Yvon Charbonneau

[The Environment, May 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, recently, we have heard here and there that the government is not doing enough research on toxic substances and the management of these substances in Canada.

Could the Minister of the Environment tell us what she intends to do to ensure that the federal government is active in the management of toxic substances and related research?

[Canada-France Parliamentary Day, May 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce the second Canada-France parliamentary day being held today within these precincts.

The day began with a symposium on the co-existence of the civil and common law systems in international commercial contracts. French and Canadian experts shared their concerns and suggestions with us.

Late this afternoon, there will be a round table on the Canada-France action program signed last December by prime ministers Chrétien and Jospin with a view to strengthening the partnership between our two countries.

At the end of the day, there will be an opportunity for all participants to meet His Excellency the Ambassador of France, as well as members of the France-Canada federation.

Clearly, the relationship of co-operation and friendship between France and Canada is very strong and grows stronger daily, both at the intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary levels.

[Young Entrepreneurs, May 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is today, in Ottawa, that the public hearings of the Liberal task force on young entrepreneurs will begin.

This national task force will prepare a report that will be submitted to the Prime Minister by October. This report will include an assessment of the programs and services available to young people who have business projects, and it will determine how the federal government, the private sector, associated groups and young people themselves can create a better synergy.

So, the hearings begin here at 6 p.m., in the Centre Block. The task force will then be in Montreal on May 14 and 15, in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce on May 17, and in Laval on May 28.

This tour of the Quebec regions is an excellent way of contacting young entrepreneurs and organizations that help them with their projects, in their own environment.

This is an opportunity to hear their views on their projects and on what they expect from the government.

[Jacques Parizeau, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the new guru of the Bloc Quebecois, Jacques Parizeau, continues to discredit himself and to blow with the wind.

A few years ago, this wise economist swore only by a Quebec currency. During the last referendum, he placed all his faith in the Canadian dollar. Now, or the past two weeks, he has been proclaiming his faith in the U.S. dollar. He said “When one has set an objective one wants to attain, one pushes any obstacles out of the way. I will become an advocate of the U.S. dollar just as I was before of the Canadian dollar”.

Seeing the flip-flops he is capable of, I would recommend he join the Cirque du Soleil.

This same man claims that Canada is becoming centralist and refuses to allow Quebec to be part of Canadian delegations. Nothing could be more incorrect, as the Minister of Canadian Heritage has shown with her invitation to the Quebec Minister of Culture to join in the Canadian delegation for the next meeting in Mexico, and to speak there.

Once again, Mr. Parizeau has shown himself for what he is: a bad prophet and a bad adviser.

[Earth Day, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, by planting trees, cleaning up water courses, saving energy and learning more about ecology, Canadians are today celebrating Earth Day, along with millions of others throughout the world. This is a symbolic moment uniting all those concerned about protecting the health and integrity of species and human communities.

A century ago, North America was in the throes of industrial expansion. Concerns about the environment were pretty much an unknown concept at that time. Now we know that human activity that is not controlled can destroy ecosystems, render whole species extinct, and do harm to the climate and to health.

The new millennium is fast approaching. People are giving serious thought to the future, and to means of keeping the planet safe. Earth Day reminds us that, if we all work together, great things can be accomplished, and we can leave behind a healthy environment for the children of the next millennium.

[Bloc Quebecois, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I must inform you that from 1993 to 1997 a non-Canadian sat in this House.

I am referring to the Bloc Quebecois member, Roger Pomerleau, who represented the riding of Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies for four years, and who said last week in Rivière-du-Loup that he is not a Canadian and is insulted that he is being treated like one.

We have seen the trouble the Bloc Quebecois has defining who is a Quebecker and who is not, which is rather troubling for a party that wants Quebec to separate. We also know that, for these folks, it is not possible to be a Canadian and a Quebecker at one and the same time, contrary to what most Quebeckers think.

Could we know how many non-Canadians there are in the Bloc Quebecois right now? Are the leader and the House leader of the Bloc Quebecois as insulted to be considered Canadians as the fellow the people of Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies did not re-elect four years ago?

[Endangered Species, April 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

What are the government's intentions with respect to endangered species? In particular, can she tell us when she intends to act in order to protect endangered species throughout Canada?

[Yasser Arafat, March 24th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today, the government and parliament welcome a political leader with an extraordinary record.

Reaction to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, by either adversary, supporter or international public opinion is never one of indifference.

For the past 30 years, under his guidance, the Palestinian people have fought heroically against oppression and repression.

It was under his guidance that the Oslo agreement was signed enabling the Palestinian people to enjoy a form of recognition and political autonomy and providing for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in some of the land occupied by the Israelis since 1967.

The Palestinian people have a long road ahead of them toward a global, just and sustainable peace that will provide them with security, a complete state, the return of refugees, and normal economic, social and cultural conditions.

I hope this visit will provide an opportunity for officials in our country to assure the Palestinian Authority of our support in its people's struggle to recover its rights and territory.

[Party Quebecois, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time the Parti Quebecois has run into political contradictions.

This morning we learned that the government of Quebec is refusing to take part in the launching of the Year of the Francophonie in Canada.

In justification of its refusal, it refers to the concept of Quebec as a “historical focal point”. According to the PQ government, “Quebec is a historical focal point of the French language in North America”.

Yet, on April 17, 1996 Lucien Bouchard leapt at the throat of the federal government. Why? Because he wanted to attack this same notion of principal focal point, which our party had raised a few days before.

This is a major contradiction. According to Mr. Bouchard, the focal point concept was just one more proof that renewed federalism is impossible within the context of Quebec's fundamental aspirations.

The Parti Quebecois plan is to hobble Quebeckers and prevent them from developing within Canada.

[Semaine De La Francophonie, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, all French speaking Canadians celebrate the Francophonie, regardless of the part of Canada they are in. It is a celebration for Quebec, but it is also one for the entire country.

Each of us is in a position to contribute to promoting French culture in Canada and internationally.

Ever since the first Sommet de la Francophonie, the participating states, Quebec and Canada among them, have exchanged views in an atmosphere of harmony, not only on cultural aspects, but also on the scientific, technical, economic and social aspects of their relations.

May this Semaine de la Francophonie continue to unite peoples and countries and bring them ever closer, in areas of complementarity in which they can enjoy mutually advantageous exchanges and collaboration in areas as diversified as culture, social development and economic development.