Jean Chrétien

[Byelections, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we are very happy that for the first time democracy is working

in Haiti. The president decided to come to Canada. I will be delighted to receive him in Ottawa Saturday.

We are doing our best to restore good government there. The United Nations and the United States have asked Canada to take over the role that the United States had there some months ago. I am very proud that the people of Canada are willing to help the poorest people of the world who live in Haiti.

If the president decides to come this weekend, we are not going to tell him to go back home until after the election. There is no connection at all.

[Immigration, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have a program. The government is implementing that program, a program that was established by the Liberal Party.

The promises of the Liberal Party have become the promises of the Liberal government. As a promise of this government it will be kept. When the government says it has kept its promises it says at the same that the Liberal Party has kept its promises.

[Immigration, March 20th, 1996]

Yes, it is partisan when I say that. It is what I said as the leader of the Liberal Party. I have repeated it as Prime Minister of Canada and I have done it as Prime Minister of Canada.

[Immigration, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, when the government speaks about its programs they are of course related to its policies. The government has the programs.

When we say that we have implemented a program and have informed the people about it, a day does not go by without somebody getting up in the House and asking me: "When are you

going you do this or that because it was in the red book?" I always reply that it is in the red book.

When we say that we are on target for the deficit, it was in the red book. When we say that we will meet the 3 per cent target of the red book-

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reply to the harsh words of the quasi-leader of the third party by saying that the government is very proud of its record of integrity. We have been in government for 27 months and there have been absolutely no serious accusations made by anyone.

I believe both ministers acted properly in this matter. We can stand the criticism of a party which has very little to show. It should put its own house in order first.

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I just said that when the minister looked at the document she said it was not to be distributed and she had her own reasons for doing so.

We are working on a sequel to the red book. It will be ready for the election and it will again defeat the Reform Party.

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the minister replied to this question yesterday. When she joined the department she decided she wanted to change some policies in the department, as happens when there is a change of ministers. New ministers approach problems in different fashions. She made a decision and the decision will stand.

[Immigration Red Book, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, they use the red book in the House of Commons in every second question. I guess it is a good document.

I have nothing to add to what the minister of immigration said yesterday about this.

[Manpower Training, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, they might as well ask for the transfer of the UI fund while they are at it. It is an active measure aimed at the unemployed. As I said, as far as manpower training is concerned-the bone of contention that has been used in this House for months now-we are prepared to transfer the related funds to the provinces, and we are waiting for them to come forward.

[Manpower Training, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we said, and I said that the funds allocated to manpower training, earmarked for manpower training, will be transferred to any provincial government as soon as an agreement can be negotiated.

Regarding all the active measures developed by the federal government to create jobs across the country, using the UI fund or government funds, these are federal programs under the Canadian Constitution and they will remain under our control. But as far as manpower training is concerned, I am prepared to sign it over tomorrow morning. The problem is that, any time we give an inch, they want a mile.

Just yesterday, the president of the Conseil du patronat, which is part of the consensus, indicated that the consensus was about manpower training. We respect the consensus and we are prepared to transfer responsibility for manpower training to the provinces tomorrow morning, provided the funds really go to providing training to the unemployed.