Gilles Duceppe

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions, the government has told us that this was not the place to discuss the environment, but rather the economy, as if one could be separated from the other. Today, they are changing their tune, probably after reading some of the polls. In a letter to the Prime Minister, a number of Nobel laureates quite rightly reminded him that “failure to address climate change will put the global economy at further risk”.

Having made the economy the priority at the G8 and G20, does the Prime Minister realize that he cannot discuss the economy without discussing the environment, since the two are so closely linked?

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is telling us today that, at the G8 and G20 summits, which are clearly about the economy, other matters related to the economy will be discussed, such as the environment.

If that is the case, why does this not appear on the agenda? Why is there no formal proposal on the subject? Why was there no preliminary meeting of the G8 and G20 environment ministers?

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 9th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, to justify this frivolous spending, the Prime Minister says that the G8 and G20 summits will serve as a showcase to attract foreign tourists to Canada.

Does he really think he is going to attract tourists with a fake lake, cardboard decorations and stuffed moose? Is he not afraid that foreign journalists will see this as just a plain old bear trap?

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 9th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister plans to talk about fiscal restraint at the G8 and G20 summits. But no one would say he is leading by example. First, he had a theme pavilion built for the foreign media at a cost of $1.9 million. Then he had a fake lake built just steps from Lake Ontario. Finally, he paid the modest sum of $400,000 to restore an old steamboat that will be ready months after the summits.

Does the Prime Minister realize that this charade is totally ridiculous?

[Committees of the House, June 8th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, it is not up to the Prime Minister to decide what constitutes the law. He, like any other citizen, must obey the law.

By authorizing his press secretary not to testify before the committee, the Prime Minister is condoning breaking the law. He is doing the same thing with the gun registry by looking the other way when gun owners refuse to register their weapons.

Does the Prime Minister realize that he is creating two classes of citizens: those who must obey the law and those who are above it? He seems to think that he should be the one to decide who fits into each class. That is not very democratic at all.

[Committees of the House, June 8th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, a subpoena was issued over a week ago for the Prime Minister's press secretary, Dimitri Soudas, to testify before a parliamentary committee. Since then, Mr. Soudas has been avoiding the bailiff, who has been unable to hand-deliver the order to appear. The Prime Minister is responsible for ensuring that people obey the law, and he should start with his own staff.

Will the Prime Minister call his press secretary to order? If he does not, we will be forced to conclude that the Prime Minister and his political staff hold the law in contempt.

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, that is incredible. He just said that the G8 summit is a tourist event.

Other countries are moving ahead with greenhouse gas reduction, but Canada is moving backward. Quebec Premier Jean Charest expressed disappointment at Canada's results and pointed out that Quebec's economy is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Does the Prime Minister realize that his political position is so bad for Quebec that Jean Charest himself was forced to take him to task?

[G8 and G20 Summits, June 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government is planning to use the G8 summit to push its agenda, particularly with respect to the environment. A draft communiqué for the G8 clearly states that fighting climate change must not hurt the economy. The thing is, fighting climate change represents an economic plus for Quebec.

Will the Prime Minister admit that this is further proof that his government is working for western oil companies and against Quebec's interests, even at the G8 summit?

[Committees of the House, June 3rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what is very clear is that everyone must obey the law, even the Conservatives, even the Prime Minister. But what the parliamentary secretary just told us is that he could not care less about the law and that he will not appear even if he is subpoenaed. This government tells us to respect law and order, yet it is doing just the opposite.

Can he tell me from his seat that he is asking all employees to defy the law and not answer subpoenas? If so, then he is not worthy to sit here.

[Committees of the House, June 3rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's press secretary, Dimitri Soudas, is still refusing to testify before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, even though the committee clerk has sent him a subpoena. What is even more shocking is that the Prime Minister himself, in a letter to the clerk, supported his press secretary's refusal to appear. Any person is required by law to testify before a parliamentary committee when subpoenaed.

Does the government realize that it is giving the Prime Minister's press secretary permission to flout the law?