Jean Chrétien

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we have always recognized in the past the necessity of having a French radio and television network in Canada. Might I add that the CBC's budget is divided. The French radio and television network receives a proportionally higher share of funding than the francophone population would have warranted. We want to continue giving good French language service to Canadians from coast to coast. But this budget must be adjusted to take into consideration today's realities and the new mandate we need to give, given that competition is no longer limited to just one network but now involves hundreds of networks. We must give an appropriate vocation to both the English and French networks of the CBC.

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, cuts of four per cent for this year were announced in the Minister of Finance's budget. In fact this is not out of proportion, compared to cuts we were forced to make in other sectors.

We also decided then that we had to review the CBC's mandate and that of other related organizations in order to determine how to adjust to today's realities with today's financial means, and in order to determine the kind of television network we need in order to be competitive in the 21st century.

When the CBC was created, Canadians only had access to two television channels; now they can access between 100 and 200 channels. In the near future, we will be setting up a committee to align the CBC's mandate with today's and tomorrow's realities, and working from the revised mandate, we will determine a budget enabling the CBC and other similar organizations to reach their new objectives.

[Social Program Funding, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we had occasion to discuss that at the different federal-provincial meetings I had with the provinces, along with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Human Resources Development.

Generally speaking, provinces recognize we have to reduce the cost of these programs. The best way to do that is by collaboration between the provinces and the federal government. We have to reduce our spending.

As I explained earlier, when some provinces including Quebec cut $500 million in health services in December they were not returning any of that money to us even if we had made a strong contribution to that level of payment.

[Social Program Funding, April 4th, 1995]

Now listen, they persuaded me to invite them, and then the opposition asked me to invite them. I was very nice about it, so I did. Once they were invited, they decided not to come. Do not blame me, I listened to you. Blame them.

As for the remainder of the hon. member's question, if we want to have national standards across the country, which is normal, it is because of manpower mobility in Canada and also because we have a minimum of respect for all members of the Canadian community. We must establish a satisfactory minimum for all Canadians across the country in the areas of health care, social assistance and similar services.

[Social Program Funding, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have to say to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the forum on health is concerned, we said no, we did not want the provinces to be there. Later on, we invited them, but they refused to come.

[Social Program Funding, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the provincial Premiers and all provincial governments are now analysing their respective programs, and we have done the same at the federal level. Everyone realizes that as far as government spending is concerned, we must reduce the pressure on the taxpayer. We have informed the provinces of our position. They have been aware of that position since December 1993, when we told them that we would eventually introduce a system but would give them two years to get ready.

In the February budget brought down by the Minister of Finance they were informed of the nature of federal cuts. The provinces had already made some cuts of their own, and they will continue to do so because we believe that at all levels of government, it is possible to offer the right kind of service without spending as much as we did in the past.

[St. John's West, April 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I think this member of Parliament has never faced any accusation from any court and she is representing her constituents very well as a member of Parliament.

In terms of recall I have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that if we had a system of recall in Canada we would have a lot of byelections from that corner from western Canada.

[St. John's West, April 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, you know our system of law. No one is guilty until there is a conviction in court. A person has the right to defend his or her point of view. I do not think the House of Commons is the place to debate that.

At some time any member of Parliament can be subject to accusations but in our criminal law system justice means that nobody is guilty until found guilty.

[Government Appointments, April 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the government is responsible. When we make bad appointments, the people know who is responsible. We cannot pass the blame to anybody else.

They are independent and when we give them an independent rule, we respect that. Just because somebody has been a member of Parliament does not mean they are disqualified. They had the honour of representing the Canadian public.

I see some members of the Reform Party. They are not all alike. I might be happy to appoint some of them some day.

[Government Appointments, April 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to observe Mr. Beatty in the House of Commons when he was a member of the government. He has a lot of experience on the Hill. He was elected some 20 years ago and he has learned a lot.

He was available to do the job and I know he will do his best to ensure the CBC becomes an organization which will adjust to the new realities. His experience in Parliament will help him a lot in communicating that goal to employees of the CBC and to the Canadian public.