House of Commons Hansard #120 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cost.

Topics

Program Cost Declaration ActPrivate Members' Business

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I shall speak just a few minutes on the bill tabled by my colleague, the hon. member for Durham.

First of all, I will congratulate my colleague for having presented a truly worthwhile initiative, one worthy of the House of Common's attention. I personally have had the opportunity to examine it and to ask a few questions, particularly of Treasury Board employees, in order to determine just what they do at the present time with regard to the information they provide about the House of Commons.

I am pleased to inform you that the main thrust of my colleague's proposal has already been implemented. The Department, and the President of Treasury Board, have undertaken to facilitate, and to provide far more information to members of Parliament than they did in the past. For example, in collaboration with the other political parties, they are starting to make it easier to obtain information and to provide far more reports, not only on the new government programs, but also on existing ones.

The government has also taken very aggressive initiatives to ensure that Canadians have access to affordable programs which are appropriate to the population's needs.

At the present time, the government is holding discussions with representatives of the provinces and territories with a view to saving money, while ensuring that the programs established to serve Canadians are appropriate and transparent.

My problem with this initiative is that it will be redundant. Each year the auditor general makes recommendations on the government's operations, and then makes his report public. Historically, more than 65 per cent of his recommendations have been implemented, whereas the government and the ministers take action every time the auditor general makes recommendations.

I think that it will bring in another type of bureaucracy one that will be more costly, especially when the government is already involved in implementing all manner of measures to ensure government transparency and the availability of information to the House and its members.

I just wish to say that the 1996-97 estimates have demonstrated the government's serious intent, since it has taken tangible steps. It has not only talked about taking steps, it has taken them. I therefore wish to congratulate the administrators and the ministers for their initiative.

Let me wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and as my colleague has said, buon anno a tutti e grazie signor .

Program Cost Declaration ActPrivate Members' Business

2:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Milliken)

Order. The time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Business has now expired and the order is dropped to the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

Perhaps I might be permitted to say a few words.

On behalf of all of the occupants of the Chair, to my colleagues in the House and to everyone, I would like to wish a good holiday season.

I want to say how much the Chair and the other occupants of the chair-I say this on the part of all of us-appreciate the co-operation of all hon. members, of the clerks at the table, of our pages and of all those who make this Chamber work. Without the help of hundreds of people, we could not function here.

To everyone, I would like to express holiday greetings from all of the hon. members of this House.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope we will not be back next week.

It being 2.30 o'clock p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday, February 3, 1997 at 11 o'clock a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2.30 p.m.)