Debates of May 10th, 2000
House of Commons Hansard #94 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was citizenship.
Topics
- Hungary
- Divorce Act
- Canadian National Railway
- Israel
- Nature Conservancy Of Canada
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Alexi Bérubé, Mp For A Day
- Canada-France Parliamentary Day
- Dr. Mary Percy Jackson
- Pensions
- Musical Group Harm'Manik
- National Press Club Book Drive
- Youth
- Mothers' Day
- Acoa
- Human Resources Development
- Cbc
- National Defence
- Human Resources Development
- Hepatitis C
- Export Development Corporation
- Genetically Modified Organisms
- Sierra Leone
- Airline Industry
- National Defence
- Health
- Western Grain Transportation
- Health
- National Defence
- Employment Insurance
- Rcmp
- Fisheries
- Presence In The Gallery
- Government Response To Petitions
- Committees Of The House
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Motions For Papers
- Citizenship Of Canada Act
- Canadian Tourism Commission Act
- Division No. 1289
- Sales Tax And Excise Tax Amendments Act, 1999
- Division No. 1290
- Pornography
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Gauthier Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, when they were in opposition not that long ago, the Liberals were calling for the resignation of Conservative ministers for things far less serious than what is going on at present within Human Resources Development Canada. Today the government has announced “We are going to audit this matter”.
Does the Prime Minister not understand that a government is responsible for auditing first and paying out the money later, not the other way around, as they have been so busy doing at Human Resources Development Canada?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Oakville
Ontario
Liberal
Bonnie Brown Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, once again the opposition is not listening. I did not announce an audit. I said that at the present moment the department is reviewing the new information and that if additional steps are necessary they will be taken promptly. I did not announce an audit.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Gauthier Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government's behaviour in this matter is the greatest example of incompetence I have ever seen.
How can this government, which came into power supposedly to bring integrity back to public administration, today continue to administer with a Minister for International Trade who is responsible for what is going on, a Minister of Human Resources Development who is still in her position, and a Prime Minister who still dares to look people in the eye? This is incredible.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Oakville
Ontario
Liberal
Bonnie Brown Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I find it odd that members opposite are talking about integrity if in fact further action is needed on the files that they are obsessed with. We could have moved sooner on them if only they had shared their information sooner.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Reform
Monte Solberg Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Modes Conili grant scam is a disaster. The MP for Ahuntsic lobbied the government for a $700,000 grant for Modes Conili and received a $7,000 donation from Modes Conili, the single biggest donation to her re-election campaign. Then, instead of creating new jobs, we see jobs transferred from Paris Star to Modes Conili. There are people in prisons for scams less serious than this one.
Why did the minister allow this to continue three years after it was first discovered?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Oakville
Ontario
Liberal
Bonnie Brown Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, once again we have these allegations of connections between political donations and government grants. I would challenge that member to say those things outside the House.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Reform
Monte Solberg Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear. The truth is that $7,000 went to the hon. member for Ahuntsic—
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. I ask the hon. member to please go to his question.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Reform
Monte Solberg Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government gave out money to this Liberal friendly firm. How can the minister expect us to believe that she is serious about rooting out all the scandals and problems in HRDC when they sat on their hands for three years after they first discovered the shenanigans going on with Modes Conili?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Oakville
Ontario
Liberal
Bonnie Brown Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct in that we did do a review in 1997, but with the information at that time, we could not establish that there was anything going on that was wrong. It is the new information that has been brought forward in the last few days that is causing us to review this file again.
Hepatitis C
Oral Question Period
May 10th, 2000 / 2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the CBC informed us that the Ontario government had improved its compensation package for hepatitis C victims who contracted the disease before 1986 or after 1990, who are excluded from federal compensation.
Initially, each victim was to receive $10,000. This has now been increased to $25,000.
Will the Minister of Health agree that he should take a page from the book of Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec and finally extend his program to all victims, regardless of when they contracted the virus?
Hepatitis C
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we have already shown our compassion. We have already responded to the needs of the victims of our blood supply system.
Almost two years ago, we announced a program to introduce, in partnership with the provinces, services for those who were ill. This is what is most important for victims.
Hepatitis C
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister has no compassion. I remind him that right now, according to our information, only the lawyers of those who were infected between 1986 and 1990 have received any money from the federal government.
My question, clearly put, is this: When will the minister finally decide to do something for the victims, who need this compensation badly?
Hepatitis C
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois' position is completely absurd. We have avoided ten years of litigation. We have agreed with the provinces to offer compensation to victims and, with the provinces, we have established services for those who are ill. The measures which are—