Ralph Goodale

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, perhaps after we adjourn I could take the details. I would be happy to examine the contracts and provide further information as to what they relate to.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, is the hon. gentleman referring to activities under the sponsorship program? Could he be a bit more precise in identifying the contracts? As I mentioned earlier, we do business with some 60,000 contractors.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, that is advice to the minister and it includes what could on occasion be confidential or proprietary information. I recognize the hon. gentleman's nice try, but no, this is information for my purposes. I am happy to share all the information I can with members of the House in response to questions but some of it is of a proprietary nature.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

I am once again checking with my officials, Madam Chairman. We are not immediately aware of any subcontracting relationship in respect of that numbered company but I would be happy to check the records to see if there has been.

I want to point out one of the changes that has been made in the procedure. I would credit this change to my predecessor who was concerned about the situation involving related companies, affiliates or subsidiaries, whether they were related horizontally or vertically. One of the proposals that he had made with respect to future procedures was to apply the overall contracting limit on a global basis rather than a company specific basis so that if there were to be a rule for example that said no company could get more than x per cent of the business, that would apply not just to an individual company, but to all of the group of companies that had interrelated ownerships. It would be a global 25% rather than a company specific 25%, which seems to me to be a sensible change.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, the delegation of authority within the department has not changed since I became minister. This is a matter of public record in terms of who was delegated to sign what and up to what spending limits and so forth. That information is in the public domain, but for the benefit of the hon. gentleman I would be happy to provide him with a copy of the delegated authorities as they exist today and they have not changed since I became minister. Although I believe I have answered, that is something that I will obviously in my new capacity review in the next number of days with my deputy minister.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, I am checking on the situation with my officials. Obviously over a period of time the various firms that would have pre-qualified to be on the standing list would have changed from time to time. I have indicated tonight, as my predecessor had done, that there will be another competitive process this summer to develop another list of pre-qualified firms if we decide to use these firms in the future.

I think it would be helpful to directly answer the hon. gentleman's question if I could put together for him the various lists of who qualified at what particular time so that he can see the flow of events over time. That will indicate that those on the list change from time to time.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, it that is okay and we can save time now, I will get back with the specific answer to the question with respect to paragraph 22.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, I found the paragraph in the report. If members will just bear with us for a minute, we think we can answer the question.

[Supply, June 4th, 2002]

Madam Chairman, obviously I appreciate those remarks. In the spirit of the evening or at least the lateness of the hour, I will shorten my reply in order to allow the rebuttal from the member for Pictou--Antigonish--Guysborough.

The key to properly administering a department like the Department of Public Works and Government Services is the ability of the minister to rely upon a strong and professional public service staff.

Over the last number of weeks and months there has been a tremendous focus upon the difficulties that have affected one particular program in one branch of the portfolio for which I am now responsible. I want to make the point again that corrective action with respect to that matter began to be taken two years ago.

It was the internal processes of the department itself that revealed the difficulties. There have been very dedicated public servants within that department working very hard to uncover the problems and to apply the appropriate remedies to make sure that a valuable and very useful program can accomplish the objectives it was intended for without running into the administrative or other problems that have been identified here.

It has been difficult for many members of the public service to cope with all of the challenges they have had to face in the last number of months. However, I believe they are up to the challenge. They intend to apply the best of ethical standards. They want ultimately what all members of the House want, which is a program that can contribute to the growth and the cohesion and the inclusiveness of our country and at the same time that can withstand the tests of transparency, openness, accountability and value for money.

That is the kind of program I want to achieve. That is the kind of department I want to be associated with. I look forward to working with my officials and with all members of the House to achieve that in the best interests of all Canadians.

[Government Contracts, June 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, again let us be very clear about this. The files with respect to the sponsorship program between 1997 and 2000 are under active review by the department of public works. The auditor general has announced a government-wide examination. Police references are being made if and when required.

The administrative problems that may have existed will be fixed, any overpayments that may have been made will be fully recovered, and if there were offences committed they will be fully investigated and fully prosecuted under the law.