David Collenette

[Airline Industry, February 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the airline industry around the world has faced turbulence since September 11, 2001. It is being exacerbated by the current tensions in the Middle East and the spiral of fuel prices.

When the hon. member talks about airline policy, I might remind him that it was his party, the Reform Party in 2000, that supported the government and Bill C-26. As the Alliance, it supported us on Bill C-23.

I thought the opposition was supporting the government, so we spoke with one voice on airline policy. I think the Alliance members should recognize the truth.

[Airline Industry, February 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on the air security charge, the Minister of Finance has said that this is under review, and one can assume that he might have something to say about that shortly.

With respect to the other suggestion about re-regulating the domestic air industry, this flies in the face of conventional wisdom and the good of the consumer. The fact is that, yes, today there is some turmoil in the marketplace but the fact is that people have the lowest fares in history, and that has come as a result of deregulation.

The issue with Air Canada is a much more complex one which I would be willing to elaborate on in a supplementary.

[Rail Transportation, February 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, even if it is too early to give all the details concerning the VIA Rail proposal to optimize the use of existing infrastructure in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, my officials are currently looking at this situation. However, I must stress that this corridor runs between Quebec City and Windsor.

[Health, February 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that when first ministers meet, first ministers are there. Obviously there is a dialogue among the government, the premiers, the Prime Minister and other stakeholders in society. Of course the first nations are a very important part of our society and the leaders of the society have every chance to give their input, but a first ministers meeting is a first ministers meeting.

[Points of Order, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify something that was raised in question period in the questions from the members for Battlefords—Lloydminster and Cariboo—Chilcotin.

They alleged that an ad was placed in the Hill Times by the Minister of Finance, or on his behalf, for a political fundraiser and gave his ministerial office phone number to contact.

This is not true at all. The fact is that this was the events calendar in the Hill Times and it was the initiative of the Hill Times to put that phone number in. The minister's office has contacted the Hill Times and it will make a correction in the next issue.

I would say to my colleagues here that before they raise such spurious questions in the House they should check the facts, otherwise they are being unfair to a very honourable member.

[Fundraising, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, now that the hon. member has revealed his very credible source, it just reinforces my earlier answer.

[Fundraising, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has made a very serious allegation about the Minister of Finance. I would hope that if he has such proof he would bring it forward, rather than just smear the name of an hon. member on the floor of the House of Commons.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we will take that as a representation from the right hon. member and I am sure that the Prime Minister, who is not here today, will look at Hansard and think about the request that has been made.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the right hon. member for Calgary Centre, who has had some experience in this House and who has been through difficult times earlier with the gulf war, should know that we have to be very prudent in what we say and in what we do.

We take this matter very seriously. We believe that the United Nations and its resolution must be respected and we want the inspectors to have time to do their job before we take any action that certainly may lead down a different path.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, no one wants war and no one wants the availability of weapons of mass destruction. We are following a process that will allow the UN inspectors to see whether or not the evidence exists that requires further action.

We have been consistent in our approach. We will continue to take this approach and let the UN process work out.