House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Referendums December 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, they have already done so twice. There have been two referendums in Canada in which Quebecers decided to vote in Canada.
All I said yesterday was that the rest of the country has a say in the future of that country. We have twice accepted the results of a referendum in Quebec, and democracy is being denied by those who refuse to take no for an answer.
Referendums December 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the contradiction is immediately obvious. The hon. member says that I want to prevent a referendum, and then he refers to what I will do to win it. Either there will be a referendum or there will be none.
What I said yesterday is that we want a clear question. That is what democracy is all about. We do not need the Bloc to give us any lessons in democracy. As Michel Vastel said not too long ago, "The Bloc is a hereditary monarchy. When it comes down to it, eight people, six men and two women, decided how their leader would be chosen, eight people representing 0.007619 per cent of the total Bloc membership of 105,000".
We need no lessons in democracy from a party accused of all manner of funny business in the last Quebec referendum.
Canadian Heritage Committee December 7th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I do not see how the hon. member can say something like that, because the law has not changed. The Canada Council is the same as it has always been, and our members are doing a very professional job.
I maintain that members are free to complain when they are unhappy about something, and they have indeed aired their complaints on many issues. That is what freedom of speech is all about. Members who have objections to raise should raise them. That is what they were elected to do. On the other hand, while it has to take their objections into account, the Canada Council is free to act as it sees fit.
I will not ask the members not to express discontent. Government members and opposition members alike are entitled to their opinions.
Canadian Heritage Committee December 7th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, our policy on the subject is clear. The Canada Council is an independent agency that grants subsidies based on its own set of criteria. The fact of the matter is that the Quebec artistic community has always greatly benefited from the Canada Council, and everyone in the Quebec arts community is very pleased with the objectivity displayed by the Canada Council.
Members may not always be happy with the way a subsidy is granted or used. Freedom of expression is a privilege enjoyed by every Canadian.
It is like when the Canada Council buys paintings for the National Gallery; some like it, others do not. But they are at liberty to do so, and I think that nowhere in the world is the arts community afforded as much independence as in Canada.
Quebec Culture December 7th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian House of Commons is voting in favour of a motion clearly stating that Quebec is a distinct society by virtue of its French language, culture and civil code. It is the best way of putting it. And yet Bloc members are set to vote against it-because they will rise one by one in this House to vote and be recorded as saying that they do not want to support recognition of Quebec as a distinct society. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Quebec Culture December 7th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I never said yesterday that there was no Quebec culture. I said that Quebec culture is not necessarily limited to French, and that French culture also exists outside Quebec.
We believe so strongly in a Quebec culture that not only do we talk about it but we also tabled in the House a motion recognizing it. The hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata is voting against our distinct society proposal stating that Quebec is a distinct society by virtue of its French language, unique culture and civil code. This is a motion I tabled in this House to recognize Quebec culture, and Bloc members are voting against it.
I also explained that French culture is celebrated in all of Canada, and I named a number of prominent Canadians of whom francophones in both Quebec and Canada can be proud. I talked about Antonine Maillet, Gabrielle Roy, Roch Voisine, Henri Bergeron, and many others who speak French and have a French culture, even though not all of them are from Quebec. That is what the hon. member does not understand.
If she wants to recognize Quebec's unique culture, all she has to do is to support the motion that will be voted on next Monday in this House.
Banking December 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, like other corporate citizens they are paying taxes on their profits. In the last budget the Minister of Finance imposed a special $100 million tax on the profits of banks. They pay more than the normal share, but the Minister of Finance will look into the situation. It is a sign in some ways that the economy is performing better than before.
I hope they will pay a lot of tax out of these profits as we need the money to create jobs in Canada.
Standing Committee On Canadian Heritage December 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I return to my argument. French culture is not found only in Quebec. English culture is also found in Quebec. Gabrielle Roy came from St. Boniface, Manitoba, and she is considered one of French Canadian literature's finest. Her works continue to be used today in schools in Quebec. That is just to show the quality. I think that the member for Québec-Est, who was born in Penetanguishene, learned French culture and the French language in Ontario, and he is not any less French, because he is with the Bloc today.
What I am saying, and I have a number of examples, is that French culture may be found throughout Canada, and that English culture may be found in Quebec. We cannot say that Quebec is strictly French, because all sorts of people live in Quebec. There are a lot of proud francophones living outside Quebec.
Standing Committee On Canadian Heritage December 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, there is a French culture in Canada, which is Canadian. It is in Quebec primarily, but I think the culture of the Acadians and Antonine Maillet forms part of the French culture, and this culture is not necessarily Quebec culture.
So, when we talk about a Canadian culture, it may be of French or English expression. This morning I spent time with Canadian natives, who were having ceremonies. They too have a culture, which is entirely their own, but which is Canadian too, because it covers all of Canada. There are people of this culture in British Columbia, in Quebec and in the maritimes.
Unemployment Insurance Reform December 6th, 1995
Yes, Mr. Speaker, they will again vote against the distinct society, because they criticize us and when the time comes to vote in the House, they vote against-