Jean Chrétien

[Tribute To Hon. Lucien Bouchard, February 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all members of this House, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to the Leader of the Opposition. All members of this House and all Canadians salute the courage and determination shown by the Leader of the Opposition throughout his recent ordeal.

I also wish to pay tribute to Mrs. Audrey Bouchard and her children for their support for him during this very difficult time, which certainly played a major part in helping the opposition leader recover so quickly.

I would like to thank all Canadians, despite the differences of opinion we might have, who have shown to the Leader of the Opposition their sympathy and moral support in praying for him to recover his health in as short a time as possible.

Since it is one of his fondest wishes, I would like to say to the Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of all members of this House: Welcome back to the shop.

[Dairy Farmers, February 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, from one "Chrétien" to another, yes.

[Dairy Farmers, February 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I met with farmers from my riding last Friday, and I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting with the president of UPA and other leaders of Canadian farm organizations. I assured them that Canada's position is quite clear: the GATT agreement reached last December gives us the right to maintain tariffs at their current levels and Canada's position is absolutely logical and defendable. We intend to say this clearly to the American president when he comes to this House.

[The Budget, February 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to be remembered as running a very good government with a very good Minister of Finance, a government that has performed with 4.3 per cent growth rather than 3 per cent, with virtually zero inflation, with 450,000 new jobs created in a year.

This is the first government since 1990 that has managed to have an operating surplus and that predicted a deficit of $39.7 billion. The actual deficit will be lower than that.

I would like to be remembered for all of that.

[Health, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we decided to try to improve the systems. As I was saying earlier, we have succeeded in signing agreements with all

the provinces to eliminate duplication. The only government that does not want to sign an agreement with us in an attempt to identify areas of duplication which could be eliminated is the government of Quebec, because it wants to use the status quo for its purposes. I just hope they will hold a referendum soon, ask an honest question, so that the blackmail business will be over with.

[Health, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, health is a complex issue, and we have a responsibility in this area. We set up a national health service in Canada, which all Canadians and a large majority of Quebecers continue to support. It guarantees free health services to all Canadians and ensures that there will not be two categories of hospitals in Canada and Quebec-one for the rich, and one for the poor.

We wanted to ensure dignity, in Canada, for all who are sick. This is why the federal government stepped in. Canada's health system has set an example for the world, and the Americans would like to have it right now.

[Federalism, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I can see that the Bloc members are in disarray because they realize that our flexible federalism approach is working very well. If they knew a bit about history, they would know that, a few years ago, the federal government collected over 60 per cent of the taxes in this country, while incurring close to 60 per cent of the expenditures.

Now, the figures are reversed. Indeed, the provinces, which used to collect 40 per cent of all taxes, now spend and collect 60 per cent of the money. The federal government is currently collecting 40 per cent, a proportion which is diminishing. Thus, the situation changed considerably over the last ten years, even without any constitutional amendment.

[Federalism, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to be in a position where someone else would collect taxes on my behalf, so that I would not have to do it myself. Tax collection is a part of political responsibility. If they want us to decentralize, fine. However, they were happy to let us collect taxes, and take the blame for it, and then get the money from us. In the context of responsible government, it would be better if everyone collected his own taxes. The situation would be clearer for everyone.

[Federalism, February 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we are working day in and day out with the other provinces to try and eliminate duplication. In many areas, there is no duplication. Take income tax for example. In every other province, there is only one level of government collecting.

Duplication comes from Quebec deciding to have its own ministry of revenue collect personal income tax, unlike the other provinces. You know, it does not cost Ontario anything to collect its provincial income tax, because a line was added to our tax form for that purpose, while in Quebec a separate report has to be filed. Hundreds of millions are spent unnecessarily because of this. Duplication often comes from the other side.

[Federalism, February 16th, 1995]

It is always the same thing. They want us to withdraw, but at the same time they want us to continue paying. If we withdraw, we withdraw. The problem is they want to have their cake and eat it too. They want us to collect taxes for Quebec to spend as it pleases. Well, from now on, we will spend our own money and they can spend theirs.