Jason Kenney

[Points Of Order, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise with respect to a matter that occurred in yesterday's question period, which I did not raise yesterday because I did not hear the remark due to the noise in the House. However, I see that it is reported in Hansard at page 13014. The hon. Minister for International Trade said in speaking of myself: “I think it rings hollow when the member can be so disloyal.”

Beauchesne's sixth edition, citation 481 states in part:

—it has been sanctioned by usage that a Member, while speaking, must not:

(e) impute bad motives or motives different from those acknowledged by a Member.

(f) make a personal charge against a Member.

Citation 486(1) reads:

It is impossible to lay down any specific rules in regard to injurious reflections uttered in debate against particular Members, or to declare beforehand what expressions are or are not contrary to order; much depends upon the tone and manner, and intention, of the person speaking; sometimes upon the person to whom the words are addressed, as, whether that person is a public officer, or a private Member not in office, or whether the words are meant to be applied to public conduct or to private character; and sometimes upon the degree of provocation—

Many hot words have been exchanged between the opposition and that minister in terms of questioning the loyalty of the official opposition. I do not rise on a point of order about ascribing motives to the opposition per se, but the record indicates that the member did specifically say that I as a member of this place was disloyal. I think that is a rather fundamental attack on my integrity as a Canadian and as a member of this place. I therefore rise to ask that the member retract and apologize for these unparliamentary remarks.

[Taxation, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, isn't that lovely. It simply is not adequate for the families that are waiting to pay the rent or to buy their groceries with their cheques held up at government tax centres.

It is fine that the government is watching and is concerned but will it act? How will it act? When will act to ensure that Canadians get the money that belongs to them, not to the government or the union?

[Taxation, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, because of the government's bungling of the growing PSAC strike, millions of Canadians have seen their GST rebate cheques and their tax refunds delayed and held up at tax centres across the country.

This means that money that belongs to Canadians, not bureaucrats or the union, is not available to pay the rent or buy the groceries.

When those Canadians are late in filing their returns they get fines, penalties or jail time. What will the government do to ensure Canadians get the money that belongs to them immediately so they do not have to wait any longer?

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, they do not want to hear the question, just like they do not want to hear about the WTO ruling, just like they do not want to hear about the fact that Canada's standard of living has been falling under this government, just like they do not want to hear about the fact that our productivity is less than that of Mississippi.

How can the government continue to justify policy that sends young Canadians out of this country, that puts small businesses into bankruptcy, that takes hope away from Canadians who are working hard? How can it justify this job killing and hope killing tax and debt level? How can the government apologize for that?

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this kind of shameful demagoguery from this minister really is beneath contempt. Let me tell the minister that every document—

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, why did the government furnish the same Brazilian government with 46 Industry Canada documents? Why did the government create an illegal policy of corporate welfare which the World Trade Organization says is against international law? That is the question.

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I do not have to apologize, nor do any members of this party, for having registered Canadian ships in the Barbados, Bermuda, Singapore and the Bahamas.

Let me say that the documents—

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, you know that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. When we see this kind of—

[St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Saint John is a hard act to follow.

Today Irish everywhere, including those who wish they were Irish, celebrate the feast day of their patron saint, the evangelist of Ireland, St. Patrick.

As Ireland enters its 15th century of Christianity, Canada's six million Irish descendants can give thanks for the growing spirit of peace taking root in their homeland. The Good Friday agreement is a sign of hope in what has been a century of violence and bloodshed.

Today is also a day to recall how fragile is the current peace in a land riven by decades of sectarian hatred. Monday's brutal car bomb attack on Rosemary Nelson, an Irish human rights lawyer who died two hours after her legs were blown off, comes just two weeks before the Good Friday peace agreement turns a year old.

She is simply the latest victim of the enemies of peace. Terrorists on both sides have continued a murderous campaign to prevent this resolution taking root, from the bombing at Omagh to the daily beatings and shootings.

Terrorist intimidation must not be allowed to stand in the way of peace. Without that there is little hope of restoring the legacy of St. Patrick and the great civilization his message spawned in Ireland.

[Supply, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am no expert on the criminal laws of other jurisdictions, so I would not propose any single model. I suggest that a made in Canada solution is probably the best. We have different conditions, different circumstances which we should consider in framing our own criminal justice laws. I think that question probably is not relevant.