We believe the situations Mr. Lake referred to never should have occurred. It is unacceptable for jobs to have been granted to profitable private companies who weren't entitled to them under existing rules. The last time, we heard about Wal-Mart, Rogers, etc. So, there must have been a breach in the system. We must find out whether it is because people misused the program. If so, we should not fault the program as a whole.
It is the government's duty to look into what happened and make sure it never happens again. We agree with you: it never should have happened. I challenge you to find similar cases in my riding. There are none because we followed up with the officials and the organizations. That's what you've got to do.
This motion is essential for two reasons. First off, the $97 million budget was reduced by $10.5 million this year. Also, cuts on the order of $45 million have been announced for next year. That represents $55 million worth of cuts out of a $97 million budget. These cutbacks may not have much impact on the riding's budget this year, but they certainly will next year.
The major problem this year is the type of patronage we are starting to see. We absolutely reject that. Under the former system, stakeholders in the community could closely follow the awarding of contracts to organizations which needed them, based on certain criteria. This year, the minister has decided that the selection will take place in two cities. Montreal for the non-profit organizations, in one central location for the entire province of Quebec. With respect to public and private organizations, it will be done in Ottawa, at the minister's office. That is unacceptable.
Last week, the minister told the Bloc Québécois that that was it in terms of MPs getting involved in these cases. The very same day, he sent us an e-mail to ask us which local, regional, national or international events we supported, without knowing whether these organizations had submitted any projects.
This year, they are changing the rules of the game just as programs are being implemented, thereby giving some people the opportunity to stick their nose into things. I fully agree with my colleague Ms. Savoie in saying that you can't change the rules of the games midway. If we are to examine rules with respect to the awarding of contracts, let's do so in a serious way, as we did last year, by making 14 recommendations to the minister on this very program.
In closing, it is important to adopt the motion you see before you. The Liberals and the NDP will not agree to my motion as worded. We are prepared to accept Mr. Savage's Liberal amendment, it is the lesser evil, so we may continue this debate in the House.
I certainly hope all members of the committee will vote in favour of Mr. Savage's motion.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.