Monique Guay

[Sponsorship Program, February 27th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, after seeing inflated invoices, Myriam Bédard, an Olympic medallist, was forced to quit her job at VIA Rail because she refused a transfer to Groupaction. Worse yet, to justify himself, Jean Pelletier, Jean Chrétien's former chief of staff, made inappropriate and disgraceful comments about Ms. Bédard.

Instead of publicly discrediting her, would the senior managers at VIA Rail not have been wiser to look into Ms. Bédard's claims?

[Canada Labour Code, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, this morning I introduced in the House a bill to amend the Canada Labour Code in order to prohibit the use of scabs. This initiative is the 10th by the Bloc Quebecois since 1990.

Such measures are more necessary than ever in order to promote civilized negotiations and to establish a true balance of power between employers and employees.

The current Prime Minister's silence is not surprising considering he was the head of Voyageur during a very difficult dispute in which the employer resorted to using scabs. Moreover, the first ship to use scabs at the Cargill facilities in Baie Comeau belonged to the current Prime Minister.

Workers in Quebec, particularly those at Radio Nord Communications in Abitibi-Témiscamingue—who, tomorrow, will be entering their 17th month on strike while their employer uses scabs—can count on my determination to continue the battle to put an end to this denial of labour rights.

[Petitions, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting 5,500 signatures of petitioners stating that they wish to obtain real negotiating power; that anti-scab legislation is a necessity in today's work environment, in order to level the playing field for employers and employees; and that prohibiting the use of scabs contributes to establishing and maintaining civilized negotiations during labour conflicts.

These 5,500 names are in addition to the 46,000 I have already presented to the House, for a total of 51,500 signatures in favour of anti-scab legislation. I hope their voices will be heard.

[Canada Labour Code, February 24th, 2004]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-487, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this bill once again. This is the fourth time I have done so, and the tenth time that the Bloc Quebecois has introduced an anti-scab bill.

This is an extremely important cause and the House will acknowledge our perseverance. We are convinced that the next time will be the lucky one, since the last time we were very close to seeing the bill passed. This time we are hopeful of victory.

I remind the government that anti-scab legislation will not cost them a penny; all that is needed is political will.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Employment Insurance, February 20th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, how can the minister continue to amass surpluses in the billions of dollars, while unemployed people are not receiving benefits to help them through the crisis? If they are truly concerned, let them act now.

[Employment Insurance, February 20th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the human resources minister completely dismissed the difficult situation unemployed workers on the North Shore are going through. It is so bad, these people have resorted to blocking highway 138 in order to be heard.

Will the minister act now to avoid sentencing the unemployed to destitution, and stop hiding behind her unfair employment insurance system?

[Heart Month, February 20th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, for many years the month of February has been known as Heart Month.

Despite the fact that medical research has made giant steps over the years, much remains to be done. I invite my hon. colleagues and the general public to contribute generously to the Heart Foundation's fundraising campaigns.

Let us take advantage of this month of awareness to find out about the risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and let us learn how to control the risks. Cardiovascular disease is striking at increasingly younger ages and is often tied to obesity and lack of exercise.

We can never overemphasize the importance of taking care of our health and inviting the people around us to do the same. And why not set a good example by taking advantage of the better weather in spring to begin a fitness plan that will help us take care of our hearts?

[Supply, February 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague for his speech. He is a proud grandfather.

I have been a member of the Canada-United States Association for eight years. We have had contacts with our American counterparts, both senators and representatives, during all those years. The missile defence issue was often on the agenda. We have had discussions on that subject. I can say that, in the United States, support for this program is not unanimous. Even among U.S. representatives and senators, many questions have been raised, there is obviously much concern about this program.

In the course of our discussions, a number of us have clearly said that we are against the missile defence program. It now looks like some are ready to get involved without further consultation. I know that members have asked for a free vote on this issue and the Prime Minister's answer was a definite no.

I would like my colleague to tell us if we always have to follow what the Americans are doing, without any consultation. We have to be allowed a free vote on this issue here, in our Parliament. We look for alternatives later.

The missile shield issue is a real Pandora's box that will never eradicate terrorism. This is what we are seeing now. I would like to hear what my colleague has to say on that.

[Sponsorship Program, February 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, while there are organizations in Quebec working with practically no resources to provide breakfasts to children living in poverty, this government used $250 million to plaster Quebec with Canadian flags, while being very careful to look after the generous donors to the Liberal Party.

While he was Minister of Finance and vice-president of the Treasury Board, the current Prime Minister did not lift a finger to halt this corruption. The same man, however, at the same time, did not hesitate to throw his weight into abandoning the ill, our educational institutions, and the less fortunate, by bleeding provincial transfers dry.

How can the Prime Minister claim that he never knew anything about this diddling with public funds, even though his party's policy chair wrote him a letter on February 2, 2002, informing him that persistent rumours of such activity were circulating.

There are two options: either the former finance minister knew everything and refuses to admit it, or he saw nothing, which indicates total incompetence. In either case, he does not deserve to be Prime Minister.

[Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, February 13th, 2004]

It is misrepresentation and such behaviour is unacceptable. We are told that it will be our fault if this bill is not passed. The $2 billion is being held over our heads like the sword of Damocles. It is totally illogical.

For once, the government could have acted quickly and clearly. There are people who need the money the government collects from provincial taxpayers. We need only look around today to see that people are getting poorer. Only 39% of workers have access to employment insurance. What about the rest? Where do they go? They get social assistance. We know just how poor people on social assistance are. It is hell.

So the problem is offloaded on the provinces. If we do not have equalization to help us, to help those people get back on their feet and go back to work, to create jobs and pay taxes that benefit the government, then this problem will continue. That is why we need equalization.

The government should start to manage its affairs properly, to work harder, put an end to the scandals and clean house. It must clean house. It is unbelievable; I have never seen anything like this before. It is shocking.

In my riding office, the telephone never stops ringing. People simply cannot believe what is going on here.

It is not very good for politicians, whatever party they belong to, to see how money was handed out right and left to someone's buddies. It is not right and it must stop. And let no one tell me that the Prime Minister did not know. I absolutely do not believe that and I can say that the voters of Laurentides do not believe it either.

Let them put their house in order. When they have the chance to do something good, let them do it and do it right away. They should stop telling us that they are going to put things together and mix things up so that, later, they can say that we voted against the $2 billion.

The voters of Quebec are very pragmatic and they will realize why, if this bill is not divided, we will oppose it. They will understand that equalization negotiations must be retroactive for Quebec. We cannot afford to lose this money; we need it. We administer most of the programs, not the federal government. We need that money. This must be in the bill.

Clearly, I hope that amendments will be made in committee. I hope that, for once, the government will accept amendments that are logical and reasonable, and that we will finally be able to vote in favour of a sensible bill. But as it stands now, it is clear we cannot support it.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I also wish the bill could be divided, so that the $2 billion can quickly be put to a vote and sent to the provinces to help us fix our problems in health care.