Jean Chrétien

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, officers of the RCMP had occasion to discuss these matters with them last Friday. They were told clearly that the law has to apply everywhere. They have been in touch with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development about that.

One thing I do not like is the impression the hon. member is trying to make that this is only a problem within Indian reserves.

Contraband is a problem across the country but especially in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Most of the contraband comes in outside the reserves and it is not very fair to try to create the impression that it is a problem with Indians in Canada. It is a problem with many people in every city across the land.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think the RCMP officer who spoke last Friday evening on television stated his case very clearly. We have said clearly to everyone that the rule of law applies everywhere in Canada, without exception.

[Bosnia, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, at this very moment people are discussing the use of airstrikes to prevent the so-called strangulation of Sarajevo, and there is no direct connection with the position of Canadian soldiers who are now located in another part of Bosnia.

We have to weigh the pros and cons, and our position is still the same. In Brussels we said that airstrikes could only be used in self-defence, which is not the case in the Srebrenica area at this time. In the case of Sarajevo, the governments concerned are now analysing the situation.

[Bosnia, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we can make a final decision at this time. I believe that the people who are meeting at this very moment want to analyse the situation and try to propose an action plan. The Canadian officers present are to report to us on the nature of these discussions, and we will see what their decision should be.

[Bosnia, February 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, like everybody else we are very unhappy with the unacceptable and barbarous act committed in Sarajevo over the weekend.

At this moment we are consulting with our allies on this problem. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has been in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Christopher and the foreign ministers of England and France. Discussions are going on at this time.

The situation is very, very bad. We will see in the next few days what the best action is that we can take. Of course, Canadians have the particular situation that our troops are located in Srebrenica and we have to consider that.

We will be consulting with our allies. We hope that we will find a way to have peace in that part of the world because what is going on at this time is completely unacceptable.

[Taxation, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the government has an obligation to use all means at this time to ensure we destroy the racketeering that exists in the land regarding cigarettes, alcohol and so on. We will act in order to make sure contraband disappears in Canada for good and as quickly as possible.

[Senate, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it would be much nicer if the hon. member thought a little. If he had voted for the Charlottetown Accord instead of fighting it, we would have an elected Senate today, and the grievances which he has today would not exist.

He should admit the mistake that he made last year. It is his fault if we have an unelected Senate today. I think it would be very useful to have an elected Senate in Canada. We tried to get

one in the past, but we do not think it is possible at this time because no one in Canada wants us to discuss the Constitution.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is well known that the RCMP is very independent and does its job as the law requires. Any accusation to the effect that it has political orders not to act is totally false. We have clearly instructed the RCMP to take all necessary measures to stop this smuggling.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, some days ago the hon. Leader of the Opposition told me that we should proceed because he was convinced the Ontario minister of finance had said in Montreal that he was to proceed. I was not that sure.

Today we apparently have a different version. Yes, the hon. member said himself in this House that after the meeting of the ministers of finance in Montreal the Ontario minister of finance had committed Ontario to cut taxes. That evidently was not the case, if I believe what the hon. Leader of the Opposition is saying today.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in due time a statement on the whole problem will be made in this House.