I believe it is time for new leadership that is able to leave the '70s behind.Collection: Leadership
Canada is the homeland of equality, justice and tolerance.Collection: Equality
For me, unemployment and poverty in the Greater Montreal area is not mainly a problem of structure, or design, or statistics. It is a profoundly human situation.Collection: Design
To suggest that Quebecers willingly give up the chance to exercise fully their influence within the federal government would be to betray the historical role Quebec has always played in Confederation, and to undermine the legitimacy of their pride and ambitions.
I believe that Canadians have the common sense to see that a better future cannot be built on fragmentation.
Our first Prime Minister saw a country that would be known for its generosity of spirit. And so it is.
Despite our high rate of unemployment, 300,000 jobs go unfilled largely because many of the unemployed lack the skills needed today as a result of technological progress.
Some of you may have been hoping that today I would speak about Lucien Bouchard's latest economic theories. But I have decided to spare him for the time being: after all, he is a man.
For over 20 years, the federal and provincial governments have made enormous efforts employing a variety of approaches in an attempt to stimulate Montreal's economy.
In all modesty, we must admit that governments are not always the best doctors when it comes to diagnosing economic ailments and prescribing the right treatment.
It would be naive to imagine we have solved all our income security problems simply because the roles of the federal and provincial governments in the area of skills training have been clarified.
We have to define and put into practice a better, more coherent and effective policy on income security.
Governments allocate enormous resources for social programs. And it is true that for many years we have had one of the best social service systems in the world. Yet we are still incapable of meeting the needs of tens of thousands of Canadian families.
An increasing number of Canadians must juggle the demands of work with the need to care for children, or for family members who are ill or too frail to care for themselves. Our programs have simply not kept pace with these societal changes.
For people on social assistance, the loss of free dental care, prescription drugs and subsidized housing can greatly outweigh additional income from working. We've all heard the stories.
On the same day I was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada, I announced the most sweeping reform ever undertaken in the structure of our federal government.
The election is not a time to discuss serious issues.Collection: Issues
If you never encounter anything in your community that offends you, then you are not living in a free society.Collection: Community
We now know that unity, the cornerstone of Canada's greatness and prosperity, is above all a matter of emotion and reason for every citizen.Collection: Greatness
[When criticized for appearing bare-shouldered Madonna-like at a banquet:] A comparison between Madonna and me is a comparison between a strapless evening gown and a gownless evening strap.Collection: Gowns
There are certain things in gun control that have a certain public appeal, but when you're legislating you need to look at the research on what works, what doesn't, and what really has an impact, recognizing you're never going to do away entirely with gun violenceCollection: Gun
There's no evidence that registering guns reduces the level of gun violence. It's not that I don't think it's something worth doing, (but) it's something you do much later.Collection: Gun
Canadians know that our difficulties will not be resolved overnight. They are tired of politicians who pretend they will be.Collection: Tired
Religion gets in the way of morality.Collection: Way
Progressive Conservative candidates from Quebec want to exert real power in Ottawa, not simply be content with playing a secondary role.Collection: Real
We plan to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the preparation of the budget. We also plan to open up the process of government appointments.Collection: Government
Quebecers have rarely in their history been better represented than they are right now - at the highest levels of the federal government.Collection: Government