House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Canada-U.S. Relations March 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I think that the Leader of the Opposition does not realize that we have good relations with the Americans. We disagree on that, but their friendship means that sometimes we can disagree. The Leader of the Opposition reminds me of the “ready, aye, ready” policy of another Leader of the Opposition of 80 years ago, Arthur Meighen. Ready, aye, ready was not the policy of the Government of Canada then and it is not the policy of the Government of Canada today.
Canada-U.S. Relations March 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, there are two George Bushes, at last news, and I had very good personal relations with the President of the United States.
They should have listened to him when I met with him in September in Detroit, when he said that I was very straightforward, that sometimes I can be funny, and he said I could be a good Texan.
Iraq March 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it was a year ago that we said very clearly to the American government that if it were to have a war in Iraq that Canadians would not be there if it were not to get a resolution approved by the Security Council. I repeated that in August, in September, in November, in December, in January, in February and in March. We cannot be more consistent than that. We were probably the only country that was so clear, so early, with the Americans and the British.
Iraq March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we are well enough connected at the UN for people to be very aware of Canada's position.
Louise Fréchette, second in command at the United Nations, is a former deputy minister of the Canadian government. I am certain that once we want to discuss our plans with the United Nations, we will be in a very good position to do so.
Iraq March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, clearly the member—a leadership candidate for his party—came here with a prepared question, because I already said that today we are making $100 million available. The cabinet and the minister for international development authorized this sum yesterday.
Our plans are already being discussed at the United Nations through our ambassador, who met with the cabinet about this yesterday.
Canada-U.S. Relations March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we have the sense when we are listening to these members of Parliament that they are not in Canada. We are a independent country. We have the right to disagree with our neighbours. It is what we have done. We have done it in good faith. We have done it since a year ago. Our position has always been very clear, expressed here in the House, in the nation and to the Americans.
On the war against terrorism, as I said, I gave the list of the occasions since September 11 that we have been with them, but in this case we talked about the approval of the UN and we told them very clearly that the Canadian troops were not to be on the ground.
Canada-U.S. Relations March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, they must be running out of questions because they are asking the same question that was asked yesterday.
Yesterday I said that at the caucus last week I invited all members of my caucus and I said that outside of the caucus too that they should moderate their rhetoric, that we had a disagreement about going into the war, but we are with the Americans in the other war, the war against terrorism.
We have been there more than anybody else and we will be going with thousands of people in the summer. We are helping them, but on the question of Iraq, we said a year ago that if they did not have the consent of--
Canada-U.S. Relations March 26th, 2003
If that is what was said, it is completely reprehensible. I was not aware of it. If it was said, I reprimand that. I do not think that is acceptable to use language like that.
Canada-U.S. Relations March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, when we listen to the opposition members, they seem to have a desire that there be bad relations between us and the United States. They desire that.
Yesterday the ambassador said that the relations between Canada and the United States were so important for both of us that we had to keep the relations we have had, even if we have a disagreement. It is not the first time, but this country, in a situation like that, has the right to make the decision we made, like they have the right to make the decision they made. Among friends, sometimes we can disagree.
Iraq March 26th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the hon. member was not in the House when I gave an answer to that question yesterday. The way he is acting today, in a few months from now we will regret the departure of the member for Calgary Centre.