David Collenette

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there is a choice and we have made the choice. We will follow and respect the process of the UN and its resolutions.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we are waiting for the end of the inspections process led by Mr. Blix. We are waiting for his report and then we will make a decision.

It is clear that we are following the United Nations process. We respect the international process and I hope that the Bloc Quebecois will support the leadership of our party and our government.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows very well that we are following the United Nations process. We support the resolution and the process led by Mr. Blix. That is the position of this government.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, in preparing for question period, I noticed that the Leader of the Opposition, who in the House in question period poses as someone who is committed to some firm action, seems to change his mind from time to time, apparently. Last night, under questioning from my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, about whether he was committed to war, he said, “We will make our judgments on the facts at that time”, after Secretary Powell and Hans Blix make their reports. Talk about consistency.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when asked Tuesday about the issue of military deployment to the Persian Gulf, the Leader of the Opposition said, “You cross these bridges when you come to them”. That was January 28 in a scrum outside of the House.

The same day the same member who posed the question, the former leader, the foreign affairs critic, issued a press release calling on the government to deploy Canadian Forces to the Persian Gulf. Does he agree with his leader?

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think the Prime Minister has said a number of times that he has been in communication with world leaders, including President Bush and Mr. Blair. We do not need face to face contact to exchange our views. Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair know what Canada's position is and I believe they respect our position.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the terms and conditions of resolution 1441 are clear and the Government of Canada supports them. I do not know why the hon. Leader of the Opposition continues to take the position he does.

He should be standing with the government in this united position, supporting UN action, and letting the inspectors do their job rather than coming into the House and being so precipitous with his questions.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government is unified on one position and that is that the United Nations is the final determinant as to whether or not action should be taken in Iraq. It was this party and this Prime Minister that led the way by supporting the UN, and subsequently Mr. Bush and the Americans followed that view.

I should think that the hon. Leader of the Opposition should be proud of the government's leadership on this issue.

[Road Infrastructure, January 29th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, Quebec still has not signed the agreement on provincial bridges and roads, unlike the other provinces. We are willing to sign the agreement and to consider investing in any highway.

[Canada Post, January 29th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is bordering on innuendo here in the House of Commons, slurring the reputation of an honourable person, someone who sat in the House for many years, someone who is doing an outstanding job with the post office and leading it to profitability.

We have the best post office in the world. The Hon. André Ouellet, the president, is leading us to widespread recognition around the world for his good management.