Marcel Massé

[Public Service, May 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member from the opposition knew anything about public administration, he would know that, when plans are made that affect departmental administration, it is clear that each department will come up with a different plan and that surplus notices will be sent out on the basis of evolving needs.

It is therefore impossible for any department to indicate today what it has done because, obviously, its plans are implemented on a day by day, week by week basis, and the answer that was provided is correct.

What is important to know is that we are going ahead with our plans to streamline the public service; we are in the process of implementing the measures announced in the budget with efficiency and competence.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, May 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that both the Province of Quebec and the federal government will have to review the case and again

establish what the facts are. It is clear the Province of Quebec must co-operate and give us the information.

In this particular case, the federal government made it clear that it was ready to negotiate, but the Quebec government has yet to provide the necessary information.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, May 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the James Bay Agreement contains a section indicating the province and the federal government must agree on budgets and their content.

In this case, the Province of Quebec refused to fulfil its part of the agreement. It did not give the federal government a chance to check assets and the number of non-natives among the student population. Consequently, we had no way of knowing what the federal government's share actually was.

During that time we paid $464 million for aboriginal education. During that time, and in fact quite recently, we offered to review the matter with the Quebec government in an attempt to clear up this problem, and the ball is now in the court of the Parti Quebecois.

[Excise Tax Act, May 12th, 1995]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-90, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 11th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are not as presented by the hon. member. In fact, the federal government has so far spent some $450 million on native education.

In this matter, the Province of Quebec refuses to implement the provisions of the agreement and to submit the various budgets to joint approval. That is why the federal government paid an amount equal to estimated costs. We asked Quebec to present us with its bill so that we could pay the balance.

Again, this is proper procedure, and unfortunately in this case the Parti Quebecois is preventing us from settling this matter once and for all.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 11th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the claims mentioned in the letter to Minister Beaudoin were submitted a while ago and dealt with under a totally proper and standard procedure.

In the case of the Kanesatake claims, the federal government has already paid a certain amount, and the remaining bills are being audited by the auditor general, who will report back to us within a few months. This equitable, normal procedure will allow us to resolve the problems in this matter according to the usual standards governing relations between the federal government and the provinces.

The two other cases are similar, and we also expect the process to achieve equitable results. Therefore, the letter referred to by the opposition is totally proper and in line with good federal-provincial relations.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 10th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the minister of Indian affairs I will take the question under advisement.

[Public Service, May 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, even if the facts of the case are as indicated, and we will check on it, this would not be a reason to cancel the employment equity principle.

It is a principle that we basically believe which permits all Canadians, whatever their origin, colour or religion, to have the same treatment in the public service. It is fundamental to a well functioning government and a well functioning society. We will keep it as the basis for our public service.

[Public Service, May 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, no. Our equity programs are not there to create the type of result mentioned.

I can only reaffirm we use the merit principle in the public service as our basic principle. I will investigate the facts of the case mentioned to see if they fit with our principles.

[Montreal Economy, May 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the Parti Quebecois and the Bloc Quebecois platforms are causing increased economic uncertainty and costing us jobs.

What is even more convincing is that this study was done for a minister of the Parti Quebecois, and it concluded that sovereignty will cost thousands of jobs in the Montreal area and that the platforms of the two parties, up to now, have weakened Montreal's economy.

The federal government was able to help create 76,000 new jobs in Montreal last year. We spent $175 million through phase 1 of the Infrastructure Program, and we are extremely disappointed to again see studies proving that sovereignty is costing thousands of jobs in Quebec and in the Montreal area.