Debates of June 11th, 2002

Government Contracts

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, at this stage all the appropriate inquiries are in fact being made. My department is reviewing all those files between 1997 and the year 2000. The auditor general will be conducting a value for money audit which will carry her through all the advertising and sponsorship issues in the government.

Where there are concerns that raise legal issues, they are referred to the police. The treasury board is examining the management framework and governance structures and the public accounts committee is conducting a public hearing.

[Randy White, Canadian Alliance, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail's sponsorship of a hockey documentary and $100,000 in commissions will be referred to the RCMP. Last week in the House we asked about the government spending more than $4 million for ads on CBC's Nagano Olympics broadcast. It paid two of these infamous ad companies more than $600,000 to deliver that cheque.

Will the minister add the $600,000 gift to his list of sponsorships greatest scams and refer that to the police as well.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing on the file with respect to the CBC and the Nagano games that would reveal at this stage any form of wrongdoing. The issue may be value for money and that will be the subject of the audit to be conducted by the auditor general.

[Randy White, Canadian Alliance, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it really is unfortunate we have to be bring these issues of self-indulgence, corruption and integrity into the House.

The minister has mused about eliminating the use of agencies or government ad placements from time to time. If that happens, will he try to convince us that idea is cheaper and more efficient or will he simply admit that it is only because he got caught in the House with severe problems with the government's integrity and inability to handle money?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I believe it was on the first or second day that I was in this portfolio when I said that it would be my expectation and ambition to deliver a program like sponsorships without the intervention of external agencies.

Transportation

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. I understand that under the Canada port state control inspection program, Transport Canada is responsible for the inspectors that board and check ships in Canadian ports. The program was implemented to ensure that standards of operation were met by commercial vessels and, where necessary, take action against operators who fell short of these requirements. Is the program meeting its mandate and, if so, how?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important question and I am glad the hon. member asked it. It is very important for the citizens of Atlantic, especially British Columbia.

Transport Canada has been extremely diligent with enforcing the port state control program to eradicate substandard shipping. In fact last year we detained 92 vessels where we had enough evidence to warrant detention.

This substandard shipping is a threat not only to the marine environment but to the economy as well and to crew members. That is why we are committed to working with other nations to improve port state control. We are the only member of the Tokyo and Paris MOUs on port state control. Canada gives leadership in this field.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this morning the all party House of Commons agriculture committee, including its Liberal members, made a recommendation to allow a free market for wheat and barley producers. This would give all Canadian farmers the same opportunities.

Will the minister responsible stand in his place today and commit to implementing this recommendation immediately?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, obviously I will be very anxious to read the record from today's discussion and take into account the very valuable recommendations that are made by parliamentarians. I will also want to know what the duly elected farmers on the Canadian Wheat Board think about the matter.

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, that is another way to get around it. Recommendation 14 in this report says that farmers need this for additional on farm activities and for local value added processing.

In not accepting this recommendation, does the minister realize he is responsible for exporting jobs and development from rural western Canada? He is responsible for stifling farm innovation and depressing farm incomes.

Will the minister agree with his own colleagues in the Liberal Party and give wheat and barley farmers the freedom to market and process their own grains?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I have not rejected the recommendation because I have not received it yet. I said in my earlier answer that I will very carefully consider what members of the House of Commons had to say.

According to legislation passed by the House, I am also obliged by law to consult with farmers. I think the opinions of farmers are just as important as the opinions of politicians.

Immigration

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration tabled the regulations to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, but by not setting up a refugee appeal section, he is still refusing to implement the act in its entirety. The minister is obviously alone on this one.

Does the fact that there are only three industrialized nations, including Canada, with no refugee appeal section not show the minister that tabling his regulations is not nearly enough and that, until an appeal section is created, refugees will be deprived of their rights?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I never said that I rejected the idea of an appeal. It is a matter of implementation and effectiveness. The primary goal of this system is that it work.

I think that refugees have rights. Not only do they now have recourse to appeal mechanisms but, according to the United Nations, Canada's refugee protection system is even one of the best in the world. So let us be careful about the wording of questions.

Public Service Employees

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

During this tenth National Public Service Week, Canadians are proudly celebrating the excellent work being done by federal public servants.

What is the government doing to recognize the important contribution made by federal public servants to Canadian society?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, in 1992, parliament passed a bill on National Public Service Week sponsored by our colleague, the member for Ottawa West—Nepean.

Every year since, Canadians have celebrated National Public Service Week. This is an opportunity to thank our employees and pay tribute to their professionalism, their dedication and their sense of duty.

We have one of the best public services in the world and I encourage members of parliament to celebrate this week.

Human Resources Development

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Michel Béliveau is a vice president of the Liberal Party of Canada and quite adept at getting tax dollars for companies in the Prime Minister's riding. He netted $1.2 million for Placeteco from the transitional jobs fund and big bucks from CIDA for Transelec, all in the Prime Minister's riding. He somehow pried the jobs fund money out of the government after his application was rejected.

Is this not more proof that the government is only interested in rewarding its friends than serving the public interest?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to Placeteco, the hon. member should know that the RCMP investigation was completed and I underline that no charges were laid.

When it comes to the transitional jobs fund, I also remind the hon. member that a number of community interests supported the investment because it was the right thing to do in an area of high unemployment.

The hon. member might also be interested to know that 47 people are still working at this company and that is good news for the region.

Wharf Maintenance

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, citizens from Trois-Pistoles recently asked the Minister of Transport to put an end to the situation that resulted in the 2002 ferry season of the Compagnie de navigation des Basques being suspended because of the irresponsibility of the federal government, which let the wharfs deteriorate over the past five years.

Will the Minister of Transport announce today that the 2002 season will be saved and that the wharfs at Trois-Pistoles and Les Escoumins will be repaired?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, safety is the priority for Transport Canada. I regret to inform the hon. member that the facility he referred to is not safe.

It is my duty and that of my officials to ensure the safety of all ferry passengers. We realize this is a very difficult situation for the local people, particularly the workers.

Immigration

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government claims to be interested in competing for immigrants and making Canada an attractive destination of choice yet it sends the opposite message by making new immigration rules retroactive.

Why did the minister ignore the voices of Canadians, including members of his own backbench, and keep a policy which is inherently unfair? How can the minister justify telling immigrants who applied in good faith that the rules have suddenly changed in midstream and they are no longer welcome?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the member of parliament is wrong. Not only did I agree with the recommendation of the committee by postponing it an extra three months, but we showed clearly not only that the new system is flexible but it is also based on fairness. I reject that question.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have the honour to table in both official languages, three documents entitled “A Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State”; “The Ministry and Activities for Personal Political Purposes--Guidelines”; and “The Ministry and Crown Corporations--Guidelines”.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to truth and ethics, the Prime Minister, in response to a question from the right hon. member for Calgary Centre, referred to the fact that former prime minister Brian Mulroney had many, many fundraisers at 24 Sussex. This obviously is blatantly untrue and misleading. I would invite the Prime Minister to withdraw the remarks or to offer some proof in the House. There were two: one for AIDS and one for CF.

[The Speaker]

This sounds a lot like a point of debate rather than a point of order. I am sure the hon. member for Pictou--Antigonish--Guysborough will look forward to a debate on the subject at some point but it does not strike me that he has raised a point of order at this time. Accordingly, I think we will let the matter go at this point.

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, are we to interpret from your ruling that the Prime Minister of Canada is then free to state untruths on the floor of the House without being held to account?