Eugène Bellemare

[Government Contracts, October 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

Architectural and engineering services are a significant component of Canada's small and medium size business community. Could the minister tell us what is the government doing to give greater access to this important sector of our economy?

[Francophones Outside Quebec, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, the hon. member for Rimouski—Mitis deemed it necessary to explain, in the House, her disparaging remarks concerning French Canadians.

She denied calling us second class citizens. Yet, the official report of the Debates reads, and I quote: “As a French Canadian, I am a second class citizen”. The member went on to say that francophones outside Quebec could count on her support.

I say to the Bloc Quebecois member that we French Canadians outside Quebec have no use for the kind of support Bloc members have been giving us from time to time since they arrived in this place, by using our problems to promote their separatist goal. Such negative support is harmful to our cause and we can easily do without it.

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am referring to the Canadian Constitution. French Canadians are not second class citizens, as the member has just said.

[Speech From The Throne, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on the speech by the hon. member for Rimouski—Mitis. First, I must congratulate her for a very passionate and good speech, in which she defends culture.

The hon. member has always been known to defend culture and I congratulate her for doing so. However, in her enthusiasm, she is wearing blinkers and is too focused on herself, on what she calls the people of Quebec. When she talks about the two founding nations, she talks about Quebec. She forgets the francophones from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and even Yukon.

When the hon. member refers to us, francophones from outside Quebec, it is always in a negative way and I deplore that. I do not think she does it out of malice but, rather, out of separatist idealism to try to make a point. She should instead encourage francophones outside Quebec and show what is happening among French Canadians.

The hon. member talked about Quebec's culture. There is a French Canadian culture. There are many cultivated people in Quebec. There is a thriving culture, but francophones living outside Quebec also contribute to that culture.

When she talks about the francophonie, I wish the member for Rimouski—Mitis would include francophones outside Quebec as well as those in Quebec in Canada's French-speaking community. Together, we can make Canada an even better place, with a strong, thriving Quebec in an even greater country and in a world in which we can be proud of our dynamic culture, since the hon. member is always raising the issue of culture. Perhaps I should commend her for her interest in this matter.

[Petitions, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition. Pursuant to Standing Order 36, allow me to present to the House a petition signed by 25 petitioners of Carleton—Gloucester.

The petitioners ask that Parliament amend the Criminal Code to ensure that the sentence given to anyone convicted of causing death while driving impaired carries a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of fourteen years.

[Petitions, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition signed by 25 constituents in Carleton—Gloucester.

The undersigned call upon Parliament not to proceed with an increase in the federal tax on gas.

[Parliament Of Canada Act, September 25th, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-201, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (oath or solemn affirmation).

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to introduce a bill to amend the Parliament of Canada Act concerning the solemn affirmation.

Presently members of Parliament swear allegiance exclusively to the Queen. I now present a private member's bill that would require the newly elected MPs when they are elected to swear allegiance to Canada and the Constitution as well as swearing allegiance to the Queen.

I would like to thank all those members who read my proposed amendment, as I did, at the swearing-in ceremony.

[Quebec Premier, April 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, according to a survey in Le Devoir , 63 per cent of Quebecers want Lucien Bouchard not to interfere in the next election campaign. Even 50 per cent of Bloc Quebecois supporters, moreover, want him to stay out of it.

There are two excellent reasons in favour of Lucien Bouchard's staying out of the federal election. The first is that the majority of Quebecers are demanding it, and the second is that, if he had a bit of confidence in the capacity of the Bloc and its leader to survive without him, he would mind his own business and look after his own provincial affairs.

[Committees Of The House, April 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on public service renewal.

The committee has closely monitored the renewal process in the public service and has made a number of recommendations aiming to ensure that the public service is supported in a way to ensure renewal, the relève initiative, improve accountability and transparency and that other key initiatives be implemented so that the public service may continue to serve Canadians with pride and efficiency.

On a personal note, I am proud to be serving my riding and to be representing on many occasions in Parliament the interests of the public servants. I salute our public service.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response.

[Parliament Of Canada Act, April 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am voting with the government as usual.