House of Commons Hansard #11 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.
Maud Debien Bloc Laval East, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister seems to be putting a lot of faith in the joint investigation with Israel.
However, how can he shed light on this question when, as we heard this morning, he cannot even get Israel's assurance that it will never again use Canadian passports in this kind of operation?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, very clearly in the first discussion we had with the foreign minister we received their very deep regrets about the event. They are undertaking their own investigation into how Canadian passports were used. They are co-operating with us in our investigation and have agreed to establish a process which will result in the kind of agreement that will never see it happen again.
It seems to me that is very effective action by the Canadian government.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Canadians are justifiably indignant that our Canadian passport has become the passport of preference for international terrorists.
What measure does the Minister of Foreign Affairs propose to take to ensure that the use of Canadian passports is strictly monitored and that any abuses are met with swift sanctions?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we share the indignation of the hon. leader of the New Democratic Party. The only difference is that we expressed our indignation five or six days ago. That really demonstrates clearly that we are taking the matter very seriously.
As to the protection of the passports, we have one of the most advanced systems for checking the security of our system. We are constantly reviewing it. We have already undertaken to initiate discussions at the ICAO, which is the international body that deals with international standards in these matters.
I can assure the House that we will take every measure possible. But, Mr. Speaker, there is a human factor—
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, the minister tells us that he is concerned and I am sure that he is. However, we want to know what leadership the government is taking to ensure the integrity and the security of Canadian passports.
Has the minister raised this matter at the United Nations? Has he raised it with the International Civil Aviation Organization and with Interpol? If so, can he give the House some indication of what kind of progress has been made?
Foreign AffairsOral Question Period
Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba
Liberal
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, most importantly I have raised the matter with the Israeli government. That is where the problem really existed and that is what really counts. Furthermore, we have taken the matter up at the ICAO which is responsible for the matter. I should inform the hon. member that this is part of an ongoing review that takes place at ICAO. We will raise the matter there.
The most important thing is to engage in the kind of process that we put before the Israeli government this weekend to make sure that it no longer uses our passports for these kinds of purposes.
Jean Charest Progressive Conservative Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the member for Saint-Maurice and concerns the grant of $600,000 that was given to a hotel chain in his riding.
Can the member for Saint-Maurice tell us how a grant came to be given to a hotel chain out of the employment insurance fund, to which Canadian workers and business contribute?
How is it his own government made such a strange decision?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, applications are made for the riding of Saint-Maurice just as they are for the riding of Sherbrooke and all the other ridings.
The people in each riding have access to programs that apply in all ridings, and if the hon. member for Sherbrooke wants to know how many grants the Department of Human Resources Development accorded in his riding, it would be glad to provide the information.
Jean Charest Progressive Conservative Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, maybe the member for Saint—Maurice can help us understand how it is that such an extraordinary grant was given to a hotel chain in his riding. The $600,000 used came from the employment insurance fund. This is money that was contributed by workers and small businesses together for the purposes of employment insurance and used by the Prime Minister in his riding to help a hotel chain. How could this happen?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify the issue here.
The grant awarded the Auberge des Gouverneurs in the riding of Saint-Maurice comes not from the transitional job creation fund, the subject of my letter to the RCMP, but rather targeted salary grants. Therefore, the money does not from the transitional job creation fund.
Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, Brian Mulroney used to run the government like his own personal club, making sure that Tory friends were well taken care of. Back then huge government advertising contracts went to a company run by Dalton Camp and Hugh Segal.
Now the Liberals are looking after their friends, giving $29 million in government contracts to the firm that ran their last two federal election campaigns.
My question is for the Prime Minister. How is this different from the way the Tories did it?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, in June 1994, six months after we took office, we introduced a new system in which contracting was open and everybody had a chance.
Alfonso Gagliano Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
If they are interested in the truth they should listen.
Not only that, but for larger contracts we created a committee on which members of the advertising industry and government officials sit to choose the most competent bidder.
Maybe the hon. member should—
Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, they changed it all right. They replaced the Tories with Liberals.
Two of the people on the finance department's contract selection committee are senior Liberal Party workers. Jean Prévost was the Quebec vice-president of the Liberal Party and Marlene Hore was right near the top in running the advertising for the Liberal election campaign.
Since when is it okay for party officials to have their fingers in awarding government contracts?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, maybe the hon. member should speak to his own ad campaign manager who said that he had no evidence that the process was unfair or weighted in favour of Liberal political allies.
Maybe before the member makes an accusation he should speak to his own ad manager in the last election campaign.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knew from the beginning of last March that allegations of influence peddling had been made with respect to an organizer of the Liberal Party of Canada and that these allegations were sufficiently serious that a minister of his government put the RCMP in the picture.
My question is for the Prime Minister. What action did he take from that point on to ensure that neither he nor his ministers were compromised during the election campaign with someone about whom there were serious suspicions and who was under investigation by the RCMP?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure the opposition about this very important matter.
Immediately I got wind of the allegations in March, I turned to my officials and asked my deputy minister to assure me that the entire consultation process, a very broad and open process involving several stakeholders, such as the Government of Quebec, Ms. Harel, and government opposition members, as you know, in every riding across Canada, including those in Quebec, was fine. My officials confirmed to me that the process was transparent. We therefore went ahead with it.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, we never find it reassuring when the Minister of Human Resources Development is answering questions. His answers are never very clear.
I have a question for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was aware that there were serious suspicions about a Liberal Party organizer. The most basic precaution for a government leader is to ensure that, during an election campaign, he and his ministers do not come into contact with someone under investigation.
Knowing that this was his responsibility, what did the Prime Minister do to avoid an unfortunate situation, that is, contact between this person and himself or his ministers?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, what I am trying to explain right now is very simple. I am trying to explain that there were a very large number of stakeholders as part of this broad, open and transparent consultation.
Many stakeholders were consulted, the very strength of our system being the broad and open process of consultations, which includes the Government of Quebec, Ms. Harel's department, members throughout Quebec, as wwll as the Société québécoise de la main-d'oeuvre. The information in these files is obviously not confidential from a commercial point of view.
Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, at a press conference this morning Dennis Coffey, a 25 year veteran of Revenue Canada, repeated his allegations of serious fraud, nepotism and abuse on the part of senior Revenue Canada officials. Department lawyers have tried to muzzle Mr. Coffey and the minister has attacked his integrity, dismissing out of hand his allegations.
When the minister said in the House that Mr. Coffey's allegations were not true, he must have had evidence to back up that assertion. Where is that evidence? Will he table it in the House today?
Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the employee in question has filed with the Public Service Commission Board an appeal that he was denied an appointment. This is before this quasi-judicial board.
We respect the process. In respecting the process—I have said this to him and I will repeat—it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a matter before a quasi-judicial board. Maybe he could understand that this time.
Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, if that is so, why did the minister deny the allegations made at that hearing? He has already gone against the very principles of the quasi-judicial body he is talking about.
Will the minister step outside the House and apologize to Mr. Coffey for calling him a liar, for calling into question the integrity of this 25 year veteran of the department?
Why does he not investigate these allegations independent of the commission that is looking at his affidavit?