Jean Chrétien

[Member for LaSalle--Émard, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when somebody is in the cabinet for nine years, we cannot know exactly at what meeting he was in or out of a cabinet meeting. I said that the former minister of finance was an honourable man and he knew what his duty was. On many occasions, he abstained himself from discussions, but I cannot on every file know if he was there or not.

I think the former minister of finance said clearly that he followed all the rules. I have no reason not to believe what he said.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we are working on that with our ambassador to the United Nations. I have had the occasion to talk with some of the leaders about what will happen, both in terms of humanitarian aid and reconstruction. I have made many telephone calls on it.

I had a chance to talk with Mr. Blair and we discussed exactly that. We were in agreement that there should be an important role for the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there are laws on that and there are international conventions on that. I hope everybody will follow the international conventions post-war.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, of course there is no question of trading anything there. He talked about a trade tribunal but I do not think it is that.

We said that at this moment the Secretary of the United Nations is in communication with everyone on that issue. We do not know exactly, the war is not over. They are all speculating about what would happen after that. It is very important that all the bridges be built among the different nations at this time.

The last few months have been very difficult for the international community and we have to build bridges between Europe and America, among all the nations of the world, that would be beneficial to everyone.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, at this time, the secretary general is discussing with the British, the Americans, the Europeans as well as our officials to determine what system should be put in place after the war. It is premature to conclude that it will be one rather than another.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, first, with respect to the hon. member's assertion that the Americans have decided to act completely unilaterally, if he read the dispatches a few minutes ago, he will know that the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain both said that the United Nations were to play a major role in what is to come in Irak.

Based on this statement, we will see what happens. I think that as we speak, the Secretary General of the United Nations is on his way to meet with European leaders to try to reach a consensus to help ensure proper management of the post-war situation.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, they want me to say that we accepted this as a policy.

I want him to know, for example, that at this moment I am not supporting Mugabe in Zimbabwe. There are a lot of people that I think should not be there. I do not think that it is, for example, the role of Canada as one of the senior members of the Commonwealth to change a regime in Zimbabwe. If we start that, where do we stop?

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, they keep repeating the same question. If the member had listened he would know the position I gave to his leader a minute ago.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the first day of the war or the second day, I said that I wanted, and we wanted, the Americans and the British to succeed. That is what we said in the House right at the beginning, even if we are not there for the reasons that I have given very clearly this morning. This has been the position of the government.

If there is another government, we will decide as we do with every change of regime that occurs around the world. We decide what we will do after there is a change of government.

[Iraq, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I just explained very clearly that it is evident the result of the present conflict will bring about a change of regime. We want this war to finish quickly with a minimum of victims. We feel strongly about the American, Australian and British families who have daughters and sons there. I hope that a minimum of them will lose their lives.

The result of this war, as I said, will bring about a change of regime, but a policy of going around the world to change regimes is something that I am not about to accept.