Jean Chrétien

[Bovine Somatotropin, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is that, in Canada, at the current moment, the milk children are drinking has no artificial hormones. Artificial hormones are banned in Canada, and that is the current situation. If there is any change in the situation, we will inform the House and we will take appropriate measures. But, at this time, all of these questions are purely hypothetical because the hormones in question are not authorized for use in Canada.

The hon. member just said that this was the last time he would be asking a question. I hope that they are not going to devote all their efforts to the referendum and stop doing the work required of an MP. If they do, I hope they will give back their salaries.

[Bovine Somatotropin, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the minister explained yesterday that no decision has been made on the issue, that the moratorium is voluntary, and that, on July 1, the Department of Health will not be in a position to authorize the sale of this hormone to Canadian consumers.

The hon. member apparently made the suggestion that we should inform consumers if the use of the hormone is going to be allowed. But this is a purely hypothetical question, because the government has not made any decision yet regarding whether it will be authorized, if it ever is at all.

[Government Policies, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the third party has a very broad shopping list today. He is trying to recuperate. Sometimes it is good to climb a mountain but do not try to do it backward. He has gone from 20 to 10 and is dropping. That is not the way to get to the top.

When I talk about the democracy in this party I do not have to add anything. The leader of that party has thrown critics out of different positions, three of them. He has done it. Now he is telling me that I am too tough.

When the question was raised in the House of Commons yesterday, Liberal members reacted very positively. We have an agenda as a government. We are respecting the agenda of the government and we will carry on. When it is time for an election, I will have my red book with me and I will be able to show all the progress we have made and all the commitments we have fulfilled.

I remember the Reform Party telling everybody that political parties should not accept any money from the government. Everyone took the refunds from the Chief Electoral Officer after the last election, contrary to the sanctimonious speech of the leader of the third party, which will remain the third party.

[Government Policies, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, you are very generous with the nature of the supplementary questions today.

The leader of the third party forgot to say that the OECD report published this week said the economic performance of Canada will be the best of all countries in the OECD ratings. The Minister of Finance had a very good budget which was extremely well received. We are on target. Our target to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP will be met next year as we predicted. Investment will carry on. Interest rates are going down at this moment, which is significant. A two point lower interest rate will help to stimulate the economy.

I have a lot of confidence in the Minister of Finance. He is doing a very good job.

[Government Policies, June 22nd, 1995]

If the leader of the Reform Party really wants to become the leader of the second party, he should talk about something else because that issue is not producing a desirable effect. He is 10 points behind the Tories in the Gallup poll today.

I would give a little advice to the leader of third party. He should do what he intended to do just as he has done today. He scored more when he tried to create a better atmosphere in the House today when he agreed to proceed with the bill on DNA. That is the type of opposition that will increase the stature of the leader of the third party, then he would stop dropping in the polls. The rest of the time he chooses to repeat the same thing and he does not score with it. He should find a new tune.

[Chile's Accession To Nafta, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the best way for Quebecers to ensure I remain Prime Minister of Canada is to remain Canadians.

[Chile's Accession To Nafta, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am sitting pretty now. The Bloc Quebecois, the official opposition, wants me to remain Prime Minister of Canada to defend the interests of Quebec. That is quite something.

[Chile's Accession To Nafta, June 22nd, 1995]

Remaining Canadian means being a member of NAFTA. However, those who want to leap into the void may do so. But Quebecers know they are very happy in Canada and they want to stay here. This is clear, and I am convinced of it. I am all the more convinced because the Leader of the Opposition does not even have the courage to tell Quebecers the truth he told the Americans: "I am a separatist".

[Chile's Accession To Nafta, June 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec is a member of NAFTA. Everyday I work to ensure that Quebec benefits from NAFTA. So why ask me to work harder than I am at the moment?

However, if we are talking hypothetically, I am not sure the rest of Canada will want to retain the privileges farmers currently enjoy. If consumers in Ontario can get milk, butter and cheese more cheaply from the United States, if Quebec leaves, and since dairy production is not a question of French or English, but simply of providing dairy products, they will want to take advantage of the better price. So the best way to protect products from Quebec within the Canadian market is to remain Canadian.

[Chile's Accession To Nafta, June 22nd, 1995]

No, Mr. Speaker. It is clear that Canada is a member of NAFTA and that Quebec is already part of NAFTA. If Quebec wants to get out of NAFTA, that is up to Quebec. However, if Quebec wants to get back in, the consent of all members is required, as in the case of Chile or any other country. A member may propose new conditions for membership, in which case NAFTA would have to be amended.

I do not know the status of current negotiations with Chile, but if Chile does not request changes to NAFTA, there will be no problem. If it requests changes to NAFTA, this will require the consent of Canada, Mexico and the United States. So it is certainly much better to be part of the agreement now, than to have to go and negotiate if you want to become a member.