Michel Guimond

[Privilege, March 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to tell Canadian Alliance members that I have no intention of unduly extending my presentation, so as not to penalize them further on their opposition day on a topic very important to the Bloc Quebecois, namely the Kyoto protocol.

However, before beginning my presentation, I need some clarification from the Chair. I would like to know if it is allowed to mention the name a member of parliament when that name is included in an article. When we quote from a newspaper article in which the name of a member of parliament is mentioned, are we allowed to quote it verbatim?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2001, March 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, members of the Bloc Quebecois will vote nay on this motion.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2001, March 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues of the Bloc Quebecois will vote in favour of this motion.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2001, March 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, Bloc Quebecois members vote no on this motion.

[Terrorism, March 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, six months ago today, terrorists hijacked planes that would strike the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, thereby committing an unprecedented act of terror that caused the death of more than 3,000 people.

These attacks started a shock wave that was felt around the world and led to an immense mobilization of countries wanting to eradicate terrorism and defend the very democratic values that the terrorists attacked.

With these same democratic values in mind, the Bloc Quebecois wanted to ensure that the measures taken following the attacks did not limit our freedoms. Our approach was to criticize these measures, in particular, Bills C-26 and C-42, which violate the just balance between security and the freedom that we so dearly want to protect.

Today more than ever, we must continue to defend these values in order to affirm that the terrorists will not win.

[Question No.100—, March 1st, 2002]

My colleague from Calgary is suggesting RootsAir. This is the record of the Minister of Transport.

Does the Minister of Transport find that things are going well for regional air travel? It is a monumental failure. The result of this tax will be to impose once again a surcharge on the regions.

People who live in the regions have no choice but to go to the major centres. For instance, in Quebec the people in Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean, in Abitibi, in the Gaspé or on the north shore need to go to Montreal or Quebec City for specialized services. Our population is aging. I am thinking about my mother-in-law, who is 94 and lives in the Gaspé. There is no way she is going to take a bus or train to go to Quebec City for medical tests. This is utterly ridiculous and the government should think about it.

[Question No.100—, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleague from Acadie--Bathurst, his predecessor, Doug Young, was a typical example of a chihuahua's behaviour. Doug Young was a typical chihuahua.

A chihuahua is a little dog that barks a lot but does not bite. That was the case with Doug Young. He barked about everything, but his bark was worse than his bite, as they say, like the chihuahua.

Since I must get back to the crux of the matter, and the hon. member for Beauharnois--Salaberry knows what I think of him, I would like to say that Bill C-49, particularly in connection with air travel, will penalize the regions.

The present Minister of Transport, an MP for the Toronto area, has the good fortune to work in Ottawa, which is served by RapidAir. There are Ottawa-Toronto and Toronto-Ottawa flights hourly. In peak periods, there is one every half hour. Can the Minister of Transport not understand how the regions, and the human beings living in the regions, can be penalized by his acceptance of this surtax, when he works in an area where airlines are not in a position to meet the demand?

Can the job done by the Minister of Transport. as far as air travel is concerned, be considered to have been effective? We need only think of the bankruptcies of InterCanadian, Royal Aviation, Region Air and Air Alma.

[Question No.100—, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my words.

[Question No.100—, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I remind you that this issue was already discussed in the House, because I once called the member for Bourassa a chihuahua. I am referring to what was said at the time.

[Question No.100—, March 1st, 2002]

Doug Young is now a lobbyist very close to—

Mr. Speaker, could you ask the chihuahua from Beauharnois—Salaberry—