Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy  It has also led our trading partners to question the safety of the product that they are consuming. As Leader of the Opposition, let me make this clear. As someone who is no defender, as everyone will know, of the government or its performance, let me state as clearly as possible that Canada has the safest food supply in the world. I have complete confidence that our food inspection system would not allow any infected animal into Canada's food supply, nor does the system allow for any animals that might test positive for BSE to move into the ruminant feed supply.

Auberge Grand-Mère  Speaker, let me ask the minister responsible for the BDC a question since he seems so enthusiastic to stand up. Officials at the BDC were clear. The Grand-Mère Inn did not qualify for loans, but the BDC is supposed to be independent of government. However one phone call from the Prime Minister and the loan was approved. Is this normal practice at the BDC?

Iraq  There are also mixed signals from the government on its willingness to act on Iraq. So, to be clear, is the government now saying that it is standing with the allied coalition, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and others, demanding that there be clear consequences for Saddam Hussein for failure to comply with the United Nations resolutions?

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, I was hoping the Prime Minister would celebrate his 40th anniversary with a clear answer. He seemed to be both for and against regime change in that answer. Let me put it this way. The Liberal motion before us today, the Prime Minister's own motion, calls for the allies to be successful in their mission.

Canadian Forces  Mr. Speaker, it may not be so clear to our troops as the bullets fly over their heads. In the beginning, this government said that Canada would not take part in the war against Saddam, but our soldiers are taking part in it.

Iraq  Speaker, not only did the government sacrifice our independence, the government's only explanation for not standing behind our allies is that it could not get approval from the Security Council of the United Nations, a body on which Canada does not even have a seat. It is shameful. Let me ask the government a very clear question. We have troops in the war against Saddam Hussein. Do our troops in the war against Saddam have the unconditional support of their government? Yes or no.

Iraq  A reason the government should reconsider its position is that it appears some allied POWs may have been executed by Saddam's soldiers. It is certainly clear that Saddam's treatment of allied personnel is a blatant violation of the Geneva convention. Given these realities, does the government now regret that it is not standing with our American and British friends in the fight against Saddam?

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister should not be vague. He should make it clear that the statement of the Minister of Natural Resources is unacceptable. This anti-American statement follows a long pattern of such statements from all levels of the Liberal government, from staff, from backbenchers and now from cabinet ministers.

Supply  In recent months this party, the Canadian Alliance, has been strongly supportive of these diplomatic efforts. However it is clear now that in some cases Saddam Hussein has guessed right. For example, Jacques Chirac and the Gaullists of France have once again been preoccupied more with agendas targeted on the Anglo-American word than on the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Supply  In the short term, we need to aggressively tackle the new American protectionism and international trade bodies. The ultimate objective must be to establish clear international rules that bind ourselves, the Americans and our European trading partners. My colleagues will also detail actions we need to take as well as compensation programs that need to be undertaken while we are pursuing these things.

Iraq  This exercise in confusion rather than clarity was another step in our increasing slide to irrelevance on this issue. Now that the Blix report has been delivered, can the government be clear, will it stand unequivocally with our allies, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and others, in stating that they have the right to act and that Saddam Hussein will be disarmed?

Foreign Affairs  I wish we could have received that kind of clarity when we asked on Monday. We keep getting a lack of clear answers. This is a government that says that it is against pre-deployment of troops in the Persian Gulf, yet it quietly is sending troops into the region. For months the Prime Minister said that we would require a second United Nations resolution to move on Iraq and yesterday he voted against that position in the House.

Health  Mr. Speaker, as the first ministers prepare to meet this evening, Canadians are clear in what they want from the health care system. They want results. They do not want grand schemes. They want to see the current system fixed. They want more doctors, more hospital beds and shorter waiting lists.

Health  For example, the Canadian Medical Association said: ...75% of new funding--be allocated to basic hospital services, physicians services, nursing and other services. Canadians do not want new money spent on new promises and new bureaucracy. Let me be clear to the minister once again. Will the government allow the provinces to spend the new money on restoring the core of health care services?

Health  Mr. Speaker, I am still not getting a clear answer so I will try it again. The federal government wants the bulk of the new health care money to go to new promises. The provinces want to allocate these funds to essential services.