Debates of May 10th, 2002

Mental Health Week

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mental Health Week is drawing to a close. I would therefore like to draw the attention of the House to a number of facts that cannot leave us unmoved.

Twenty per cent of the population of Canada, and of Quebec, will have to deal with mental illness at some point in their lives. Some 2.5 million adults are coping with depression. One in five children is suffering from a psychiatric problem.

Worldwide, five of the ten major causes of disability relate to mental health. The socio-economic consequences of this cannot be ignored. Here in Canada, psychiatric illness accounts for 16% of health expenditures.

When we know how much problems with interpersonal communication, poverty and lack of emotional support can generate unbearable stress, we realize that we have a collective obligation to stay attuned to others.

In accepting to share our stories, we will help a friend or relative to go from darkness to light, so to speak.

Occupational Health and Safety

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we remembered the 10th anniversary of the Westray mining tragedy and the loss of so many lives.

Allen Martin, whose brother died in the blast, was reported as saying “workers still have little control over the safety of their workplaces.”

This past week, MPs have been asked by former Westray miners and members of the steelworkers union to make corporate executives and directors accountable for unsafe working conditions. The call for corporate accountability was first made in 1997 as one of the recommendations of a public inquiry.

It has been 10 years since the Westray mine disaster and 5 years since the inquiry's recommendations. It is time for the government to proceed and amend the criminal code. Every possible preventive measure is most desirable so that the death of miners not be repeated.

Member for West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the official opposition has just gone through a leadership race which resulted in a brand new leader, Stephen Harper.

During the race, my seatmate, the member for West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast, held down the fort. Quiet, reserved, invisible he is not. Open, straightforward and forceful he is. The interim leader's role can be a ceremonial job, almost a holiday. I can honestly say that I have never seen him work so hard.

He and his wife Yvonne have fulfilled the role of leader and first lady of the official opposition and the Canadian Alliance with vigour and style.

In this, the last question period for the interim leader, let me express my sincere personal thanks for a superb job well done.

Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for the last eight years May 12 has been the International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases. These diseases include chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

May 12 was selected as the day to bring attention to these conditions since it is Florence Nightingale's birthday. Most people know her as the founder of modern nursing but few know that she spent most of the last half of her life confined to her home suffering from a disease similar to what we now call chronic fatigue syndrome.

These diseases have no known cause and no cure has been found and because they are difficult to diagnose nobody knows how many Canadians suffer from these diseases.

Like Florence Nightingale, many people with these afflictions are bedridden and often require numerous medications and constant medical attention.

I ask all hon. members to join with me in recognizing May 12 as the awareness day for chronic immunological and neurological diseases.

Reproductive Technologies

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government's legislation on assisted human reproduction acts to prohibit certain practices which are deemed to be unacceptable, such as commercial surrogate motherhood, paying sperm donors or the buying and selling of human eggs.

What is curious is why this well-grounded insight into the moral dangers of such commercialization of life itself does not extend in the Liberal government's moral imagination to the patenting, commercializing and marketing of DNA and DNA therapies for the exclusive profit of certain corporations.

Why is there one law for individuals and another for the corporate sector? If we demand of individuals that they not profit from trading in life forms, and rightly so, then perhaps the government should summon the courage to discipline the morality of the corporate sector with the same vigour that it now applies to individual Canadians.

International Co-operation

[Odina Desrochers, Bloc, Lotbinière—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for 31 years the Club 2/3 has organized March 2/3, a peaceful demonstration by youth committed to international co-operation. The march takes place tomorrow in Montreal, and this year's theme “Consomm'acteur debout” encourages consumers to act in accordance with their conscience. The spokesperson this year is the well-known actor, Serge Postigo.

Thousands of young people will take to the streets of Montreal to demonstrate their commitment and their support for the poor around the world. This peaceful rally will focus on challenges for our collective future, such as the environment, food and sustainable development.

Primary and secondary students will use the march to send a message to today's leaders and to ask them what they intend to do to create a more fair and just world.

Tomorrow I will march with these young people. I invite all of my colleagues to encourage, directly or indirectly, this call to action being made by the leaders of tomorrow.

Programs for Children

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the end of the United Nations special session on children. The session brought together young people, government leaders and non-governmental organizations from around the world.

At home our government has taken action to make sure that every child gets the right start in life. In fact, each year the Government of Canada invests $11 billion in programs and services for Canadian children.

For example, by the year 2004 the Canada child tax benefit will provide low and middle income families with a maximum benefit of more than $2,500. We have also invested $2.2 billion in early childhood development and the child expense tax deduction now stands at $7,000 per year for each child under seven.

The Government of Canada will continue to help disadvantaged families to ensure that they have access to the services and support they need to care for their children.

Government Contracts

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, there are just too many skeletons in the Liberal closet. The government has rewarded its closest friends and political allies with lucrative government contracts. Political patronage is rampant.

The auditor general said that the government broke every rule in the book when doling out public money.

The government has mismanaged Canadians' hard-earned money, but there is more. It has also removed the powers of elected officials and put it in the hands of the Liberal cabinet and the PMO.

Instead of admitting its mistakes, the government simply sweeps the sleaze under the rug. The government sends its corrupt minister to Denmark and hides its gerrymandering ministers in the back benches.

No wonder 70% of Canadians think politicians are corrupt, the Liberal government leads by example. Canadians are tired. Now is their chance to send a powerful message to the government. Canadians must not reward Liberal patronage and neglect in the upcoming byelections. In the byelections on May 13 it is their responsibility to send a message to the government: no more Liberal corruption.

Montgolfière Aventure

[Gérard Binet, Liberal, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Martin Lafrance and Luc Gaudreault for their ingenuity in founding Montgolfière Aventure, two years ago.

These two intuitive, creative and innovative managers share a philosophy that has allowed them to distinguish themselves in a short time. Starting in June 2002, they will offer rides to tourists throughout Canada.

The company's constant growth, which has made them a leader in their field, is the result of the exceptional commitment made by its founders and employees since the beginning, in addition to their constant efforts to develop the business.

Montgolfière Aventure's motto is “higher, farther, stronger”, and thanks to Canada's innovation strategy, launched on February 12, we will be able to find the resources to support a variety of diverse, dynamic businesses, both big and small, that want to develop new markets thanks to their innovative products and services.

I congratulate Montgolfière Aventure, and wish them a long and prosperous future.

Byelections

[Paul Forseth, Canadian Alliance, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Public Works and Government Services Canada has outlined to Canadians that values and ethics are the critical foundation and unifying element for the management of the public service. Pursuing a dialogue on values and ethics has become a top priority as of late in reaction to how the Liberals manage.

This morning across Ottawa the dumpsters are full of paper. A $100 million project about writing job descriptions has been abandoned. This is another Liberal failure.

In the byelections on Monday, Canadians have an opportunity to send a clear message that voters are very aware of Liberal incompetence, corruption and the rot of power. The Liberals cannot manage and need to be held accountable. Let us use the byelections to say Canadians can do better and that change is on the way. The last thing Canadians need is another Liberal MP.

Government Contracts

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal culture of corruption has shown Canadians that the last thing this country needs is another Liberal member of parliament. No matter how much the government tries to blame civil servants, the media or the opposition for its problems, 70% of Canadians think the government is corrupt, and for very good reason.

When will the government stop slinging mud and own up to Canadians about this Liberal culture of corruption?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, maybe corruption is getting up and repeatedly saying something that is not true in the House of Commons, for example, the reference to the polling results.

Maybe the Leader of the Opposition would recognize the fact that the auditor general, reviewing three contracts for $1.5 million, is not exactly a culture of corruption.

Maybe he will recognize that this persistent attempt to exaggerate what is going on will only undermine his and his party's credibility. Perhaps that is just as well.

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the government must spend so much time flying around in its new Challenger jets that it has not read the full report or the Deputy Prime Minister would not agree with that.

Let us remember the old expression, a fish rots from the head. Let me read a quote from January of this year by the former minister of public works and government services, Mr. Gagliano, about the current Prime Minister, “He's the boss. I served the way he wanted me to serve”.

As the auditor general has already found that the government broke every rule in the book, will the Deputy Prime Minister now agree with his former colleague that it is the Prime Minister who is responsible for this culture of corruption?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition does not reflect what the auditor general said. What is his problem with the truth? Why is he so challenged that he has to take some comments and exaggerate them and try to turn them around? Perhaps he is uncomfortable with the fact that this government took the action required, asked for a review by the auditor general and co-operated fully from the beginning of this incident. What exactly is his trouble with transparency and openness?

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, those people over there spin better than Spiderman. He needs to remember that it was this opposition, after two days of questions, that forced him to go to the auditor general.

Let me quote the former minister, Mr. Gagliano, again. He said “I served the way he wanted me to serve”. Mr. Gagliano did the Prime Minister's bidding.

Problems have plagued public works and other parts of this government, regardless of the rules, regardless of who the minister was.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister pretend that anyone other than the current Prime Minister is responsible for this culture of corruption?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in fact it was the former minister of public works who initially asked for the internal audit on this issue to begin with. It is the current minister of public works who forwarded the file to the auditor general and has been entirely supportive of the work she has tried to do.

I remind the Leader of the Opposition that much as he would like to try to create a culture of corruption out of thin air, that in fact is simply untrue and it undermines his own credibility, which must be getting very thin.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is not thin air, it is pungent air.

The auditor general looked at three contracts and she found things so bad that she called in the RCMP. There is something the government can do right today. While the RCMP investigation is going on, it could stop all discretionary advertising spending. Will it do that?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think the hon. member understands the contracting process at all.

This is not discretionary spending of any kind. This is work done pursuant to standing offer agreements, done in full compliance as the rules are established. It is not discretionary spending.

The hon. member might want to ask his critic. No doubt he could explain to him how the contracting procedures work.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, let us punch the replay button on the minister. Ten years ago this is what he said when he was on this side of the House:

I wish the minister would tell us when the government will stop its futile exercise in patronage and propaganda and finally put its money where it is needed...not by rewarding Conservative advertising companies.

Why do we not just put Liberal advertising companies in that statement? Why does the minister not stop the patronage and sleaze?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong again. In the question he has just asked, he is trying to draw a parallel saying that I am not going out for a new bidding process. In fact that is exactly what I announced two days ago and I will provide him gladly with a copy of the press release when I announce it.

The actual tendering date will be June 15 to start in October. That is the earliest possible date. If it is ready before that, we will go even sooner, but it has already been announced. The answer is already yes.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government would love to put the blame for the advertising contract mess on public servants, but we have now learned that the government has known for two years that there were serious problems, including the intimidation of public servants, departmental interference and irregularities in the advertising contracts awarded by Public Works Canada.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister justify that the government was aware of all this two years ago, but is only acting now, thus allowing the system to be remain in place and lead to the scandal with L'Almanach du peuple , among others?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, there are some elements missing in the question of the hon. member opposite, when he claims that the government has known about certain things for two years, but did not take action.

Has the hon. member forgotten about the internal audit conducted in the year 2000? Has he forgotten the additional audit that was done? Has he forgotten the new rules set out by my predecessor in 2001? Has he forgotten, intentionally or otherwise, the rules that I announced on February 13 and those that I just announced again this week?

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is all too easy for the government to mention certain measures that were taken after the government had, for years—they have been in office since 1993—been an accomplice in the intimidation of public servants and in political interference to give contracts to Liberal friends.

Does the government realize that the internal audit report is not only damning, but that it is also silent as to who is responsible, who authorized what, and what the political responsibility of the minister is?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, in his supplementary, the hon. member says that I should not have mentioned the measures that were taken, while in his first question he implied that I had not taken any action. It is either one or the other, it cannot be both at the same time.

The hon. member is right. A number of measures have been taken over the past two years. It is true. This is what the government, my predecessor and myself have done.

I am grateful to the hon. member for finally recognizing the measures taken.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the government received a damning report on the contract awarding process at Public Works Canada, in 2000, two years have gone by without any change being made to the existing system. Yet, during this period, $1,324,140 has been thrown away without any justification, just for advertising in L'Almanach du peuple .

Does not this complacency on the part of the government in itself justify a public inquiry? Should we not know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, why the government kept on with what it was doing, even though it knew?