Jean Chrétien

[Social Program Reform, September 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, anyone who says this government is not doing anything should look at what we have done since we came to power. The helicopters were out in half an hour. Then we dealt with the problems around article XI at GATT. We dealt with the problems around NAFTA. We dealt with the problem of fraud in the cigarette trade. We brought down a budget. We made cuts, we made changes and we intend to go on being an active and responsible government. I am sure that a year from now, if the Leader of the Opposition is as good as his word, when they have lost their referendum, he will no longer be a member in this House.

[Social Program Reform, September 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, our job is to give Canadians good government, and that is what we intend to do. Good government involves consulting people.

A few months ago, the Leader of the Opposition criticized us for going too fast, but now he says we are not going fast enough. We were elected for at least four or probably even five years, if we look at the precedent set by the Conservatives. So we have plenty of time, and we will take that time to do a good job, which is what Canadians expect from their government.

[Social Program Reform, September 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we are trying to find out what Canadians think about a reform that is extremely important. The paper will be released to the public, and a parliamentary committee will travel across the country to hear what the public has to say. That is democracy at its best.

[1992 Referendum, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I do not expect to have a definite answer for several days yet.

[1992 Referendum, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes.

[Reform Of Social Programs, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we will have an officially authorized document, not one obtained by a third party, at the beginning of next week, and the Leader of the Opposition will be able to make the usual comments at that time.

[Reform Of Social Programs, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we will have an official document next week, and if the hon. member wishes to make the usual comments under the circumstances, he will have to wait until the document is released. A week from now he will get all the answers to the questions he is asking now.

[Reform Of Social Programs, September 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

[1992 Referendum, September 22nd, 1994]

Oh, yes. Mr. Speaker, they said: "We are going to be the real power in Ottawa", but they are all in the opposition, and not for more than four years. There will be no repeats.

[1992 Referendum, September 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to say the same thing twice. If the Bloc Quebecois can establish that there was a commitment, we will abide by that commitment. I cannot make it clearer than that. However, we have worked very hard to find any evidence of such a commitment, and there is none.

At the time, the Premier could easily have asked the Prime Minister to put it in writing, but we have found no indication whatsoever that any commitments were made.

You said "we were getting elected", but I think it is now clear you got elected under false pretences.