Mr. Speaker, we have offered on several occasions to withdraw from forestry agreements for example, but Bloc members would rise in this House and ask that we go on providing funds for Quebec forests. Questions were put to us on this subject.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Federalism February 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we have offered on several occasions to withdraw from forestry agreements for example, but Bloc members would rise in this House and ask that we go on providing funds for Quebec forests. Questions were put to us on this subject.
Federalism February 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, Quebecers must have liked Mr. Trudeau's speech, because they voted 60 per cent in favour of staying in Canada, and this year, Quebecers will again listen to the people in Quebec who want to stay in Canada. Apparently, on the evening news tonight, we will be told that it is even better than last time. Two or three months away from the referendum, they are at least 15 points behind where they were in February 1980.
Federalism February 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we have made several offers to the Government of Quebec. We have offered to simplify the system, as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs said. We could not offer everything they wanted, but we offered half a loaf.
Since these people want to maintain the status quo, they will not consider accepting anything else. Right now we are signing harmonization agreements with Canada's nine other provinces, except the Government of Quebec that wants to keep the status quo. We are not maintaining the status quo. They are.
Federalism February 16th, 1995
The Bloc Quebecois, exactly.
When the Minister of Finance suggests ways to improve our society, who wants to keep the status quo? Always the Bloc Quebecois.
Our federalism is flexible. We will make some adjustments, but we do not have to change the constitution to make those adjustments. We must be practical and tackle one problem at a time, in the best interests of all Canadians.
Federalism February 16th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development is introducing major changes in the way unemployment insurance and social programs operate. Who is opposed to these changes? Who wants to keep the status quo?
Patronage Appointments February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I want to have the last word today.
In response to the hon. member, we have made a review of all order in council appointments. Hundreds of have been cut since this government has taken charge. We are reviewing all of these appointments. We have reduced them and we intend to continue to do so.
In the case of this individual, as the Minister of State for Veterans said, it is a problem which is before the courts at the moment.
Sugar February 14th, 1995
The answer is oui.
Manpower Training February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see flexible separatists, because in this case, she is asking to change the Canadian constitution. She is no longer talking about separation. So she is going to have to make up her mind eventually.
Manpower Training February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we made the provincial government some offers on this issue several months ago. We could not grant all of their requests, and as the minister responsible for federal-provincial relations said, half a loaf of bread is better than none, and yet, they refused.
I know very well that she would remain a separatist even if we resolved the workforce issue. The question that should be asked in the referendum is: "Do you want to separate from Canada?" That is the question, and Quebecers will reply: "We want to stay in Canada, we do not want anything to do with the separatists".
Transfer Payments February 14th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, every day, the hon. member rises in the House to ask us to cut spending. If we cut spending, we cut. If he tells us to cut spending and transfer the money, we are back to square one. We are going to cut a lot of spending and we are going to try to achieve our objectives, and we will. We will do what it takes.
Discussions are being held with the provinces. We will try to reach an agreement the best way we can. Yesterday, Premier Wells said: stop sending us money for our forests. I am not going to argue with Mr. Wells. If he does not want money for his forests, we will not send him any.