Debates of June 8th, 2010

Marc Garneau Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, their justification for this wasteful lake is completely ridiculous. The Minister of Industry says that this lake is a reflection of Canada. That is ridiculous. This lake is a reflection of Conservative waste, and all this waste reflects the Conservatives' incompetence and partisanship. It is quite frankly shameful.

Who needs this fake lake inside a convention centre? Who can justify this $2 million expense? That is ridiculous.

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, the project my colleague referred to cost $57,000. It is part of a series of programs to promote the country during the visit by these heads of state.

We are doing this because we are proud to showcase the attractions that have made Canada renowned throughout the world and we want to ensure that we can do so—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Westmount—Ville-Marie.

Marc Garneau Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, we now understand the origin of the biggest financial mess in Canadian history, the $1 billion mess, the Conservative mess. We could have built three coliseums in Quebec City with the billion dollars.

All that money for a summit that will ignore Canadians' priorities because of the Prime Minister's program that denies both climate change and women's right to choose.

Why are they being so arrogant with taxpayers' money?

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, during these two summits, Canada will be welcoming news media, heads of government and delegations. We are seizing this opportunity to promote our country. That is what we are doing and we are doing it in such a way that we will put Canada's best foot forward. That does have a cost. There are costs associated with security, and we are paying those costs.

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, my colleague was telling the truth. Mr. Maturi has not been employed by the Conservative Party since October 2009 or even earlier.

Michel Guimond Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that he is no longer working for them. But he does organize fundraising cocktail parties.

In the past, in the Labonté affair, Maturi was denounced for wanting to have the salaries of four political organizers paid for by private companies. We also remember that he was mixed up in Senator Carignan's shady funding and in a fundraising activity that led to the Federal Bridge Corporation in Montreal awarding a contract to a firm linked to Conservative Senator Housakos.

How can the Conservatives cozy up to an organizer who has been involved in—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. Minister of Natural Resources.

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, the answer is simple: Mr. Maturi is not employed by the Conservative Party.

Richard Nadeau Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government has decided to impress its G8 and G20 friends by spending $1.9 million to create a fake lake in the middle of Toronto and project bucolic scenes on a giant screen so that journalists who are covering the event but cannot get to Muskoka can imagine themselves out in the country.

Does the government realize it makes no sense to spend so much money to tell people to tighten their belts?

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the Experience Canada space covers a total area of 22,000 square feet. The total cost of building this facility is $1.9 million. Building costs for the water feature are $57,000. Experience Canada will welcome more than 3,000 media representatives and other guests and, as I said, unlike the Bloc, we are proud to promote Canada.

Richard Nadeau Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to the priceless Minister of Veterans Affairs, this is an opportunity to show off for foreign visitors. To the minister, the G8 and G20 facilities are tourist attractions in themselves.

Is the minister aware that by touting these summits as entertainment, he is ignoring the real issues, which include maternal health and the environment?

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, once again, we are going to welcome the world to the G8 and G20. We are doing what all the other governments and all the other countries that host such summits and events do, which is promote our country. What we are doing is quite normal. We have spent money on marketing and promoting our event, we are proud of our country, and we are going to promote it appropriately.