Elsie Wayne

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this is a government that does not believe in justice for all the innocent victims of tainted blood. Should we wonder that it would pepper spray Canadians?

The Prime Minister agreed with the solicitor general who said in January that his role was “not to interfere with the operation of the RCMP”. I ask the solicitor general, the minister responsible for the RCMP, to tell us who ordered the political interference, who gave the RCMP the order to tear down banners, banners that were a political issue, not a security issue.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said in January that RCMP investigations are not the responsibility of political authorities, and I agree. Canadians now know the RCMP believes the prime minister's office wanted the RCMP to remove banners at the APEC summit. An RCMP memo states: “Banners are not a security issue. They are a political issue”.

Could the Prime Minister tell us who in his office made the political decision to have the RCMP remove banners and signs at the APEC meeting?

[Supply, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my hon. colleague about gun registration. According to the government, when it started out it would cost $85 million over five years. It has ballooned to $133.9 million and counting.

Why would those members not put $133.9 million into front-line police officers? We need them in Saint John, New Brunswick. We need them in every municipality. Why are we wasting this money?

[Hepatitis C, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for his kind comments. Now that we are working so closely together and all working in the same direction, will he please tell me if he is going to compensate all the hep C victims?

[Hepatitis C, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, when asked about increased compensation for hep C victims the Prime Minister also stated “The money is not mine. It is very easy to be generous when the money is not yours”. That is Canadians' money and they want all victims to be treated equally.

It is unfortunate that the government did not hold the same sentiment when it spent $500 million of taxpayers' money to cancel a helicopter contract and then turned around and bought the same helicopters.

Could the Prime Minister tell us whether his comments mean that this government has no intention of compensating all—

[Supply, June 9th, 1998]

I have been made the honorary chair of the rifle association because of our stand on it.

[Taxation, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, if what the hon. minister stated is correct, all of the ministers and all of the provinces would have signed in by now.

The government claims that the new tax agency will improve administrative efficiency at Revenue Canada. Revenue Canada comprises one-quarter of the entire public service. If there is an efficiency problem with one-quarter of the public service, then there is a problem with the entire structure of government and the entire public service.

Is this the government's piecemeal solution to that larger problem, carving off the government agency by agency?

[Taxation, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, not one province has signed on to a plan to set up a national tax collection agency, but a bill to set up such an agency was introduced this morning.

Alberta and Ontario want more independence from Ottawa on tax policy but they fear the new agency will rob them of any freedom they now have.

Why is the revenue minister moving ahead with this legislation when the study he commissioned to form this proposed agency was based on the assumption that all provinces would be involved? Is the minister out in his own field of dreams?

[Saint John Flames, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to honour a hockey team close to my heart in Saint John, the Saint John Flames. The Flames have advanced to the finals of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup against the Philadelphia Phantoms.

The people of Saint John have truly embraced AHL hockey in their city and the entire city has become Calder Cup crazy, in the process breaking franchise attendance records.

Saint John will be buzzing this weekend as the greatest little city in the east hosts games four and five.

As one of the biggest fans, I call on all parliamentarians and hockey fans across this country to join me in cheering the Saint John Flames and the people of Saint John. Go Flames, go.

[The Senate, May 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say so much for transparency and accountability in spending our taxpayers' dollars.

I again would ask the Prime Minister how this government is accounting to Canadians for these actions and expenditures.