André Ouellet

[Questions On The Order Paper, June 21st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the list of participants to the Canadian electoral observation mission to the South African elections is as follows:

Canadian electoral observation mission:

The Honourable Mrs. Christine Stewart, C.P.,

M.P., Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa);

Mrs. Maud Debien, M.P. Ms. Jean Augustine, M.P. Mr. Réginald Bélair, M.P. Mr. Ovid Jackson, M.P. Mr. Peter Milliken, M.P. Mr. Svend Robinson, M.P.

Mr. Robert McLaren Mrs. Michèle Falardeau-Ramsey Mrs. Martha Nelams Mrs. Christine Murphy

Canadian specialists on South Africa accompanying the mission:

Ms. Carolyn McMaster Mr. Grant Hawes Mr. Bryan Burton Mr. Douglas Fraser Mr. Michael Kaduck

The costs, which appear below, are still the budgeted costs. The actual expenditures have yet to be calculated since expense claims for all the participants have not yet been submitted and audited. Our preliminary assessment is that the actual costs will be for the most part below what was budgeted.

Parliamentarians (7 persons) $ 92,250 Experts for the observation (4 persons) $ 56,400 Experts on South Africa (5 persons) $ 77,300

Total budgeted costs for the Canadian electoral observation mission to the South African elections $ 225,950

[Young Offenders Act, June 20th, 1994]

I could not make the first vote, Mr. Speaker, but I would appreciate that my vote be recorded with that of my government colleagues in the ones to come.

[United Nations, June 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member must know that, indeed, studies are currently being done within the UN Security Council. In fact, at the last UN meeting, a special committee was given the mandate to review the membership of the Security Council. Several proposals are currently being examined.

Canada is very interested in a Security Council that would better reflect the current reality of the UN, in view of the fact that a considerable number of countries have been added since the creation of the first Security Council. Canada did not make any specific proposal, but we are examining very actively different proposals currently under review. When that special committee tables its report, Canada will certainly be at the forefront of a major reform of the Security Council.

[United Nations, June 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very interesting proposal which will certainly be examined on its merits by the parliamentary committee mandated to review our foreign policy and defence policies.

[North Korea, June 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we do not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, and are not able to express our views directly to that country. However, we did so through public statements, and indirectly, by presenting our point of view to people who are in regular contact with the North Korean government.

During the recent visit by the South Korean foreign affairs minister, the Prime Minister and I stressed how important it was, in our view, to fully respect the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to have all the nations of the world renew it, and to convince the North Korean government that it cannot isolate itself in that way. It must join the ranks of most other countries of the world who want us not only to ban nuclear arms but also to respect the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

[North Korea, June 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to tell the hon. member that Canada supports the U.S. position and that, if needed, we will lobby other members of the Security Council so that it passes this resolution. If the UN goes ahead with these sanctions against North Korea, we will certainly fully comply with all of them.

[Rwanda, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member's first question, I must inform her that the government is now considering a request that the United Nations made not only to Canada but also to some other countries. A decision on this will be made in the next ten or fifteen days.

As for the hon. member's second question, I can assure her that the Canadian government is ready to step up its aid program for the Rwandan people who have been greatly affected by this conflict.

[Rwanda, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, of course we hope that a cease-fire between the parties will be respected. Like the hon. member, we already had word that a cease-fire had been declared. Unfortunately, subsequent information told us that it had already been violated, in fact.

So at this time I cannot give more specific information than the latest reports that the parties had concluded an agreement which would allow a United Nations contingent to come soon to help the parties in question observe a cease-fire and restore order in that country, which has been particularly affected in recent weeks.

[Haiti, June 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has supported unequivocally President Aristide. We are working with other countries, particularly the four friends of Haiti, in order to bring about as quickly as possible the return of President Aristide. I think the Leader of the Opposition knows this very well. Whatever the implications are, they are unfounded.

It is quite clear that in co-operation with others, particularly France, the United States and Venezuela, we are hoping to achieve total sanctions, a policy that will bring about the departure of the military forces and the return of President Aristide.

[Haiti, June 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for supporting the government's action which is aimed at convincing the military that it is in the interests of the Haitian people and in their own interests to yield to president Aristide and to do so as soon as possible.

I am encouraged by the energetic action taken by the Organization for American States which unanimously embraced the position proposed by the personal representative of the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Caputo. Second, I am also encouraged by the decision of the authorities of the Dominican Republic to establish a more secure and effective system to control the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

On that basis, I believe that the total embargo will be effective and will convince the military to yield.