Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to use its agencies for self-promotion rather than the public good.
For example, a briefing note that was written for the industry minister by an official at western economic diversification indicates that a proposal for funding a new NRC research facility in Edmonton is driven by the government's need for “visibility and credit”.
Obviously the Liberals' way of doing business is more about making themselves look good than it is about serving Canadians. Fortunately most Canadian taxpayers know that and they resent Liberal efforts to buy their favour with their own money.
The Canadian Alliance has always favoured the replacement of the regional development agencies with policies that are actually designed to address persistent regional economic inequities.
These new government documents lend credence to that policy by showing that western economic diversification and its sister agencies are all about benefiting the Liberal government and not about benefiting the people of Canada.