House of Commons Hansard #105 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was system.
Lucienne Robillard LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, it is only normal that we would be concerned by the financial practices used in every federal department. It is the Treasury Board's role to support all the departments and to ensure that policy is properly followed.
We are also reviewing the internal audit policy to improve it and to provide even more information to parliamentarians. We are currently changing the financial information system for accrual accounting.
Ghislain Lebel Bloc Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in the House, the Minister of Public Works defended the federal government's right to promote Canadian federalism through the Canada Information Office.
Yet the government had already transferred tens of millions of dollars to the Council for Canadian Unity for that same purpose.
Can the minister explain to us why the government created the CIO, the Canada Information Office, when the Council for Canadian Unity was created precisely for that purpose?
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the CIO was established to co-ordinate the communications of the Government of Canada as a whole and to inform Canadians on what the Canadian government is doing for them. That is its main role, a role that is continuing to develop and that it continues to play.
As for the ministers' tour of Quebec, which so bothers the hon. members from the Bloc Quebecois—and we can understand why—this enables the Quebec ministers of the Government of Canada to—
Ghislain Lebel Bloc Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is all very well, but since the CIO looks after matters of Canadian unity, why does it report to the Minister of Public Works and not the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs?
Might the real reason be that the Minister of Public Works is also the chief Liberal Party of Canada organizer for Quebec?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is a matter of government organization. I think it is obvious that the Minister of Public Works can look after the CIO, since he is there to build Canadian unity—
Herb Gray Liberal Windsor West, ON
Why is the separatist party opposed to Canadian unity once again?
Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, the May 20 edition of the Tamil Guardian newspaper carried a report about the now famous new year dinner. It states that the presence of the finance minister and the international co-operation minister “has sent shivers down the spine of the ruling circles in Colombo”. It also states that the Sri Lankan High Commissioner has expressed shock and disbelief at the attendance of the ministers.
I would like to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs how he is explaining away this mess to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and whether or not he has asked the Minister of Finance to stay away from any more FACT events.
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, in reply I would ask the hon. member why is he criticizing an event that was attended by one of Mike Harris' cabinet ministers, that received personal and warm congratulations from Mike Harris himself and that was even attended by the city editor of the Toronto Sun ? Is the hon. member saying that all these people are doing something unworthy? That is the implication in his foolish question.
Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, I think the Deputy Prime Minister is forgetting who is asking the question. I am assuming that the solicitor general has read the reports from CSIS, the U.S. state department and security agencies from Scotland and Australia with respect to the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils.
I would like to ask the solicitor general, does he accept as accurate the content of the CSIS reports? If so, what further action is he intending to take? If he does not believe the reports of his own department, exactly why does he not believe them?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I think what my hon. colleague has to realize is the difference between legitimate gatherings and active support of terrorists. This country supports legitimate gatherings, and that is exactly what has taken place.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance is getting ready to reform the Canadian banking sector.
By redefining the rules of ownership, his plan encourages the takeover of small and medium size banks by single individuals and by foreign interests.
Will the Minister of Finance explain why, under his plan, the largest bank in Canada would be completely exempt from foreign takeover, while the largest bank in Quebec would be offered up on a silver platter to foreign investors? Is this how the federal government is going to strengthen the Canadian banking sector?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, for the past year, we have tried to promote a system that gives much more flexibility to our banks, so that they are competitive at home and internationally.
The minister has said that, in the case of banks concentrated in regions or in special provinces, he will take into consideration the interests of the inhabitants of that region or province, i.e. in the case of the National Bank, the interests of Quebecers.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, we must be clear and serious about this.
The minister's white paper protects Canadian banks by limiting foreign ownership to 20%. It is important to Canadians to control their banks and we are in full agreement.
But why would it not be just as important to the government to protect Quebec's banks in the same way? Why would what is good for Canadians not be good for Quebecers as well? Where is the problem? What is behind the government's policy?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, that is not true at all. There is a proposal whereby small banks will have much more flexibility and this will help consumers and SMBs throughout Canada.
With respect to the National Bank and the Laurentian Bank, which have done very well, the minister explained that, in the case of a transfer of controlling shares, the interests of Quebecers would be taken into consideration.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, according to CSIS the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils is one of the more active fronts for the Sri Lankan group the Tamil Tigers. CSIS claims on its website that they are responsible for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in India and also the president of Sri Lanka among many others.
My question is very simple. When did it become government policy to send our finance minister to fundraising events that benefit groups like FACT?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the policy of this government is very much against terrorism. This is definitely clear. I have a feeling that the hon. member is misstating what is on the CSIS website. I think what he is referring to is an article which CSIS specifically said on the website it neither endorsed nor is taking responsibility for.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, I think the Deputy Prime Minister should get up to date and check that website himself. He will find in there that CSIS condemns exactly the sort of event that the finance minister went to.
The fact is that FACT is a fundraising organization for the Tamil Tigers. That is well established. Even though our own security agency has made that very clear, the finance minister and other ministers go to these sorts of events and put money into that organization.
When did it become government policy to allow those things to happen?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I challenge the hon. member to table in this House anything on the CSIS website which refers on the part of CSIS itself to FACT.
I ask the hon. member, when did it become Canadian Alliance policy to smear 180,000 Canadians because of possible questionable conduct by a few? That is a shameful way to act.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, mismanagement in Human Resources Development Canada has led to at least a dozen RCMP investigations. This scandal has even led the members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development to call for the breakup of the department. However, if we want to get to the bottom of things, a public and independent inquiry is required.
Does the government acknowledge that the breakup of the department without a public and independent inquiry could be considered a cover-up?
Bonnie Brown LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the committee tabled its report just this morning. The government will respond at the appropriate time to all the recommendations within that report.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice.
Constituents in my riding and in urban centres across Canada are concerned about the incidence of crime. What is the government doing in the area of crime prevention?
John Maloney LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the government supports communities as they devise innovative ways of making our homes and streets safer. Earlier this week the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice announced 46 projects in Ontario alone for roughly $1.9 million. Since its inception in 1998 over 1,000 projects have been put into effect for roughly $28 million.
The government's crime prevention strategy succeeds because it works with and draws its strength from Canadian communities.
Peter Goldring Reform Edmonton East, AB
Mr. Speaker, one thing was missing from the response of the chief of defence staff today to the Stopford report and that is an apology.
According to the report, the chain of command knew about the alleged poisoning of Matt Stopford and did nothing for seven years. Matt Stopford may not receive any justice, but he should at least receive an apology.
Will the Minister of National Defence rise today to apologize to Matt Stopford on behalf of his department and on behalf of the Government of Canada?