Mary Clancy

[World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, while I thank the hon. member for his intervention, I have to say that I am at a bit of a loss as it bears little or no relation to the question that he asked at the time. However, I will be happy to respond.

I certainly agree with the hon. member, as would just about everybody on this side of the House, with regard to his comments relating to the situation in California. I would like to assure the hon. member that he need not fear any such situation ever taking place in this country, at least not while this government is in charge of policy.

With regard to the situation in Rwanda, as the minister has told the member on several occasions, the situation is extremely difficult and complicated. The immigration service overseas is doing the very best it can given the chaotic situation. It would be unwise of us, not to say criminal, to put Canadian personnel at risk. It would not help the situation of refugees if we put Canadian personnel in a situation in which they would be unsafe.

We are dealing with the matter as expeditiously and as quickly as we can under the auspices of the UNHCR and we will continue to do so. We thank the member for his interest. We suggest to him that if he knows of specific situations in which things are going wrong through some difficulty with the department he should let us know.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

I am sure the hon. member for Beaver River probably can do that. As a teacher she is trained to do it. As the hon. member so kindly put it I am trained in rhetorical eloquence. I will keep to my job.

I did not hear the speech of the hon. member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. I did hear the comments of the hon. member for Kootenay West-Revelstoke. As I made very clear, I was making a statement about the contribution as a member of Parliament of the hon. member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell of his years both provincially and federally and the fact that he deserved to be heard without his motives being questioned, pure and simple.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

Madam Speaker, there is a long time theory about women and their inability with mathematics. I can assure the hon. member that mathematically I am challenged.

I neither heard the speech of the hon. member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell-

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

Did he say which day? He did not say which day. The day will come and it will be a day that the Lord hath made and He can be happy and rejoice therein.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

Exactly, the election is in three years. How grateful I am to the hon. member for Calgary Centre for bringing that up. There are all kinds of promises in the red book that will be fulfilled over the life of the mandate, including this one. I want the hon. members opposite to be calm, to not worry, to be happy-

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

No, 177 and it went to 176. I know the numbers, I won a pool. They sent us in an overwhelming majority to this House based on the red book promises. The red book promises will be fulfilled. I know that, the minister knows that, the Prime Minister knows that, and in their heart of hearts the members of the Reform Party know that.

Heaven knows, if there is one thing I do not want to be in this debate it is partisan but I may get driven to it. If I get driven to it I will have to arrive there. I am driven to remind hon. members opposite that not only did the Canadian people send a clear majority of Liberals to the House based on red book promises, including the one we are talking about here, but does anybody remember the 75 per cent approval rating in which the Prime Minister is held by the people of Canada today? Does anybody remember that? I do not know but there we are.

It hurts me to bring this up. It cuts me to the very quick to have to bring this up in debate. I am almost embarrassed to bring it up in front of the President of the Treasury Board because I am afraid it will diminish his hitherto good opinion of me. Does anybody remember that there is a party that is at 10 per cent in the polls? There is a Prime Minister at 75 per cent with a government at somewhere in excess of 60 per cent.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

When the Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury Board are ready. Our mandate is not going to end tomorrow. We are here. Much as the Reform Party may not like it we are here for at least another three years, maybe four and probably longer.

Let us talk about what Canadians want. Need I remind my hon. friends opposite, Canadians sent 177 of us to this House, a clear, overwhelming majority.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

Yes, I did. The answer is that we made a red book promise and we will keep the red book promise.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

No, no, let me answer the question. The hon. member posed a question. Let me answer it.

First and foremost when the hon. member asked me the question, he opened the door and I am going to walk through it.

[Supply, November 22nd, 1994]

I am eligible for a lot of things. I could enter the Olympics. I am eligible. I am breathing but I probably would not do very well.