House of Commons Hansard #140 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was riding.

Topics

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

John Manley Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Let us just speculate on the--

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, order. How is the member for Lakeland going to hear the answer to his important question if there is all this noise, especially close to him? He cannot hear and neither can I.

The hon. member for Lakeland is entitled to hear the reply. The Deputy Prime Minister has the floor. We will hear the answer.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

John Manley Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Mr. Speaker, the fact that we use the best Canadian technology is something that Canadians ought to expect of us. The fact that we acquired them in a year when we had an $8.7 billion fiscal surplus demonstrated our prudence.

We do not sell our technology by showcasing the old stuff. We sell it by showcasing our best and newest.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec minister responsible for the Gaspé region is asking the federal government to carry out a study on the impact of the Belledune project on the aquatic fauna of the area.

Why does the federal government continue to refuse to assume its responsibilities under section 35 of the Fisheries Act, particularly now that the Government of Quebec has added its voice to that of the Bloc Quebecois and of all the people in the region?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, it is astonishing to see the Bloc Quebecois members asking the federal government to get involved in issues that are in the provincial domain and to help them in fields of provincial jurisdiction. Clearly, in constitutional terms, these issues are in the provincial domain. It is really unbelievable that the Bloc Quebecois has taken such a position, namely that the federal government can do anything it wants in any province.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Yves Roy Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC

Mr. Speaker, the protection of resources is within the federal government's jurisdiction and responsibility.

An aquaculture operation with 10 million scallops, located close to the Belledune project, could be affected by the incinerator. That is sufficient grounds for the federal government to apply section 35 of the Fisheries Act.

What is the government waiting for before it acts as it should? What is the government's problem? Why does it refuse to enforce its own law? Whose interests is it protecting?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's interpretation of the Constitution of Canada has no basis in reality. The jurisdiction here is provincial. That is the end of the matter.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, according to an Alliance Order Paper question, the government claims that the new Liberal leader's shipping empire only did $137,000 of business with the government since 1993. We have already found at least $20 million in contracts between the CSL empire and the government.

Why this outrageous discrepancy? Why the at least $20 million difference between the government's answer and the actual truth?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the allegation the hon. gentleman is making. If he would provide me with the specifics, I would be happy to see what further information I could get for him.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, the minister should be aware. This has been an Order Paper question for some time now.

This is an amazing coincidence. The new Liberal leader forgets to declare Lansdowne and its $12 million in federal government contracts. The government in response to an Order Paper question forgets to mention at least $20 million in contracts with the new Liberal leader's shipping empire.

Is it not true that the government is trying to cover up the extent of the new Liberal leader's business dealings with his own government?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely untrue. In fact, I am aware of absolutely nothing inappropriate or untoward. It is--

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

Order. The Minister of Public Works has the floor. I know some hon. members may have rejoiced in a part of the answer he has given, but we have to hear the rest of it. The hon. Minister of Public Works has the floor. Order, please.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, you have in fact made the point that the opposition is best served when they only hear half the answer.

There is nothing here that is inappropriate or untoward in relation to this matter. As well, of course the holdings of the former minister of finance were disclosed through all of the holding companies that were in fact always listed in the record.

Research and DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, medals of honour are granted by Canada's research councils to the deserving scientists and researchers.

Would the Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development tell the House the impact that these awards have on our nation's science, research and development agenda?

Research and DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Winnipeg North—St. Paul Manitoba

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, medals of honour give distinct recognition to the quality of our research scientists and the quality of their work.

Indeed we can take pride that the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's highest honour, the gold medal, recently went to Dr. Charles Taylor of McGill University. With the $100,000 award that goes with this honour, we can be assured that Dr. Taylor and his team will continue to generate new knowledge for Canada, the world and its citizens.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Chuck Strahl Canadian Alliance Fraser Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, apparently this is the summary of the new Liberal leader's ethics code: First, insider deals with large corporations should be eliminated, except when they go to the family firm. Second, the obligation to disclose your personal assets is really an obligation only when caught playing outside the rules. Finally, when the public eventually learns that the leader benefits from millions of dollars of taxpayers' money, the government simply covers up 95% of the problem and admits to $137,000.

Why is the ethics code of the new Liberal leader really only an ethics suggestion?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wilson has already indicated that because of the identification of the holding companies in the declarations made by the former minister of finance, in fact all of those holdings were covered by the rules at all relevant times. There is no allegation here that can be sustained that anything was concealed or deleted because the parent companies were always covered.

I have no information before me that would indicate with respect to the contracting procedures that there was anything entirely wrong or inappropriate.

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Chuck Strahl Canadian Alliance Fraser Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, I kind of liked his earlier answer where he just admitted he did not know what he was talking about.

Here are the facts: The new Liberal leader failed to disclose assets that violated cabinet rules. He accepted millions in federal tax dollars even when he was in charge of the nation's bank accounts. Now, though the facts are clear and the new leader received more than $20 million in government contracts and largesse from the taxpayers, the Liberals will admit to only funnelling $137,000 his way.

The question is, why the difference in those two numbers and why the cover-up?

Government ContractsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the information provided in the Order Paper question that was referred to in the first instance by the member for Medicine Hat, I am not aware of the specific allegation he is making. I repeat my first answer and that is, when I have had a chance to review those facts, I will provide him with the information.

Auditor General's ReportOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Odina Desrochers Bloc Lotbinière—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to leaks of the Auditor General's report, the federal government paid for polls that might have been used for partisan purposes in the last election in Quebec.

Will the government confirm whether federal funding was used for polls that ultimately benefited Jean Charest during his last election campaign in Quebec?

Auditor General's ReportOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. gentleman is inviting speculation to be made on a report that is yet to be filed by the Auditor General. When her report is made available, there will be full and ample comment on all sides by the government.

Ethanol IndustryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jerry Pickard Liberal Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources recently announced new measures on ethanol production that will address climate change and bring economic opportunities to rural Canada.

Will the minister tell the House how investment in an ethanol expansion program will both assist world communities and meet the objectives of gas emissions?

Ethanol IndustryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me congratulate the member for Chatham—Kent Essex on his great work on the ethanol file. Both he and the rural caucus spent a lot of time looking at programs to expand ethanol.

We were happy yesterday to announce $100 million for the ethanol expansion program over and above our announcement in the past of $140 million in loan guarantees as well as reducing the excise tax by 10¢.

This is a great announcement for Canadians. It is a great announcement for ethanol and for the good work that the Liberal caucus has done.