House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 44% of the vote.
Foreign Affairs May 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows because he was briefed this morning, we do not have the doctor's report yet.
Like I said yesterday, as soon as we have the report we will analyze the situation. We will continue to put pressure on Saudi authorities for good treatment for Mr. Sampson. I can assure Mr. Sampson and his family that we are doing all things possible to have a good situation for him.
Foreign Affairs May 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, Canada has regularly raised the case of Mr. Sampson with Saudi authorities and has, on a number of occasions to the various authorities, expressed its concerns over his treatment, his right to have a lawyer and his right to a fair and impartial trial.
Canada reacted swiftly and firmly to recent reports that Mr. Sampson had been mistreated. We called in the Saudi ambassador. We had meetings. Our ambassador in Riyadh had meetings with the deputy minister of the interior, and we will continue to put on pressure.
Nuclear Industry May 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, the Canadian government has not yet taken a decision.
We received representations from Greenpeace and some other groups. We share some of those recommendations. There is nothing in front of us on the table right now. We will assess the situation and if we go ahead we will be sure it is in conditions that are safe, sound environmentally and do not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear Industry May 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has made no decision on the program to dispose of Russian plutonium.
Senior officials have met representatives of Greenpeace on several occasions. They are aware of their concerns and share many of them, naturally.
At some point, if the government decides to go ahead with this program, it will certainly be on condition that safety and environmental standards are set and that this does not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Foreign Affairs May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we learned that Mr. M'Barek was conditionally released on Saturday, until his appeal is heard in September.
We are pleased that our representations and those of our embassy in Tunisia were successful. Our embassy will also be represented at the appeal.
Canada is closely following the human rights situation in Tunisia and it regularly raises related issues with Tunisian authorities, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
Foreign Affairs May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, today, our ambassador has been given access to Mr. Sampson, whom he will be visiting with a physician who will examine him.
We will wait for the report of this doctor, who was selected by Canadian authorities and our ambassador, before deciding on what to do next.
Foreign Affairs May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to put pressure on Saudi authorities to make sure that Mr. Sampson is well treated.
We will wait for the results of the medical doctor's visit to Mr. Sampson today and we will continue to put on pressure.
Foreign Affairs May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, following reports that William Sampson may have been physically abused, the Minister of Foreign Affairs called the Saudi ambassador to Canada on May 24 to express his concern for Mr. Sampson's well-being.
The Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia raised concerns about Mr. Sampson's well-being with the Saudi deputy minister of the interior on May 27, which was yesterday. The ambassador was given permission to visit Mr. Sampson on May 28, which is today, to discuss his physical condition. It was agreed that the medical physician selected by Canada would accompany them.
Gilles Lefebvre May 28th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, Canada has just lost a great cultural leader. Gilles Lefebvre has passed away at the age of 78.
For over 60 years, Mr. Lefebvre distinguished himself as a man of vision and a man of passion. We will remember him as an excellent violinist, a pioneer in our great institutions of music. In 1949, he was one of the thinkers who gave birth to Jeunesses musicales, an organization that is to be found today in many countries. In 1951, he founded the Jeunesses Musicales camp, known today as the Centre d'art d'Orford, in my riding of Brome—Mississquoi.
In 1970, he established the world youth orchestra, a symphony orchestra uniting the world's greatest musical hopes. He is also one of the founders of International Music Day, celebrated in Canada annually on October 1.
An officer of the Order of Canada, he received many other distinctions including the Prix Calixa-Lavallée.
Today, we lament the departure of a great educator and humanist. Gilles Lefebvre devoted his life to music, to discovering new talent and to promoting Canadian artists on the world stage.
I would like, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to thank him and to offer my sincere condolences to his family.
Regional Products May 16th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, during the summit of the Americas, which, I would remind hon. members, was attended by 34 heads of state of the Americas, including the President of the United States, a reception was hosted by the Prime Minister. To the great pride of all the people of Brome—Missisquoi, and particularly the people of the town of Lac Brome, Brome Lake duck was on the menu.
An event such as this is an extraordinary showcase for our regional products. We can be justifiably proud of the variety, quality and originality of our local products. As well as being a source of pride to ourselves, I do not doubt that they were greatly appreciated by the summit VIPs.
My congratulations to Canards du lac Brome on this undeniable recognition of their product, an honour that reflects on the town of Lac Brome, on Brome-Missisquoi, and on the Eastern Townships as a whole.