House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 49% of the vote.
Petitions April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with the Canadian Wheat Board.
The petitioners respectfully call on Parliament to maintain the single desk selling monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board and request that steps be taken to expand the powers of the Canadian Wheat Board so that more grains and oilseeds will be placed under the monopoly control of the wheat board.
This is also signed by residents of my constituency.
Petitions April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I present two petitions duly certified by the clerk of petitions.
The first one is unfortunately redundant. It deals with budgetary matters, but I will table it anyway and count on it for next year.
The petitioners beg Parliament that there be no further increases in the tax on gasoline. These are signatures primarily from the community of Frontier in my riding.
Province Of Saskatchewan April 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am very disappointed that the government would not recognize my home province as a distinct society.
The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs wants to call my dear province of Saskatchewan "the principal homeland of the English, Mennonite and Ukrainian fact in Canada". I reject this notion as it goes against the legitimate aspirations and traditional claims of people where I come from.
With our rusty four wheel drive pick-ups, our "John Deere" baseball caps, our muddy boots and our bumper stickers that say "Damn Government", we are obviously the most distinct society in Canada and we want to be recognized as such.
Foreign Affairs April 15th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, on March 1 the Minister of Foreign Affairs praised my position in the Haiti debate, but a few days later when I questioned his ministerial actions with respect to Haitian peacekeeping and aid to China he reverted to form and accused me of isolationism. I do not know which I find most offensive: praise from that particular minister or his personal attack.
The minister should understand that Canadian support for the UN in Haiti does not mean being a doormat and that Canadian trade with China does not require an annual foreign aid bribe of $162 million. Nor do relations with China require our Export Development Corporation to provide financial assistance for the Three Gorges project, a grandiose boondoggle which will displace 1.25 million people.
Law Commission Of Canada Act March 27th, 1996
Of course he is a lawyer.
Law Commission Of Canada Act March 27th, 1996
But he is a lawyer.
China March 14th, 1996
Just answer the question.
China March 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, there is no such thing as non-offensive military technology. The submarine detection equipment that has been purchased by the Chinese from a Canadian company hardly qualifies as clothing.
There is a document marked "Canadian eyes only" which contains guidelines established by foreign affairs for expanding bilateral military relations with China. When were the most recent meetings between DND officials and representatives of the People's Liberation Army? Can the minister inform the House if the government is still interested in expanding its military relations with China at this time, given the current situation in the Middle East?
China March 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
With the world holding its breath while China flexes its muscles off the coast of Taiwan, it appears that China is buying some military technology from Canada. Would the minister mind telling us just how far he is willing to see Canada or Canadian companies go in their efforts to sell technology to China, including military technology?
Privilege March 13th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, on several occasions the hon. member used the phrase "avoir un avis", to have an opinion. I wonder what sort of silly sophistry this is. Nobody is talking about the right or the ability to have opinions in this House or anywhere else. We are talking about actions.
If someone writes a letter encouraging members of the Canadian Armed Forces to abandon their oath of allegiance, that is not having an opinion, that is an action. If someone delivers that letter to military bases, that is not having an opinion, that is an action. We are talking about deeds in this place, bad deeds.
I would like to raise a second point because the hon. member for Calgary Northeast is not here and he was slandered by the member. He did not make a trip to Singapore specifically and precisely to study the question of whipping. And he did not, in the true Bloc-Liberal tradition, take a taxpayer paid junket to Singapore. He paid his own way. I think the hon. member knows that. I think he owes the hon. member for Calgary Northeast an apology.