Jean Chrétien

[Research And Development, October 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canada developed in such a way that today, for example, the aeronautical industry is concentrated in Quebec. It could have been elsewhere in Canada, but that is the way things turned out.

Some sectors are concentrated in Quebec, some in Ontario, some in other provinces, so that Canada manages to develop in an equitable way. But there is always room for improvement.

I am not saying that Canada cannot be improved; it can always be improved. But one should not separate from a country simply because of petty quarrels on approximate budget levels on one side or another. One can find all kinds of justifications. For example, Quebec naturally receives money for national ports but, because it is in the middle of the Prairies, we have not yet dug a river in Saskatchewan so that we can give that province its share of the national ports budget. That province does not receive anything for national ports but it does not complain about it.

[Research And Development, October 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I think the Leader of the Opposition is getting a bit upset. The answers given by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs were quite clear.

Here in the national capital, some people live in Quebec and work on this side of the river, while some people on this side of the river work on the other side. The minister just said that in his riding, Hull-Aylmer, on that side, 1,700 residents work on research and development in laboratories on this side, in the national capital. If we exclude the national capital, in other words, if we compare Quebec with the other provinces, Quebec receives more than its share.

It has 24 per cent of the population and receives 30 per cent. That is clear, if we compare Quebec with Saskatchewan and Ontario with Quebec. Here in the national capital, we share and share alike. We have lived together for more than a century and will continue to live together for another hundred years.

[Somalia Inquiry, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we want to have a completely independent inquiry. We have appointed a board that is very competent and it will make sure that it has all the facts.

The Department of National Defence is obligated under the instruction of the government to give all the facts to the commission that are needed to get to the bottom of the problem.

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

It is obvious that Mr. Parizeau needs Mr. Bouchard, because he has lost his confidence. Mr. Johnson is quite capable of defending himself.

I face the Leader of the Opposition every day in this House, and he has not yet given us a single good reason why Quebec should separate from Canada.

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I do so every day in this House, and I am not trying to avoid my responsibilities in any way. We are answering the questions. The Minister of Finance gave an important speech this week. Other ministers are criss-crossing Quebec to answer questions. I myself will be in Quebec on several occasions until the referendum. However, under the referendum bill, the leader of the No side is not me but Mr. Johnson, who, as I said earlier, is doing a terrific job. I think it is obvious that, for the first time in his life, Mr. Parizeau has lost his self-confidence. This surprises me, however, because it is unlike him. He should nonetheless have the courage to face Mr. Johnson. In the meantime, the Leader of the Opposition may find the courage to tell Quebecers that he is a separatist. I myself am here and I-

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise every day in this House. I am not the one who passed the referendum bill.

The Quebec government's referendum bill names Mr. Parizeau as the leader of the Yes side. He is the one who challenged the leader of the No side, Mr. Johnson, to a debate. This challenge was accepted by Mr. Johnson, the legitimate leader of the Yes side, who is doing a terrific job. He agreed to a debate with Mr. Parizeau. Mr. Parizeau is now trying to get out of it. I myself face the Leader of the Opposition every day, and I am very seldom here on Fridays. But I am here today. I am still the Prime Minister of Canada with all the problems of a prime minister, but I take whatever time is needed to be in the House of Commons every day. Mr. Johnson is eager to meet with the leader of the Yes side, Mr. Parizeau, but clearly Mr. Parizeau is not eager to meet with Mr. Johnson.

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Ah yes, sovereignty-partnership. Another word, another change, another pirouette. Why not have the courage to say that you are separatists and we shall see clear results on October 30.

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in 32 years, this is the first time I have been accused of being afraid. Really! I have had debates with the Leader of the Opposition, I have a debate with him every day. Had I been afraid, I would simply have asked you, Mr. Speaker, not to recall us in September. I was the one who insisted we be here, to give the Leader of the Opposition the opportunity, on television, every day, to tell Quebecers why he wants to separate Quebec from Canada.

And again today, he used another little term. What was it again?

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am answering all the questions here throughout the entire referendum debate. There is a leader of the Yes side, his name is Mr. Parizeau; there is a leader of the No side, his name is Mr. Johnson. The two of them reached an agreement on a debate. Mr. Johnson wants to have a debate with Mr. Parizeau. I have a debate with the Leader of the Opposition, here, every day. They try to frighten people every day, but if people want to live in Quebec and want to keep the security they currently enjoy in Quebec, the best solution, which involves no fear at all, is to vote no and stay in Canada.

The old age pensions will go on being paid out and Quebecers will be treated exactly like all other Canadians in unemployment insurance and old age pension matters. We have nothing to hide, but the Leader of the Opposition, instead of telling Quebecers why he wants to separate, used a new term today-sovereignty-partnership-to try once again to hide the truth. They will invent another one soon, more change, more illusion. Let them say the truth: "We want to separate from Canada". Quebecers want to stay in Canada and they will say so. This is what they will say in the vote on October 30.

[Quebec Referendum, September 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised, having known Mr. Parizeau for so many years, that he is suddenly losing his self-confidence and is afraid to face the leader of the No side, Mr. Johnson.

As for me, when the Leader of the Opposition suggested last spring that Parliament be adjourned in the fall, I decided to come to Parliament to have the privilege of meeting the Leader of the Opposition every day, at every question period. We have been here for hours, and I do not refuse to answer. The leader of the No side is Mr. Johnson, I believe; he made an agreement with Mr. Parizeau. Mr. Johnson will keep his word; he will face Mr. Parizeau. What is new is Mr. Parizeau's fear of facing Mr. Johnson.