Mauril Bélanger

[National Unity, November 3rd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, a week ago today well over 100,000 Canadians converged on Place du Canada in Montreal to stand on guard for their country. From every part of Canada they came because they care. The rally last Friday was a defining moment in the referendum and in our history. It was a beautiful moment, a moment the people of Canada cannot let us politicians forget.

All week I have been getting calls from people asking me what they can do to make sure their message was understood and remembered. I have a suggestion. I invite those who were in Montreal last Friday to take a few moments to put their thoughts to paper, to share with others how they felt and why they were there.

We must capture the spirit of the rally and build on it. Once you have done that, people of Canada, send me a copy of your letter or send it to your member of Parliament. I will undertake to safeguard those letters and make sure that every premier in the land gets a copy. Do it now. Keep up the pressure.

[The Ottawa Sun, November 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canada owes its excellent reputation on the international scene to, for instance, its high standards of tolerance, freedom and respect. We encourage debate because the clash of ideas generates the spark of understanding.

These fundamental values which are the pride of our country were crudely trampled yesterday in a caricature published by the Ottawa Sun . This caricature is not only in poor taste, it is insulting and offends any sensible person who sets moral values above basely partisan considerations.

I know I am speaking for all my colleagues when I clearly and unequivocally condemn this attack on our colleague, the hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean. I hope that in future we will take an even firmer stand and show we will not tolerate this kind of degrading caricature that attacks an individual's physical integrity.

[Federal Public Service, October 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of speculation recently on the possibility of the Quebec government's signing an agreement with the Public Service Alliance, the largest public service union. This agreement would guarantee federal public servants living in Quebec a job in an independent Quebec following a Yes vote.

Could the President of the Treasury Board, as the employer of federal public servants, indicate to the members of this House and to the people watching us the status of these negotiations or the promises or the pseudo guarantees made to federal public servants?

[Federal Public Service, October 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of speculation recently on the possibility of the Quebec government's-

[United Nations Organization, October 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is proud to join all other nations in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of the United Nations Organization.

We take particular pride in marking this anniversary, since Canada was directly involved in the founding of the UN. To Canada, the UN is an example of co-operation and openness.

It is no easy task to bring together daily some 200 countries with widely divergent interests and ask them to work on finding and developing ways to improve the lives of the people of this planet. Like the UN, Canada has always appreciated the advantages and potential of a relationship built on tolerance and the acceptance of diversity.

Today, Canadians are gathered together to wish a long life to the UN and to a united Canada.

[Francophones Outside Quebec, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the francophones of Ontario and other Canadian provinces feel insulted and revolted by the disdainful remarks made at their expense earlier this week by the separatist member for Rimouski-Témiscouata.

Would the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs be so kind as to inform the House of the status of the francophone communities within Canada and to indicate the key measures taken by our government to support their development?

[Referendum Campaign, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the closer we get to October 30, the more difficult it becomes for the separatists to hide their true intentions.

First, the Bloc Quebecois leader was forced to define the meaning of a yes vote when he met with the editorial team of La Presse . He said: ``To vote yes is to ensure that Quebec becomes inexorably sovereign, regardless of whether or not there is a partnership''.

Yesterday, in Rivière-du-Loup, the Bloc leader was very clear when he said: "Let us not forget that the mandate sought by Mr. Parizeau's government and by sovereignists is a mandate to achieve Quebec's sovereignty, following which they will try to negotiate a partnership agreement".

The project of the PQ and its associates seeks only one purpose: to separate Quebec from Canada and make it a foreign country.

Quebecers have always been opposed to separation and, on October 30, they will once again say no to that project.

[Referendum Campaign, October 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, all Quebecers are becoming increasingly aware that the separatist leaders refuse to talk about the costs of separation. The separatist leaders are attempting to cloak their plans for separation in suppositions, hoping that they can thus slip them by Quebecers.

The leader of the Bloc has even gone so far in that arrogant attitude as to state in an interview with La Presse yesterday: ``I did not say that there were no risks, I said that there were no costs''.

Members of the yes team have even refused to acknowledge the costs associated with separation. They have even refused to talk about them throughout the entire campaign.

On October 30, the people of Quebec will show them that they have not been taken in by this deception, when they vote no to separation.

[Points Of Order, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, during Question Period the President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs quoted a study. Does the minister intend to table this document for the benefit of all members?

[Referendum Campaign, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Quebec will be deprived of the opportunity to view a television debate between the presidents of the committee for the yes side and the committee for the no side during the present referendum campaign.

A consortium of television broadcasters has announced that the deadlines for organizing such an event cannot be met and consequently it will not take place.

Despite repeated appeals from the no side for such a debate to be held, and despite all of the concessions made, the yes side continues to refuse a public debate on the basic issues.

After successfully blocking the television debate, now the yes side is pulling the leader of the Bloc Quebecois out of the House so that he will not have to defend his statements concerning the plan for separation.

Following the example of the separatists' saying "no" to debate and to the disclosure of information, on October 30 the people of Quebec will vote "no" to separation.