Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have done it again. Last week the minister responsible for ACOA was such a hero for announcing that his pork barrel agency will no longer hand out free money.
Canadians can rest easy knowing that ACOA intends on following in western economic diversification's footsteps. Never mind the fact that WED wrote off nearly $12 million of taxpayers' money last year.
Then there is FORD-Q, Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, the outfit the finance minister runs. He talks a good game and wants to cut the deficit but at the same time he doles out money hand over fist through his own pork barrel program.
Roughly three-quarters of FORD-Q's assistance is repayable. Taxpayers should not worry that FORD-Q gives out free money for amounts under $25,000 and they should not worry that last year FORD-Q wrote off $13.7 million of their money.
Yes, the minister of public works should be proud that he is now in very elite company.