Jean Chrétien

[Bosnia, February 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, when we were in Brussels a month ago we were very concerned about the Canadian troops that were on the other side of the line in Srebrenica. The situation has evolved naturally there. The Bosnian Serbs have accepted the Canadians being replaced by the Dutch before the end of this month.

The situation there is progressing normally. According to the news I heard a few minutes ago, the Serbs have agreed to accept the ultimatum in relation to Sarajevo so there will be no need for a strike. We have accepted to protect the civilians in Sarajevo and, in order to avoid a repetition of the massacre of last weekend, we gave that ultimatum to the military forces in the area.

[Bosnia, February 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in resolutions that were passed in August and renewed on January 11, we said-and we supported this condition-that if the siege of Sarajevo were to continue, airstrikes could be used to help liberate the city.

After the terrible carnage on the weekend, the 16 NATO allies decided to send an ultimatum and create a 20 kilometre demilitarized zone around Sarajevo. Apparently both the Muslims and the local Serbs are prepared to accept this condition, which means that airstrikes would be unnecessary, if what I saw in the report is true.

[Bosnia, February 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we agreed with the proposal to create a 20 kilometre zone around

Sarajevo, within which any arms controlled by the Bosnian Serbs and the Bosnian Muslims would be under the control of the United Nations. We agreed with this ultimatum.

According to the last reports I saw, Mr. Rose, the military officer in charge of the forces in Sarajevo, said that an agreement had been reached a few minutes ago with the Serbs, who agreed to place their arms in the Sarajevo area under the control of the United Nations. I understand that the Muslims will do likewise, which means that if the ultimatum is accepted, there will be no need for airstrikes in the region.

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not understand the system. There is no payment by the federal government. It is part of the general obligations of the government.

The fact you are not contributing is not adding anything to the expenditures of the government at this time. If you want to have your cash, we will pay you back with interest.

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have said we want to give the option to all members not to participate.

We will look at finding a way to do this under the Financial Administration Act. We are working on it at the moment, but I want to make sure that when a member opts out he or she cannot come back in when the controversy is over.

[Use Of Tobacco Products, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the provinces will examine the proposals we have put forward today and I am sure that they will be prepared to cooperate and contribute to the success of our campaign to discourage young Canadians in particular from using tobacco products. We have said that we were embarking upon a campaign the likes of which have never been seen in Canada. I am positive that, even if some provinces are not too pleased with certain aspects of our plan right now, they will nonetheless try to help us.

[Indian Affairs, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, they consistently give the impression that the problem of contraband cigarettes is partly or completely located on Indian reserves; which is not true.

I said earlier that the law will apply on Indian reserves as anywhere else, but I find totally deplorable that this constant line of questioning involving natives gives the impression that they are to be blamed for everything happening in this country.

[Indian Affairs, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is the reason why we have asked the RCMP to do its job on the reserves just as anywhere else.

[Indian Affairs, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have clearly explained our policy concerning the possibility of increasing native self-government so that the First Nations can manage their own problems on their own reserves and that is precisely the subject of discussions going on right now between

the Minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Indian chiefs of Canada.

[Indian Affairs, February 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is doing right now.