heavy handed actions today, the Prime Minister has shown complete disregard for the democratic process and that his precious red book means absolutely precious little. The Prime Minister has placed party and politics ahead of principles and people. The message is clear. If you want to keep your election promises, you cannot do it in the Liberal caucus.
Is it really worth it? Is saving face on the broken GST promise worth the billions the government plans to spend on harmonization? It is worth punishing MPs whose only crime is standing up for their constituents?
Goods And Services Tax April 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, in chapter 6 of the red book, "Governing with Integrity", the Liberals promised to restore the quality of our democratic institutions, end arrogance in political leadership and improve their accountability with Canadian voters. That rings pretty hollow today.
In the last election the Liberals campaigned on a promise to kill, scrap and abolish the GST. They know it. The voters of York-South Weston, the voters of Broadview-Greenwood and in fact all Canadians know it.
How many billions of dollars is the Prime Minister willing to give to the Atlantic Liberal provinces and how may of his own MPs is he willing to sacrifice to come across on his broken GST promise?