Daniel Turp

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that the U.S. was there, as well as four major European nations, not necessarily members of the European Union. Not all members of the European Union were there.

Is the fact that the Minister of National Defence was excluded even from the informal meeting not proof that this government is considered second rate, and that is exactly what other countries think of this minister? When he is called, it is to inform him of decisions already taken, but not to consult him.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week in Bonn the U.S. defence secretary and four of his European counterparts met secretly to discuss a possible ground war in Kosovo.

Canada was excluded from this meeting. Yesterday, the Minister of National Defence did not even know who had attended the meeting and what was said.

What explanation can the Minister of National Defence offer for the way in which Canada was left out of discussions that could ultimately involve the lives of our troops?

[United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, information I obtained only today does not make it clear whether or not the government has handed over the $5 million.

Did the government hand over the $5 million to UNCHR and, if not, is there not a credibility problem when a NATO member does not give UNCHR the money it has promised?

[United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today, UNHCR appealed to the international community to honour its financial commitments and hand over the $66 million promised but not yet forwarded by the end of May.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us whether Canada has given UNCHR the $5 million promised and whether it undertakes to hand over before May 31 the additional $20 million it promised UNCHR on April 22?

[Kosovo, May 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is not clear whether or not China wants to participate in the work of the security council.

As a council member, what does Canada intend to do to overcome this new difficulty and ensure that the UN and its security council play a role in finding a solution to the conflict in Kosovo?

[Kosovo, May 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the permanent representative of China to the United Nations said that his country would not approve any security council resolution regarding a peace plan for Kosovo unless NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia stopped.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us whether Canada and NATO member countries are rejecting China's condition?

[Kosovo, May 6th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned today that the ministers of foreign affairs of the G-8 countries meeting in Bonn have reached an agreement on the Kosovo question, an agreement described by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs a little earlier today as still having a few sticking points.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Is not one of the major sticking points the nature and scope of the participation of the NATO member countries and of the force deployed in Kosovo, but also and above all—-

[Economic Missions, May 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government always says that political meetings are necessary to the success of Team Canada missions.

In the case before us, the hard line taken by the federal government confers an economic advantage on our foreign competitors, since President Zedillo has agreed to meet with the governor of New Jersey, as well as with the President of Catalonia.

How can the Prime Minister justify his short-sighted policy, which is damaging to the interests of Quebec and the efforts of its government and businesses?

[Economic Missions, May 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we fail to see why the federal government will not agree to allow the Premier of Quebec to lead an economic mission to Mexico and meet with President Zedillo there. Such a meeting is legitimate and desirable.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Is the federal government not still taking a hard line when it refuses to provide all necessary assistance to the Premier of Quebec and prevents him from meeting with President Zedillo?

[Kosovo, May 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my question is a very simple one: Is the government going to freeze his assets? Have they been inventoried? Could the moneys seized in this way not be put into a fund to ensure the reconstruction of Kosovo?