House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs November 23rd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, we see that the Prime Minister thinks it is a 19th century treaty. He is offering a 19th century solution for it. It is absolutely ridiculous.
We would like to welcome him home on a quick layover. I know he has just come out of Africa. Now that the Prime Minister has finished preaching democracy, why does he not practise it here at home and let B.C. have a vote?
Aboriginal Affairs November 22nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, they had a referendum in Smithers too and it did not go exactly the way the minister would like.
When the Indian affairs minister introduced the Nisga'a treaty bill in the House he said that he would invoke closure if he just did not happen to like the way the debate was going. Now that is democracy in action. He also said that he would not use a referendum because it is just too complicated for the people of B.C.
Let me ask the minister what part of the bill is a little too complicated for the folks in B.C. to understand. What would that be?
Aboriginal Affairs November 22nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Nisga'a treaty is not only dividing Canadians. It is dividing Liberals as well.
B.C. Liberal leaders are opposing this deal. Gordon Campbell called it “an unacceptable slight to all Canadians”, while his predecessor, Gordon Gibson, urged MPs to “say no to a separate government structure for Indians”.
The Liberal government here is determined to ram through the Nisga'a deal without letting British Columbians have their say. Why will not the Indian affairs minister just admit that he is afraid of holding a referendum?
Wayne Gretzky November 22nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, “He shoots, he scores!” There are not many statements more Canadian than that. In more than a century of hockey played in every corner of Canada, no one has shot and scored more than Wayne Gretzky.
Today the great one will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he has already worked his way into the hearts of anyone anywhere who loves the game of hockey, not only because of his unmatchable skill and prowess on the ice, but also because of his integrity, his humility and his generosity as a son, a friend, a husband and a dad.
Wayne and the Oilers—what a team that was. The Kings, the Blues and the Rangers came later, but how we cherish those championship years in Edmonton.
I was privileged to meet Wayne, Janet and their kids on October 1 in Edmonton at Wayne Gretzky Day. He is a real, honest to goodness hero. The Hockey Hall of Fame as of today is Wayne's world. No one will ever forget number 99.
Nisga'A Treaty November 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the government is going to get an earful this afternoon from B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Campbell when he testifies before this little song and dance, as the Liberal MP calls it. He wants a B.C. wide referendum.
If it is good enough for that Liberal, why is it not good enough for these?
Nisga'A Treaty November 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, we would love a real elected Senate and not some sham that the government would talk about. It keeps living in the past with Charlottetown.
Today the government is going to get another earful from B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Campbell, this afternoon in Victoria, when he goes ahead and testifies—
Nisga'A Treaty November 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker it was his own Liberal member who criticized it.
The government knows that this deal would come to a crashing halt if the public had its say, just like Charlottetown.
The B.C. Liberal leader said “This is an unacceptable sleight to British Columbia and to all Canadians”.
If this Nisga'a deal is so great, why does the government not just allow British Columbians to have their say?
Nisga'A Treaty November 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada knows that the Nisga'a treaty establishes two tier citizenship and it entrenches inequality under the law.
The government does not even think that Canadians should have a say on it. At the Nisga'a hearings in British Columbia the Liberal MP for Haliburton—Victoria—Brock referred to the public consultations going on as the little song and dance.
Only the Nisga'a people have been able to have a say on it. Why does the government not just admit that it will not call a referendum on this deal because it knows it will lose?
Employment November 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, was that her final answer? The unemployment was at 6.5%, as far as I know. That answer is wrong, I am afraid. She should have used a life line, maybe, when she had the chance.
Cabinet ministers do not need to play by the rules so maybe we could give her another chance. She got a half million dollars from the minister's special reserve. That needed more than 12% unemployment, and she knows that hers was 6.5%.
Let us ask her one more time. Here are the options: (a) she broke the rules, (b) she fudged the numbers, (c) who cares, it is other people's money, or (d)—
Employment November 17th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, perhaps she has her funds mixed up. I do not think that is the case. The minister seems to have trouble grasping the format here.
We asked a question. She is supposed to answer with an answer. Maybe she would like to, on this one, call a friend or ask the audience.
Here is the question. The transitional jobs fund minister's reserve is (a) a multimillion dollar ministerial slush fund, (b) a way for ministers to get around the rules, (c) a way for ministers to scratch each other's backs, or (d) a special brand of cognac. Which would it be?