House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 53% of the vote.
The Economy May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as far as I know, a budget is an important document for job creation in this country. It just so happens we did present a budget. We have already approved millions and millions in Canadian investments for projects in Quebec which will give jobs to real workers and not to those who refuse to work and just keep bitching.
The Economy May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the only confrontation climate created in this House is the one the member from the other side is generating by not striving to find real economic solutions; he just keeps ranting because he does not want Canada to succeed.
Social Program Reform May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said and keeps saying that he wants to find good solutions. What is most important to him, and what should be most important to all politicians, is to have jobs for workers. Unemployed people in Montreal, Shawinigan or Dolbeau are very interested in government projects but less interested in federal-provincial bickering. We are trying to use a fair and equitable approach and we are negotiating in good faith.
Social Program Reform May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister said yesterday is exactly what he has been saying since the beginning of our mandate. We are negotiating in good faith to find a solution. Obviously, if we cannot come to a solution, we will proceed only in those fields which are under federal jurisdiction. This is exactly the position adopted by the Opposition leader when he disagreed with his government during certain negotiations, in 1989.
Taxation System May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I repeat that the Minister of Finance recognized and understood the inequities in the tax system when in the budget he launched a process to review this very provision. In fact, he was encouraged to do so not only by the private member's bill launched by the member for Nepean, but also by the strong presentations he received from the membership of the women's caucus of the Liberal Party.
I can assure the hon. member that the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice and all members of the government are going to be working very hard to make sure that present inequities in the tax system are eliminated.
Taxation System May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, clearly we recognize the inequities of the present taxation system. This is why, in a large part at the request of the women's caucus of the Liberal Party, the Minister of Finance started a discussion of this in his budget.
It is equally obvious that this court ruling will have a very direct impact on the income of many families. We are studying the direct implications, and the Minister of Justice as well as the Minister of Finance indicated yesterday that we can expect a decision on this in the very near future.
Rwanda May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, it is unfair of the Leader of the Opposition to characterize Canada's response as mere concern.
We have been on the ground. We are on the ground. We continue to be on the ground both with a physical presence and financial assistance. We are working very closely with the United Nations and the Security Council to ensure that the solution we find will meet with regional support, but more important, will reach out to those hundreds of thousands of people who have been left homeless as a result of this massacre.
Rwanda May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs clearly stated yesterday that Canada intended to call on the UN Secretary General to help find a solution to Rwanda's problems.
We are very, very concerned about the thousands of people now in refugee camps and also very, very disappointed with the continuing massacre. We are currently talking about the possibility of broader intervention.
Points Of Order May 4th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, what I said was that the questions involved were racist. If the Speaker finds offence at my characterization of a question I will so withdraw any comment.
Points Of Order May 4th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the member makes reference to the fact that the comments did not appear in Hansard and somehow draws some references to the staff of the House of Commons.
Certainly from the perspective of the government staff of the House of Commons, in particular those people who record comments, they are doing a terrific job and should in no way be under any kind of a cloud because of this kind of comment.
That being said, what I said yesterday which I will withdraw if the Speaker finds it offensive, when there were questions raised and insinuations made about the status of the role of Indian chiefs in certain provinces, accusing them of everything ranging from assault to-