Jean Chrétien

[Foreign Affairs, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Security Council's resolution, adopted yesterday, was excellent and Canada is fully behind it.

I hope that discussions will resume between the parties as soon as possible, and I am very pleased that the American government has decided at this time to send Vice-President Cheney to the region, and that General Zinni is expected there.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Arafat on the telephone, and he was insistent that the United States get involved in this capacity. I am pleased that the Americans are there to help put an end to this unacceptable carnage.

[Taxation, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, at the last conference with the provincial first ministers, we committed $23 billion to help them with the health system. They were very pleased with this and signed on for five years. They were not obliged to do so.

If we have a surplus at this time, it is simply because we have had good administration since Canadians decided to vote the fifth party out of power.

[Health, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the committee is the master of its own rule and if the members of the committee want to look into that they can.

The reality is that when his party was in power the federal government had no surplus. Since replacing the Conservative Party, we have a surplus. While the provinces are reducing their taxes they would like us to give them the money that they have used to reduce the taxes rather than use their own money for their own programs.

[Taxation, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has done a very good job over the past eight and one half years. One of the problems we have at the present time, according to the opposition, is that we have done our job too well.

When he became Minister of Finance in 1993, we had a deficit of $42 billion. Today we have a surplus. The provincial government wants to lower its taxes. It does so and then wants us to pay in its stead. We have done our job properly. Let the province do its job properly as well.

[Zimbabwe, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, a process was established unanimously at the Commonwealth conference.

Observers from the Commonwealth will be there as well as observers from the Canadian government. They will report to the Commonwealth and to us. There is a committee made up of three heads of government and state who will be meeting within two weeks to analyze the report of the observers and render a decision.

I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that it does not look very good, but we have to follow the process of receiving the report from the observers before coming to a definite conclusion.

[Terrorism, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we made it very clear to the United States administration that we were with the United States in the fight against terrorism. We do not intend to change our position.

The question of Iraq is at this moment a hypothetical one. We are involved. Our troops are doing us a great honour in Afghanistan fighting on the front in the snow and apparently are doing extremely well. That is our contribution. When there are other requests, we will analyze them and give our opinion after discussions with the House of Commons.

[Softwood Lumber, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I will meet the president tomorrow. I will express the views of all Canadians that we want the Americans to respect the free trade agreement that we have with them on all aspects, including softwood lumber. At this time there are some people in the administration in Washington who are looking at some aspects of it. We hope that by the end of the month there will be some concrete proposition forthcoming.

At this moment the minister is meeting with representatives of the provinces. A few days ago I met with the minister from British Columbia and a delegation of businessmen, union people and native people from British Columbia. They were in agreement that we are on the right track. They hope, as I do, that we will have an agreement that will respect the free trade agreement.

[Nuclear Weapons, March 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, this is a nuclear matter.

We have asked the U.S. government for explanations. Too much importance must not be attached to a document that comes from the administration, unless we are sure it really represents government policy.

We have done our duty. We have asked for an explanation and, if none is forthcoming, I will have an opportunity to raise the problem with the president as early as this Thursday.

[Softwood Lumber, March 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have always made the point that we want the same free trade agreement on softwood lumber as we have on oil and gas. This is a very serious problem. I have made sure the Americans understand that if they want free trade it should not be at their choosing but that it should be according to the agreement.

[Terrorism, March 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, that was a lengthy supplementary question and not very related to the first one.

I just want to say that of course I will be there. On the question of a nuclear discussion, we have asked for clarification because it is a document that has leaked from somewhere in the public administration. I am sure it is not a document that is subscribed to by the administration, but I will raise it with the president.

As far as Iraq is concerned, everyone knows that we and the Americans are fighting against terrorism. We have 3,000 troops in Afghanistan at this time. We are making a contribution.