Robert Bertrand

[Quebec Referendum, September 25th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, separatists are inviting Quebecers to vote at the upcoming referendum to decide on their future within Canada.

The question concocted by the separatist leaders includes two very distinct aspects. First, Quebecers are asked if they want to separate from Canada; second, they are asked if they want to be economically and politically associated with the country that they are asked to leave.

The absurdity of all this is not so much in the wording of the question, as in the fact that separatists refuse to let Quebecers know about the details of such an association before the referendum.

A proposal for an economic and political association with Canada simply cannot be implemented the way separatists are suggesting. The public will not be fooled by such trickery and will vote no on October 30.

[Auditor General Act, September 18th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have a question for my colleague from York-Simcoe.

Could she perhaps elaborate on the aboriginal concept of the seven generations? What exactly does it mean?

[Demilitarization, September 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in exchange for a pseudo-commitment on the part of France to recognize an independent Quebec, the leader of the PQ and his faithful lieutenant, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, have refused to condemn France for resuming nuclear testing.

Until recently, the PQ had always advocated peace and demilitarization. The PQ's political program published since 1970 states that Quebec will have to gain recognition within the international community as a pacifist people by favouring disarmament over war as a way to settle international disputes and by opposing the testing and use of nuclear and bacteriological weapons.

René Lévesque, the founder and former leader of the Parti Quebecois, would be ashamed to see his so-called heirs make this kind of shady deal.

[Petitions, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Shawville, Quebec, dealing with a social issue, requesting that Parliament oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.

[Quebec Independence, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the dictionary of synonyms of Quebec separatists is full of words and expressions which have one thing in common: they all refer to the same reality.

There is the sovereignty association, with no hyphen, of the Bloc leader, the European type of union suggested by the ADQ

leader, and now the independence of Quebec, the new idea proposed by the PQ leader, who did not want to be left out.

Indeed, this is the expression used earlier this week by the pequiste Premier to describe the propaganda operation conducted by his Deputy Premier in Europe.

I ask the Bloc and ADQ leaders to tell us whether they are prepared to sign a new agreement with the PQ, in which the expression used this time will be the independence of Quebec.

[Party Fundraising, June 13th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, since launching its fundraising campaign, on January 23, the Bloc Quebecois has been boasting about the fact that it was complying with the Quebec legislation on political party financing, by only accepting donations of less than $5,000, and only from individuals.

Yet, the preliminary data just released by the director general of elections concerning the 1993 election campaign show that dozens of corporate donations were accepted by Bloc Quebecois candidates and MPs, and that these donations amount to several thousands of dollars.

Now we understand why the Bloc Quebecois relied for such a long time on the Canada Elections Act clause which allows parties not to release the list of their contributors.

[Quebec Sovereignty, June 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, a new propaganda tool has recently been added to the list of separatist gadgets. Last Thursday, the PQ government in Quebec activated a new toll-free line to answer questions from the public on the future of an independent Quebec.

Listening to the answers provided to any question dealing with a sovereign Quebec, the caller soon starts to wonder if he or she did not make a mistake and dial the number for Cheerful Anonymous instead.

This latest gimmick, which will cost Quebec taxpayers the modest sum of $200,000 for a single month of use, gives a historic advantage to the PQ and the Bloc Quebecois.

This way, they can claim that every "Yes, hello" is another vote in support of their plans for separation.

[Health Care Reform, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the PQ government refused to support an opposition motion on health care reform. It read as follows: "That this Assembly support the proposal by the Leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Lucien Bouchard, to broaden the scope of the ongoing consultations on health care reform in Quebec".

This failure of the PQ government to accede to this legitimate request by their separatist friend and partner clearly shows that the coalition in Quebec City has two faces. They are partners for promoting sovereignty but when it comes to health, they are on opposite sides of the issue.

Does this contemptuous rejection of their Bloc friend's proposal a sign that, this time, the PQ will not let him dictate a new "virage" or change in direction?

[Member For Chambly, May 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the "brotherhood of Bloc intolerance" welcomed a new member into the brood yesterday. It took him a few weeks to do it, but the Bloc member for Chambly has joined ranks with his colleagues, the Bloc members for Louis-Hébert and Chicoutimi, who are demanding that newcomers to Quebec be denied the right to vote because they fear that they will impede Quebec's independence.

In fact, the hon. member insinuated that Quebec's immigrants, who have contributed to the province's economic and social development for years, do not have the same rights as those Quebecers whose ancestors were among the first settlers. This tendency among Quebec separatists to create different classes of citizens based on their language or their cultural origins cannot be tolerated and must be emphatically condemned.

Quebecers do not want to create an independent Quebec which promotes discrimination and racism.

[Algonquins Of Lac Barrière, May 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to offer my heartiest congratulations to the Algonquins of Lac Barrière. This is a fine day for them, as five of their sons will receive their diploma today for completing police studies at the First Nations Tribal Justice Institution in Mission, B.C.

Like other aboriginal nations in the land, Algonquins invest in their youth to give their communities a brighter future. Three other young Algonquins from Barriere Lake are presently studying at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and the University of New Brunswick.

For these achievements I offer my warmest congratulations to the youth of Barriere Lake and their families.