Jim Abbott

[Pipelines, October 11th, 1996]

The parliamentary secretary and I are going to have a reading contest today.

Obviously, the Prime Minister has learned nothing from the national energy program. I do not have to read about that. The Liberals will remember. That was the program which caused tens of thousands of Albertans to go into personal bankruptcy over the ill-thought out Liberal national energy program. They are doing it again.

Why is the Prime Minister trying to influence the National Energy Board by exerting political pressure to re-route this pipeline through Quebec?

[Pipelines, October 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, that was well read.

The Prime Minister's comments on this issue, both on June 7 and on October 10 have basically compromised the object-

[Pipelines, October 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, on July 27 the Minister of Natural Resources wrote the following regarding the route of the Sable Island gas pipeline: "The Government of Canada has no intention of interfering with the regulatory process in favour of one project over another and ultimately market forces will decide which project will succeed".

We note that earlier, on June 7, after a meeting with the premier of Quebec, the Prime Minister had stated: "We will work toward supporting the Quebec proposal". Interestingly, yesterday the Prime Minister said he wanted to see the gas pipeline go through Quebec.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Is it she who speaks for the government when saying that the free market will dictate the route of the pipeline, or is it the Prime Minister who says the pipeline must go to Quebec?

[Conservative Party, October 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the credibility of the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party becomes more and more questionable as each day passes. This is no more evident than in the case of his failure to demand the resignation of the Progressive Conservative second in command in the Senate. This Tory senator refuses to answer a court subpoena in Saskatchewan based on his parliamentary privilege. He is using an archaic, irrelevant, obsolete section of the Constitution to avoid appearing in court. This Tory senator's actions demean the integrity of Parliament and all politicians.

What does the Progressive Conservative leader say for himself? Zilch, zippo, notta, not a peep.

Hopefully this friendly reminder will motivate the Tory leader to stand up for the people of Saskatchewan and demand that the senator come out from behind his self-serving abuse of parliamentary privilege. Anything short of that demand will exhibit the Tory leader's contempt for parliamentarians, the democratic process in Canada, but most especially concerned Canadian citizens.

[Canadian Heritage, October 4th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to understand that the Liberals have no monopoly on patriotism, it is just that they do it with taxpayers' money.

Realizing that these flags cost money, can the minister tell the House how many hospitals will close, how many books will be taxed, how many seniors will be cut off from benefits to pay for this program?

[Canadian Heritage, October 4th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the heritage minister's defence of her free flag program giveaway is total garbage.

We are proud that Reform staff are trained to help constituents, which does not change the fact that her program sucks wind. This program has been flim-flam from the word go. Her officials originally said that it was going to be $6 million. Now it is $23 million and climbing.

The minister told Canadians that her flags were free, yet on the document that comes with the flags she says that you will receive a tax receipt for donations of $10 or more.

Why does she refuse to give any spending details to this House? It is $23 million and climbing. Precisely how many dollars have been collected?

[Canadian Heritage, October 3rd, 1996]

What a joke.

[Canadian Heritage, October 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I do not quite understand the minister's point.

Is she saying that Reform members should not be acting on behalf of their constituents when they come into their offices? She is simply trying to deflect the fact that when she was told that her Liberal propaganda office was going to cost $20 million, she said: "Oh, that's only a cup of coffee for every Canadian". That is a typical Liberal answer.

How can the minister justify this spending, wrapping herself in the flag and doing all of these things while at the same time leaving the tax, the GST, on books?

[Canadian Heritage, October 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, how quickly the heritage minister forgets her GST promises.

Over the last six months the Minister of Canadian Heritage has announced spending of $20 million on Liberal propaganda, $23 million on flags, $16 million on Radio Canada, and $100 million on a TV production fund. Not one penny of the money appears in the minister's detailed budget but it does add up to a grand total of $159 million.

How can the Minister of Canadian Heritage defend $140 million GST on books while spending $159 million in unbudgeted, borrowed money?

[Petitions, October 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have in my hand a petition signed by people from all over Canada. It is really quite interesting.

They are concerned about the increased entry fees to our national parks, that there was a lack of public consultation on the new fee structure and that they believe a standard fee of $2 for all passenger vehicles or $25 for a yearly pass should be set for entry to all Canadian national parks.