House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Francophones Outside Quebec October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member patted herself on the back. This is most uncommon. I like this last minute conversion. I like it because it gives me the opportunity to say once again that there may be problems, there have always been problems, things have always been difficult, but one thing is clear: francophones outside Quebec-
Francophones Outside Quebec October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of this matter. I will certainly look into it, because I intervened successfully in the matter of the French school in Kingston, not very long ago. I want to see if there is a valid reason. I find it absolutely incredible, however, that suddenly, two weeks before they want to leave Canada, they are worrying about the francophones outside Quebec, who will be left to their own devices if Quebec separates.
But I can reassure francophones outside Quebec: do not worry. Quebecers-not the Parti Quebecois and the Bloc Quebecois-but Quebecers themselves will never drop francophones outside Quebec.
Francophone Communities October 17th, 1995
It is not blackmail. There will be only one million francophones outside Quebec who will no longer have the support of francophone members from Quebec, like me and others who have spent their careers defending francophones outside Quebec here in the House of Commons. I have been doing that for 32 years. It produced results. But they want to abandon them because they want ambassadors from Quebec driving around abroad in their limos.
Francophone Communities October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Saskatchewan, like the other premiers today in Canada, has an obligation under the Canadian constitution to protect French schools outside Quebec. If Quebec separates from Canada-
Francophone Communities October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the best way to protect the education rights of francophones outside Quebec-which we put in the Canadian constitution in 1982, it was not there before-the best way to ensure that French schools outside Quebec are protected by the constitution adopted by this Parliament in 1982, when I was Minister of Justice, is to stay in Canada. The best guarantee francophones have is to stay in Canada.
When I see francophone members abandoning francophones outside Quebec, I find that shameful, Mr. Speaker.
Francophones Outside Quebec October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, this very day the newspaper representing francophones outside Quebec has asked Quebecers to vote no in the referendum, because the future of francophones outside Quebec depends on the federal Official Languages Act, and on the fact that there is a government here in Canada, in Ottawa, which has always defended francophones outside Quebec.
Certainly some people have more difficulty than others in retaining their French, but they do want to retain it. Not only that. Every year 350,000 English speaking Canadians learn French because they live in Canada, a country where there are francophones, and this raises the number of people speaking French in Canada and in the world. The reason French is alive and well in
America is that the French have remained in Canada since Confederation.
Francophones Outside Quebec October 17th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, recently the magazine L'Actualité reported that Canada has made more progress in recent years than any other country in the world with respect to the use of French.
I cannot understand the hon. member. She is prepared to abandon francophones outside Quebec. She is prepared to abandon the million francophones living outside Quebec.
They show no consideration for these people because they want to separate from Canada. We on the other hand want to remain within Canada because we want to offer real protection to those who really have the merit of speaking French, the francophones outside Quebec.
Health Care October 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I will certainly tell the Minister of Finance the member for Yukon is not very happy with him.
As the hon. member for Yukon has resigned as the leader of the NDP, I take this opportunity to congratulate her on behalf of everyone for having served her party and the House of Commons very well. As the leader of her party, her contributions were always of a very high level and extremely useful to the House of Commons. Of course I did not agree with her all the time and I did not expect her to agree with me all the time.
On behalf of everyone, I congratulate the member on a job well done.
Council For Canadian Unity October 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Council is indeed an organization that has received a grant from the government, but it also receives moneys from the private sector and it urges people who have the right to vote to get their names on the list.
It goes without saying that if the No side wins in two weeks, many people who moved out of Quebec will want to go back there. Thanks to its restored political stability, Quebec will become a very interesting place to live, and these people will be very happy to move back to our belle province.
Elections Canada October 16th, 1995
You should at least be here for another two weeks because you would not be coming back.
Call the Chief Electoral Officer and ask him. As far as I am concerned, the referendum is what we are working on at this time. We did not need to get rid of the leader of the No side. Mr. Johnson is doing an excellent job. We did not have to change our strategy because we are clearly telling citizens that all statements by the Leader of the Opposition or the so-called structures he might develop by negotiating with God knows whom- We are simply
telling Quebecers that these people are separatists who do not have the courage of their convictions and who are trying to sell them something they do not want to buy.