House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Government Expenditures April 16th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, when the leader of the opposition was with the Tories they bought many planes at a time when we had a $42 billion deficit. We waited until we had paid off over $35 billion of the debt before we bought new planes. After 19 years, new planes were needed. Security demanded them and the ministers are using these planes very effectively.
Government Expenditures April 16th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, his seatmate said on TV yesterday that these jets were not very luxurious. The ministers, the Governor General and sometimes military people use these jets. I think we had to replace them.
Three times in the last year I had to make three urgent landings because there was something wrong with the planes. It was decided to replace them. On top of that, these planes will permit cabinet ministers to go to places they could not go before. We want to use them to make sure the government is close to the Canadian people.
Government Expenditures April 16th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I explained in the House yesterday that the jets we had were very old and needed to be replaced. Two were replaced. The Americans bought 20 of those types of planes for the same type of job we have to do.
Members of the opposition have travelled many times on these jets while doing their business in Canada with ministers.
In terms of debt, we are the only country in the western world that has managed to pay the debt in the last few years. In fact by the end of this year we will have perhaps paid almost 10% of the national debt over the last four years. We have the right to--
Leadership Campaigns April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to hear that opposition members think they will never be ministers so they are not too preoccupied about the eventual conflict of interest. I thank them very much for already conceding the result of the next election.
As I just said, yes, Mr. Wilson is writing to me. He is making some suggestions. I will look at them and I will see what can be done. There will be guidelines. When the guidelines are ready, I will be very happy to make them public.
Leadership Campaigns April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I did not have any discussion myself with Mr. Wilson on this subject. I am told that he has sent me some prospects for guidelines. I will read them and discuss with him what we should do.
I have to tell the hon. member that when they had their leadership convention a few weeks ago, they had the same problems that members of this party will have when there is a leadership convention. It is something that is out of the operations of cabinet. It is the normal process in a democracy to have a leadership convention. The rules should be the same for the opposition as they are for the party that governs.
Leadership Campaigns April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there is a reality that everybody on this side, and some in the corner there, are all members of parliament. We all have the right to raise money for our next election. So members of the cabinet, members of the caucus have the right to have fundraising in all their ridings like any other member of the House of Commons.
The money that is raised for the riding, receipts are given. It is documented and the list of contributors giving above $100 is always made public at the end of the year.
Leadership Campaigns April 15th, 2002
If ever I were to go I think that there might be a few who would like to take over. It is normal.
The ministers are doing their jobs very well. I think we will have some guidelines to make sure that there is no conflict between their jobs as ministers and the leader--
Leadership Campaigns April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we have more questions about it and I am informed that Mr. Wilson has sent me a proposition to have some rules.
We have to be fair. They are just coming from their convention. We have not heard anything about all the money that was raised from anybody, so they should not attack us for that.
There is no leadership on this side and there will be someone--
Government Expenditures April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP does not authorize the Prime Minister to travel on commercial flights. That is why I travel, when I go on holidays, on these jets.
However I want to say to the hon. member that before making a lot about this, the reality is that the Americans bought 20 planes for executive travel at a cost of $2.4 billion. For the whole cabinet, we have four jets in Canada. These new planes will permit the ministers to go to many places they were unable to go before, and will be useful in going to the small places in Canada. They are happy they will be able to do that.
Government Expenditures April 15th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, when I travel internationally, I travel on a military defence plane. I cannot use the Challengers because I have the pleasure of having the press travelling with me all the time and there is no place for them in the Challenger unless I put them in the toilet. Of course I do not want to do that because I have too much fun talking with them and hearing them praise me for the quality of the food that defence offers to them.