Jean Chrétien

[Budget Cuts, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the very large cuts that the government made, especially in Defence and elsewhere, in programs that we are now reviewing, criticized by the opposition, when we always said that we would make those cuts. That is the basis of our budget. I said in Edmonton and here that the ministers could try to reduce government spending outside the budget, on a daily and weekly basis.

The results of this operation will be known every week or in the weeks to come. I think that in the next few days, for example, some ministers will have an opportunity to announce that some programs or institutions in their departments can be abolished right now. They will make announcements when they are ready. At the end of the year, we will see how much more was cut, in addition to what we promised in the budget.

[Bilingualism, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the Commissioner said that we have to look and see if these bonuses are still useful and necessary. The Leader of the Opposition said that such an exercise was necessary. I think so too, and we are going to review the situation. The fact remains, however, that considerable progress has been achieved.

For example, last month I had the pleasure of visiting the University of Moncton. This is an exclusively francophone university and some of its students are anglophones from all over Canada who go there to study in French, because it is a good institution which was set up after official bilingualism became a fact of life in Canada. The same situation exists elsewhere in the country. Progress was made but nothing is perfect. If the hon. member wants to help, he should say that it is possible for Canadians to live in French outside Quebec and to live in English in Quebec. Then he will make a positive contribution to help the French fact in our country.

[English]

[Bilingualism, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the actual number of francophones outside Quebec has increased, and the francophone community outside that province is more dynamic than ever. That community now has universities. It seeks to protect its rights. However, it also deplores the fact that some francophones like the Parti Quebecois and Bloc Quebecois members are the ones who create the most serious problems for it.

[Government Expenditures, April 13th, 1994]

I will repeat the statement I made a minute ago that every minister is working to have more reductions. More reductions will be announced when they have been made. Every minister is working very hard at that.

The fundamentals of the budget have been presented to this House of Commons. They have been voted upon. It is the budget of this government.

[Government Expenditures, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have presented a budget to this House of Commons. It was voted on and it is the budget of this government.

What I said in the House of Commons is it is the task of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and every other minister to make sure that every expenditure in every department is looked at very carefully. When they find some opportunities for cuts they should come forward right away.

I have asked the minister responsible for the renewal of the public service to do that task with every department. Already ministers are coming forward with suggestions. There will be a lot of rationalization.

Fundamentally the budget that we presented and which was approved by this House of Commons is the base of our economic policy. We will achieve our goal. As we mentioned so clearly in the budget, in our program in the period of three years the deficit in relation to GDP will be 3 per cent. We are determined to achieve that goal.

[Bilingualism, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have a problem here. On one side we have the Reform Party that wants us to more or less get rid of bilingualism across Canada, and on the other side we have people rising in the House today with a lump in their throats, and I really appreciate that, to defend the cause of francophones outside Quebec, but as soon as they achieve their objective to separate Quebec, one million francophones will lose their language because of the irresponsible actions of these people. That is why we intend to defeat them in their quest to separate Quebec from Canada.

[Bilingualism, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, when I see people who want bilingualism everywhere in Canada but do not want it in Quebec, I see people who want a double standard.

I maintain that the French fact has made considerable progress in this country. We have 325,000 anglophones in French immersion across Canada. My colleague next to me learned French in Hamilton, Mr. Speaker. We have come a long way.

I agree that in some locations service to the public is not adequate. A committee of the House of Commons, chaired by a French Canadian from outside Quebec, will examine the problem and help the government ensure that its policy on bilingualism operates as it should. It is not perfect, but we have made considerable progress, and we intend to keep up the good work, although francophones outside Quebec are complaining that Quebec's separatist francophones are undermining their efforts to maintain the French fact outside Quebec.

[Government Expenditures, April 13th, 1994]

No, no, we have a Minister of Finance for that.

If he does not perform very well, Mr. Harper, his neighbour, will give him a promotion to the third row.

[Government Expenditures, April 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is a waste of time of the House of Commons and a lack of imagination of the leader of that party. I know he has a problem with his neighbour next door. He should work with him in order to solve his problem, along with the members from Calgary.

He keeps asking the types of questions that are irrelevant in the House of Commons. We have a normal budget process.

[Government Expenditures, April 13th, 1994]

The question of departmental budgets is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance in his budget. He presented a very good budget and it has been voted on by the House of Commons. When spending cuts are made by the government, they will be announced in due course.

The technique of having every minister get up one after another is nothing but grandstanding which shows they do not know how to operate in the opposition. The leader of the Reform Party should know that type of question should be asked of the Minister of Finance.