Deborah Grey

[National Defence, June 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it took a lot of courage for Private Ann Margaret Dickey to come forward and tell her story of abuse in the military, but what has been the reaction of the minister of defence? He blames the victim. Instead of following up on Private Dickey's complaints, the minister has the nerve to come forward and question her credibility.

Why should any woman ever come forward with allegations of sexual assault in the military when she knows she will be put on trial by the minister, his department and the media? Why is that?

[Hepatitis C, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this whole government has one agenda for the Prime Minister and that is to keep him out of town. Unfortunately they cannot keep him out of trouble.

He tries very hard to say that he cares so much about the working group and the hep C victims, but he made it obvious last night that he has no intention of helping these people who are in trouble through no fault of their own.

How can the health minister defend his boss who says such ridiculous, irresponsible, indefensible statements right across the country?

[Hepatitis C, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has now said that there is really no difference between innocent hepatitis C victims and those who smoke. Except that cigarettes carry a health warning and blood products do not.

Obviously the health minister thinks this is okay. Can the health minister defend his boss who says that hepatitis C victims are really no different than two pack a day smokers or drug addicts? Is that okay?

[Hepatitis C, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, somehow I do not think the hepatitis C victims will be very amused by this.

[Access To Information, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let me just say that I was in favour of top gun then and I am in favour of it now. I support it but I am also in favour of open disclosure.

Speaking of open disclosure, the information commissioner tabled his last report today. When he should have had a last hurrah, he had to say that this government is just clouded in guilt. Secrecy still flourishes. This is wrong. At least Mulroney had the odd press conference and so does Boris Yeltsin.

Let me ask the Prime Minister about the information he is giving. Is he proud of his badge of honour?

[The Senate, June 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I will. Thank you very much. Canadians will get an elected Senate sooner or later, by hook or by crook. When will it be?

[The Senate, June 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister did not hesitate at all to write a letter to the upper house about Andy Thompson. There are some amazing similarities between the upper house and the big house.

Here are a few of them. It costs about the same to house a prisoner as it does a senator. Both are full of colourful characters who are serving a life term and do you know what, Mr. Speaker—

[The Senate, June 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Michel Cogger is a convicted criminal who spends part of his time being a senator. Yesterday he was convicted of bribes of more than $200,000 to influence Senate decision making. Mr. Speaker, do you know what his defence was? He said “Nobody told me it was wrong”.

Legally his salary is guaranteed and his seat is secured. The Prime Minister wrote a letter to Andy Thompson asking him to resign. When will he do the same for Michel Cogger?

[Health, June 2nd, 1998]

The problem is that whatever government it was in the 1980s or the 1990s we see the same problem, that they are irresponsible.

Why is it that the health minister continues to behave this way whether it is hepatitis C or breast implants? When will he admit that they are wrong?

[Health, June 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House what is inappropriate. It is when a government tries to stall and when a government puts things off for years.

We see frightening similarities between this issue and the hepatitis C crisis. In both cases the government was warned that the health of innocent people was in jeopardy. We see that happening—