House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 67% of the vote.
Policing Of Airports September 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the safety of air transportation continues to be the Government of Canada's priority. As the member well knows, there are two airports in Montreal, and international flights have just been transferred. There are also major renovations under way at Dorval.
For these reasons, the Government of Canada has decided to leave the RCMP forces in place during this period of change.
The RCMP will stay at Dorval and Mirabel.
Mirabel Airport September 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has received from the premier of Quebec a letter to which he will reply.
Mirabel Airport September 29th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, as I said last Friday, the decision to move flights from Mirabel to Dorval was made by Aéroports de Montréal. That was not a political decision. The Aéroports de Montréal group has that power and exercised it.
Mirabel Airport September 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the national airports policy is designed to turn the day-to-day operation of some airports over to local authorities.
The Aéroports de Montréal group made a decision to transfer flights from Mirabel to Dorval. I received a letter from the Quebec transport minister inviting me to sit on a commission. Based on the terms of reference of this commission, I have decided it is an economic development commission and not a transport commission. That is why we will not be part of it.
Infrastructure September 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I do think it is somewhat premature to speculate about using quasi-judicial review bodies or agencies when we have not established the facts.
I have undertaken to get the facts for the hon. member. Until that time I think we should examine them and see if the problem is as acute as he says it is.
Infrastructure September 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I would like first to congratulate the hon. member's appointment as critic for the Conservative Party and I welcome him back to the House.
He did raise this with me privately and it is a matter which I undertook to discuss with my officials.
This is a federal-provincial funding agreement. Highways are the responsibility of the provinces. To date we have not seen anything from the federal point of view that causes undue alarm. I have given him my assurance that we will re-examine the matter and I will discuss it with my provincial counterpart in Nova Scotia.
Infrastructure April 18th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.
The Canada infrastructure program created tens of thousands of jobs across Ontario. As we approach round two the Ontario government has proposed to exclude municipalities from the project approval process. To add insult to injury, it is rumoured that the amount of money to be allocated to the greater Toronto area is disproportionately low.
Will the President of the Treasury Board guarantee that before the program goes ahead with Ontario the municipalities will be given a meaningful role?
National Defence October 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, as I said last week, we are obviously aware of what has been going on there and disciplinary action has been taken. Certain charges have been laid and other charges may be laid.
The way to deal with a problem, no matter how regrettable, is to allow the normal course of justice to go on. Those people who have committed an offence will be dealt with appropriately.
As to the allegation about this series of events which have gone on at Base Val Cartier being prevalent across the country, I would invite the hon. member to give us evidence of that. Is this just wild speculation? If he has evidence then he has an obligation to bring it forward to me or to others so that we can investigate it.
National Defence October 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I think the Prime Minister and I have dealt with most of these points in recent days.
The hon. member is often talking about the morale in the armed forces. There is no question that when people see television or newspaper reports of the inflammatory rhetoric that comes from the opposition day in and day out, that obviously affects morale.
This is a difficult time for the armed forces. It is time for everyone to pull together and allow justice to take its course. I remind the hon. member, although he should know, a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, that morale does not come only from leadership. Morale comes from a sense of worth, a sense of mission and a sense of duty to the country.
I have every confidence in the men and women of the armed forces, despite the problems we are facing, that they feel they are getting that sense of worth, that they have a sense of mission and that they are serving with distinction despite all these problems.
National Defence October 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the majority of work that was done in Somalia by our forces was exceptionally good. However, a serious problem has been identified and it is being dealt with by the commission.
This government feels it would be inappropriate to issue such a medal at this time. Those people who will be deserving of a medal will get their medal in due course. However, I think we owe it to the commission and to a sense of fair play and justice to allow the commission to do its work before we proceed on any other matter.