Marcel Massé

[Draft Bill On Sovereignty, December 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of returning to models from the past, we can very well ask the opposition why they talk about economic association.

That being said, the federalist option is not only closest to what Quebecers want but is also the one we intend to defend when the referendum will be called. There must be not only a separatist option but also a federalist option. The federalism which we propose is flexible; it is a federalism that works. In the last year, it produced 63 agreements between the federal government and the various provinces, including 8 with Quebec. What the opposition shows us is that it is not prepared to co-operate for the good of Quebec through proper relationships between the federal government and the government of Quebec.

[Draft Bill On Sovereignty, December 7th, 1994]

It is clear that well over 60 per cent of Quebecers oppose separation and it is also clear that if they are given a clear, honest question, the great majority of Quebecers will support the federalist option.

[Draft Bill On Sovereignty, December 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, what we have to offer is a federalist option which is clearly supported by most Quebecers.

[Draft Bill On Sovereignty, December 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in our opinion, neither the form nor the content of the draft bill presented yesterday complies with Quebec's referendum legislation, which requires parity among the parties. As Mr. Johnson clearly showed yesterday, Mr. Parizeau's law does not provide for regional commissions where the various parties are represented equally. As for the substance, once again, they talk about the process even before the consequence of the process leading to separation has been put to a referendum.

[Royal Roads Military College, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have been concerned with the fate of the Royal Roads College. We have continued the discussions in the last weeks and months.

Last Friday I was in communication with the minister of finance of British Columbia, Ms. Elizabeth Cull, who is in charge of the negotiations. We then faxed to her a new proposal. We received a counterproposal this week. We are now in the midst of negotiations. I would expect that in the course of the next few weeks the negotiations would be finished.

[Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I already told the House exactly what we had agreed on. What we need now is a reply from Ms. Beaudoin that she is ready to accept the July 19 agreement as a basis of negotiation. Our position was and still is the same and the Bloc Quebecois is

preventing the development of the royal military college in Saint-Jean and hindering normal economic activity in the Saint-Jean region because it opposes implementing the agreement.

[Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as I already said in this House a few days ago, I met the Mayor of Saint-Jean to listen to his proposal and to discuss the future of the college in Saint-Jean.

We both clearly agreed that the college in Saint-Jean must continue and for this two essential conditions of the July 19 agreement had to be met: the college has to be demilitarized and a transition period is needed.

What has happened is that I sent Ms. Beaudoin a letter several weeks ago, asking her to do just that, and she has not yet sent me a reply. As soon as she gives me an answer, we are ready to meet her.

[Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition may be under the impression that using unparliamentary language will improve the negotiation climate, but that, of course, is wrong.

The reason I am wearing the "Sauvons Saint-Jean" badge is because we hold the key to the continuation of the college in Saint-Jean and this key is the July 19 agreement. I sent a letter to Mrs. Beaudoin two weeks ago, indicating that I was prepared to resume negotiations on the details of the agreement which is in effect under the terms of the agreement signed on July 19.

[Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Minister Beaudoin should know that negotiations are not conducted through the media. I have received nothing official from the minister yet. I therefore have no answer to give, since no question has been asked in the first place.

It is essential however that any negotiations regarding the mayor's proposal be conducted on the basis of the two conditions the mayor and myself have agreed upon, that is to say, first, that the conversion of the military college to civilian use must take place and, second, that there must be a transition period. These two basic principles are part and parcel of the agreement proposed on July 19, which the government of Quebec has yet to comply with.

[Questions On The Order Paper, November 28th, 1994]

The Government's administrative responsibilities began on November 4, 1993. In the period since that date, constitutional reform has not been part of the government's legislative or policy agenda, nor has it been discussed with the governments of the provinces, with the exception of the bilateral amendment to the 1873 Terms of Union with Prince Edward Island respecting a fixed link between the Island and New Brunswick. The amendment was proclaimed on April 15, 1994.