Eric C. Lowther

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has it wrong. We are very interested.

This particular grant was two million tax dollars. Canadians are interested in two million tax dollars, I can tell her that. This is two million tax dollars from the minister's own special reserve fund. Under access to information the law states that the minister must provide this information. Either the minister awarded $2 million without keeping records or she is refusing to release the information.

Why is the minister making claims about job creation in the House when her own department says that there is no paperwork?

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the saga continues, maybe the number the minister is talking about is 1-800-C-O-V-E-R-U-P.

The Atlantic Yarn company of Atholville, New Brunswick received a $2 million TJF grant. The paperwork released by the HRDC minister last week states the project was approved in December 1998. However, in response to an access to information request that we made we were informed that there was no paperwork on file.

How can the HRDC minister claim that this project created 96 jobs when there is no paperwork on the file?

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we will withdraw for the moment.

[Kenora—Rainy River, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the president of the Liberal Party in the Indian affairs minister's riding got a taxpayer funded loan of $150,000. Lucky him. The trouble is that the agency that gave him the loan limits its loans to a maximum of $125,000. He got $25,000 more than is allowed.

Why do prominent Liberals in the Indian affairs minister's riding get more money than anyone else is entitled to?

[Petitions, February 17th, 2000]

The next petition, Mr. Speaker, calls for a relief from the burden of income tax that families have to bear in the country. The petition contains many hundreds of signatures.

I will be tabling all these petitions this morning.

[Petitions, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition has been signed by people all across the country. They are calling for the protection in law of children from pedophiles and sex offenders. They want the law for these situations to be strengthened.

[Petitions, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present this morning, and one from petitioners right across the country. There are many hundreds of names.

The petitioners call on parliament to retain in the preamble of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms the reference to the supremacy of God.

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 16th, 2000]

With respect to the import of what is or was known as “grey market” direct-to-home or digital satellite systems and digital broadcasting equipment, devices or components which are deemed to be in violation of sections 9 and/or 10 of the Radiocommunication Act: ( a ) what federal taxes and/or duties have been collected from those importing this equipment into Canada; ( b ) what is the estimated amount of federal taxes collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; ( c ) what is the estimated amount of customs duties collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; and ( d ) what is the estimated value of this type of equipment which has been imported into Canada?

Return tabled.

Question No. 35—

[Human Resources Development, February 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the situation here is that the Prime Minister does not follow the rules. The Prime Minister argues that he demands high standards for his ministers, but he makes a point of personally interfering with their portfolios.

His ministers do not mind, though. It means they do not have to bother with those annoying little rules either. The human resources minister has bungled $1 billion as a result.

Is the Prime Minister defending the human resources minister because he does not care about taxpayers' money or is he guilty of the very same thing himself?

[Human Resources Development, February 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, he knew from his experience that these bureaucrats would not say no. Why does the Prime Minister consistently break the rules and funnel other taxpayers' dollars into his riding?