Jean Chrétien

[Government Contracts, October 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the ethics counsellor is doing his job. He decided to go to P.E.I. I have not talked to him.

I would like him to make his report today. We want to know all the facts. The minister has given excellent explanations to the House of Commons. The report will come and we will deal with it, but he will make his report when he is ready.

I have not asked him for anything but to do it as quickly as possible--well, not me, because I have not talked to him--

[National Defence, October 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, what we have established in Moose Jaw is a great success. More and more countries are using it at this time.

Perhaps I can say to the Leader of the Opposition a quote from the member for Edmonton North who stood in the House in 1996 and said on May 6, “I attended a supper”, blah, blah, blah, and:

They are studying the possibility of awarding a 20-year contract to Canada as NATO's flight training location.

She finished:

--we are convinced that our program could beat it out by a country mile.

It was the member for Edmonton North talking about--

[National Defence, October 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read what General Tommy Franks, Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command, said about our troops during the Afghanistan campaign:

As I look across the forces which have been provided by Canada... it touches every aspect of our business. We think about the naval forces... We look at the air forces... We look at special operation forces of Canada... We look at Princess Patricia Light Infantry and the remarkable job they have done.

I could go on and on.

[National Defence, October 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, during the last three years we have increased the budget very substantially for the Department of National Defence.

A few months ago we had our troops in Afghanistan, with compliments coming from all the participants there about the Canadian soldiers, and the way that they were equipped was completely satisfactory. We are always following this situation closely. We have increased the budget in that last three years. We hope to be able to do the same thing in a reasonable way in the years to come.

[Ethics, October 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, just as in French, in English, I cannot withdraw what I did not propose. So, the member will have to wait. He can criticize our proposal after we have made one. But how could I withdraw it if I have not tabled anything yet? English or French, the answer is the same.

[Ethics, October 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Leader of the Opposition and his party tabled a paper where they were advocating that we have guidelines on ethics for members of Parliament. That was their suggestion which we have not yet implemented.

[Ethics, October 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot withdraw what I have not tabled.

[Kyoto Protocol, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my party caucus is very much in favour of Kyoto. I have received petitions from MPs, and they have spoken to me about this for some years. I have listened to the caucus. They have been raising this for years, and we are now moving on it.

[Kyoto Protocol, October 2nd, 2002]

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

[Kyoto Protocol, October 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the targets are well known and we have 10 years to meet the targets. In the past we moved on things like acid rain. It was supposed to be an awful problem and we dealt with it at a lower cost than predicted, and everybody was happy.

It was the same thing some years ago concerning the lead in gasoline. Everybody said if we were to force the industry to take out the lead the industry would collapse. Now there is no more lead in gasoline and the oil companies are not on welfare yet.