Government Operations Committee on June 8th, 2006

[Michael Fortier]

I know.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Should I address you as senator or minister? I want to know because this is a new protocol I'm not familiar with.

[Michael Fortier]

You can call me senator, if you wish.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Senator, as you no doubt understand, you have major responsibilities as a minister of the Crown. Despite the past conduct of your colleagues—I'm thinking of false accusations made in the House by people who were protected by the House—if there were a thief in your department, would you let your reputation be destroyed in the eyes of your family and friends simply because you are the minister responsible?

If you believe it would be illegitimate to publicly destroy your reputation as the minister in the eyes of your children and grandchildren, shouldn't you apologize to the previous ministers who were subjected to those false accusations by people who were protected by the House, by your colleagues?

[Michael Fortier]

Everyone here knows that there was a commission of inquiry on this subject. I imagine you're referring to what happened.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

No I was talking about the false accusations.

[Michael Fortier]

I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're referring to. Do you want to talk about what happened in the sponsorship scandal? Otherwise, I don't know what you're talking about.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

An individual from your department was found guilty, but I'm not talking about that.

I'm talking about the false accusations that were made in the House by your colleagues who were protected by the House. That destroyed the reputation of some ministers in the eyes of their families, children and grandchildren. That could happen to you as well. Do you think that's right? If not, don't you think that you should apologize on behalf of your colleagues?

[Michael Fortier]

I won't apologize on behalf of anyone. However, I will try to be respectful, because if you're asking the question, that's because it concerns you.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

My question is a serious one. This is about my reputation and your reputation—

[Michael Fortier]

If you're asking me whether I would allow my reputation to be tarnished over something I'm not responsible for, my answer is no, of course, like yours, Mr. Bonin. I said things I wouldn't be responsible for.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

If we give you some examples, do you think you should apologize to the previous ministers on behalf of your colleagues?

[Michael Fortier]

I'm not a judge, and I didn't come here today to make judgments about all kinds of statements that might have been made.

Mr. Harper asked me to handle the Department of Public Works and Government Services. I'm handling it to the best of my ability, and I think things are off to a good start.

A commission of inquiry was asked to examine what had happened. There are tribunals and courts that are still examining files. So I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on this subject or on hypothetical situations.

Would I like my reputation to be tarnished over something for which I am not responsible? No, definitely not, like everyone here.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Ms. St-Hilaire.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator and Minister, Madam, gentlemen, thank you for being here before us this morning. I have two questions to ask you briefly, since I'll share my time with my colleague, who has a lot of questions.

With regard to C-17, can you play a role with regard to any kind of commitment? You aren't unaware that this is important for Quebec. You who claim to have Quebec's interests at heart, can you commit to making a contribution so that that's done in Quebec?

[Michael Fortier]

First of all, I don't claim to have Montreal at heart, although I do, as you do as well I hope.

When the government's ready to announce that it will acquire military assets, if it does, it will accept its responsibility for the economic impact on Canada.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

All right, but as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, do you have a role to play in those acquisitions?

[Michael Fortier]

With regard to supply, it's the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, or rather the department, that will help the Minister of National Defence prepare the bids, if there are any bids. If that's your question, the answer is yes. The Department of Public Works and Government Services is always in the background, whether it's for a helicopter or for computers.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

All right.

In the House, we have a reference work entitled House of Commons Procedure and Practice, edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit. On page 27, it states:

By custom, members of the Ministry have seats in Parliament and, apart from the Leader of the Government in the Senate, normally sit in the House of Commons. Persons appointed to the Ministry from outside Parliament are expected to stand for election at the earliest possible opportunity. If they are unsuccessful at the polls, custom requires they resign from the Ministry.

Do you intend to comply with the custom?

[Michael Fortier]

I have said, as the Prime Minister has, that I would stand at the next general election.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

And to respect the custom, if you are unsuccessful, do you intend to resign from Cabinet?

[Michael Fortier]

Pardon me? I didn't understand your question.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

I was talking about the custom as a whole. You shouldn't just respect the part that suits you.

[Michael Fortier]

Let me finish, and you'll see it suits you as well.

When the election is called, I'll immediately resign from the Senate and from the Cabinet. Then, if I'm elected, I will come back as a member and, let's hope, as a minister. If I am not elected, I'll have to look for another job.