House of Commons Hansard #198 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Canadian Wheat BoardOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

An hon. member

That's not a crown corporation.

Canadian Wheat BoardOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Garry Breitkreuz Canadian Alliance Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, it goes beyond that. The government appointed five of the directors present at the Liberal Party fundraiser. They clearly contravened the code of conduct guidelines for directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. These guidelines state that a director's “political activities must be clearly separated from activities related to” his or her appointment.

Does the Prime Minister support his wheat board officials violating their own code of conduct and what will he do about it?

Canadian Wheat BoardOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I have no personal knowledge at all of the matters that the hon. gentleman alleges, but quite frankly I take the allegations seriously. I will make the appropriate inquiries and if any guidelines have in fact been contravened, corrective action will be taken.

Research and DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

Tony Tirabassi Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, as a member of parliament proud to have a progressive university in my riding, Brock, I understand and appreciate the importance of the government's support for the skilled academic workforce that is essential for competing in this knowledge based economy.

Could the minister responsible for science, research and development tell the House what the federal government plans to do to meet the goal of a skilled academic workforce?

Research and DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Winnipeg North—St. Paul Manitoba

Liberal

Rey D. Pagtakhan LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science

Mr. Speaker, to complete this research and development target to make Canada one of the top five countries in the world in research and development is part of our innovation strategy. Toward this goal we are pleased to have announced funding for some 3,000 research grants worth over $360 million, benefiting 62 post-secondary education institutions, college professors and university professors.

Indeed, we have committed to unleashing the full potential of our universities in our innovation strategy agenda.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

NDP

Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—St. Clair, ON

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost six months since the Canadian government completed the consultation process on a national progress report regarding sustainable development. We are required to submit this report to the UN in advance of the world summit in Johannesburg this summer.

It is widely believed that the report reveals Canada's abysmal performance in protecting the environment. The government has had several opportunities to submit the report, including at the current preparatory meetings in Bali.

Could the Minister of the Environment indicate why we do not have it yet? Where is it?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, in an effort to have an entirely arm's length analysis of the Canadian government's performance and Canada's performance in this regard, we put the work in the hands of a private company which carried out the study. The company has reported. The government is now examining it.

I think that if the hon. member looks back on past performances of Canadian governments and Canada as a whole, he will see that Canada normally ranks about second, third or fourth out of the 123 countries that are normally checked on this particular file.

Infrastructure ProgramOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Mr. Speaker, the government has ignored and delayed addressing border congestion on Huron Church Road in Windsor, creating environmental degradation and threatening economic development in Ontario.

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure. We will just call him minister of everything.

Yesterday the minister stated that there were $600 million of immediate border moneys available. Could the minister tell the House if he will support the city of Windsor's request for 100% financing of $1.2 million for operational improvements to address the immediate need, or is he too busy to perform his duties, yes or no?

Infrastructure ProgramOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I hope to have cabinet approval shortly for both the strategic infrastructure program and the border infrastructure program so that we can begin to deal with local authorities on appropriate projects.

I want to assure the hon. member that I consider the situation at the Windsor border to be one of the critical issues that needs to be dealt with in both the areas of border and strategic infrastructure. It is the place at which 25% of our trade crosses. We will be looking at it and we need the support of local authorities to do so.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, we agree with the premier of P.E.I. who is in favour of federal projects to Atlantic Canada based on merit, not politics. We question the practice of untendered contracts to Liberal friends, family and party workers.

The Liberal connected APM group received an untendered contract to build the Greenwich Interpretive Centre at a cost of $3.5 million and then signed a 48 year lease with Parks Canada worth over $17 million.

Will the solicitor general release all the terms of the Greenwich lease agreement in his riding between his government and his friend, P.E.I. Liberal Party president and APM CEO, Tim Banks?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Gerry Byrne LiberalMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has, on several occasions, drawn reference to problems that are occurring in Atlantic Canada. He seems to be agreeing with the Canadian Alliance on a regular basis.

Tim Banks is a private businessman who was involved with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency long before he was ever involved with the Liberal Party, and his repayment record on all his loans has been impeccable.

Mining IndustryOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry is about to give Inco in excess of $100 million to construct a test plant that will use the hydromet process to refine ore from Voisey's Bay.

Does the minister have a rock solid guarantee that following the three to five year process the company will not renege on a permanent facility and continue to ship ore from the mine, benefiting the rest of the country but giving Newfoundland and Labrador the shaft again?

Mining IndustryOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Gerry Byrne LiberalMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

Mr. Speaker, on all arrangements on the Voisey's Bay project, first and foremost there must be a lease agreement from the province to Inco. On all federal support to the program it is absolutely contingent on that lease agreement being in place before any funding is put into place. We are making sure there are strong regional s and national benefits associated with the project.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Gerry Ritz Canadian Alliance Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, Claude Boulay said “You don't have to be a good little Liberal to receive government contracts but it helps”, and helps and helps.

Media IDA Vision is another company owned by Mr. Boulay of Groupe Everest fame and condo rentals. No sooner did IDA come into being than it became the agency of record for all government advertising. That is a five year monopoly.

Was this just a coincidence or does this have everything to do with Mr. Boulay's generous contributions to the Liberal Party?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I made some inquiries with respect to this matter and the information before me would indicate very clearly that Media IDA Vision was selected for a role as agency of record through a process that was completely competitive in 1998.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Gerry Ritz Canadian Alliance Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, this is a brand new company with absolutely no track record in advertising and it gets a five year monopoly. It must have been some process.

Mr. Boulay through his shadow companies now controls three-quarters of all government advertising, $60 million last year alone.

We have had a string of public works ministers over there and every one of them have hid behind the line that Treasury Board guidelines were followed. Some guidelines.

A public works audit in 2000, again the one they hide behind, however, said “The process did not fully comply with the spirit or the letter of Treasury Board rules and directives”. This kind of goes against what they have been saying.

Why do the Liberals consistently break the rules for their political contributors?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. gentleman may be mixing up audits. However I do want to share with him the comments of the auditor general with respect to the internal audit division of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

The auditor general says that the internal audit function of this department is excellent, courageous and does firstclass work. It was that audit which revealed the difficulties we are now dealing with. The Treasury Board Secretariat is pursuing a government wide approach to improve the process with respect to sponsorships, advertising and polls.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, the scandals now dogging the sponsorship program are ample proof that it is time to end this program and all the commissions paid to friends of the party, and set up a genuine program of support for events.

Does the government intend to set up a genuine program of support for cultural and sports events, so that they do not suffer because of scandals that have nothing to do with them?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, two points need to be made here.

First, I believe there is broad support in the House and broad support among Canadians for the principle of what the sponsorship program has sought to achieve. I have before me letters from the leader of the Bloc Quebecois and the member for Rimouski-Neigette-et-la Mitis, for example, endorsing what the program was trying to achieve.

Some administrative difficulties have been identified and the government has laid out a very aggressive program on how we will correct those administrative problems while we continue to--

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Quebec.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, we know that in its present form the sponsorship program is a program for distributing commissions to friends of the party.

Does the government intend to put an end to the existing sponsorship program and transform it immediately into a program of support for cultural events, without any commissions to cronies and run directly by public servants? That is my question.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I have on other occasions provided the answer to that question.

First, I appreciate the inherent recognition of the value of what the program was trying to accomplish. That is exceedingly important.

Second, can we improve the administration? Can we find better ways to deliver this support to communities, groups and organizations? Can we build the country at the same time and save money? Yes, indeed, I believe we can.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Reynolds Canadian Alliance West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, last year two related companies, Groupe Everest and Media IDA Vision, received 75% of all advertising service contracts for the government. Treasury Board Secretariat guidelines prohibit any company from getting more than 25%.

Does the fact that well connected Claude Boulay controls both companies account for this breach of the rules?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I will personally examine the facts that the hon. gentleman alleges. I take his point seriously. I will check into anything that might constitute an irregularity or a violation of the guidelines.

The guidelines and the operating procedures are important to ensure that there is transparency and fairness in all these activities.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Reynolds Canadian Alliance West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, I agree with that, and the minister will find the guidelines and the figures he is looking for on his own website.

Groupe Everest and Claude Boulay worked on the 2000 federal Liberal campaign in Quebec. The company gave a $77,000 donation to the Liberal Party. Both the former minister of public works and the minister of immigration stayed at the home of the owner. It is plain to see how this company got the contract. Someone broke the rules for a political friend. Canadians deserve better.

I will ask my question again. When will the government stop breaking the rules for its friends and live up to what--