House of Commons Hansard #201 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was broadcasting.
Rahim Jaffer Canadian Alliance Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the latest public accounts tell the tale of favoured treatment for favoured Liberals. The big winners in business service contracts with the government were major Liberal donors: Communication Coffin, Compass, Groupe Everest and Lafleur. Groupaction alone received $4.5 million in business services.
Canadians would like to know: What business service worth $4.5 million did Groupaction provide the minister's department?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general examined certain files with respect to Groupaction. She indicated her dissatisfaction with the condition of those files. She took certain steps in relation to a police investigation and she has also launched a government-wide inquiry with respect to all advertising and sponsorship matters.
The government is co-operating with that initiative on every front. We are just as concerned as Ms. Fraser to solve this issue once and for all.
Rahim Jaffer Canadian Alliance Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the problem will be solved when they start cutting off their friends.
Last year big Liberal donors received $12 million for business services to the government, but that is not the end of the story. Media IDA Vision, which already has received 75% of all government advertising in the last 12 months, got another $25 million in business service contracts last year from the minister's department.
Is it not time to shut down the Liberal pipeline to Liberal friends?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the use of agencies has obviously raised serious concerns on the part of the auditor general, on the part of the internal audit section of Public Works and Government Services Canada and indeed throughout the government.
I am concerned. I know the President of the Treasury Board shares that concern, as does the Prime Minister and every member of the government.
It is important that the work of government be transparent, accountable and full value for money. That is what we are determined to achieve. We do not condone any of the actions from the past that appear to be substandard or wrong. We will find the corrective action. We will implement the corrective action.
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
First as an aboriginal and second as a member of the aboriginal affairs committee, I am very interested in any developments in the Marshall decision.
Could the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs and Northern Development tell us what progress is being made on treaty rights with regard to the Marshall decision?
Stephen Owen LiberalSecretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising this important issue.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is today signing on behalf of the Government of Canada an agreement with the government of Nova Scotia and 13 first nation Mi'kmaq chiefs. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of our government to negotiate aboriginal and treaty rights. The agreement today demonstrates the progress that is being made.
Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, at the end of an already long 20 year patent protection, brand name drug companies are able to file for automatic injunctions against generic companies.
The industry minister, when he was health minister, indicated a willingness to change the regulations to end this unacceptable practice. Will the minister do that? Will he end this unfair practice against generic companies?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, in 1998-99 we undertook a review of the Patent Act and notice of compliance regulations and the way they both interact. At that time, the industry committee heard from all the stakeholders from all points in the spectrum. It made recommendations that resulted in changes to the regulations, changes which we believe addressed some of the problems in their administration
Obviously we are always alert to issues here and elsewhere, and if there are particular problems the member has in mind she should bring them forward.
Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many times it can be brought forward.
Current laws allow drug companies to claim patent on DNA sequences. These are not sequences they developed. These are sequences found in human beings that drug companies now lay claim to.
Now one company is maintaining it is the only company that can test for a DNA sequence that appears in women predisposed to cancer. The test, which cost $800 in B.C., now costs $4,000 through a U.S. drug company.
When is the government going to legislate to protect the health of Canadian women rather than allow profit at their expense? When is it going to quit treating women like Harvard mice?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, human genes cannot be patented. The fact is that the Patent Act is there to protect innovation, creative ideas that can advance science and in fact lead to cures and treatments for illnesses.
Just this week we received the report of the Canadian biotechnology advisory committee on this and related subjects. There is also a case before the Supreme Court of Canada to clarify the legal implications of all of this.
We will be following that carefully, considering the recommendations of the committee and bringing forward any changes we deem are necessary in the public interest.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, I have asked several times for the full details of the agreement between Parks Canada and the solicitor general's good friend, APM president Tim Banks.
While the P.E.I. project may have merit in its intent, the government has met each request with evasion and insulting answers despite the concerns that also were raised by the auditor general.
I ask again, will the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance agree to release all the details of this deal between Greenwich Development Inc., APM and Parks Canada?
Government ContractsOral Question Period
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Gerry Byrne LiberalMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member quite rightly points out that there was information tabled in this very House by the auditor general about that project, providing constructive advice to my department. We are following that advice. As well there are statutes in the House that the hon. member can receive additional information under the Access to Information Act.
I would, however, point out that if the hon. member would like to continue, he can either simply say that it is not so or say it outside, because he continues to make scurrilous accusations against a member of the P.E.I. business community, which I quite frankly find--
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, maybe the ACOA minister will meet me outside after question period.
I have a copy of the lease. The terms of this highly lucrative contract that I have obtained reveal that, if fully realized, APM, owned by P.E.I. Liberal president and friend of the solicitor general, will receive $17 million for a project valued at $3.5 million.
ACOA then threw in $1.3 million to build it, so we pay for it, then we rent it back.
While fierce Liberal loyalist Tim Banks is reaping huge rewards from this outrageous contract, who is looking out for the taxpayer? How can the government justify this deal?
Government ContractsOral Question Period
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Gerry Byrne LiberalMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, the problem with the member's preamble is that he does not include the fact that, following extensive community consultations, Parks Canada established management guidelines for the development of the Greenwich facilities which, among other things, called for the use of public-private partnerships in the establishment of the interpretation centre.
There were consultations with community groups. Everyone was very well aware of the development path for the Greenwich properties and of course there were many prospective businesses that were involved in that project. APM was ultimately involved and of course it was done--
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Okanagan—Coquihalla.
Stockwell Day Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said that African development aid needs to be linked to democracy and the rule of law but his words need to be linked with action.
Two years ago Canadian courts awarded a Calgary firm a $90 million judgment to compensate them for a gunpoint kidnapping-robbery and a draining of company accounts by Nigerian officials in Nigeria. The convicted defendant is the Nigerian government itself. It refused to appear in court and totally ignored the ruling.
Will the Prime Minister advise the Nigerian government that it will be dropped as one of his leading partners in Africa unless it--
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the member has raised with the House what the Prime Minister is doing in respect of the NEPAD initiative which he is to advance at the G-8 meeting in Kananaskis. It is an extremely important initiative for our country. It will enable us to deal with issues of this kind and enable us to speak to African governments and tell them that they must live up to the rule of law.
I can assure the hon. gentleman that we do this in all our relationships with all our trading partners. We will continue to advance Canadian interests in all respects with all trading partners. We will particularly--
Stockwell Day Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, the question is not the agenda, it is the follow through with the commitment. The Prime Minister's own words are that aid to Africa will be linked with respect for the rule of law.
Now we have a Canadian case with rule of law saying that the Nigerian government must compensate these Canadians who were kidnapped, robbed and had their bank accounts drained.
Will the Prime Minister stop the increase of the transfer of Canadian taxpayers' dollars to the Nigerian government until the Nigerian government respects Canadian courts and compensates these Canadians? This--
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, what the government will do is use the leverage we have to ensure and advance the rule of law throughout the world, in all our relationships with all governments. That does not necessarily mean doing exactly what the hon. member wants to do in a specific case.
What we need to do is what the Prime Minister is doing with his leadership at the G-8, which is to bring the African partners into a respect for the rule of law because they recognize that it is in their interests to do so. We will continue to press that aggressively with them and in the interests of all Canadians.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, since there is no longer any doubt about the Prime Minister's responsibility in the sponsorship problem, and since the government's defence is essentially part of a predetermined communication plan aimed at limiting political fallout, does the Deputy Prime Minister still consider that the answers we get from the government here in the House are credible and will help us see the full scope of the problem?
Paul Szabo LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, since the minister has taken charge of Public Works and Government Services Canada, he has indicated very clearly to the House that where there are administrative problems they will be corrected. Where there are overpayments, they will be recovered. Where there are allegations of criminal activity, they will be referred to the proper authorities.
The member should know that Canadians and members across this House have said that the minister is doing a credible job in protecting and safeguarding the assets of Canadians.