House of Commons Hansard #191 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was lobbyists.

Topics

Lobbyists Registration ActGovernment Orders

6:35 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

That is a criminal offence.

Lobbyists Registration ActGovernment Orders

6:35 p.m.

Reform

Jim Silye Reform Calgary Centre, AB

I should not say it is influence peddling. Somebody said it is a criminal offence to influence peddle. I take that back. As I have said, I am a rookie. I do not know all the terminology.

When they come here to influence the Department of Transport or the Department of Health or whatever department, for example a pharmaceutical lobbyist or someone lobbying for agriculture, if it is for information it is okay but if it is to influence the department or the ministry or affects any kind of decision before the government, they should register. What is wrong with registering? I do not see why they would object to that.

Lobbyists Registration ActGovernment Orders

6:35 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Paul Marchand Bloc Québec-Est, QC

Mr. Speaker, I as well know a bit about sophistry. Sophistry is a lot of rhetoric, knowing how to use words that mean virtually nothing.

In this case when we are talking about lobbying it is a very serious issue in spite of the fact that the project under study, Bill C-43, does not have any teeth. I ask the member what he thinks about nepotism. We have been examining over the past couple of weeks the fact the Prime Minister would actually arrange to favour a firm owned by his nephew. That is a clear and flagrant case of nepotism. No one can doubt it. No one should doubt it. It is not only apparent, it is difficult to argue otherwise being that the whole system is filled with people closely connected to Power Corp. or closely connected to the Prime Minister who have actually acted in a very exceptional way overturning a decision by the CRTC. This is the first time in history. One really has to have a lot of power. We are not talking about the average lobbying firm. We are talking about corruption in high places. We are talking about a Prime Minister favouring the firm of his nephew.

In spite of the fact it is quite obvious, high stake patronage and corruption, the Liberal government finds this to be a subject of humour. This is a flagrant example of the misuse and abuse of power.

What I would like to ask the member-

Lobbyists Registration ActGovernment Orders

6:35 p.m.

Liberal

Joe Fontana Liberal London East, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am sure on careful reflection of the blues the use of such words as "corruption" are unparliamentary. I think the member ought to apologize now. If he does not have the guts to do that, he should step outside and use those words-

Lobbyists Registration ActGovernment Orders

6:35 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

Order. Let me take things in reverse order. I appeal to the hon. member who just had the floor, in the spirit of parliamentary language the word by itself is not unparliamentary. However, some words that come to mind which would replace the one I heard are "courage" and "fortitude" as opposed to the word used by the hon. parliamentary secretary.

With regard to his initial appeal as to whether a word was unparliamentary, I did not hear of any one word that was unparliamentary, and I was listening with a great deal of attention.

However, the time has elapsed. I have taken into consideration the 13 minutes I had to allow for the ministerial statement.

It being 6.43, we will now move to the adjournment motion.