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Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was quebec.

Last in Parliament October 2000, as Liberal MP for Hull—Aylmer (Québec)

Won his last election, in 1997, with 54% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Action Plan For Young People April 19th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, no one questions the jurisdiction of Quebec and other provinces over education. Of the three programs announced last Friday, the first is a program to help students. Quebec opted out of this program in 1964.

The second program, which targets young people, is not really about education but about promoting youth employment. The federal government had and still has a number of different programs in this area, like Katimavik, for instance, and we have made every effort to ensure that the federal program is complementary to the provincial program.

The third component, the national apprenticeship program, helps young people make the transition from school to work, a problem that is both federal and provincial. Both governments

are active in this area and should continue their programs, in order to help young people find jobs.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act, 1994 April 12th, 1994

I rise on a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I was not here for the first vote, but I would like to participate in the second one if I may.

Manpower Training April 12th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, I repeat that my position is that we are pursuing negotiations with the Province of Quebec and that we have an agreement with the Province of Quebec on eliminating existing overlap.

As I said yesterday, and I say it again today, we are about to negotiate an agreement on income security with the provinces, and meanwhile, we are prepared to negotiate agreements which, at the very least, will include the single-window concept and which may include other aspects of manpower training. Once the reform project has been finalized, we are prepared to conclude more extensive agreements with the provinces, including Quebec.

Manpower Training April 12th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, once again, this document was used as a basis for discussion at the last meeting. Documents that are used as a basis for discussion basically contain matters that have yet to be negotiated.

Furthermore, yesterday I did not say there would be no single window, certainly not. I said that we suggested to the Province of Quebec, as we did to the other provinces, that we could have a single window for providing manpower training programs, and that is our position. Consequently, the position the Minister of Human Resources Development is exactly the same as mine.

Manpower Training April 12th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, the working paper from which sections were produced in this morning's media is a paper being used as a basis for discussion at the deputy minister level.

It is quite possible that the ministers will continue to negotiate on the basis of a document that may be amended. So far, we have had a number of friendly and useful negotiations with Quebec. We believe that we can continue those negotiations on the same basis.

Manpower Training April 11th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, it is not for me to say whether the Bourassa-Campbell agreement was a smoke screen. I imagine that the people have already rendered their verdict on that.

Generally speaking, we will first undertake the income security reform and future agreements with any province, including Quebec, will be based on arrangements reached on future reforms.

Manpower Training April 11th, 1994

Mr. Speaker, we have had and we continue to have discussions with the province of Quebec regarding manpower training. So far, we have agreed on some points, including the single-window concept, which a number of provinces also approved at the recent meeting held in Toronto with the Minister of Human Resources Development, I believe.

Indeed, the Quebec Premier has indicated that he wants to keep negotiating on manpower training. We have taken his arguments into consideration and we will continue discussions with the province.

Job Creation March 25th, 1994

On the contrary, Mr. Speaker. The negotiations that have taken place regarding the Sainte-Marguerite river are an excellent example of federal-provincial co-operation.

Complete agreement was achieved with the province with respect to project description, conduct and content. At present, a permit is to be issued by Transport Canada. Of course, this is a complex and detailed document and there are still a few pieces of information to be supplied by the Quebec government. The province assured us we would be getting this information shortly. It should be a matter of weeks before a permit is issued, given the full co-operation of the provincial government.

Borrowing Authority Act, 1994-95 March 18th, 1994

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

Borrowing Authority Act, 1994-95 March 18th, 1994

moved that the bill be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)