House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 54% of the vote.
Federal-Provincial Relations October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the changes that have been done in the past few years are not minor changes.
When we gave Quebec back the right of veto it had lost because of René Levesque a number of years ago, clearly it was a major change. By the way, in the same act British Columbia also got a regional veto.
If the member from the Reform Party believes that such a concession to British Columbia is minor, she should consult her voters once again.
The Constitution October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, every reform in recent years, every change in the past five years, every improvement in Quebec occurred while federalists were in power in Ottawa. It is because of the Liberal government's work on their behalf that Quebeckers have seen so much improvement.
The Constitution October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois do not have the interests of Quebeckers at heart. Their only goal is to promote sovereignty.
Their goal is to push through sovereignty and to hold a third referendum, as the Bloc Quebecois leader reminded us. It is to put a third referendum ahead of Quebeckers' interests.
Mr. Charest is the one promoting Quebeckers' real interests, namely economic growth and employment.
Election Campaign In Quebec October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the troublemakers are the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois, who have created dissension among Quebeckers with all their talk about a referendum. Quebeckers have already given a clear answer to the question: the majority of them want to stay within Canada.
When the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois campaign on a referendum, they cause dissension among Quebeckers.
Election Campaign In Quebec October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, one of the conditions for Mr. Charest to win the next provincial election is that the leader of the Bloc Quebecois continue to make mistakes. He just has to continue telling Quebeckers the truth: that the only important thing for the Bloc Quebecois is another referendum and that their only goal is sovereignty.
Mr. Charest is the only one who promotes change and who promotes what is good for Quebeckers, namely growth and employment.
The Constitution October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, those who have betrayed Quebeckers' confidence in recent years are clearly the Bloc Quebecois and the PQ, which would have Quebeckers believe that they have generated economic growth, when in fact all they have produced is more unemployment and fewer investments, precisely by doing what the leader of the Bloc Quebecois mentioned yesterday. They have been playing the referendum card. They are losing their energy. They are misleading Quebeckers and consequently hampering growth and job creation.
The Constitution October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that, in the past few years, the agent of change in Canada and Quebec has been the federal government.
Indeed, the federal government passed a resolution recognizing distinct society and gave back to Quebec the veto the PQ was responsible for losing. Finally, people in Quebec will have a real choice: the PQ and the Bloc Quebecois, which plan to hold yet another referendum that will surely kill investment and economic growth, or the Quebec Liberal Party, which stands for economic growth and job creation.
Supplementary Estimates (B), 1998-99 October 29th, 1998
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 81(5) and 81(6), I wish to introduce a motion concerning referral of the estimates to the standing committees of the House.
Therefore, I move:
That the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, laid upon the Table on October 29, 1998, be referred to the several standing committees of the House in accordance with the detailed allocation attached.
There is a lengthy list associated with the motion. If it is agreeable to the House I would ask that the list be printed in Hansard as if it had been read.
Managing For Results 1998 October 29th, 1998
Madam Speaker, as a result of a comprehensive effort to inform parliamentarians and Canadians of the government's record, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a report entitled “Managing for Results 1998”, the annual report of the President of the Treasury Board to Parliament.
I also have the honour to table the 80 reports on the performance of government departments and agencies.
A message from His Excellency the Governor General transmitting supplementary estimates (B) for the financial year ending March 31, 1999 was presented by the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Speaker to the House.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the law of the CBC is quite clear and I quoted article 46(5) yesterday, which says that the society has, in the implementation of its mission and the exercise of its powers, freedom of expression and total independence in terms of journalism, creation and programming.
That is the position of the government.