Stéphane Dion

[Quebec-France Agreement On Child Support, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the treaty is not yet in effect, but it is through this treaty that agreements may be signed between the provinces and the French government until it does take effect.

One thing must be clearly understood: Quebeckers cannot have rights with force of law in France, unless it is in the context of a treaty between governments, according to French provisions, in fact. For the good of Quebeckers, may the Government of Quebec negotiate with the Government of Canada as quickly as possible.

[Quebec-France Agreement On Child Support, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, article 26 of the Canada-France agreement provides the following:

France and the provinces and territories of Canada may enter into arrangements concerning any matter dealt with in this Convention that is within provincial or territorial jurisdiction, to the extent that such arrangements are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Convention.

The provisions of the Canada-France agreement must be met when agreements are to be signed with the provinces.

[Quebec-France Agreement On Child Support, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the agreement was approved because it did not contradict in any way the Canada-France treaty at the time.

[Quebec-France Agreement On Child Support, October 23rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, there are several problems with the draft agreement, including the suggestion that Quebec is a contracting party to international conventions signed between existing or future states. But this is just one problem.

Another problem is that the draft agreement includes areas not covered by the Canada-France treaty, thus technically preventing it from becoming a formal agreement, both in France and in Canada.

[Oral Question Period, October 22nd, 1997]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw all these words.

[Oral Question Period, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to repeat what I said a moment ago: I did not say that the hon. member did not lie.

[France-Quebec Agreement On Collection Of Support Payments, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we have to come up with an agreement that provides Quebeckers with good services.

Thus, with the aim of signing an enforceable agreement, which therefore, in the opinion of both governments—the Canadian and the French governments—must be done within the rules of the Canada-France agreement, the Government of Quebec is invited to negotiate in good faith with the Government of Canada.

[France-Quebec Agreement On Collection Of Support Payments, October 22nd, 1997]

I will now answer the question. No foreign government wants to find itself in a situation of having to reveal to Canadian federal authorities the content of an agreement it is to sign with a Canadian province. This, however, is the situation that Mr. Bouchard's government placed France in, by refusing request after request to inform us of the content of the agreement.

[France-Quebec Agreement On Collection Of Support Payments, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I wish to withdraw what I said earlier. I did not say that the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry had not lied.

[Franco-Quebec Accord On Child Support, October 22nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois is contradicting itself. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has just explained that the French government cannot sign this agreement without the assurance that the Canadian government is in agreement. That is the fundamental issue.

I will not accuse the hon. member of lying, as the leader of the Bloc Quebecois is forever doing. I merely point out to him that he is mistaken.