Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to address Bill C-52, more particularly the proposed amendments to clause 20 put forward by the Bloc Quebecois member.
Before doing so, I would like to make a few comments. When my colleague from the Bloc referred to contracts, he forgot to mention that the number of contracts awarded in the past few years has remained essentially unchanged. True, their value has increased, but he is well aware that this is because of a number of major contracts that skewed the information. He knew this, but he did not say it.
What is interesting, is that one of the government committees, the Standing Committee on Government Operations, decided to take a look at the matter. When it called witnesses, do you know what was interesting? It was that people in the public service were already looking at this question. They were studying it because they were concerned as well. There you have it. It is quite interesting, but he neglected to mention it.
I also find it interesting that my colleague has made all sorts of unfounded accusations. He claims it is rotten, claims there is patronage everywhere and claims that we are handing out money here and there as if it grew on trees. Frankly, I find this exaggerated and unfortunate. And what about my colleague from the Reform Party?
He makes accusations too. He can make any kind of accusation. He does not have any proof. It does not really matter. The Reform Party has a lusting for power. It is lusting so terribly that it is saying some terribly silly things. It is so silly that Reformers are trailing the Tories in the polls. That is how silly it is and Canadians know it is silly. I invite them to continue to make comments. Every time they do it helps the Liberal Party. Would you stand and continue? You are doing a fine job to help us.