Mr. Speaker, this is a very convenient excuse for the government to avoid laying on the table the list of loans and grants given to the different groups and agencies, particularly individuals, throughout the country.
The government uses two words, “transparency and accountability”. Here is a tremendous opportunity for the government to be both accountable and transparent.
As I believe the Alliance House leader just mentioned, when election time comes all the Liberal members will be touting in their brochures the money that they spent in their ridings.
In this age of computers, surely it is not that difficult to accumulate the amount of money spent. Undoubtedly, within some reasonable time, and I agree with the Alliance House leader, the request can be answered. If there are some peculiarities because of timeframe or district changes we can all appreciate that but it would be great for people to know what was given and why it was given. Let us make it accountable and transparent and then everybody can make a judgment.