Jean Chrétien

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I said and I would like to repeat in this House that we are fully aware of this situation. I contacted the provinces because the federal government is not the only government involved in this whole problem of the underground economy. We need an overall plan and everyone's co-operation to deal with it.

I told the House yesterday that I had to engage in further discussions with some of the premiers. I am planning to speak to them early next week. And we have given very clear instructions to the police to take all necessary measures to ensure that all Canadians in all regions of the country obey the law.

[House Of Commons, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the hon. member, the Maastricht vote was not a budgetary measure. It was voted on again in the House in England and eventually was passed.

It is not the same thing. The vote was on a more general policy. It was not on the budget of the administration in Great Britain. When a vote is on the budget it is confidence in the government.

I have full confidence that the Minister of Finance will present a good budget and I know the party will support him. We were elected to form a good government and have good ministers.

[House Of Commons, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have already announced some new initiatives for this House with the free debates. We have had three so far in less than three weeks: one on Bosnia, one on the cruise missile and one on the budget. People were free to express their views. I heard some members of my party stating views that were in opposition to others. That is free expression.

Eventually a government has to decide. The budget of the nation is a vote of confidence in the government. If the government cannot present a budget and pass it, it should call an election. It is as simple as that because the government will have lost the confidence of the House.

[Social Housing, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I know very well than between 1988 and 1993 the riding of Saint-Maurice was represented by a Conservative member of Parliament. So we will now be able to take better care of it.

[Canada Elections Act, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think yes. Many people would like to influence the result of an election but do not have the guts to run. They use the power of their money to try to gain that influence.

I want to make sure the people can make a choice in an election that is based not on the amount of money that is spent but on the quality of the programs and the candidates of every party.

[Taxation, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Reform Party has to wait a few weeks for the budget that will be introduced by the Minister of Finance.

I hope the Minister of Finance will not take the idea proposed by the Reform Party leader who wants us to cut the pensions of old age pensioners.

[Taxation, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the mandate we received from the Canadian people is based on the program in the red book which was distributed across the land, that we have to improve the situation in Canada, create jobs, create growth and make sure at the same time that the tax system is fair for all Canadians.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is easy for the opposition to lay the blame on this government which has been in office for two months and a half. We gave orders and, as a result, several people were arrested. But the problem is not new. It started with the intolerance of the Conservative government. In those days the Leader of the Opposition was a member of the Tory cabinet.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as the Solicitor General said in the House yesterday, instructions have been given to RCMP officers to do their job and to arrest anybody who is not following the laws of the land.

If the hon. member is aware of some information that can be very useful to the RCMP, he should give it to me and I will pass it on to the RCMP.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with his health critic. We noted that he clearly said he was in favour of reducing taxes. In fact, it is the first time he said so, and this will help us when we make a decision.

As for the hon. member for Argenteuil-Papineau, I do not think any of our members went on television to announce that they supported people who break the law and to applaud and praise them for doing so. People who break the law should be harshly condemned by all members of this House.