Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Regulations Act June 12th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, being a new member of Parliament, I would like some advice. The hon. member opposite has repeatedly mentioned a member who is not here, suggesting that he should jump to his feet because of the outlandish statements he made during his speech. I wonder if this behaviour is parliamentary.
Regulations Act June 12th, 1996
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Regulations Act June 12th, 1996
So you prefer that type of approach?
Canadian International Development Agency June 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I think this is absolutely ludicrous.
If we look at the number of companies that submitted prequalification bids last year, 245 happen to be from Quebec and 187 from Ontario. The number of contracts given to Quebec companies reflects the number of bids they have made. If more Quebec companies bid for contracts they end up having more.
It is the responsibility of business people from all regions to bid for contracts. I can show the member the percentage which reflects perfectly the number of bids we received, and we are very proud of it.
Canadian International Development Agency June 4th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have worked very hard at CIDA in the last few years to build a very open bidding system for all Canadian companies.
The member can be absolutely sure the companies that get the contracts are the companies that have really prepared the best bid for the Canadian taxpayer and the countries that actually get them. Yesterday I had a question about the province they come from. They reflect exactly the number of requests and bids prepared from that region so that both will count either from the region and the companies.
We always have this open system which is quite transparent. I will be devoting the end of June and the beginning of July to going across the country to explain that system to business people in other regions, western and eastern Canada, so they can make more bids and get more contracts because it is very important.
Burundi June 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
Canada is deeply concerned with the situation in Burundi and it is in that context that the Government of Canada has put forward and initiated the meeting of the nine major development agencies to consider specifically the situation in the great lake region.
I will chair this meeting to be held in Geneva on June 17 and 18. I will be pleased to report to the House on that most important initiative taken by Canada. On a bilateral level, Canada will keep on providing humanitarian help, which is extremely important for Burundi.
International Development June 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, certainly not. On the contrary, CIDA has made the point and I have made the same point since I became the minister responsible for CIDA, that we always take the very best bids. We want to make sure that both the developing country and Canadians receive the best for their money. We will continue to do that.
As far as this case is concerned, I have already told the member that I will take note of it. I have no recollection of only three Quebec firms having been kept on the short list. The member is very lucky to have access to that kind of information because I have not seen it. I have never seen three Quebec firms on a single short list since I have been minister. We will look into it and report back to the member.
CIDA will continue to work hard on every contract making sure that both the developing country and the Government of Canada makes the best use of taxpayers' money.
International Development June 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have taken note of the question put by the hon. member and I will investigate. I will ask my colleagues at CIDA what exactly took place and I will get back to the member.
Supply May 30th, 1996
Madam Speaker, I was astonished to hear the hon. member tell us that the government has done nothing right since it was elected. I would like to know if there is anything that it has done right? Just a little thing. It would be good for the Canadian public, the viewer who may be watching, to see that there are some things to hope for in this country, which I love very much.
In a more and more global world, can we honestly blame the Prime Minister of Canada who travels the world with business people to create jobs by helping business people to develop contracts.
I would like to ask the hon. member what he thinks about international affairs and what he thinks the government should do concerning international trade, given the fact that so many present and future jobs depend on it. We have an extraordinarily good record as far as job creation related to international trade.
Budget Implementation Act, 1996 April 25th, 1996
Oh, is it?