Bob Ringma

[Employment Equity Act, October 4th, 1995]

Reform members will vote in favour of this motion except for those who wish to vote otherwise. This is the only time I will say that this evening.

[Oceans Act, October 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Reform members will vote against the motion, except for those who might wish to vote otherwise.

[Business Of The House, October 3rd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to reintroduce my motion which I understand now has the unanimous consent of the House. I move:

That Private Members' Business be dispensed with today, Tuesday, October 3, and that furthermore when the time of 5.30 p.m. comes that it be deemed to be 6.30 p.m.

[Business Of The House, October 3rd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, having consulted with the Bloc whip and the chief government whip, I think you will find there is unanimous consent for me to move:

That Private Members' Business will be dispensed with today, Tuesday, October 3 and that at 5.30 p.m. the time be called 6.30 p.m.

[Canada Transportation Act, October 2nd, 1995]

Madam Speaker, members of the Reform Party will vote no on this motion.

[Oceans Act, October 2nd, 1995]

Reform will vote in favour of the Bloc amendment to that bill, except for those members who might wish to vote otherwise.

[Cultural Property Export And Import Act, October 2nd, 1995]

Agreed.

[Yugoslavia, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the issue here is not progress in the former Yugoslavia. The issue here is the mandate of our troops and the discussion in the House.

Last September and again last March the government pretended that Parliament and the people of Canada had a voice in determining our peacekeeping commitments. We remember that in March the debate was held only two days before our mandate expired. Now we find that the government is acting unilaterally, without any consultation.

Canada's peacekeepers have always been faithful in their duty and they are right now. Along with other Canadians, they deserve a clear indication of the mandate and deserve a better answer from the government than the Prime Minister gave yesterday or what I heard just now.

When does our mandate expire, and why has the government not consulted Parliament about its extension?

[Yugoslavia, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the member for Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt asked the Prime Minister to explain glaring inconsistencies in the government's pronouncements about Canada's mandate in the former Yugoslavia. The Prime Minister's response was flippant and I would like to ask for clarification.

In March the Prime Minister expressly declared that following a debate in the House the government was renewing our mandate for another six months. That time expires this weekend, but officials of both the Department of National Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs claim that the mandate does not expire for another month or even two months.

I seek clarification from the Prime Minister. When does Canada's formal commitment to the mission in the former Yugoslavia expire? Has the government undertaken to extend the mandate that was debated in the House?

[Major Bruce Henwood, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday one of our Canadian peacekeepers, Major Bruce Henwood, was injured when the jeep he was riding in hit a mine in Croatia. As a result Major Henwood had both legs amputated below the knee.

It is this unfortunate and horrid type of incident which underscores the dangerous and perilous duties performed by our peacekeepers working abroad. Major Henwood is one of many Canadian peacekeepers serving abroad who come face to face with this kind of reality every day.

On behalf of my colleagues from both sides of the House I extend to Major Henwood, as well as his family, friends and comrades in the field, our heartfelt regret over this tragic incident and our sincerest best wishes for his recovery.