House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 53% of the vote.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister himself stated over the weekend that he wants to fight the referendum battle on the real issues, the issue of jobs, of economic growth, of hope for Quebecers within Canada. As for myself, I cannot wait for the separatists to have the courage to call the referendum instead of making up stories about the CSE.
Social Program Reform October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for the question because I believe him when he says that he is interested in embarking on a real public exercise. I know he will join me in congratulating the Minister of Human Resources Development, who got a real vote of confidence from the people of Canada with the survey on the weekend that showed an overwhelming number of Canadians support real change.
The minister is proposing a real change from the current system whereby we would be putting dollars directly into the hands of students. We do not want to see the post-secondary system starved. At the present moment if we continue on the downward course of cash transfers, that is exactly what is going to happen.
The minister has proposed a very ingenious way of delivering dollars directly into the hands of students so they can go to the post-secondary institution of their choice.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, what I said Friday about the CSE is true. They are covered by the Criminal Code. They are subject to all Canadian laws, including the legislation to which the hon. member referred. Otherwise, if they were not covered, how could they be exempted?
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, whether I state it on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday, in French or in English, the fact remains that the CSE does not have a mandate to spy on Canadians. I might add for the benefit of the hon. member opposite that, personally, the only spy I have known in the past was Claude Morin.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the member talks about what happened 24 years ago.
What happened 24 years ago resulted in a royal commission and substantial changes to the Canadian intelligence security service. What is happening today is that the CSE is governed by the laws of Canada, prohibiting it by law from spying on Canadians. I cannot see any clearer than that.
The Prime Minister repeated his assurances on the weekend as I repeated in the House last week. There is absolutely no mandate for the CSE to be engaged in spying on Canadians.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, these unfounded allegations were the subject of an analysis by the Prime Minister of Britain who himself characterized them as claptrap.
Communications Security Establishment October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the member is qualifying his questions on the basis of an uncorroborated book which has already been characterized by the Prime Minister of Britain as claptrap.
Federal Intelligence Agencies October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, the Prime Minister confirmed, as he did last week, as I did on Friday, as we will undoubtedly do when answering questions tomorrow and the day after, that the CSE does not have the mandate to spy on Canadians. The Prime Minister, true democrat that he is, stressed that no MP, no political party, including separatists, should be spied on. Because he is a real democrat, he is looking forward to meeting the separatists on the battle field, and the real battle field will be the referendum, when they are brave enough to set a date for it.
Federal Intelligence Agencies October 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I realize members opposite are looking for an issue. Let me tell them that they are looking in the wrong place.
There is no smoking gun. The Prime Minister has repeated the position of the government, that the service in question has no legal right to spy on any Canadian, including legitimate political parties.