Sarkis Assadourian

[Wayne Gretzky, April 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I spoke to all the House leaders and they all agreed. Maybe, if you ask the question again, they could clarify their positions.

[Wayne Gretzky, April 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend Canadians lived a historic day. Based on that historic day it is my pleasure to introduce a motion for which I hope I have unanimous consent:

That the House request Canada Post to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of Wayne Gretzky in recognition of his unique contribution to Canadian sport in general and hockey in particular.

[Supply, April 19th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I followed with great interest the hon. member's presentation.

We have to remind the hon. member, as my colleague mentioned earlier, we have sent our peacekeepers overseas many times and we never had a debate. Over the last five years I can remember five or six debates and the hon. member participated in them.

Further, last week when the Minister of Foreign Affairs was asked the same question he replied that none of the European nations debated or discussed the issue. The U.K. is sending thousands of soldiers to Kosovo and has never debated it. The U.S. has sent many troops and aircraft and it has never had a debate.

This year we have had a debate. Everybody is free to express their opinions.

[Kosovo, April 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We know the minister has said that the NATO air campaign is necessary to bring maximum pressure to bear on Milosevic to negotiate. Will the minister inform the House of what other actions Canada is taking to highlight the human rights and humanitarian concerns in the region?

[Year 2000, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. The Y2K computer problem has been described as a significant threat to world peace and security of the computerized world.

Will the Minister of National Defence assure this House that the Y2K problem in the military system throughout the world, including China, Russia and North Korea, has been addressed in relation to the NATO missile defence system?

[National Housing Act, March 11th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I followed carefully the hon. member's speech on this subject. He was in a big rush to condemn the Liberal Party and every other government. He forgot to mention the NDP in Saskatchewan and B.C. B.C. did not sign on to RRAP.

Would the hon. member comment on the refusal of the British Columbia NDP government to sign on to that program to help the homeless?

[The Budget, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there are three ways to look at the budget, in a realistic way, an optimistic way and a negative way. Using the example of the glass being half full or half empty, this glass is seven-eighths full and one-eighth empty. That is a realistic budget.

My colleague from Waterloo—Wellington spoke about the positive points in this budget. He failed to mentioned the positive responses we received from all the premiers and the favourite son of the federal riding of Brampton Centre, Bill Davis. He spoke very highly of this budget.

I wonder why my colleague skipped this fact and did not present this information to the House?

[Armenian Community, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The courage and determination of Canada's Armenian community has made an indelible impression on the national fabric of Canada. Following the debate on Motion No. 329 in the House on Monday, what new steps are underway to foster and improve communications along with dialogue with the Armenian community of Canada?

[Citizenship Of Canada Act, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in the last parliament the hon. member and I were members of the Standing Committee on Immigration and Citizenship for two years. We did not agree too many times then and I do not agree with her now.

My question is on the points she did not mention like the citizenship oath. Does the hon. member agree with changing the words in the oath? In discussions we had in 1994 she did not agree with the changes. Now we have the changes but she has not said anything. Does she agree with the changes or not?

[Recognition Of Crimes Against Humanity Act, February 15th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-479, an act to establish by the beginning of the twenty-first century a permanent museum exhibit to recognize the crimes against humanity as defined by the United Nations that have been perpetrated during the twentieth century.

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to present my private member's bill. This act shall be cited as the Recognition of Crimes Against Humanity Act.

The purpose of the bill is to mandate the establishment at the beginning of the 21st century of an exhibit in the Canadian Museum of Civilization recognizing all crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated during the 20th century.

Canadians from many diverse backgrounds have been affected by crimes against humanity that have taken place throughout the 20th century. The suffering of any group of victims is no less significant than that of any other group.

In introducing the bill I hope to address the concern that the creation of a museum to recognize only one group of victims would severely diminish the significance of the millions of other lives that have been lost or ruined as victims of crimes against humanity.

How can we as a government support one group of victims and ignore the suffering of others?

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)