Lost his last election, in 2000, with 33% of the vote.
Questions On The Order Paper September 18th, 2000
With respect to applications received by the Department of Public Works and Government Services for the fiscal years 1998-99 and 1999-2000: ( a ) how many were received for the sponsorship of community festivals and events in each province and region; and ( b ) how many were rejected in each province and region?
Questions On The Order Paper September 18th, 2000
With respect to the proposed regulations to change the employment insurance boundaries based on statistical data on unemployment rates in New Brunswick: ( a ) was this statistical data provided by a public or private source; ( b ) what is the name of that source; ( c ) what formula was used to evaluate this data; ( d ) what period of time was used in collecting this data; ( e ) what federal ridings in Canada will be affected by these proposed boundary changes; ( f ) was only a sample from each province used for calculating this statistical data; ( g ) what area in New Brunswick was used for the collection of this statistical data; ( h ) what number of workers were used in the collection of data; ( i ) how were full time workers defined in the collection of data and how many were part of the sample; ( j ) how were part time workers defined in the collection of data and how many were part of the sample; ( k ) how were seasonal workers defined in the collection of data and how many were part of the sample; and ( l ) did the collection of data include consultation with the major employers in the region of New Brunswick Southwest?
Social Benefits June 14th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, there are many Canadian women between the age of 50 and 60 who find themselves displaced in society. They cannot work because they are seriously ill. Their EI sick benefits have run out. They cannot qualify for CPP disability. They are widowed or divorced and have no savings and no family to help them. They are not old enough for old age security or spousal allowance. They cannot exist on the small welfare benefits they receive.
These women in my riding are calling me to tell me they cannot pay their rent. They have no money for food. They have no hope and they do not know where to turn. They have worked for years and paid into the EI and the CPP, yet they are left destitute by this government.
Women are living longer today and there are bound to be more of them in this situation. It is a real shame that the Liberal government and the HRDC minister are not ready to take concrete steps to help these individuals.
Public Works And Government Services May 19th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, that is nice rhetoric from a government's briefing note.
The audit states that Hercules Avionics is beyond the delivery date. The electronic support and training system is late and needs to be reviewed. The income security program redesign was terminated, and the department has no idea if it got value for its money on the $180 million contract to fix the Y2K bug.
The public works minister has been there for three years and four projects worth over $1 billion were botched under his watch. Why has he not done anything to clean up this mess?
Public Works And Government Services May 19th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, an internal audit recently prepared by Public Works and Government Services Canada sampled 23 major contracts worth almost $10 billion. Thirteen of those contracts failed the audit.
Can the minister explain how public works mishandled $4.3 billion worth of government contracts by his department's own admission?
Public Works And Government Services May 4th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the justice building was supposed to have been completed last summer; not this year, not next year, last summer. Instead, it will sit empty until the summer of 2001.
The commercial cost of this property is $25 per square foot or $3.8 million per month. The total cost of keeping the justice building empty for two years is over $90 million. Will the minister order the department to complete the work so that the parliamentary renovations can proceed on time and on budget?
Public Works And Government Services May 4th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, in order to complete renovations on the parliament buildings, public works purchased and renovated the St. Andrew's tower and the East Memorial Building at a cost of $89 million. It then began spending $9 million to renovate the justice building so that MPs could be moved in while the House of Commons was worked on.
Why has the minister delayed this work for at least two years, at an additional cost of $90 million?
Public Works And Government Services May 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, more than 3,000 contracts have slipped through the cracks.
When was the last time the Minister of Public Works and Government Services ordered an independent audit of untendered contracts? I do not recall.
Is the minister prepared to call for an independent audit of all untendered contracts awarded by his department since January 1, 1997? And if not, why not?
Public Works And Government Services May 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, over $1.2 million has been raised by the governing party from companies that received CIDA contracts, TJF grants and public works contracts. Over half of the public works contracts that went to Liberal donors were untendered.
Section 11 of the Auditor General Act allows the cabinet to launch an investigation into companies that have received government contracts.
Will the minister invite the auditor general to fully investigate these untendered contracts awarded since 1997?
Public Works And Government Services May 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general said that 90% of untendered contracts would not pass public scrutiny. Public works has put three-quarters of a billion dollars into the pockets of companies that donated to Liberal candidates, most of them untendered.
Will the minister invite the auditor general to review in detail all the untendered contracts awarded by public works and report back to the House here in parliament?