Don Boudria, "Dairy Industry" on May 4th, 2005

Justice
Oral Question Period

3 p.m.

Mount Royal
Québec

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Justice were to refer allegations made by any private citizen at any time for any reason, we would be referring allegations all the time. That would be an assault on the principles of the rule of law in this country.

400th Anniversary of Quebec City
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec government announced its financial contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City, that is $70 million for the construction of Samuel-de-Champlain Drive, and $40 million for the festivities. Meanwhile, the federal government is slow to announce its intentions.

Now that the Quebec government has confirmed its financial contribution to the celebrations of the 400th anniversary, what is the Minister of Canadian Heritage waiting for to inform us of her government's intentions?

400th Anniversary of Quebec City
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Jeanne-Le Ber
Québec

Liberal

Liza Frulla Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, of course I want to point out that we have a Liberal government in Quebec. The Liberal Government of Canada is moving forward on this issue. We had trilateral meetings with our Quebec Liberal counterparts, with Quebec City officials, and with all the stakeholders. We are making impeccable progress. The Liberal Government of Canada will make its announcements at the appropriate time.

Port Infrastructure
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Thibault Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

Mr. Speaker, the port infrastructure under Department of Transport jurisdiction is in a sorry state and is compromising economic development. The deterioration of the wharf at Les Escoumins, used by the Trois-Pistoles—Les Escoumins ferry, will, despite recent federal commitments, mean the loss of 25 jobs and $5 million for at least the next two tourist seasons. Interim compensation measures are required.

Does the Minister of Transport intend to implement some interim support measures to alleviate the situation and to rectify, albeit imperfectly, his past inaction?

Port Infrastructure
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Outremont
Québec

Liberal

Jean Lapierre Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as Minister of Transport, I would point out that negotiations have been ongoing on this particular matter between the municipalities and the various stakeholders for the past nine years. There has been an offer on the table for the past two. So it is certainly not a matter of neglect by the Government of Canada.

As for the facilities, discussions are being held. We have offered up to $100,000 for studies to determine the extent of the damage and the cost of the work. There have been nine years of discussions and negotiations. Nine years ago we were prepared to make an offer, and we still are.

Justice
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, Benoît Corbeil said recently that a member of the judicial selection committee had called him on a number of occasions to find out whether a lawyer had indeed worked for the party. He said, “He asked me whether a certain lawyer had devoted a lot of time to the party. When it was the case, I said so. A few weeks later I discovered that the lawyer in question had been appointed a judge”.

Why is the justice minister refusing to act on these very serious revelations, which cast doubt on the integrity and the independence of the judicial system?

Justice
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Mount Royal
Québec

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, because I want to protect the independence of the judiciary.

Justice
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jason Kenney Calgary Southeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, what the Minister of Justice refuses to recognize is that these revelations were not made by some observer. They were made by the director general of the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec who said that he received calls from members of what the minister calls an independent review panel to ask if these people had done sufficiently good work for the party to qualify for the bench.

Canadians have never before heard more serious accusations, questioning the integrity of the judiciary. It is incumbent upon the minister to look into this matter now and to do it seriously. Why will he not act on this?

Justice
Oral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Mount Royal
Québec

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, because the director general is due to appear before the very Gomery commission process. This House is supposed to respect its proceedings. That is what I intend to do.