Jean-Robert Gauthier

[Committees Of The House, November 18th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

This report relates to Bill C-57, an act to implement the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. The committee considered the bill and presents the report, with amendments.

[Point Of Order, November 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as a co-chairman of the committee which has now been dissolved-still, I feel a responsibility-I would like to explain why the co-chairman from the Senate and myself decided to produce the report in two separate volumes. This was one single report which was tabled only in this House and the other place, and not two separate reports.

The committee report, dissenting opinions, appendices, position papers, documents and summaries added up to a total of 1,126 pages. This was rather bulky. So, some thinking was required. We sought advice and gave the matter some thought and, finally, decided to publish the report in two volumes, both of which were put in a white folder marked "Committee Report". This is how it was tabled in this House and distributed to the media.

We would have liked the printer to tie them together with something like this to make things easier, but time was short and it would have been too costly. The point is taken, but it is not really fair to say that there are two reports. There is only one report. It was decided to produce the report in two volumes. The first volume is 181 pages long and contains the majority report, while the second volume, with 202 pages, contains the dissenting opinions of the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform Party as well as the appendices.

In addition, we have put together in another volume the 250 pages of position papers prepared by experts, experts recognized by the committee that is. A 483-page summary was also made available in loose-leaf format to limit costs. It can be obtained on request. Since it was impossible to tie the volumes with a plastic or paper tape because the printing deadlines were too short, the two volumes that make up the report were distributed yesterday, as I indicated earlier, in a specially designed folder marked "Report of the Special Joint Committee Reviewing Canadian Foreign Policy".

Positions papers and summaries on the other hand are distributed on request. The index of Volume I indicates very clearly that the report has two volumes and lists the contents of Volume II. This is clear proof that the dissention opinions are part and parcel of the committee report. The Bloc should see in this format nothing more that an effort on the part of both co-chairmen to provide the readers with practical and easy to handle documents.

[Committees Of The House, November 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Special Joint Committee on Reviewing Canadian Foreign Policy.

In accordance with the order of reference, our report addresses the changes occurring in the world today and their impact on Canada. We all can see that Marshall McLuhan's global village is becoming more and more of a reality for Canadians. That reality has an impact on their security, their jobs and their well-being. The whole world is affected. Therefore, Canada's foreign policy is a domestic policy and our domestic policy is a foreign policy.

Some people would say these changes cause upheaval in interests and fundamental values and that Canadians today are then faced with significant challenges. Our report contains conclusions and recommendations on the principles and priorities that should guide our foreign policy.

In fact, our report suggests a new agenda for what is left of this decade and for the beginning of the 21st century.

The new agenda we propose reflects the deep rooted values that Canadians want to see expressed in their foreign policy and the need to make strategic choices. In fact selectivity and criteria for selection are features of the report.

The agenda includes: reform of the major international institutions of global governance, such as the United Nations and the international financial institutions to make them more effective, more transparent, more representative and more accountable; expanding our concept of security to include non-military factors and a greater specialization of the armed forces to better support peacekeeping operations; and promoting a rules based multilateral trade system and a Team Canada approach to trade development and foreign policy in general.

The agenda also includes: a greater emphasis on the promotion of Canadian culture and learning as a fundamental dimension of foreign policy; a strategy for managing the complex relationship with the United States of America, including better use of the multinational mechanisms; and a reformed foreign aid program designed to target assistance more effectively to meet human development priorities.

Finally the agenda includes: strengthening foreign policy linkages with sustainable development and human rights; and continuing the democratization of Canadian foreign policy through dialogue and education.

I would like to thank the 500 witnesses who presented evidence to the committee during the last seven months and all those who sent briefs and proposals. We received approximately 560 briefs. I would also like to thank the members of the team: the clerks and their personnel, the research assistants and all those who co-operated with us and gave us such a tremendous support.

On my own behalf, I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues of this House and of the Senate who worked hard to produce what I consider to be an excellent report.

The committee members were all struck at the commitment of Canadians towards the very simple principle that we should build a better world. This report testifies of the fact that when working together and in unity, Canadians can make a very unique contribution.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, Mr. Speaker, the committee asks the government to present a comprehensive response to this report.

[Nuclear Weapons, October 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to state on the record my opposition to the decision of the Chinese government to continue the testing of nuclear weapons.

For the third time in the past year China has detonated an explosive nuclear device, an action clearly out of step with the negotiations currently under way in Geneva to reach agreement on a nuclear test ban treaty. Indeed China is the only one of the five nuclear states not to adhere to the moratorium on nuclear testing in effect for the duration of these negotiations.

The Chinese government claims that the devices being tested are limited in scope and to be used for defensive purposes only. Regardless of such claims, I would like to echo the concerns of many of my constituents and I think most members of the House, to tell the Chinese government that we do not appreciate this kind of testing and would like to see it stopped at this time.

[Official Languages Act, October 7th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-283, an Act to amend the Official Languages Act (review of the Act).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend from Nickel Belt for supporting this bill. This bill amends the Official Languages Act and provides that the governor-in-council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, must appoint a person responsible for reviewing this act and the consequences of its implementation. I stress the word "implementation". The person appointed must submit to the Prime Minister a report on the review's findings in the year following the beginning of his or her mandate, while the Prime Minister must table the said report for consideration in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Interparliamentary Delegation, October 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the Report of the Canadian Section of the International Assembly of French-Speaking Parliamentarians on the second Jeux de la Francophonie, held in Paris, from July 5 to 13, 1994.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, September 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues. I was a little distracted; I was here but not quite present.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian section of the International Assembly of French-Speaking Parliamentarians, concerning the 20th regular session held in Paris from July 10 to 13.

[Yukon First Nations Land Claims Settlement Act, June 22nd, 1994]

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have been trying to get your eye or your ear on this one.

I did not vote the last time because I was a bit late for the question. This time I would like to have my vote recorded with the government actually on both those bills.

[Local Training Boards, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The federal government is about to announce the creation of local training boards in Ontario. Will the minister assure this House that the membership of these local boards will reflect the spirit of Bill 8 in Ontario regarding the provision of services in French, and will he ensure a fair and proportional representation of Ontario francophones on these boards?

[Petitions, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my final petition is on euthanasia. It asks Parliament to make

no changes in the law that would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.