Jean Chrétien

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on the comment made by Mr. Klein, I never said a word about it. In the case of members of Parliament, anybody who was in the House, who was in the corridors, who was at the caucus last week, knew very well that I said to everybody that we have to respect the decision of the Americans, as they respect our own decisions. I said that no comment should be made against the Americans. The member of my party has received his instructions and is following them very clearly. I hope that it is noted by the people concerned.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if the leader of the fifth party will not get up tomorrow and have a completely different position because that was the case yesterday regarding the war.

Our position has always been very clear. In all of these circumstances Canada is always behind any form of aid that will go through multilaterally and not unilaterally. Reconstruction and humanitarian aid should proceed the same way. I will say so to any government that wants to have the views of the Canadian government.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we met with the ambassador today and we discussed this very problem. We want it to be done in a multilateral approach. This morning on TV, Prime Minister Blair of Great Britain mentioned that the need for reconstruction and aid should be done in a multilateral way. We are in agreement with that. That is exactly the mandate that Ambassador Heinbecker received from the cabinet this morning.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this morning the ambassador to the UN, Mr. Heinbecker, briefed the cabinet about what the United Nations is doing at this time to get organized to deliver what is needed for the population who is suffering from the consequences of the war.

He was here and has been discussing the issue with the cabinet. We will deal with this as quickly as possible to ensure that humanitarian aid goes to the people who are victims of this conflict.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence explained clearly the role of these soldiers. They have been on loan for some time with the British and American armies. They have been in a support role for a long time and they are doing their jobs. They are not engaged in combat. Under instructions they can only use arms in self-defence.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this crisis, our position has always been extremely responsible. I do not see the point in the Bloc Quebecois leader's trying to divide Canadians at a time when the large majority of them support the government's decision.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, at the start of the conflict, we clearly established a policy that personnel lent to American, British or Australian units, which are perhaps in Iraq at the present time, must fulfill their duties as military personnel, as those exchanged with them here in Canada fulfill their duties as military personnel. Changing that policy at this time would be unwise.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I will never be embarrassed when, as Prime Minister of this land, I will show Canadians and the people of the world that Canada is an independent country, and Canadians know that.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when he is threatening me I am very frightened. I am shaking in my boots.

I stated the position of the government clearly last week. I said, and I repeat, that the intervention there is to ensure that Saddam Hussein is disarmed. The question of changing regime is not a policy that is acceptable under the United Nations charter because it is a position that has been stated by this government and by the previous government, the Conservative government of 1990-91, and other leaders in the past.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I always said that we went to the United Nations because since 1991 Saddam Hussein did not comply with the obligation that he took at that time to destroy the armaments of massive destruction. That was the purpose of resolution 1441 that we supported and that we were working on with the United Nations. That was the way that it had to be done, through the United Nations with the support of the United Nations. Those who have decided to go to war at this time have used 1441 as a reason.