Ian McClelland

[Investment Canada, January 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. I acknowledge the fact that this matter took place under the previous government.

It was reported in the Auditor General's report that the president of Investment Canada spent $132,000 of taxpayers' money on renovations to a bathroom and kitchenette in his office. Last weekend the Ottawa Citizen had an ad for a whole house for $105,900.

Would the minister assure the House and explain specifically what steps his department is taking to prevent the recurrence of this kind of lavish and extravagant waste of taxpayers' money.

[Speech From The Throne, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I direct this question to my colleague from Richelieu.

I listened attentively to his comments and particularly to the comments of his leader. I listened attentively, as well, to the comments from the government benches. It was interesting that all these comments had a lot to say about the wallet and very little to say about the heart.

I have spent all my adult life with this debate in Quebec and Quebec's place in Confederation. We are going to be revisiting it again, but I can assure my hon. colleague that he will be getting an honest debate and whatever happens, win, lose or draw, we are going to be neighbours. At least he will have an honest debate. He will get it from us and I hope from the government.

In your comments you mentioned that Montreal would be a natural site for the NAFTA environmental secretariat. Could you tell me the names of the other Canadian cities that are in the running and why you think Montreal is the favoured city?

[Los Angeles Earthquake, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today with a great deal of pride and apprehension and a deep sense of duty, honour and responsibility.

My statement echoes the statement of my colleague preceding. I would ask that all members of the House recognize the suffering that has gone on in Los Angeles with our neighbours to the south.