René Laurin

[Point Of Order, February 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I think government members would benefit from having documents that would enlighten them on what Quebecers want with regard to their situation in the Canadian Confederation and at the same time enlighten the government on what today's Quebec is all about.

I have here a document on Quebec's political and constitutional status, which members would benefit from reading as they look for a possible solution in their relationship with Quebec.

[Points Of Order, February 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, last January 5, Le Droit published an article entitled “A breach of democracy”.

Following the referral to committee of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebecers, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table this document which was published in Le Droit .

[Supply, February 17th, 2000]

Who will negotiate?

[Supply, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if I understand what my colleague is saying, he would like Quebecers to be asked a question based on his perception of what we want to do, whereas we want to ask a question based on the perception Quebecers have of what we want to do.

He would like a question based on a negative perception, whereas we want a question based on a positive perception. We want Quebec to be built, we want Canada to be built. We do not want Canada to fall apart, we do not want Quebec to fall apart. This is what is happening while we are living together.

We want a positive position, this is the way we want the question to be asked. We have been explaining it to Quebecers for 30 years now and I believe they understand.

[Antipersonnel Mines, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has assumed the lead role internationally in opposing the use of antipersonnel mines. It signed the UN international treaty on this. It passed Bill C-22 banning these mines and with great pomp and circumstance made the announcement in November 1997 that it had destroyed the last one, boasting about this every chance it got.

How can the minister explain that Canadian soldiers are using Claymore mines in East Timor, since these are as deadly as other antipersonnel mines?

[Points Of Order, February 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if I may, I would say I think the House would benefit from your penalizing those who abuse your generosity by causing a ruckus.

If an opposition party causes a disturbance, you should intervene by taking a question away from it. If you discover that the commotion comes from the government side, they too should be penalized by having Oral Question Period extended by the amount of time they spent reacting to one of our questions.

I make this suggestion to resolve the problem in all humility.

[Petitions, February 15th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I am tabling a petition in the House asking parliament to quickly pass legislation providing for the mandatory labelling of all foods that are entirely or partially genetically modified.

[Points Of Order, February 15th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has introduced a bill denying Quebecers their basic rights.

Therefore I ask for consent to table another document referring to a story published in the daily Le Soleil under the heading “Chrétien Huggling”. This document might surely enlighten the House.

[An Act To Give Effect To The Requirement For Clarity As Set Out In The Opinion Of The Supreme Court Of Canada In The Quebec Secession Reference, February 10th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order, I would ask you to check if we have quorum.

[An Act To Give Effect To The Requirement For Clarity As Set Out In The Opinion Of The Supreme Court Of Canada In The Quebec Secession Reference, February 10th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we have important things to say about Bill C-20 and there will be a very important vote on it later this afternoon. If Liberal members are interested in knowing what we have to say, if they are serious, I would ask them to help maintain the quorum and be present in this House.

I ask you to check that we have a quorum.

And the count having been taken: