Michel Guimond

[Political Party Financing, November 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot afford to ignore the troubling facts emerging about Senator Carignan's election funding. A number of donors are mixed up in notorious political scandals. For example, Lino Zambito tried to derail the municipal elections in Boisbriand, and Conservative Senator Léo Housakos' clan seems to be involved in partisan appointments and the awarding of federal government contracts.

How can the Prime Minister turn a blind eye?

[Points of Order, November 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify the last comment made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. The inadmissibility of the amendment was never raised in committee. There were questions on the issue of the royal recommendation, this point of order being the best proof of that. I want to reiterate that the inadmissibility of the amendment was never raised in committee.

[Points of Order, November 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I imagine that you do not intend to respond immediately from your chair to the point of order raised by my colleague, the Liberal Party whip. However, I refer you to a decision you made following, I believe, the Nagano Olympic Games, where one party made extensive use of props—I cannot think of the French term—that is, accessories or objects.

Before you give your ruling, I would like you to examine the decision pertaining to the Nagano Olympic Games and I believe you will be in a position to enlighten us as to how to proceed in this similar matter.

It was obvious that all Conservative Party members were attempting to impress us with their show of mittens. But if the mitten fits—

[Roméo LeBlanc, November 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this past summer, Acadia lost one of its most illustrious native sons, Roméo Leblanc, at the age of 81. During his long career, Mr. Leblanc left a lasting impression on us all. We will remember him for many different reasons.

He was very proud of what he was. He took pride in his origins, his roots. He was also proud of being Acadian and francophone. Born in 1927 in Memramcook to a father who worked for the railway, he had nothing in his background that destined him for the career he would have.

Mr. Leblanc left a long list of achievements. He began his career as a teacher and journalist and was then elected to Parliament as the member for the riding of Westmorland—Kent in New Brunswick. He served as a minister and a senator and later as Governor General, becoming the first Acadian to hold this position. I believe that he did as much for Acadian culture as the greatest figures in the history of his people.

Roméo Leblanc was a simple man who led an extraordinary life. He was a man of the people, a hands-on kind of man who was close to people. He had a big heart and understood the importance of working for the development and enhancement of his community. He always stood up for his people and for the values he cherished.

In his village, in his corner of the country in New Brunswick, Roméo Leblanc was considered a leading figure. Everyone appreciated his genuineness and generosity. His high office never prevented him from remaining close to people, which is remarkable. He never hesitated to go down to the wharves and meet people. It is no surprise that he came to be known as the “fishermen's minister”.

Roméo Leblanc created the Caring Canadian Award, which recognizes individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions provide extraordinary help or care to people in the community. It is also thanks to him that we recognize the contribution of aboriginal peoples every year on June 21, National Aboriginal Day. Lastly, I think of the very important work he did to defend and promote Canada's francophone community. That shows what kind of man Roméo Leblanc was. He was committed and dedicated. That is why he was a true model and a great source of inspiration for Acadians.

In closing, on behalf of the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, and all the members of the Bloc Québécois caucus, I would like to express our sincere sympathies to our colleague, the member for Beauséjour, on the loss of the man who was much more than his model in politics, the man who was his father, Roméo Leblanc.

[Points of Order, November 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, with respect, earlier, in response to the last comment made by the member for St. Catharines, you said you would review the blues, listen to the recording and then be able to make a ruling.

I think that the purpose of the last comment made by the hon. member for Lévis—Bellechasse was simply to raise the same matter again, even though you stated earlier that you would take the matter under advisement.

If that is the case, I might as well ask every one of my colleagues from the Bloc Québécois in this House to rise one after the other to elaborate further.

I think, Mr. Speaker, that you noticed that the member for Lévis—Bellechasse was attempting to change the subject just to score a petty political point.

I defer to your decision, Mr. Speaker, which I hope you will come back with at your earliest convenience.

[Parliamentary Budget Officer, November 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government is intent on undermining the work of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. In addition to refusing to provide the information he needs, the government is refusing to ensure that the Parliamentary Budget Officer has adequate funding.

This government refuses to give the facts on the state of public finances and has made every effort to get rid of an embarrassing officer of the House. Today, Kevin Page is asking us to eliminate his position or to fund it.

When will this government stop playing games and give the Parliamentary Budget Officer the means to do his work in a completely independent manner?

[Technical Difficulties in the Chamber, October 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to drag the points of order out, but I had to leave the chamber to look something up while the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons raised his point of order.

It was not the members of the Bloc Québécois who asked that the sitting be suspended due to the failure of the interpretation system. I shall point out to the House and my hon. colleagues that the members of the Bloc Québécois are not the only unilingual ones in this place. There is interpretation from English to French and from French to English. I think there are more bilingual members from the Bloc Québécois than on the Conservative Party's side.

[Privilege, October 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to finish making my point and then it can be decided if what I said was relevant or not.

When we had the three protesters disguised as nuns two or three weeks ago, our security services acted quickly and effectively even though it was not necessarily easy. I am sorry, but the appropriate forum to discuss this situation is not here.

The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons is trying to play politics, and he knows it. He was elected at the same time I was, in 1993. It was 16 years ago last Sunday. Like me, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons has been a member of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for several years, and he knows full well that discussing such issues is part of the mandate, the responsibilities and the duties of the Board of Internal Economy.

Having been sworn in, I do not have the right to disclose the substance of our discussions, but the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons knows full well that the case of the protesters disguised as nuns was discussed in the appropriate forum, namely the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons. Therefore, I do not think this issue has to be settled in the House. It must be discussed at the Board of Internal Economy.

[Privilege, October 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we saw indeed the disturbance caused by people in the gallery yesterday during question period, as did many members of the House.

However, I deplore the fact that the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons is using this situation to play petty politics. Let me explain.

When we had, two or three weeks ago—

[Cirque du Soleil, October 21st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute today to the Cirque du Soleil and its directors, who have never stopped dreaming and who are celebrating the Cirque's 25th anniversary this year.

This magnificent epic debuted in the 1980s in Baie-Saint-Paul. A group of young buskers had a dream of creating a unique, artistic circus in Quebec.

In 1984, the Cirque du Soleil was born with a new show-business concept that is a wonderful blend of the talents of street performers and circus artists. In the meantime, the Cirque du Soleil just keeps expanding and is now internationally renowned, which makes the people of Charlevoix and all Quebeckers very proud.

Today, 25 years later, the Cirque du Soleil has taken nearly 90 million spectators in over 200 cities across five continents along on its adventure.

I have to congratulate those big dreamers who went after their goal and created what is now the largest circus in the world: the Cirque du Soleil. They are the pride of Quebec.

May the dream continue for many years.