House of Commons Hansard #197 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-15b.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, this means that they allowed money to be stolen and sometimes condoned what was going on.
The G-8 summit to be held in Canada will be chaired by the Prime Minister. Does he realize what message he is sending to the international community by firing his Minister of Finance because he challenged his leadership, and condoning the theft of millions of dollars because, supposedly, it was good for the cause, for his cause?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, neither part of the question is true I have nothing to add.
Carol Skelton Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Prime Minister's spin on the former finance minister, the solicitor general's problems are related to governing. The solicitor general is a serial lobbyist who continues to press his departments to fund projects spearheaded by his brother.
Will the Prime Minister tell us if his next Sunday shuffle will include his ethically challenged solicitor general?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote someone who is not a member of my party, Premier Binns, who said:
I don't see a conflict here.... The Justice Institute at Holland College has been recognized as a justice training centre for Atlantic Canada for over 20 years, long before Alex MacAulay was president--
He went on to say it was long before the solicitor general was a member of parliament or a minister. When I quote the Conservative premier of P.E.I., I feel very comfortable.
Carol Skelton Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that the Prime Minister did not take the opportunity in his Sunday shuffle to remove the ethically challenged solicitor general.
The solicitor general lobbied the RCMP after it rejected his brother's proposal. He also lobbied Correctional Service of Canada on behalf of his brother.
Will the solicitor general tell us if he lobbied CSIS and any other agency or branch of his department on behalf of his brother?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated many times in the House last week, when I receive a proposal it is given to the appropriate department or agency. That is in fact what took place in this case and it is what will take place in any other case that I deal with.
Diane St-Jacques Liberal Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, when older workers lose their job we know they have a hard time getting back into the workforce. Former employees at the Fruit of the Loom plant are in this situation. These older workers, most of them women, were unable to find another job after the plant was closed.
Could the minister tell us what the government is doing to help them get back into the workforce?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada realizes that some older workers who lose their job need additional help finding work. This is why the government is investing over $30 million in pilot projects for older workers, $11 million of that in Quebec. This money is being put to good use.
We have a $900,000 pilot project to help 95 former employees of Fruit of the Loom find and keep new jobs. With our assistance, these employees will be able to acquire new skills and get back into—
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is a terrible thing to be in opposition without a government. So far the Prime Minister has not told us why he fired the finance minister but the message for ministers seems to be not to become too influential or too powerful or they will be called to come for Sunday dinner and by the way, they will be the main course.
Does the Prime Minister not see that the problem is not that some ministers are rivals? The real problem is that some of the ministers are guided by his own questionable ethics.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, all the facts are well known. I made the letter following the exchanges between myself and the former Minister of Finance. We came to that conclusion.
He gave an indication Friday that he wanted to leave. He concluded that he was not comfortable in his position and by Sunday he concluded--
Stephen Harper Canadian Alliance Calgary Southwest, AB
His indication was that you wanted him to leave.
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
Yes, we did proceed fast on Sunday because we were advised that it was very important that the decision be made before the market opened. It was handled in such a way that it was today rather--
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Yes, Mr. Speaker, the firings will continue until morale improves, I am sure.
On one front the Prime Minister is bitter at the media and at opposition parties about being questioned over his ethics. On the other hand, he is bitter at leadership rivals because they are becoming too influential in challenging his divine right to rule.
Instead of bullying his rivals and fixing the blame, when will the Prime Minister start fixing the ethical problems that he has created?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have questions from a party that does not want to have a committee of this House of Commons to look into conflict of interest for everybody in the House of Commons, including members and ministers and Senators.
They do not want that. The Leader of the Opposition does not want to reveal anything of his last campaign. He has argued time and time again that nothing should ever be revealed of political contributions.
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister said that millions of dollars might have been stolen. If he can say something like this, he must surely have information.
My question is a very simple one: Who was it stolen by?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, again let us be very clear about this. The files with respect to the sponsorship program between 1997 and 2000 are under active review by the department of public works. The auditor general has announced a government-wide examination. Police references are being made if and when required.
The administrative problems that may have existed will be fixed, any overpayments that may have been made will be fully recovered, and if there were offences committed they will be fully investigated and fully prosecuted under the law.
Garry Breitkreuz Canadian Alliance Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, before Sunday, Saturday was not going very well for the Prime Minister either.
The Ottawa Citizen ran a four page exposé by Graham Green, providing a blow by blow account of the Shawinigate file under a banner headline “Double Standard”.
The Citizen editorial said of the Prime Minister that it was “Time To Go”.
The only question for the Prime Minister is, is he going to sue the Ottawa Citizen or was the article correct in its conclusion? Again I quote: “He lied”.
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member will want to withdraw those words. He cannot say indirectly what he cannot say directly. I invite him to withdraw the words at once.
Garry Breitkreuz Canadian Alliance Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I was quoting the Ottawa
Citizen.
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
I do not care. The hon. member cannot do indirectly what he cannot do directly. He must withdraw the words. I invite him to do so immediately.
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
Does the right hon. Prime Minister wish to respond to the question?