House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
National Defence November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign we talked in terms of foreign policy about a new multilateralism. We talked about creating a leadership of nations capable of dealing with the elimination of poverty. We talked about the need for international action on the environment. We talked about the need to deal with the very real structural problems that exist within Africa. We talked about the need to reform the United Nations.
We are acting in each of those areas.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member wanted to follow this matter, it is still very clear that it was totally in the hands of public servants. There was a difference of opinion on the balance between quality and price, but I must repeat, this was all administered by public servants.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, once again, I repeat, what happened is that the Department of Finance wanted a more open process, a more transparent process, with far more competition. That was the Department of Finance's position, and that is what it ought to have been.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, consistently the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have stood up, have made mistakes and they have had to swallow themselves whole the next day.
That is why the hon. member should not try to subvert the Gomery commission, but let the Gomery commission do its work.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, when we examine the letters and testimony, it is very obvious that what the Department of Finance wanted was to have a genuinely open and transparent system, and that is where the difference lies.
We are still in favour of an open and transparent system.
Canada-U.S. Relations November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's statements were unacceptable. Those statements are not reflective of the government's position, nor are they statements that are acceptable to our caucus.
I would simply ask the hon. member opposite about the comments his members have made about the Charter of Rights, bilingualism and a vast number of Canadian values.
National Defence November 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada will work with the U.S. administration on a vast multitude of files. We will certainly reflect our values; our values which are being reflected in Haiti at this very moment; our values which are being reflected in Afghanistan at this moment; our values which are being reflected in Africa; and our values on a multitude of files as we work to alleviate poverty.
Those are Canadian values and we will continue to push our value system wherever we are.
National Defence November 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the American people have chosen their president. We on this side of the House, we as the government will work with the administration as we have worked with it in the past.
If I could just take this occasion, I would like to say to the member for Elmwood—Transcona that I congratulate him on his 25 years of parliamentary endeavour. He is known in this House as the member for Elmwood—Transcona. In my family he is known as the father of the very dynamic NDP candidate who ran in the riding of LaSalle—Émard.
Child Care November 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to congratulate the minister and the provincial ministers who have been working for the past two days on this issue.
I must also say that Quebec's Minister Béchard said that this was a start. It is very important to truly understand the goals we want to reach.
I would also like to tell the leader of the Bloc Québécois that the model we will be using is the Quebec model.
Natural Resources November 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, let me deal with the preamble to the Leader of the Opposition's question. The fact is that we are not anti-American. Canadians are not anti-American. We are pro-Canadian.
I will tell the House what being pro-Canadian means. It means that we would not go down to the United States and use an American television network to slam Canada. It means that we would not write articles in the Wall Street Journal criticizing our country. We will have our debates within Canada.