Debates of Oct. 3rd, 2003

Maurizio Bevilacqua Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

Mr. Speaker, the government is seized with this issue. The government is very much aware of the problems of the international steel market caused by overcapacity and cheap imports. The overcapacity is a global problem that we are attacking on several fronts, particularly in the context of discussions and negotiations with the OECD.

Marcel Gagnon Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, while the federal government is squandering public funds in the boondoggle at Human Resources Development Canada, the sponsorship scandal and the Radwanski affair, seniors have to tighten their belts while waiting for the money they are owed under the Guaranteed Income Supplement Program.

Is it not time for the Minister of Human Resources Development to recognize that her department has been negligent and to give seniors the money they are owed, with full retroactivity?

Jane Stewart Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the government is anxious to ensure that seniors have access to the programs that we have in place to support them. That includes the guaranteed income supplement.

The hon. member will know we have increased our connections, our contacts with Canadian seniors so they are aware of this program. We have made the applications much easier because indeed, we want those citizens to have access to these important supporting programs.

Greg Thompson New Brunswick Southwest, NB

Mr. Speaker, about a year ago I introduced Bill C-241, a whistleblower's bill, in this House which would go a long way in reducing or eliminating wrongdoing in government by protecting whistleblowers.

Why is the minister so reluctant to embrace that legislation or at least at the minimum, introduce government legislation which would do the same thing; protect whistleblowers and end the type of corruption that we have seen in this government?

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, not only do we have a policy but we received the first annual report of the Public Service Integrity Officer. Dr. Keyserlingk has recommended a legislative framework for his actions. At the same time he said that he needed some further analysis to suggest any model to the Canadian government.

We have a working group, led by Professor Kernaghan, that will report to me in 2004, and I took the commitment to submit those recommendations directly to parliamentarians so they can have a say in it.

Ken Epp Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has now twice used the phrase “every rule in the book was broken” in her reports about the financial mismanagement of this government. It appeared in the report on the Quebec advertising scandal and just this week appeared in her report on the expenses of the former privacy commissioner.

My question is for one of the prime ministers over there. Given the stinging indictment of the Auditor General, why is this behaviour allowed to continue?

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General was very clear this week. She said not to generalize problems found in the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to the whole public service. This is not me who is saying that. The Auditor General is saying it.

This is exactly what the member is doing. This is not a general problem across the public service. For the Officer of the Privacy Commissioner, we have said that we will implement all the recommendations of the Auditor General.

Don Boudria Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, there have been negotiations and an agreement reached among House leaders yesterday and earlier this morning about the following motion. If you were to seek it, I believe you would find consent for its adoption. The motion is with regard to Bill C-41, the technical corrections bill. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice, all questions necessary to dispose of amendments at the report stage, concurrence at report stage and third reading and passage of Bill C-41, the technical corrections bill, be now deemed to have been put and carried.