Debates of June 4th, 2002

Supply

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, it that is okay and we can save time now, I will get back with the specific answer to the question with respect to paragraph 22.

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

Madam Chairman, I am wondering how the minister can explain that Lafleur Communications, which did not make that short list of 10, received a contract to take some money in a briefcase down the street to VIA Rail and got $120,000 for doing it. I am wondering how it got into that competitive bidding process when it was not one of the 10.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, I am checking on the situation with my officials. Obviously over a period of time the various firms that would have pre-qualified to be on the standing list would have changed from time to time. I have indicated tonight, as my predecessor had done, that there will be another competitive process this summer to develop another list of pre-qualified firms if we decide to use these firms in the future.

I think it would be helpful to directly answer the hon. gentleman's question if I could put together for him the various lists of who qualified at what particular time so that he can see the flow of events over time. That will indicate that those on the list change from time to time.

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

Madam Chairman, it may be a couple of weeks when all of this gets tabled.

The minister said earlier tonight that he has not signed any cheques or contracts in his nine days on the job. He has not done that. I have a flow chart here of public works and I have another one of Communications Canada. Business goes on. I am wondering who on those flow charts that came out of the main estimates is authorized to sign cheques and okay contracts and for what amount?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, the delegation of authority within the department has not changed since I became minister. This is a matter of public record in terms of who was delegated to sign what and up to what spending limits and so forth. That information is in the public domain, but for the benefit of the hon. gentleman I would be happy to provide him with a copy of the delegated authorities as they exist today and they have not changed since I became minister. Although I believe I have answered, that is something that I will obviously in my new capacity review in the next number of days with my deputy minister.

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

Madam Chairman, Communication Coffin is another name, one of the advertising subcontractors that has popped into disrepute in the last little while. It is also known as 2794101 Canada Inc. Communication Coffin has been awarded some contracts. Has business also been done or subcontracted from Coffin to the numbered company?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

I am once again checking with my officials, Madam Chairman. We are not immediately aware of any subcontracting relationship in respect of that numbered company but I would be happy to check the records to see if there has been.

I want to point out one of the changes that has been made in the procedure. I would credit this change to my predecessor who was concerned about the situation involving related companies, affiliates or subsidiaries, whether they were related horizontally or vertically. One of the proposals that he had made with respect to future procedures was to apply the overall contracting limit on a global basis rather than a company specific basis so that if there were to be a rule for example that said no company could get more than x per cent of the business, that would apply not just to an individual company, but to all of the group of companies that had interrelated ownerships. It would be a global 25% rather than a company specific 25%, which seems to me to be a sensible change.

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

Madam Chairman, the minister has promised quite a bit of information tonight. It will all be on the record and we will be able to follow up on it. Would he would also care to table the briefing notes used by his panel this evening?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, that is advice to the minister and it includes what could on occasion be confidential or proprietary information. I recognize the hon. gentleman's nice try, but no, this is information for my purposes. I am happy to share all the information I can with members of the House in response to questions but some of it is of a proprietary nature.

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

Madam Chairman, two companies have been noted as having received good sized donations from the federal government. First, Quantum Management Services in Ottawa received $10 million. Second, Powell Group in Ottawa received $22,600,000. What do these companies do for the taxpayers of the country?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, is the hon. gentleman referring to activities under the sponsorship program? Could he be a bit more precise in identifying the contracts? As I mentioned earlier, we do business with some 60,000 contractors.

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

Madam Chair, it is the kind of thing that jumps out at us. It is listed under public works. The subheading is professional and special services. I can give the minister the names and amounts again if he would like.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Madam Chairman, perhaps after we adjourn I could take the details. I would be happy to examine the contracts and provide further information as to what they relate to.

[The Assistant Deputy Chairman]

It being 12.13 a.m. and pursuant to Standing Order 81(4) all votes are deemed reported. The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

The House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 12.13 a.m.)