Preston Manning

[Aboriginal Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister is saying that there may be a referendum on this issue in Manitoba. We would like more clarification.

The chances of securing the consent of the aboriginal people of Manitoba to self-government would be enhanced if it were made crystal clear that any such government would be legally required to respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Can the minister give the House an iron clad guarantee that any aboriginal self-government arrangement established in Manitoba will give aboriginal people full protection of their personal rights and freedoms under the charter?

[Aboriginal Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for his reply. He knows that sometimes leaders will agree to constitutional arrangements which the people will not approve if they get a chance to vote, as in the case of the Charlottetown accord.

Will the minister tell the House what would be wrong with seeking the democratic consent of all the aboriginal people of Manitoba to this new form of government through a formal referendum mechanism?

[Aboriginal Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

I am sure that the minister will agree that the establishment of any genuine democratic government must rest on the consent of the governed. The minister has told the House that he is proceeding with the establishment of aboriginal self-government in Manitoba and that he has obtained the consent of the chiefs.

Would the minister tell the House clearly and explicitly whether he also intends to seek the consent of the aboriginal people of Manitoba for this new form of government?

[Health Care, May 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we could argue all day about the validity of polls.

I suggest to the ministers that if they contrast alternative financing mechanisms with the alternative of losing the service, a majority of Canadians favour the alternative financing mechanism.

I ask the Deputy Prime Minister this simple question. If the choice is between further cuts in health care service or changing the financing provisions of the Canada Health Act, which alternative does the government prefer?

[Health Care, May 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I gather that the government and the Deputy Prime Minister will not concede that Canadians would rather have major changes in health care financing than to suffer further cuts in services.

For example, a Compas opinion survey on this subject is being released in Toronto today. It reveals that 58 per cent of Canadians are prepared to accept health care financing mechanisms not permitted by the Canada Health Act, even including user fees, in order to save health care.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister accept that the Canada Health Act should be amended to permit the provinces greater flexibility in health care financing?

[Health Care, May 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

As the Prime Minister is aware there is increasing evidence that Canada's health care system is in trouble: hospitals being closed, long lines waiting for surgery, provinces rationing services. At the root of the problems are inadequate arrangements for financing health care.

Does the government acknowledge that health care financing needs to be completely reformed and that Canadians are now prepared to accept substantive amendments to the Canada Health Act?

[Taxation, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Prime Minister said yesterday, it was the Minister of Finance who said a while back in this House that taxes are a cancer on job creation.

Millions of hard pressed Canadians are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. They are looking for tax relief before they will spend more or invest more in job creating activities.

My question for the government is this. The government professes to have a target for deficit reduction. Does the government have a target for tax relief? Can the Prime Minister or the finance minister tell Canadians when they can expect real tax relief from this government?

[Taxation, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, you can reduce taxes without increasing the deficit if you reduce spending.

What we are trying to get at is the connection between tax relief and job creation. Let me put my question another way. Yesterday one of Asia's top bankers, Mr. David Li, told a conference that Canada was an unattractive place to invest Asian capital because of high taxes, public debt and unnecessary government regulations.

In other words, Mr. Li and his clients are reluctant to invest more in job creating activity in Canada because of our high tax and spending level.

My question to the Prime Minister is this. What does he have to say to Mr. Li and thousands of other investors like him who refuse to invest more in job creating activity in Canada until they see lower taxation and spending levels?

[Taxation, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Yesterday the Prime Minister in response to a question from the member for Calgary Centre said that Canadians cannot expect any tax relief "until all Canadians who want to work find jobs". This statement surprises and alarms business people, investors and unemployed Canadians who believe that tax relief is necessary to create jobs.

They feel that the Prime Minister has put the cart before the horse. My question to the Prime Minister is this. Does he or does he not believe that tax relief is necessary to create jobs and reduce unemployment?

[Health Care, April 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have one further supplementary question.

The minister's answer leaves Canadians wondering what it would take to convince the government that health care financing and the Canada Health Act need to be reformed. How many more hospitals have to be closed down? How much longer do the waiting lines have to become? How many more Canadians have to go to the United States for health care?

How much further does the health care system have to deteriorate before the government will agree to reform the Canada Health Act and the financing of health care in Canada?