Mr. Speaker, the law is clear. We do not have the right under the law to make public cabinet documents produced under previous prime ministers. The law is very clear on that.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Krever Inquiry December 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the law is clear. We do not have the right under the law to make public cabinet documents produced under previous prime ministers. The law is very clear on that.
Krever Inquiry December 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Turner was the prime minister for three months and Parliament was not in session at that time. After that it was Mr. Mulroney. I am not here to protect anybody in that.
There is a law of the land that protects cabinet documents. All the documents the law authorized us to give to the judge were given to the judge. We hope he will be able to report and make the recommendations needed so we can improve the situation.
The Minister of Health in collaboration with his provincial colleagues already moved on the problem even before the judge made his report.
Krever Inquiry December 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister has replied to that question many times in the House of Commons. We were very unhappy with the situation that existed at that time. There is an inquiry which we hope will be able to report soon. Then improvements can be made to the legislation so the same mistakes will not be repeated.
As far as the cabinet documents are concerned, according to the law of the land there is a limit. I did not pass this law. The law is there and we will respect the law. I am very surprised that the member is asking us not to respect the law.
The minister at the time, Madam Bégin, said that she is willing to testify. I do not know why the release of cabinet documents, if they exist, will help. I think the judge has all the things he needs to make a report and help us ensure the problems do not recur.
Health November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the documents referred to are documents related to the operation of the cabinets of previous governments, not this government, and under the law the Prime Minister cannot release cabinet information from previous administrations.
I have nothing to hide. It is the law of the land that I am respecting.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, three years ago we had more than 4,300 Canadian troops committed abroad. They were stationed in the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus and so on. At this very moment we have about 2,000 troops in Bosnia, Haiti and Africa. This is less than half the amount of people who were committed three years ago.
I have been informed by the Minister of National Defence that to commit more troops to Africa at this time is not outside the capacity of the military. In all the discussions we have had, the Canadian military is very well respected around the world. I was very confident in asking it to take the lead and go to Zaire.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the resolution at the security council last week was unanimous. When the meeting was called by Canadians before the resolution, we expected to have 25 countries show up, and 75 came and everybody was very eager to have a resolution adopted and everybody wanted to find out what kind of contribution they could make.
As I said earlier, the actual commitment of troops will be discussed in Germany on Thursday or Friday. Depending on the evaluation of the situation, a decision will be made by the military officers who are in charge. As of this moment, the meeting has been called by General Baril, a Canadian, who received a mandate from the security council to prepare troops if military intervention is needed.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the mandate is very clear. The mandate has been given to an international force to go into Central Africa to help provide food, medication, shelter and other needs to the refugees. At this time we are all on the side of Zaire.
I am happy to see that the representative of the third party realizes that probably half of the refugees are back in their country of Rwanda and others are moving. At this moment a survey is being made by a team in eastern Zaire to evaluate the situation to find out what is happening to the refugees who are still there. We are told by the Government of Rwanda that it will open the southern part to let the refugees into Rwanda in the days to come.
By the end of the operation we will know if there are still some Rwandan refugees in Zaire. If there are none, the problem will become strictly humanitarian. As I said earlier, the Government of Rwanda is willing and eager to receive help from all the countries that want to contribute to this settlement of the people coming back home after two or three years.
It may be that in the next three or four days we will be in a position where the armed forces will not be required any more. At this moment the Canadian soldiers who are in Kigali are completely safe and in no danger. They are awaiting the evaluation that will be made by General Baril and the other military officials involved. They will be meeting in Stuttgart, Germany on Thursday or Friday and the decision will be made at that time about what kind of forces and who outside Canada will be contributing.
The British are contributing and the Americans say they will be there and many others. I was on the phone with President Mandela a few minutes ago discussing the matter. He wants to be there and he wants to have a strong African participation in the effort.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the information I have is that the Rwandan government welcomes those wishing to provide humanitarian aid. There is no doubt on this score. They will facilitate the movement of people who must travel there to distribute food, clothing, and necessary medication. In this regard, we have the assurance of the Rwandan government that everything will proceed normally. This aid will not necessarily be distributed by the armed forces, but by organizations that can dispense these services.
As for eastern Zaire, a reconnaissance mission is assessing the situation. It is now at the site, accompanied by Rwandan authorities. Flights are also being made over the area to assess population movement. It will be with accurate information about what is taking place that the Stuttgart meeting will be held and a decision taken on the nature of the military intervention, if the need still exists.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, these are Rwandan citizens returning to their own country. Local authorities assure us that measures have been taken to help them return to normal life in their country. This is within their own country.
At this time, the Rwandan government does not want military intervention with respect to its own citizens within its own borders. This is entirely normal under international law.
Great Lakes Region Of Africa November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition has said, the situation is evolving very rapidly. According to reports, 500,000 refugees have returned to Rwanda. At this time, General Baril and observers from the United Nations, the United States and elsewhere are assessing the current situation in eastern Zaire, at the border with Rwanda, particularly in the southern part of that region.
When we have the information, we will know exactly how many Rwandan refugees are in Zaire. Will they return to Rwanda? When they go back to Rwanda, they are home and there is no longer any need for military intervention because they are in their own country. It is strictly a question of providing them with humanitarian aid.
The situation is evolving. General Baril, who was appointed to lead the mission, is now in Kigali. There will be a meeting of military commanders in Stuttgart, Germany, on Thursday or Friday chaired by General Baril, for the purpose of evaluating military requirements.
Tomorrow, there will be a meeting of political representatives at the United Nations. That will be held in New York. Saturday, in Geneva, all representatives of countries contributing humanitarian aid will meet to evaluate needs and see what can be done.
As we speak, the mission is still on. The statement to the effect that the United States has announced officially that it will not be present does not match my information. I spoke with Mr. Lake myself yesterday evening. He told me that he and the others were assessing the situation and that he would be in Stuttgart on Thursday, and that a decision would be made at that time. The United States has assured us that it has not changed its basic position.
The situation is changing rapidly and we should be pleased that the refugees have been able to return home without military assistance. I think this is a great achievement that should make everyone happy.