Robert Bertrand

[Speech From The Throne, February 28th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our record after these first two years. Since the election we created more than half a million jobs, and the economic growth rate of our country ranks among the highest in the industrialized world.

The speech from the throne we heard yesterday highlighted the three broad objectives we intend to pursue during the second half of our mandate. They are complementary and fully reflect the tenor of the red book. These objectives are: job creation and economic growth, security for Canadians and modernizing the Canadian federation to strengthen Canadian unity.

Canadians want a united, prosperous and secure country for themselves and their children. Our government fully shares these priorities as indicated to us by the Canadian people, and we will do everything in our power to give them the country they want.

[The Balkans, December 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that there has been a commitment from Canada to participate. There has been no clear commitment on the number of forces and other things to be committed.

[The Balkans, December 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Shefford for his question. We are here to listen to what the official opposition has to say.

Let me repeat what I told the member of the third party. I did not hear any suggestion from that party as to the size and the duration of our involvement. I will stay in the House for a while, and I look

forward to hearing members in the official opposition at least tell us what they think about that.

[The Balkans, December 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member opposite for his question. What he just said, however, is not quite true. Absolutely nothing has been decided. Members of the third party have not yet revealed any of their views concerning the force to be deployed in the former Yugoslavia.

I have been here for nearly an hour, but I have still not heard any real suggestions from the third party. I will remain in the House a little longer to see if they offer any positive suggestions.

[The Balkans, December 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege for me to rise this afternoon.

Peacekeeping missions took a new turn in the 1990s. In order to meet the new challenges of global security in the next century, we need a United Nations Organization and other international organizations that are able to play a more efficient role in conflict resolution.

The extent and complexity of contemporary peacekeeping missions call for the UN to ask regional organizations to play a greater role in conflict resolution.

The role of NATO in this effort is an excellent example of the co-operation that is possible between international organizations.

The UN is the ideal tool for giving legitimacy to an international peace mission and NATO is the organization best equipped for carrying out a mission in Europe, especially one that could call for the use of force. But the UN still needs to be changed.

Created in the 1940s, the organization must get the tools necessary for facing the challenges of global security in this century and those to come. The UN record since the end of the cold war is quite impressive for the most part. Missions in El Salvador, Cambodia, Mozambique and Haiti have produced sound results. But failures in Africa and the former Yugoslavia have raised some doubts.

Unfortunately, many member states put all the problems of the world on the UN's shoulders, which is very unfair. Member states must stop criticizing and start doing their bit. Canada is well aware of the UN's problems, but our government is determined to find solutions.

Given our experience and expertise in all aspects of peacekeeping and the new ideas we propose, we are in a unique position to help the UN. Canada helps to improve UN peacekeeping missions in different ways, such as offering expertise at UN headquarters in New York and establishing the Lester B. Pearson training centre for peacekeeping at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

As Canadians, we can offer pragmatic and feasible ideas to prepare the UN for the future. Last September, for example, Canada submitted to the General Assembly the results of a study to improve the UN's capacity to respond in times of crisis. Events in Rwanda showed that simple measures can settle a crisis before it is completely out of control.

The Canadian study recommends concrete changes at all levels of the UN system to ensure that such measures can be implemented quickly and effectively. These changes would be cost effective and their implementation would not require any reform to the present UN charter.

The studies clear recommendation is its proposal to create a multi-national, multi-disciplinary headquarters planning cell, comprised of military and civilian personnel from member states. This planning cell, which would operate under the authority of the security council and the strategic direction of the Secretary-General, would fill an enormous vacuum in the UN system.

It would be responsible for planning and preparing for rapid deployment of a multi-functional standby force of up to 5,000 military and civilian personnel. This force would be deployed for a brief period either to meet an immediate crisis or to anticipate the arrival of follow-on forces or a more traditional peacekeeping operation.

For this vanguard concept to work, this rapid reaction force, the UN standby arrangement system would need to be enhanced so that all the essential components of the force, either military or civilian, could be identified well in advance.

The authority to deploy personnel would still require a UN resolution as well as the consent of each participating government. So far the response to our study from other member states has been encouraging. We look forward to building on this initiative in the months ahead.

In conclusion, while the international environment is becoming even more complex, it is no surprise that peacekeeping has followed suit. As new security threats continue to emerge, Canada and other members of the international community must not let up their efforts to discover new and innovative approaches to peacekeeping.

Whatever the challenges are, Canada's commitment to this useful conflict resolution tool should remain steadfast.

[Csn President, November 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the sovereignist's sovereignist Gérald Larose, president of the CSN, delivered a hefty blow to the Quebec Premier's economic strategy, labelling it devastating. He went on to say, and I quote: "We have the vague impression that, having failed to control all our levers during the referendum, the Government of Quebec wants to take the shortest route and throw itself wildly on spending to avoid sinking like the Titanic".

The union leader's barrage against the PQ government has failed, however, to wound the claimant to the throne, whom nobody wants to upset. The union leader's whole strategy reeks of opportunism and should be condemned, given the benefits his organization has always enjoyed from its affiliation with the PQ.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister of Canada's press conference was barely over when positive feedback started pouring from Quebec.

Reacting to our Prime Minister's proposals, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party said: "First of all, we have to salute the Prime Minister of Canada's willingness to act. It is a first step in a process that should start now".

This initial reaction of the Leader of the Official Opposition in Quebec tends to prove that our government has correctly heard and understood the desire for change expressed by the people in the referendum.

Let us hope that, as the official opposition in the National Assembly, the Quebec Liberal Party will be able to convince the PQ government to set aside its separatist obsession and help renew the Canadian federation, as requested by the people of Quebec.

[Alcan Cable Lapointe Plant, November 10th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the attention of the House that Alcan Cable's Lapointe plant in Jonquière, Quebec earned this year's Canada award for business excellence in the category manufacturing-quality, small business. The Lapointe plant, constructed in the 1970s, is one of seven Alcan Cable plants in North America.

In 1990, Alcan Cable made a commitment to quality by defining a new business mission, with the objective of becoming a world class manufacturer within four years. In their determination to meet that objective, the management and employees of the Lapointe plant spared no effort to indeed become an international class company. Alcan Cable's Lapointe plant in Jonquière is a shining example of the success any business can have if it sets its path resolutely toward quality.

[Veterans, November 7th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has declared the week of November 4 to 12 national veteran's week. As you know, traditionally, since the end of the first world war, Canadians from all over the country gather at their local war memorial on the morning of November 11 to pay tribute, in various ceremonies, to their fellow Canadians who died in combat.

This year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the second world war, Canadians have planned special commemorative activities for the entire week leading up to Remembrance Day. We will be paying tribute to the veterans of both world wars, the Korean War and UN peacekeeping operations. These veterans served their country with courage and distinction. We are proud of them and pleased that the government designated a week in their honour.

[Leader Of The Bloc Quebecois, November 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois showed unprecedented contempt for democracy in a statement he made the day before yesterday as he was leaving the House.

He said, and I quote: "Never again will sovereignists beg the rest of Canada for anything. Never again will we negotiate on unequal terms". The Bloc leader must set his personal frustrations aside and accept the outcome of Monday's referendum.

Quebecers have rejected the option of Quebec separation. As a federal member of Parliament representing a Quebec riding, the Bloc leader must acknowledge Quebecers' wishes. Separation has been rejected. Let us now work on bringing about the changes that Quebecers want within Canada.