Lobbying  Mr. Speaker, last November the leader of the Conservative Party told us that he ordered his political staff to leave immediately if they wanted to do any lobbying. Six months later, 45 of them are lobbyists representing 200 companies. Why did the Prime Minister promise one thi

Lobbying  Mr. Speaker, despite the Prime Minister's rhetoric, we see people like Goldy Hyder and Tim Powers acting as Conservative government spin doctors every day. Yet they are registered and paid lobbyists who have no official position in the Conservative government. Will the Prime Min

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member opposite on what appeared to be his maiden speech, if I heard him correctly. I listened with great interest to his remarks. I do have a question, however, and it goes to the issue of child care. I am a mother. I have actually

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-227, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine. Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to introduce this bill to change the name of the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine to Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine

Child Care  Mr. Speaker, this government and the minister are living in a dream world. Cancelling daycare agreements and replacing them with corporate tax credits is doomed to fail. It did not work in Ontario, or in New Brunswick, or even in Quebec. Will the minister finally admit the truth

Child Care  Mr. Speaker, this government wants to cancel the national daycare and early childhood centre system and replace it with cheques for about $1.60 a day. How can the minister claim that this measure constitutes a plan to support a working mother in Vancouver who pays about $1,100 a

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has cut $5 billion earmarked for the environment. He has compensated with a vague promise to reduce that amount by 60%. In his budget, he did not even offer one dollar. How can the minister let the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, if the minister were an honest woman, she would admit that she has been totally ousted from the budget, and has no weight in Cabinet and no plan for protecting our environment. Canadians want a real plan, made by Canada and for Canada. When will the minister stop

Point of Order  Mr. Speaker, the record of the proceedings in Hansard will indicate clearly that I said, “—if the minister were an honest woman—”. I did not say she was dishonest. I did not say she was a liar. I did not say she was honest. I said that “if” she were an honest woman, she would a

Child Care  Mr. Speaker, last November the NDP sold out to the Conservatives and now that strategy has cost Canada a national child care program. Yesterday's child care debate proves it. After the throne speech, the NDP was “cautiously optimistic”, and the NDP House leader had the gall to s

Justice  Mr. Speaker, the member for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin recently made inappropriate statements concerning the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. These statements by the fiercely pro-life member lead us to wonder whether he intended to intimidate the courts into not defending

Justice  Mr. Speaker, that is news to me, because during the last election campaign, that is not what the Prime Minister said as leader of the official opposition. Despite his serious error in judgment, the member in question still seems to have the confidence of the Prime Minister, who a

Auditor General's Report  Mr. Speaker, a disturbing pattern is beginning to emerge regarding the government's treatment of parliamentary officers, a pattern of absolute contempt. The Prime Minister refuses to work with the Ethics Commissioner, dismisses the Information Commissioner and attempts to misrep

Auditor General's Report  Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General gave the government six numbered copies of her report. Everyone who receives these numbered copies has to sign for them and give their personal guarantee of confidentiality. Auditor Generals' reports have never been leaked in the past, and Ms. Fra

Francophonie  Mr. Speaker, the previous government never leaked a report of an officer of Parliament. Yesterday, the government caused a serious diplomatic incident, embarrassing Canada. Francophonie Secretary General Abdou Diouf was subjected to a body search at the airport in Toronto, even