Sarkis Assadourian

[Armenians, February 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I came here this morning prepared to defend the motion made by my hon. colleague for Scarborough—Agincourt.

I was shocked, really shocked, to hear the parliamentary secretary give a speech which lies totally against the truth. I have here an article from the Globe dated January 28, 1916. It speaks of atrocities. I do not know who wrote the speech for the hon. member or what he had for breakfast but it puzzles me that we have people in foreign affairs who can twist the truth the way this gentleman has done.

[Columbia, February 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister for International Co-operation.

Following the tragic earthquake that has devastated the city of Armenia in Columbia leaving tens of thousands in need of assistance, can the minister tell the House what the government is doing to help the victims of this earthquake in Columbia?

[Immigration, December 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

This week the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration tabled a new and improved Citizenship Act in Canada. Can the minister tell this House when she expects to announce the changes to the Immigration Act itself?

[Natural Disasters, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Armenians around the world will take time today to recognize the 10th anniversary of the tragic earthquake on December 7, 1988. On that sorrowful day over 25,000 lives were lost and hundreds of thousands of Armenians were left homeless and injured.

This year Armenians will reflect on the crippling effect of nature's fury and share with the victims of Hurricane Mitch and natural disasters everywhere the common bonds of human suffering, human courage and human resolve to overcome and persevere.

I urge my fellow members of parliament to join Canadian Armenians in mourning the victims of the 1988 earthquake and to continue the effort to provide relief to the victims of natural disasters everywhere.

[Supply, December 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have a short question for the hon. member from the Reform Party.

The member says the deadline is December 31. Let us assume that everybody agrees on the deadline and we pass the motion. What happens if we do not meet the deadline? Are we going to come back on January 1 and ask for a deadline of January 31 and so on and so forth for the next year? These deadlines are artificial. We do our best and they do their best to make sure the country works. A deadline does not work. If it is not complied with or the agreement is not reached by the deadline, then a second deadline is necessary and there could be no end in sight.

Commitments should be made and we have to work together to improve the federation. That is the commitment we should make rather than to stick to a deadline which is not realistic.

[The Environment, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Environment.

We know environmental challenges require the commitment of all Canadians in each community across the country. What is Environment Canada doing to build partnerships with communities and to increase the capacity and the impact of grassroots environmental initiatives? How will these initiatives impact our environment?

[Canada Small Business Financing Act, November 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have followed with careful consideration the hon. member's speech. I found the speech by my colleague from Scarborough much more logical.

There are a few points I want to bring to the member's attention. He opposed the policies of this government for the last five years. That is fair game. But he has to admit the record is that we have the lowest inflation ever over the last 10 to 15 years; 1.4 million new jobs were created; the lowest interest rate in 25 years; from $42.5 billion we now have zero deficit; it is the first time ever we have had a surplus and we are paying down the debt; higher disposable income for Canadians; four times in a row we have cut EI.

Why does the hon. member not speak about this record? He chooses to be negative, negative, negative.

[Foreign Aid, November 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Co-operation.

Officials in Central America have estimated that more than 12,000 people have died in floods and mudslides triggered by hurricane Mitch. Tens of thousands are injured and tens of thousands more have been left homeless.

What efforts has the Canadian government made to provide relief to the victims of this natural disaster?

[Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act, October 29th, 1998]

Go ahead.

[Foreign Affairs, October 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Aleksander Nikitin, a nuclear engineer and former captain in the Russian navy, is now facing execution. His crime is using information to focus full attention on deplorable environmental hazards posed by the aging fleet of Russian nuclear submarines.

What steps has the Government of Canada taken to work toward the exoneration of this Russian environmentalist?