Debates of Oct. 4th, 2002

Government Contracts

[Gerry Ritz, Canadian Alliance, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I guess that is the big question: Have the guidelines been followed? We certainly see that they have not. None of the rules have been adhered to in this case and I am sure the Solicitor General is going to have some sleepless nights until the ethics counsellor waves his magic wand and makes it all go away.

Why is there a different ethical standard for friends of the Prime Minister? Why is the ethical bar lowered for someone like the Solicitor General as opposed to the Minister of National Defence when they breach the same code of conduct?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the ethical standards followed by ministers in this government are extremely high. We have not had a case where an accusation has been made and has been proven. There have been allegations made against ministers, unproven allegations.

I would hope that hon. members opposite would get down to asking questions about the real issues. Where are the questions about foreign policy? Where are the questions about national unity? Where are the questions on the throne speech? Where are the questions on the economy? The opposition is bereft of ideas and is showing it.

Securities

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the appointment of Harold MacKay yesterday, the federal government is stubbornly persisting in striking a Canadian Securities Commission, using as a pretext the latest financial scandals. Yet Quebec has already taken action by introducing a series of amendments to its legislation with investor protection as the first concern.

Can the Minister of Finance explain to us why he insists on wanting to intervene in an area that comes under Quebec jurisdiction, rather than acting within the government's own areas of jurisdiction and its own legislation, where there is plenty of room for improvement?

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, I want to quote from the Speech from the Throne, which states:

Many investors and businesses have expressed concern that Canada’s fragmented securities regulatory structure is inadequate and an obstacle to growth.

That is of course a concern to the government, which has to take on a leadership role, but let me be very frank: We will do this in concert with the provinces and all interested stakeholders.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois has already introduced a series of measures relating to corporate ethics aimed primarily at protecting small investors.

Why does the government not come on side with our proposals instead of insisting at any price on once again invading Quebec's areas of jurisdiction and setting off another federal-provincial battle?

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, we will listen to all proposals. We are here to cooperate with all stakeholders, as I said earlier. Rest assured, though, that we have to build a very competitive economy, one that will bring capital flows to Canada. It is our responsibility to make sure that Canada continues to lead the G-7 as it will this year and next, and we will bring about the type of efficient regulatory system that speaks to that reality.

Government Contracts

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Solicitor General would have us believe that there is a difference between rewarding a friend and rewarding a friend when he works for a firm.

But this is fact. The minister's friend negotiated the contract. The minister's friend signed the contract. All the paperwork from the minister's department is addressed to his friend. The minister's friend and his partners benefited financially from the minister's department. Every lead goes to the minister's friend.

Why can the minister and the government not see that there is a conflict of interest and this minister has to pay the price?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated this morning, the contract was awarded according to Treasury Board contracting rules, including its posting of advance contract award notice section of the public MERX government system. It was publicly posted on March 15, 2001. There were no appeals and the contract was signed on May 10, 2001, always according to Treasury Board guidelines.

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the minister spent any time last night reading the Prime Minister's quotes when he had to do the dirty deed on the former minister of national defence. He said that the member from York Centre “...did not profit personally. But he helped a friend and under the guidelines, you cannot give preferential treatment to a friend or family”.

Obviously preferential treatment has been given to a friend, a close campaign worker of the Solicitor General. He can say what he likes about no appeals to his contract, but it went to one firm. It went to his friend, and that friend has been helping that minister for a long time.

When will the minister do the right thing and--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Solicitor General.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that this contract was for strategic advice. It was given--

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

You didn't even know what he did yesterday. Yesterday you had no idea.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Crowfoot was asking detailed questions yesterday about when the contract was signed. I said I would get the details. I brought them back to the House. Today he shouts that I did not know.

The fact of the matter is I have detailed specifically what took place, and it was under Treasury Board guidelines, so I could have the advice of Mr. David Nicholson, one of the most capable advisers in the nation.

Regional Air Transportation

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the regions are now faced with the disastrous consequences of the monopoly given to Air Canada by the government. The minister even went so far as to ask Air Canada to leave small communities, because it is more profitable for a small company to provide services with smaller aircraft.

Will the government act on the request made by the common front in eastern Quebec, which is asking Air Canada Jazz to defer its decision to stop its Mont-Joli-Quebec City-Mont-Joli flights?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is well aware that after the merging of Canadian Airlines and Air Canada, we set up a system, under Bill C-26, to protect services to small communities across the country, for a period of three years.

Air Canada now has the right to leave any city. In our opinion, if Air Canada stops serving a small community, it will be replaced by another carrier in that community.

We saw it happen in Newfoundland, for example, and in other communities across the country.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister realize that by saying no to subsidies or regulations, he is encouraging Air Canada to abandon the regions, without helping small companies settle there and charge reasonable airfares?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, this is certainly not the case. When Air Canada decided to leave a number of communities in Newfoundland, and it gave notice under the law passed by the House, Provincial Airlines and Air Labrador announced the next day that they would provide service to those communities and more frequent service.

Our experience has been, ever since deregulation came in a number of years ago, that when air carriers leave a particular community or a particular market others follow.

We are concerned about some communities, in particular, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and St. Leonard, New Brunswick, where it does not appear at the moment that other carriers will go in. However there are alternative airports with--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Edmonton Southwest.

Government Contracts

[James Rajotte, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Solicitor General barely knew his name, rank and serial number. Let us hope that he has been a little better briefed today.

The minister stated today that he has received all sorts of wonderful strategic advice. Could he explain precisely to the House and to Canadian taxpayers what sort of strategic advice, editorial services and communications strategies he and his department received for signing a political friend for a contract up to $140,000?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague is well aware, and as I have mentioned a number of times in the House, this contract was for strategic advice for the Solicitor General's office and for Prince Edward Island. I was able to get the services of one of the most capable men in the country, Mr. David Nicholson.

For example, Mr. Nicholson serves on the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, if the hon. member is interested in listening. The fact of the matter is that he serves on this board and was able to supply a lot of advice to me, and we end up with a national drug strategy in the throne speech, a very important thing.

Mr. Nicholson also worked on the Confederation Centre of the Arts file and was able to access millions of dollars. That is what we call doing something for Prince Edward Island.

[James Rajotte, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I sure hope after that answer the minister will certainly try to get our money back. The fact is that he did not name one piece of strategic advice that justified a contract of $140,000.

He stated today over and over that he received strategic advice. Will the minister please tell the House and Canadian taxpayers what justified a $140,000 contract to his friend?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how often I have to answer a question? The fact of the matter is that I told my hon. colleague. I told him that he gave great advice or gave me strategic advice. He gave me advice on the national drug strategy. He gave me advice on issues affecting Prince Edward Island.

In fact, Prince Edward Island and Canada area better places because Mr. David Nicholson was able to assist me.

Agriculture

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. To help farmers deal with various problems such as this summer's drought, the minister and Prime Minister announced $600 million in federal transition assistance for this year alone.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture points out that farmers stricken by drought would normally be taking their crops off at this time of year, so this is the time they need help. Could the minister tell the House how soon this money will be available to farmers?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I said all summer that the money would flow to the farmers' accounts in October and I am pleased to say today that the $600 million in transition money that will flow to farmers this year started to flow into farmers' accounts today. It will be deposited directly into their accounts. They can trigger the money out of there, and I have instructed officials that, once a farmer requests the money out of his or her account, it be made available to the farmer within 30 days. The money started to flow today.

Justice

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the tragedy of the 63 missing women in the downtown east side, and 15 murder charges, raises deeply disturbing questions about the failure of our justice system. Systemic discrimination by police and federal laws that force these women into dangerous circumstances are key factors in their deaths, and for many more still at risk.

Will the minister responsible for the status of women demand that her government ensure that there is a public inquiry on policing investigations, and a review of federal laws to end this violence and exploitation?