Ms. Copps:

How is the Tory, Sterling Lyon? [Translation]

Mr. Speaker:

As I said, the matter at this point is very important to the country, and we should therefore extend a level of courtesy to all Members in this House.

Mr. Mulroney:

Mr. Speaker, when I was in Saskatchewan on April 14, 1988, when there was a problem in regard to minority rights, I was asked in the presence of Premier Devine how I fundamentally felt about the concept of minority rights. My philosophy is one that

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perhaps my hon. friend will allow me to repeat in one line.

I said, if you want to understand how you should deal with minorities ask yourself what it would be like to be in a position of a minority and treat the minority with all the generosity that you would want extended to yourself.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Axworthy (Winnipeg South Centre):

What are you going to do about it? Come on, Brian, show some leadership on this one.

Mr. Mulroney:

That applies to English-speaking minorities in Quebec, French-speaking minorities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and elsewhere. It applies across the board.

All Members of the House, all Leaders of political Parties in this House, recognize that language can indeed be a difficult instrument of division, but it can also become an instrument of some unity and strength. It has to be treated fairly and in a responsible, thoughtful manner.

As I indicated yesterday, I will be meeting with the First Ministers.

I think we made very substantial strides with Bill C-72 which provided substantial enhancement of minority language rights in the federal Public Service and across Canada. We did the same thing with the Meech Lake Accord, perhaps not perfectly, but we made great strides in protecting English and French-speaking minority rights across Canada. We can do more.

I am satisfied, if the atmosphere is one of calm reason, that ultimately tolerance and justice, for which Canadians are well known, will prevail and we will have the type of Canada which brings fairness to minorities wherever they are.

Mr. Derek Lee (Scarborough-Rouge River):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. Two weeks ago the people of Canada were witness to an unseemly manifestation of corruption in the guilty plea of the former Member of this House for the riding of

December 21, 1988

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Gamelin. This man was not just an ordinary crook, but an elected Member of the House, and a Member of the Prime Minister's caucus.

This guilty plea and the preferred indictment process chosen by the Crown have now covered up the facts and background of this corruption, but the public interest requires disclosure of this information.

What steps will the Prime Minister take to expose and explain this insidious chain of corruption associated with his Tory Government?

Mr. Speaker:

I know the Hon. Member feels very strongly about this question, and it is a matter of importance. I would just point out that it may well be administration of justice in the province, but the Minister is rising and we will hear the Minister.

Right Hon. Joe Clark (Secretary of State for External Affairs and Acting Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada):

Mr. Speaker, as you indicated, this question relates to a matter that is still before the courts. I have no intention to make comment on it, and I would hope that the Hon. Member would show in his subsequent activities in the House a greater respect for the institutions of the country, including the courts, than he has shown in his first question.

Hear, hear!

Oh, oh!

Mr. Nunziata:

Mr. Contempt himself!

Mr. Derek Lee (Scarborough-Rouge River):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice has failed to note that the matter I just addressed has been the subject of a guilty plea in the courts of this country.

Mr. Beatty:

It's still before the court.

Mr. Lee:

As the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister know, common law criminal procedure permits parties harmed by an offence to make submissions to sentence through the Crown.

Will the Prime Minister make a commitment to the House to submit a victim impact statement to the court so as to impress upon the court and all Canadians the seriousness of these offences?

Mr. Charest:

That is incredible!

Mr. Beatty:

Where is your Leader?

Mr. Andre:

Out of order!