Jean Charest

[First Ministers' Conference, May 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and concerns the first ministers' conference that will take place at the end of June.

It is the fourth time I put a question in the House regarding the agenda of the conference. The minister says that the throne speech alludes to some elements, but the provinces were consulted and we can only presume that this consultation process resulted in decisions being made regarding the agenda.

I would like to know what are at least the starting points of this discussion, this federal-provincial conference, if the official agenda is still not available.

[First Ministers' Conference, May 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government and has to do with the first ministers' conference that was announced yesterday, which the government finally got around to bringing together.

Could the government inform us what will be the agenda of this meeting? Is it going to transfer manpower training? Is it going to pursue more devolution? Is it going to talk about economic union? Is it going to live up to the commitments it made during the referendum campaign? Since it has called a meeting, could it at least inform us and the premiers what the agenda will be?

[The Constitution, May 7th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister and concerns the first ministers conference he mentioned a few moments ago.

I would like to know, on the one hand, whether the Prime Minister can tell us today the agenda of the proposed conference, which is to take place very soon, in June, and, on the other, whether he intends to move on respecting his referendum promises, including the promise to enshrine in the Constitution the recognition of Quebec as a distinct society?

[Government Policies, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. It has to do with the government's admission that in the 1993 campaign the Liberal Party of Canada under his leadership was in contempt of Canadians with regard to the GST.

Having made that admission, I would like to know now from the Prime Minister whether he would not also admit that the Liberals were in contempt toward Canadians in regard to the helicopter deal, Pearson airport, trade agreements and also jobs, and that the only red thing left from the red book are the red faces on the government side.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 22nd, 1996]

My question has to do with the new allegations relative to the Somalia inquiry, the allegations about papers being shredded in September 1995. These are very serious allegations which go right to the heart of an issue of confidence within the government.

I would like to know from the Prime Minister whether he does not think at this point, given this serious allegation concerning his department, that the time has come to ask his minister of defence to stand aside.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 22nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

[Canada Transportation Act, March 25th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, of course I intend to vote in favour of this motion. Therefore, if I heard my colleagues well, there is unanimous consent.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

[Canada Transportation Act, March 25th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, my colleague for Saint John and myself being the sponsors of this motion, I wish to inform the government whip that we consent to apply the vote on the previous

motion to this motion, and also, of course, to add the name of the Secretary of State for Agriculture to the list.

[Appeal Centres, March 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister, who was here a few seconds ago. In his absence, I think I can put my question to the revenue minister. It is about a project by her department to create an appeal centre for eastern Canada. This project could involve three cities, Shawinigan, Quebec City and Sherbrooke.

I would like to receive assurances from the Prime Minister that neither he nor his office intend to intervene directly or indirectly in the decision that is taken and that the three cities concerned will have an equal chance to make their case.

[The Late Ernest Charles Manning, March 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice, the voice of my party colleagues on the Senate side and obviously that of the member for Saint John to all other members in the House to pay tribute to Ernest Manning.

He was a Canadian who had an enduring political career that in itself speaks to the values he espoused and also speaks to the values recognized in him by the men and women, Canadians all across the country, who were called from time to time to confirm and reaffirm their confidence in this great man.

He left an indelible mark on the country. From time to time Canadians may want to search their memories and look back on some of his views as we look to the future. For example, in 1981 he had his own views on the patriation process the country was confronted with. As we examine the situation we are in today there is no doubt there was some wisdom in the words he spoke at that time with regard to changes being proposed to the country.

Obviously his influence was beyond his own generation. Evidence is that we have today here in the House of Commons his son, the leader of the Reform Party, who has had some success, I am sorry to say for Conservatives in some regard, in his own political career.

I extend to him and to his family and to Mrs. Manning our very deep gratitude for having supported him, Mr. Ernest Manning, through those years. I extend our deep appreciation for his devotion to Canada and also our condolences at this time.

It may be of some interest to Mr. Manning and to all the Mannings and those who worked with the family from time to time to know that his influence went way beyond Alberta. Though I never had the honour of meeting him, I do have very fond

memories of his voice, something passed on from generation to generation through the magic of radio.

My other was a very devout Catholic. In our home in the kitchen after dinner in the evenings I remember very well her listening to the radio show of Ernest Manning. I still remember the jingle. I can still remember that voice and the words. She was a very big fan of Mr. Manning, although I should say for his ideas with regard to Christianity and its basic values.

Through my youth this voice was very familiar in our home in Sherbrooke, Quebec, thousands of miles away from wherever he was speaking. In that respect his influence has gone beyond the political forum into every area of our lives. We are appreciative of that.

Again, to Preston Manning and to his family we send our very deep condolences.