Preston Manning

[Kosovo, June 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the peace deal in Kosovo suffered a setback last night forcing NATO to step up air attacks on Serb military positions.

In spite of the expressed support of the Serb parliament for the G-8 peace proposal, the Serb military leaders continue to resist the G-8 peace plan.

Does the government view the objections of the Serb military to the G-8 peace plan as a temporary setback, or does this constitute an outright rejection of the G-8 peace deal?

[Kosovo, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the acceptance of the G-8 proposal will likely mean that Canadian forces will be deployed on the ground in Kosovo in the coming weeks.

We know the equipment that our troops have but it is unclear exactly what their role will be in terms of its magnitude or its duration. Will the Prime Minister tell the House precisely what Canada's military commitment will be to back up the G-8 plan? Will he seek a mandate from this House in support of that commitment?

[Kosovo, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the defence minister demonstrated this week that his level of access to the powerbrokers in NATO is embarrassingly low. This is despite the fact that Canada is one of the few nations actually participating in the NATO air campaign.

Canada of course cannot afford to be left out, like our defence minister was last week, of key negotiations now with either our NATO partners or with the Serbs.

What active measures is Canada taking to ensure that the G-8 proposal is enacted as quickly as possible?

[Kosovo, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today the Serbian parliament voted to accept the G-8 peace proposal for Kosovo. This is obviously encouraging news to all members but there are still a number of conditions to be met before this proposal can be implemented.

Will the Prime Minister tell the House whether this actually constitutes a breakthrough and what is the next step in implementing the G-8 proposal?

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there was a time when Canada had a major and important role in any military and strategic conference involving the security of the western world.

Prime Minister King met with Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt. The counsel of Prime Minister Pearson was sought out by world leaders with respect to the Suez crisis. Under this administration and this Prime Minister, Canada's influence on international security has been reduced to the minimum.

What does the government propose to do to secure a meaningful role for Canada in the military and strategic planning in Kosovo?

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this avoids the question.

A meeting of major members of NATO was held to discuss the question of ground troops in Kosovo. President Clinton has just made an announcement based on that meeting. Meanwhile, our defence minister's response to questions on a mission in which Canada will presumably be involved is “I do not know who was there. I do not know what was discussed. I do not know what impact it had”.

How does the government expect Canadians to have any confidence in the defence minister or Canada's participation in this affair when the position of the defence minister is “I do not know?”

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week defence ministers from the United States and the major European countries met to discuss the question of ground troops in Kosovo, but not the Canadian defence minister. He was not even asked to deliver doughnuts.

Our CF-18s carry NATO payloads in the skies of Yugoslavia. We have hundreds of military personnel already involved in the conflict and we are sending 800 more. We ought to be involved in the planning.

How does the government explain Canada's complete absence from this important meeting?

[Government Grants, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this is not just petty patronage and petty abuses of power. This is patronage and abuse of power connected with the office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister promised he would be different yet he slipped into a pattern of patronage and cover-up and abuse of power that makes his predecessor look like a saint.

In light of what has now happened, what is the Prime Minister going to do to clear the air?

[Government Grants, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, no other MP has arranged a loan and a grant for someone who just bought a hotel from them. That is the Prime Minister's speciality. If it is jobs the Prime Minister wants, why does he not cut taxes in his riding?

Will the Prime Minister not admit that these activities are inexcusable for any member of parliament but particularly for a Prime Minister?

[Government Grants, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister tries to excuse these shady activities by saying he is only doing what other MPs are doing.