Crucial Fact

  • Her favourite word was quebec.

Last in Parliament April 1997, as Liberal MP for Madawaska—Victoria (New Brunswick)

Lost her last election, in 1997, with 30% of the vote.

Statements in the House

The Budget March 10th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my English-speaking colleague from Ontario for her comments. But first, I would like to make a correction.

In the Official Languages Act the wording is not "where sufficient demand". The wording is "where numbers warrant".

I would also like to point out to my colleague that a few years ago I was in Calgary and I was invited to be part of a festivity commemorating St. Jean Baptiste. That francophone community in Calgary, the home province of the member for Yellowhead, was so vibrant with life, happy to be together, happy to have cousins from elsewhere in Canada at its festivity. It was happy also to invite other Albertans to its festivity to be part of the culture.

In French, we say " enlever les oeillères '' to take off one's blinkers or `` regarder plus loin que le nez '', not to see the end of one's nose. When the hon. member says the Official Languages Act was never debated in this House, he should go back and reread the newspapers. Besides, when the Constitution was patriated in 1982, a nation-wide debate went on for months, not only in this House, but all over the country. Canadians from coast to coast reaffirmed their commitment to bilingualism.

I would also tell the hon. member that my father-in-law, Mr. Maltais, a French-speaking New Brunswicker, was in Holland on D-Day. He was a proud participant in a war which brought democracy and tolerance to Canada, the Commonwealth and Europe.

If the hon. member in unhappy about the kind of Official Opposition we have got, I can tell him that I do not like the philosophy of his party either.

International Women's Day March 8th, 1994

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to salute all women and young girls who choose to fulfil their potential.

I want to mention the presence in our gallery of my daughter, Andrée-Julie, who, even at her young age, sees the future from a different perspective than I or my mother did.

In 1994, we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the right to vote for women in New Brunswick, a right they acquired on April 17, 1919. Forty-eight years later, a woman was elected for the first time in our province and 68 years later, two francophone women were elected members of the New Brunswick legislature.

I encourage women to participate in politics. There are no women's issues, as there are no issues concerning only men; there are only collective problems which must be addressed collectively.

Supply March 8th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments, not to ask questions, but rather to make a few comments following the remarks I just listened to.

I would point out that the fact that these gentlemen rise and talk about violence against women is proof that it is a societal

issue and not a women's issue. In the eyes of any self-respecting man or woman, this issue concerns us all and not only feminists.

I would also like to say how pleased I am to see the Bloc member going beyond party lines when talking about abused women. I do hope that in future debates on common issues, we will be able to count on their support.

I would like to conclude by telling Canadian men that the respect they feel for themselves automatically translates into respect for us, women.

Supply February 10th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, I have been listening for several hours to the members of the Official Opposition, and I do not understand what is going on. I will explain what I mean and then I would like to get some answers from the hon. member for Jonquière.

The Bloc Quebecois proposes the setting up of a new special committee to address issues which are already being looked at by standing committees of the House. Is this an indication that, even though the existing standing committees of the House have not yet started their work, the members of the Official Opposition do not trust them?

I also want to refer to a motion tabled in the House earlier this week by the Minister of Human Resources Development, which said: "That the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development be directed to consult broadly, to analyse, and to make recommendations regarding the modernization and restructuring of Canada's social security system-"

This motion to modernize programs was approved by 216 members, while 52 were against it. Who objected to a comprehensive review of social programs which are just as necessary to Quebecers as they are to the rest of Canada? I look forward to the answers of the hon. member for Jonquière.

January 18th, 1994

On April 5, 1965, the seconder of the motion for the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne stated the following: "It is obvious that the Liberal party, more than any other, has understood the great currents of history, has seen the changes happening throughout the country and has found solutions which have brought about the collectivist society we know today. In its philosophy, its leadership and its policies, the Liberal party has kept in touch with the traditional trends of thought and action, but is has always understood the evolution of our society. That is why today it is advocating the two attitudes necessary to our country's development, namely economic planning within the administration and the establishment of a new way of life for the two groups which constitute our great nation."

These words were spoken by our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, a realist and a visionary. Mr. Prime Minister, you face many responsibilities and challenges. You can count on me to support you and your team in the delivery of new and fair socio-economic policies for Canadians.

I want to congratulate all my colleagues on their election to this House. To represent one's constituents is a responsibility that demands both diligence and understanding.

I wish to thank the people of Madawaska-Victoria for having placed their trust in me, and I intend to represent them to the best of my ability. Our riding extends along the valley of the Saint John River and borders on the State of Maine.

We are the door to Atlantic Canada, a border cross-roads, and as such we need a better highway and railway network. Human lives, money and potential are being lost as a result of the poor condition of our roads.

Our economy, based on forestry and agriculture, provides mainly seasonal employment. Although we favour greater diversification in the manufacturing and tourism sectors, we must ensure that our so-called natural resources are stable and at the cutting edge of environmental technology.

Our government must renew the subsidiary forestry and agriculture agreements with the province of New Brunswick. I find the riding of Madawaska-Victoria particularly beautiful because, to me, it is also a microcosm of our country.

In the coming months and years, I intend to submit a number of socio-economic pilot projects, projects for a progressive society, to various departments in our government.

Our infrastructure program has been well received in my riding of Madawaska-Victoria. Municipalities are anxious to renew, and some to build, needed infrastructure, but most of all these jobs will provide dignity to numerous families in my riding.

We Liberals did not win this election with empty rhetoric. We won it thanks to a realistic and pragmatic approach. We know what the people's priorities are, and we provided sound alternatives. We knew that Canadians needed jobs, and our infrastructure program is an attempt to deal with this problem.

For too long we have talked of natural resources as in forestry, mining, agriculture and energy. Now let us talk and act for our greatest natural resource and that is our youth. Our government will provide in the near future a special youth program. That is only a beginning. We must be creative and innovative and design job entry opportunities in the private and public sectors. Those of generations to come must be optimistic about developing their abilities.

A Liberal government will have a social conscience for all its citizens while being fiscally responsible. A lean government does not have to be a mean government.

Canadians want government reforms based on Liberal principles of equity for all. Our society's lack of confidence in government and politicians is real. A Liberal government cannot afford to propose socio-economic policies that are no more than band-aid solutions.

It is time to review our fiscal and social policies and to provide a co-ordinated approach that responds to the needs and aspirations of Canadians.

As a French-Canadian, I am very pleased with the quality and quantity of bilingualism on Parliament Hill. In fact, this is thanks to the language policies of a Liberal federal government.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege for me, as the member for Madawaska-Victoria, to second the motion of the hon. member for the Bruce-Grey for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

Today is the beginning of a new, positive era for all Canadians. Along with my government, we will work so that the future is brighter than the past, so that all from coast to coast to coast will find that again after 10 years their federal government, a Chrétien Liberal government, is working with and for them, not against them.

January 18th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to congratulate you on your election to this office. You will prove yourself to be equal to the task of managing and overseeing the business of this House. On my behalf and on behalf of all the citizens of Madawaska- Victoria, kindly convey my respects to His Excellency the Governor General and Mrs. Hnatyshyn.

Last October 25, the people of Canada sent an enlightened message to the Conservative government. Canadians placed their trust and future in the hands of a leader who, in my estimation, will provide the energetic leadership we need to confront the future with optimism.

As I stated several times during the election campaign, our leader, now our Prime Minister, is a man of substance and not of images. What impresses me most about him are his qualities, the fact that he is a realist as well an honest, respectful and visionary person.