Supply  They are showing a lack of respect for the men and women who fought and provided support services in Iraq. It is the same thing with helicopters. Instead of describing them as Cadillacs, they describe them as Chevys. Instead of talking about the gulf war, they talk about the Persian adventure or whatever.

Supply  Since then they have participated in several deployments to the Arabian gulf area to assist in the maintenance of the embargo against Iraq. They have reached out to help and have spared no effort in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Rwanda. While they could not stop the bloodshed, General Dallaire's tiny force was able to save thousands of lives.

Supply  In February the government announced that Canada would send the patrol frigate HMCS Toronto and two KC-130 Hercules tactical air-to-air refuelling planes to the gulf as Canada's contribution to possible military action against Iraq. The government has also approved Canadian participation in a new three-month United Nations peace support mission in Central Africa. From what I have described so far we can see that a great deal of work has been done over the last year.

Petitions  They also point out that UN Secretary General Kofi Annand has negotiated an acceptable peace accord which also includes an oil for food agreement. The petitioners call upon parliament to reject any military action against Iraq, to immediately withdraw Canadian forces from the gulf and to call for an end to the embargo against necessities of life for the Iraqi people. Further, in the interests of gaining the support of the Iraqi people and relieving their terrible suffering, they ask the Government of Canada, following the lead of the United Kingdom, to join in a massive effort to provide medicine and food for sick and starving Iraqi people.

Standing Orders And Procedure  The Progressive Conservative Party has requested special debates on the disastrous conditions that exist in the fisheries on the east and west coasts. We also requested a special debate on the situation that was brewing in Iraq. Yesterday other members made application in this House for debates on the megabank mergers. All these applications were refused. I have had to assure my colleagues that the government does not instruct the Speaker on these matters.

Iraq  In the true spirit of the upcoming holiday season I call upon the government to support the elimination of the UN embargo and support the giving of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the people of Iraq.

National Defence Act  A large number of our military personnel travel half a world away to fight in areas such as Iraq and they worry whether there is enough food on the table to provide for their children. Our military people are not looking to get rich but they are looking for fairness. If they are going to put their lives on the line, they want fairness.

Observance Of Two Minutes Of Silence On Remembrance Day Act  I am thinking about those who fought in Cyprus in 1964 and witnessed the atrocities of the war between Turks and Greeks. There are many others such as Bosnia, Haiti, Iraq, Koweit, Yugoslavia, etc. I do not have enough time to name them all. These soldiers have not had the same benefits as veterans of both world wars and the Korean war. Before trying to add one minute of silence, it would be preferable for the House to grant equal status to all veterans.

Supply  It is a good thing when nations come together to negotiate and build a framework of agreements rather than to fight. It is a good thing if we negotiate a solution in Iraq rather than fight to reach a solution. It is important to underline the third one. At the end of the negotiation the government will not sign on Canada's behalf an MAI that does not fully support key Canadian values and safeguard vital Canadian interest.

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, as I said in answer to the previous questions, we are very encouraged by it but we want to assure ourselves along with the other members who are taking a strong interest that the deal meets the kind of conditions that were set out by the security council. The secretary-general will not be back to brief the security council until tomorrow afternoon.

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, media reports indicate that yesterday the secretary-general of the United Nations brokered a deal with Saddam Hussein. Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell Canadians whether or not the Canadian government finds the deal acceptable?

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, how can the minister be so far out of the loop that he does not have any information? Will he find out about the deal from CNN? Whom does this minister have to check with before he can decide whether or not the deal is acceptable to Canadians?

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, the unfortunate problem with Reform Party members is that they make their policy based on what they see in the media. They have no ideas of their own. They do not take the time to read things carefully. They have no sense of how to go about making sure that the proper decision is made.

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, first off, we were certainly encouraged by the proposals the Secretary General made to Baghdad over the weekend. At this point, we, like the other countries, will have to wait to have a chance to examine the proposal carefully to be sure that all the issues have been properly dealt with.

Iraq  Mr. Speaker, since the start of this crisis, the government has said, sometimes half heartedly, that it favoured a diplomatic solution. Since a diplomatic solution has now been reached, negotiated by none other than the Secretary General of the United Nations, does the minister intend to promote this approach among his partners, including the United States?