Stockwell Day

[Election Of Speaker, January 29th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to congratulate you first. I am told you are thoughtful and studious, a man with a passion for the rules and procedures of parliament. That is interesting.

Rest assured that the official opposition will support you, not necessarily in examining all the rules and procedures, but certainly in maintaining decorum and respect in this House.

It was interesting to note today, as you were dragged most unwillingly to the chair, how it was reflecting a centuries old reality that at many times it was a high risk position. In fact, one could literally risk one's head depending on the decisions that were made.

Today, by a happy coincidence, you are comforted by the presence of Speakers from across the country who are in the galleries and whom I am sure you will be introducing. I have met with each one of them and I can assure you that their hearts and heads appear to be in the right place. I think that will also be your future.

As the Prime Minister indicated, the interesting work that took place in the caucuses was, I believe, somewhat historic. If you reflect back, as I am sure you could, it was Louis-Joseph Papineau who was elected as Speaker of the Assembly of Lower Canada in 1827. When he presented himself for the formal ratification to the governor, the governor actually refused his ratification thinking that he would send him back to the assembly and the members would then show deference to the governor and change their view.

In fact, it was a serious moment in history because the members said no. They said that it was up to the members to decide these things. Almost a year went by in which the activities of the assembly did not take place. It was only then that the governor said yes, and that the vote and the will of the members took place.

I encourage all members, after the demonstration we have seen today of working together and voting freely, to show a similar resolve in some of the parliamentary obstacles that still lie ahead of us and to work together for the good of all Canadians on whose behalf we were sent here.

Congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker.

[Auditor General's Report, October 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is a very important question and it was not answered.

Liberal members said they could not find the room. That is the issue. As with so much of what the Liberal government does, only in the face of public outrage did it inch toward doing something responsibly, only in the face of public outrage time after time.

Is the Liberal excuse standing? They could not find the room. That is what we heard last night. Yes or no. Is that the excuse you are sticking with, or was there another reason for which you should apologize for disrespecting the auditor general?

[Auditor General's Report, October 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot get an apology for those other officers. How about for the auditor general?

Yesterday there was supposed to have been a report given, the most important one in a decade, by the auditor general. We have just heard that there is some kind of respect for democracy here. Yet Liberal members did not go to that committee meeting so there was no quorum. The committee had to shut down. The auditor general could not give his report. The Liberals said they could not find the room.

Is the Prime Minister sticking to the excuse that they could not find the room when all the opposition members could make it? Or, is it that he just cannot find the time for democracy? Is he sticking with—

[Auditor General's Report, October 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the question was not answered, but that is fairly characteristic. I will pose it again.

These individuals are saying that democracy itself is being threatened. The former clerk of the privy council is a very responsible individual. The information commissioner is a very responsible individual. They are alluding to the fact that democracy itself is being threatened by the Prime Minister and his office.

We would just like to know if these responsible public servants are wrong. I am not talking about the auditor general right now. We will talk about him in a minute. Are they wrong? If they are not wrong, will the Prime Minister apologize for being a threat to democracy?

[Auditor General's Report, October 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP continues investigations into government dealings in the Prime Minister's riding.

We have the auditor general, with the most scathing report in a decade at least, being shut down by the Liberals from giving that report.

We have the information commissioner saying that the government routinely appears to be threatening public servants, and the Prime Minister says “We will see you in court”.

Now we have the former clerk of the privy council saying that there is a huge concentration of power in the Prime Minister's Office, away from cabinet and away from the democratic process.

Democracy itself is being threatened by all these moves. I would like to hear from the Prime Minister. Are all these responsible individuals wrong in what they are saying and if they are not wrong, will the Prime Minister—

[Taxation, October 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the confidence of Canadians has been shaken by the most scathing auditor general's report possibly in our history, by the most scathing information commissioner's report possibly in our history talking about a government undermining democracy, and by one after another of RCMP investigations.

They will be remembering a previous tax commitment where the Prime Minister said he would abolish, kill and eliminate the GST. How are these tiny tax cut commitments any different than the big commitment you made and that you have never—

[Taxation, October 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Prime Minister would be willing to test that sense of confidence. I know he has a busy schedule, but would he be willing to accompany me down to the coffee shop just a few blocks down and try that answer on the people who asked me the question? Would you like to try that on with real Canadians? Do you want to try that one on?

[Taxation, October 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, just a few moments ago I was down the street at a coffee shop getting a cup of coffee. The woman who was working there asked if I was upset that the government was making a weak attempt to steal the Canadian Alliance tax plan.

The more profound question I was asked came from the gentleman who was working behind the till. His question in this cynical attempt before an election to capture votes was “Does the government really think Canadians are this dumb?” Will the Prime Minister please address that question?

[Speaker Of The House, October 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on one of the rare times when the Prime Minister and I will be in agreement, I would also like on behalf of my colleagues to extend our gratitude and respect to you, Sir, for the job you have done.

I know how difficult it has been at times for you, and we have seen you rule in a very even-handed way. We have sensed that when you have ruled, as the Prime Minister said, against unruliness on that side, and occasionally on this side, that there is that moment of glare from your own colleagues that you have to live with. You have done that with honour and distinction and with even-handedness. We appreciate that and respect that.

It is not an easy job, as Canadians who watch question period must entertain, somewhat like herding cats at times, which is not a negative, pejorative statements on cats. It must be somewhat like that, yet in the short time I have been here the even-handed approach you have taken has been very well noticed, remarked on and respected by us.

Thank you for, as the Prime Minister said, the good mood that prevails now, for a very few moments. We know how quickly that dissipates.

Sir, you have served well. You have served with distinction. We are honoured to have served with you. Thank you on behalf of the people of Canada.

[Government Of Canada, October 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, our budget program will help the poor and will take 1.4 million low income Canadians from having to pay federal taxes at all. His will not do that.

He talked about administration and doing a few things wrong. Only a handful of cases were even reviewed by the Prime Minister in terms of HRD. I think it was 76. It launched 12 RCMP investigations. Is the RCMP wrong, or will you simply stand and apologize?