House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 47% of the vote.
1906 Census November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, an archaic law is still preventing the people of Quebec and of Canada from having access to the results of the 1906 census and is depriving the university community of historic data.
Will the minister promise to modify this act, already amended in 1918, and lift the restriction on the 1906 census so that historians can gain a better understanding of this period in our history?
First Nations Ombudsman Act November 4th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, October 27, I put a question to the Minister of Human Resources Development in order to find out whether she thought it reasonable to cut employment insurance benefits to an individual because that person had no means of transport to get about easily, according to an official of the department.
The minister, visibly ignorant of the facts, said that my statements were unfounded accusations. She said, and I quote: “The accusations made by the hon. member are false”. Those are her words.
I proposed to the minister that I table a copy of a letter I had received from a taxpayer in my riding illustrating the situation. But the government opposed this because, apparently, it is government practice to not be too informed of the reality of matters. They do not want to know too much of the truth. They just said my allegations were false.
In the letter I could have tabled in the House—I could not do so because a Liberal member objected—a taxpayer in my riding was told the following:
October 19, 1999
We wish to inform you that we cannot pay you benefits effective October 18, 1999. You have no means of transportation and are thus prevented from accepting employment. For this reason, you have failed to prove your availability.
She was told as well:
If you do not agree with this decision, which is based on the Employment Insurance Act, you have the right to appeal within 30 days.
With the pressure the minister is putting on her officials to harass the unemployed increasingly, we end up with this sort of situation.
What is the reaction of an employee under heavy pressure from the department, when faced with an unemployed worker? It is to try to save the government as much money as possible, not to help the individual who is without resources and lacks the means to make a case before a labour tribunal.
In addition, the claimant is told to appeal if he or she is not happy. People without resources are being asked to go the extra step of justifying benefits, when they are entitled to them because they have paid their premiums.
To illustrate how ridiculous this is, we are talking about a 65-year old woman. She has been told that she has no means of transportation. In a city with public transit, this is a bit much. The woman in question had stated that she usually went on foot to look for work, and had done so until the age of 65. Until that age, she had been able to find work by using the public transit system, taking her bicycle, or walking.
This time, she was told that, since she had no means of transportation, she was no longer available for work. Are we to conclude that all unemployed workers without their own cars have no means of transportation and that, as a result, they no longer qualify for employment insurance?
That is the question I wished to ask and I hope that this time I will receive an answer.
Corporal Daniel Aubut November 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, according to a recent report on TVA, the army considers Corporal Daniel Aubut a deserter, when in fact he was fleeing Meaford base in Ontario in an effort to escape his colleagues, who were harassing him because he was the only francophone on the base.
Does the minister intend to reveal the circumstances surrounding this matter, which would tend to indicate once more that discrimination against francophones remains, unfortunately, a fact of life in the army?
Employment Insurance October 28th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, obviously unaware of the inhumane consequences of the Employment Insurance Act, which denies benefits to honest citizens without resources, the minister responded to my question yesterday by saying “the accusations made by the hon. member are false”.
Now that this issue has been put to rest this morning, will the minister first admit her mistake, and then admit that the quotas imposed on her officials cause them to behave in an inhumane manner and continually harass honest citizens without resources?
Point Of Order October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, when I put my question to the Minister of Human Resources Development, she replied that my allegations were unfounded, that what I was saying was false. What I said was the complete truth, and I have here a letter that proves it.
I would ask for unanimous consent to table this document in the House.
Human Resources Development Canada October 27th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, employees of Human Resources Development Canada are so obsessed with making the quotas imposed on them by the department that they are depriving honest citizens without resources of their benefits for ridiculous and improbable reasons.
My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Does the minister think it is reasonable to cut someone's benefits because they do not have an easy means of transportation, in the view of a departmental official?
Peacekeeping Day October 22nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, if world peace is to be maintained, the laws governing relations between nations must be enforced and respected.
Faithful to our tradition as peacekeepers, we support the peaceful resolution through peacekeeping missions of the conflicts in which many nations are embroiled.
Saturday, October 23, is Peacekeeping Day, a day to pay tribute to Canada's participation in various peacekeeping missions throughout the world.
This October 23, let us remember the devotion of the men and women who have served the cause of democracy by taking part in these missions. Their contribution has been instrumental in maintaining international peace and security.
Peacekeeping Day provides an opportunity to officially recognize that contribution. On behalf of the Bloc Quebecois, I wish to pay them a well-deserved tribute and to tell them how greatly we admire them.
Royal 22Nd Regiment October 21st, 1999
Mr. Speaker, October 21 marks the founding of the Royal 22nd Regiment. This military unit comprising primarily Quebecers has existed and brought us honour for 85 years, as of today.
This regiment was awarded over 550 decorations and insignia for its bravery and heroism in the two world wars and the Korean war. In addition, a number of the members of the Royal 22nd joined UN peacekeeping forces and were awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1988.
Their loyalty has never been questioned either. As proof, 250 soldiers from the Royal 22nd left Quebec City Friday to join the international mission sent to East Timor, thus reaffirming their tradition of commitment.
On behalf of my colleagues in the Bloc Quebecois, I would like to pay tribute to the Royal 22nd regiment, to the men and women there in the service of peace and to those like them.
Gérald Larose May 14th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the CSN congress begins today and will choose a successor to the man who profoundly marked Quebec, Gérald Larose.
With 25 years of commitment and devotion to the cause of workers in Quebec, 16 of which were spent as the head of the CSN, he will remain an important figure in the history of the union movement in Quebec.
During his long career, he was a part of every struggle for social progress. Yesterday, in an interview in Le Devoir , he proposed a new way to look at the relations between society and government. We should pay attention to the words and ideas of this man of great experience.
An open and direct man, he always communicated with feeling the faults of a free market society and the need for a more equitable distribution of the collective wealth. He is also an ardent defender of the idea of a sovereign Quebec, which, for him represents as much the normal democratic and national course of the people of Quebec as social justice.
The Bloc Quebecois salutes this great man and wishes him good luck in his next undertaking.
Thérèse Martin School In Joliette May 12th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I draw attention today to the presence in the gallery of Amnesty International student group 731 from Thérèse Martin school in Joliette.
These young people collected more than 2,000 signatures from people opposed to trafficking in human organs, to which Guatemalan street children are prey. Their petition calls on the government of this country to take action to ensure the safety of these children, and of the humanitarian aid workers trying to help them.
I wish to congratulate the man who spearheaded this project, Marcel Lacroix, and the students who took part: Marie-Pier Bellemare, Marie-Élaine Sabourin, Jean-Luc Coutu, Jean-Pierre Coutu, Éric Lévesque and Francis Giraldeau, not to mention Dulus Racine, their spiritual adviser on this worthy endeavour.
The exceptional interest the young students at Thérèse Martin school have taken in children from a less privileged country deserves our heartfelt admiration. May their example pave the way for other humanitarian initiatives to put a stop to this unacceptable practice to which young Guatemalans fall victim.