Sarkis Assadourian

[Canada Post, February 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the other day an article in the Ottawa Citizen stated that Canada Post recently awarded an Australian firm a contract to produce Canadian stamps.

My question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. Could the minister explain to the House the reasons behind this contract being awarded to a foreign country?

[Supply, February 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the member has to be fair and tell us whether he is for the separation of Quebec. Is he for sovereignty? Or is he for independence?

I have been here for the last three months. I am confused where the opposition stands on this issue. Those members keep mentioning the same issue over and over again.

[Supply, February 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief.

First of all I appreciate the fact that the hon. member read the red book. I do not know why he says that he is giving us the opportunity to defend the book. He needs the opportunity to defend his presence in this room.

I am puzzled and hurt when the issue is addressed and they say Quebec and Canada. One has to be straightforward as a Canadian. Either one is for Quebec or one is for Canada. One is most welcome to be in Canada and we want you to be in Canada-

[Pre-Budget Consultations, February 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member on his election and on his first speech on the pre-budget debate.

Before I put my question, I mention to him that we promised in the red book that we would bring down the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP. In his plan, as was mentioned during the campaign and as he mentioned again today, he is to eliminate the deficit in three years. This means that on average it must be reduced by $15 billion every year for the next three years to meet the target of a zero deficit.

Would the member explain to us how he would do that? From where would he cut $15 billion every year on average for the next three years?

[Nobel Peace Prize Committee, January 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on September 13, 1993 a declaration in principle on interim self-government between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the state of Israel was signed. It marked an historic moment for both politics and the people of the Middle East. It ushered in a new sense of hope to a region of the world where bloodshed and despair continue to dominate the lives of so many people.

The agreement was the direct result of efforts made by two courageous individuals. They managed to overcome insurmountable pressures from those groups that continued to choose violence instead of peace.

Today I wish to inform my hon. colleagues that on January 20, 1994 I submitted a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee nominating both Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel, and Mr. Yasser Arafat, PLO Chairman, for the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.

As Canadians we must continue to play a leading role in seeking peace and promoting peace. In so doing we advance the efforts of men such as the late Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.

[Los Angeles Earthquake, January 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on January 17, 1994 at approximately 7.30 a.m. eastern standard time a severe earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the city of Los Angeles.

Due to the severity of the earthquake over 25,000 people were left homeless, 45 are dead and over 2,000 are injured.

I wish to express my great sense of sorrow to these individuals and at the same time urge the Prime Minister on behalf of this House to convey our condolences to President Clinton and the victims of the disaster.

No doubt in the near future when we know the full extent of this earthquake we will know more about this tragedy.