Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral

[Health Care, February 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that the federal government is apparently preparing to invest $750 million to beef up the federal bureaucracy for the specific purpose of policing the provinces in the health field.

My question is for the Minister of Health. Does the minister not realize that the people of Quebec and Canada do not want the federal government to spend millions of dollars on policing the provinces, and expect their money to be used first and foremost to improve direct patient care?

[The Late Hon. Arthur Ronald Huntington, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Hon. Ronald Huntington, a former member of this House, who died December 28 at the age of 77.

Born in Vancouver, Mr. Huntington studied at the University of British Columbia. From 1941 to 1945, during World War II, he served in the Canadian navy, in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic. He began his parliamentary career in 1974 as the Progressive Conservative member for Capilano—Howe Sound, a riding he would represent for 10 years.

During that period, Mr. Huntington served as minister of state for small business and industry from 1979 to 1980 in the Progressive Conservative cabinet and as president of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1982 to 1983.

On retiring from active political life, he was appointed president of Ports Canada in 1985, a post he held until 1991.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Bloc Quebecois, I wish to extend my condolences to his family and friends.

[Official Languages Act, February 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the National Arts Centre, that major symbol of Canadian biculturalism, tabled an English-only document before the heritage committee.

Yet there has been a stipulation in the Official Languages Act for 30 years now that French and English are the languages of work in the National Capital Region.

Once again, the Liberal government is incapable of enforcing the act right in its own backyard, and there is no denying that the lack of political will of the federal government is directly responsible for the 24% assimilation rate of the Eastern Ontario francophone community.

There is nothing surprising about the fact that crown corporations are thumbing their noses at the Official Languages Act, when even the PMO does the same, as the appointments to the Copyright Board prove.

The francophone ministers, including the President of Treasury Board and the Prime Minister himself, do not seem to be much burdened by this disgraceful non-compliance with the Official Languages Act, as they shamelessly hide their inaction behind empty speeches about the francophonie.

[Kangiqsualujjuaq Tragedy, February 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on December 31, while the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq was ringing in the New Year, a terrible avalanche destroyed the school gymnasium, killing nine and injuring 25.

But for the vigilance and determination of members of the community who rushed to free people from the snow, the toll would have been much higher. Let us pay tribute to the community spirit of the Inuit of Kangiqsualujjuaq.

To the families who were touched by this tragedy, and to the entire population of Nunavik, the Bloc Quebecois extends its deepest condolences.

[Division No. 306, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois members will vote yes.

[Railway Safety Act, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois members will vote in favour.

[National Defence Act, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois members will vote no.

[Division No. 303, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois members will vote no.

[Division No. 302, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Bloc Quebecois members vote no.

[Division No. 301, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Bloc Quebecois members vote no.