Debates of June 3rd, 2002
House of Commons Hansard #197 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was animals.
Topics
- Financial Information Strategy
- Privilege
- Points of Order
- An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals and firearms) and the Firearms Act
- New Industrial Park in Laval
- Government of Canada
- Official Languages
- Distinguished Service Award
- Rita Dionne-Marsolais
- Government of Canada
- Hamilton Professional Firefighters Association
- Liberal Government
- Children's Groundwater Festival
- Liberal Party of Canada
- Nunavut
- Holy Ghost Fraternal Aid Society
- Hell's Angels
- Education
- Government of Canada
- Member for LaSalle--Émard
- Ethics
- Government Contracts
- Government of Canada
- Member for LaSalle--Émard
- Government Contracts
- National Revenue
- Government Contracts
- The Economy
- Veterans Affairs
- Immigration
- Infrastructure
- The Economy
- Government Contracts
- Government Loans
- Government Contracts
- Government Grants
- Older Workers
- Ethics
- Government Contracts
- Presence in Gallery
- Government Response to Petitions
- National Child Benefit
- Employability Assistance
- Committees of the House
- Canada Labour Code
- Business of the House
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Question No. 143
- Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
- Question No. 149
- An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals and firearms) and the Firearms Act
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in the information before me at the present time that would substantiate the allegation made by the hon. gentleman. Obviously I will make what inquiries may be appropriate in the circumstances, but at the present time there is nothing to support the allegation he is making.
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
James Rajotte Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, on December 8, 2000 Cascade Data Service was incorporated, yet only three months later on March 9, 2001 in a shroud of secrecy Technology Partnerships Canada awarded it an $87 million loan. No announcement was made; no press release was issued.
On February 22 the official opposition requested information about this project from the Minister of Industry. The government did not have any information but promised an answer within the week. After more than three months we are still waiting.
I ask the Minister of Industry again, what is Cascade Data Service and on what basis was the company awarded an $87 million loan after only three months in existence?
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, Cascade Data Service is a subsidiary of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, which is one of Canada's best known innovative aerospace and communications companies. Cascade Data Services is developing a first in the world technology to transmit data by satellite in large volume.
This investment by the Government of Canada in this leading edge, world first technology offers one of our great corporations a chance to truly lead world markets in this new approach to communicating information.
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
James Rajotte Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is rather interesting that the three board directors of Cascade Data Service are the president, chief financial officer and comptroller of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, and the minister did not mention the fact that the company has contributed more than $50,000 to the Liberal Party over the last three years.
Let me tell members more about Cascade Data Service. It has no public telephone number, no website and the property manager has no record of ever having leased property to this company at the address to which it was registered.
We have waited over three months for an answer. When will the minister come clean on this $87 million loan?
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, first, it is not a loan, it is an investment. Second, the fact is that this company--
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
Order. Even though the minister is sitting very close to the Chair, there are so many questions being sent to him at once that I cannot hear. We have to be able to hear the answers as well as the questions. Since the Minister of Industry has the floor and only he has the floor, perhaps we could hear the answer.
Government Loans
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Allan Rock Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is an investment which the Government of Canada expects will be returned with the success of this venture.
Let me also say that although the TPC investment was approved some time ago, no money was to flow until all of the conditions were satisfied, including establishing the subsidiary and complying with all the other requirements that were imposed by the officials who approved this investment.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
June 3rd, 2002 / 2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister thinks he will silence criticism by proposing an eight point plan to restore ethics within his government.
This is the same Prime Minister who finds it normal that millions of dollars may have been stolen. He is not even concerned about it. Talk about an ethical standard.
How can we expect a higher level of ethics within the government when the Prime Minister himself believes that the theft of millions of dollars is justifiable for what he feels is a just cause?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, frankly, I have said about 20 times that if money was stolen by those who got money, the guilty will have to face the courts. Can we ask for more than that? If people stole money, they will be taken to court. They will pay fines or go to jail.
It is very clear. The auditor general is working on this, and so is the police. If money was stolen, the guilty parties will pay for what they have done.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, this means that they allowed money to be stolen and sometimes condoned what was going on.
The G-8 summit to be held in Canada will be chaired by the Prime Minister. Does he realize what message he is sending to the international community by firing his Minister of Finance because he challenged his leadership, and condoning the theft of millions of dollars because, supposedly, it was good for the cause, for his cause?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, neither part of the question is true I have nothing to add.
Government Grants
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Carol Skelton Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Prime Minister's spin on the former finance minister, the solicitor general's problems are related to governing. The solicitor general is a serial lobbyist who continues to press his departments to fund projects spearheaded by his brother.
Will the Prime Minister tell us if his next Sunday shuffle will include his ethically challenged solicitor general?
Government Grants
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote someone who is not a member of my party, Premier Binns, who said:
I don't see a conflict here.... The Justice Institute at Holland College has been recognized as a justice training centre for Atlantic Canada for over 20 years, long before Alex MacAulay was president--
He went on to say it was long before the solicitor general was a member of parliament or a minister. When I quote the Conservative premier of P.E.I., I feel very comfortable.
Government Grants
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Carol Skelton Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that the Prime Minister did not take the opportunity in his Sunday shuffle to remove the ethically challenged solicitor general.
The solicitor general lobbied the RCMP after it rejected his brother's proposal. He also lobbied Correctional Service of Canada on behalf of his brother.
Will the solicitor general tell us if he lobbied CSIS and any other agency or branch of his department on behalf of his brother?