Jean Chrétien

[Government Appointments, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Fowler is not a friend of mine. He has been a public servant for his whole career and he has served in a very distinguished fashion in many very important jobs in government. He received an appointment within the public service and he is a member of the public service.

It would be very difficult to claim that the leader of the former government, former prime minister Campbell, is a personal friend of mine. We spent about six months fighting each other, but I think she can fill this job with dignity.

As we have problems with the Americans in the cultural field and so on, the profile she has as a former prime minister will help her to have real access to help the Canadian cultural community to get its message through in Los Angeles. I was happy to name her.

In this case I do not know if Mr. Fowler ever voted for us but I know that Ms. Campbell did not vote for me in the last two elections.

[The Asbestos Industry, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that it is possible to use asbestos safely. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs has already made representations to the French government.

When I again have an opportunity to meet with President Chirac, I will make our concerns known to him. I will be able to assure him that, here in Canada and in many other countries, we are using asbestos products in a completely safe manner, and that he should not ban this product at this time and in any other circumstance, because it has been shown that, in certain circumstances, it can be used satisfactorily and very safely.

[National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have nothing to add to what I have already said to the House of Commons.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what I am doing. The Canadian forces need stable leadership. I have appointed a man who has had a great career in the armed forces.

There is an inquiry going on at this time. It is always a difficult period for any organization when facing an inquiry. Let the minister of defence, the chief of staff and the inquiry do their jobs. That is what they are there for and they should be allowed to do it.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I will reply with a long answer. I am keeping the Minister of National Defence in his position because I have confidence in him. In the previous administration the minister of defence was changed each year. I decided that was a problem. I therefore appointed one competent person to the job until the job is done.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we have a commission of inquiry that is doing its job at this moment.

As I said earlier, the Minister of National Defence is doing a difficult job. It is his duty to do so. General Boyle, who took charge of the situation at a very difficult time for the armed forces, is doing his job as he must. And he must continue to do so. We should let the commission of inquiry get on with its job. As soon as we get the report from the commission, we will be able to see what happened, what is wrong and what action is required.

Today, the Canadian armed forces have been substantially downsized. Bases have been closed. There has been a considerable reduction in the number of officers at headquarters. We use to have more than 100 generals, and now we have about 30 less. Some have to leave, and this will continue.

When someone leaves a post like that, it is not unusual for him to complain. Unfortunately, the armed forces have been downsized, and it is always difficult when we have to downsize any organization, especially the armed forces.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in a long time a government has had the courage to ask for an inquiry into the operations of national defence. Never has it been done before. Of course we knew it would be difficult. It is being done. The inquiry is proceeding. We want the inquiry to finish the job.

In the meantime, the Minister of National Defence and General Boyle have to operate the armed forces, and they are doing it to the satisfaction of the government.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has taken on a very difficult task. We are in a period of readjustment in military expenditures of the government. We have been obliged to reduce bases, reduce the number of personnel and reduce by many billions of dollars the expenditures in the Department of National Defence. It is always an extremely difficult job.

When I appointed the Minister of National Defence I warned him it was to be a difficult period. He has done an excellent job in extremely difficult circumstances during the last three years. I encourage him to stay in his job and keep doing what he is doing. He is doing a good job.

[Department Of National Defence, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we are happy to see the leader of the third party with a new haircut. We hope he will also cut his policies according to new needs. I guess he really wanted to be different from the leader of the Conservative Party.

The Minister of National Defence has a job to do. General Boyle has a job to do. The Somalia inquiry has a job to do. Let them do their jobs. I have confidence in the Minister of National Defence and in General Boyle.

[Job Creation, September 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the hon. member that one third of the public servants working for the federal government in the National Capital Region come from the Quebec side. Here, the national capital straddles both sides of the river, and government spending is worked out not by streets, but by regions.

Since one third are here in the region, very often contracts are shown as belonging to Ontario, but one third of those who benefit are Quebecers. If an honest division is done, Quebec receives at least a share equal to its population.