Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 13th, 2008

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Could I have the agency on the record, please?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

We're still looking for that information.

Okay, here it is: ethnic media, $1,076,000; mainstream media, $28,000.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Who is the agency on the record, please?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

We do not have that, I'm sorry. I'd be pleased to get it for you.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Did that go through your colleague, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, or was that spent directly from the department?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

No, that went through the minister, of course.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Did your agency on record encourage ethnic media to overcharge?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Absolutely not. What a suggestion!

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Minister, I have an e-mail from a newspaper. My questions to him were:

Further to our telephone conversation for the Immigration advertisement newspaper backlog. Media Marketing asked that you charge the government the highest rate you have which is $1500 per page. You have media cards which range from $500 to $1000 per page. Media Marketing under Mr. Yamin encouraged you and he ok'd the higher card. Please let me know if this is correct or not? Thanks Jim

Hi Jim. Thanks for your email and I would say “yes” for your questions. But some one is going to pay me more money I would be happy.

Minister, why is your agency on record charging higher than they should?

I will give this to the clerk.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

All of these transactions are handled by Public Works, and I would suggest you direct your questions to them.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Minister, it's your department that asked Public Works to advertise.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Yes, and they--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Why is the agency on the record charging higher than normal? Why is the agency on the record suggesting to people to charge higher than normal?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

I don't know that they are, but their responsibility is to do the placement, to deal with it. Our department does not deal with those.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

What would you do about this, Minister? There's evidence here. There's all kinds of advertising. I'm sure other newspapers were probably encouraged to do the same thing. What is your department and what are you personally going to do about this?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

A point of order.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I have a point of order, and I think he ought to respect that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I have a point of order, Mr. Karygiannis.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Stop the clock, please, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

No, there will be no stoppage of clocks today.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

First of all, this member is suggesting that there's evidence of an issue being proved when another agency--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I've placed it before the committee, but you know, Mr. Komarnicki--

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Order, please.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

--my question is to the minister.

My question is, why, and what are you going to do about it, Minister?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Order, Mr. Karygiannis. I have a point of order. I have to hear it, so will you please restrain yourself when I say “Order, please”?

What's your point of order?