Debates of Feb. 10th, 2004

Women Entrepreneurs

[Tony Tirabassi, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 15 outstanding women entrepreneurs in the Niagara region who were honoured at a dinner in my riding of Niagara Centre on January 29.

The women honourees were Suzanne Rochon Burnett, Helen Durley, Rose Smith, Elena Turroni, Stella Blanchard, Rita Talosi, Cindy Cameron, Yvette Ward, Nora Reid, Julia Kamula, Debbie Zimmerman, Heather Fazulo, Donna Moody, Robin Davidson and Pamela Minns. All of these women have dedicated their time, effort and expertise in order to make their communities better places in which to live.

It was a pleasure for me to be part of this event that recognized the contributions that they have made and will continue to make in the future.

I congratulate all of them. I also wish to thank all the members of the Welland/Pelham Liberal Ladies Association for organizing this event.

Cultural Heritage

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning the Auditor General tabled a very disturbing report on the state of our Canadian heritage, which includes buildings, archives and publications.

According to the Auditor General, there are three main reasons that explain this situation, namely the existing protection system, the weakness of the control mechanisms and the combined effect of a decrease in the money spent on protection and of an increase in heritage assets.

In the case of heritage buildings, several historic sites are in a poor state and may become closed to the public. As for our archives, the problem is the negligence of the departments, because they fail to give to the National Archives instructions that would allow them to protect documents that are of historic value. As for publications, the Auditor General pointed out that the National Library does not meet the physical standards relating to space, temperature and humidity to ensure the protection of its collections.

The fact is that this is a federal responsibility. Why then does this government find the time and money to interfere in provincial jurisdictions, while jeopardizing the heritage of Canadians and Quebeckers?

Speech from the Throne

[Claude Duplain, Liberal, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to reiterate the pride I felt in presenting my constituents with a throne speech that truly recognizes the priorities of the people of Portneuf.

More precisely, I am convinced that such measures as establishing a new partnership with municipalities, with a GST rebate, will enable them to better meet the needs of the people of Portneuf.

Since a large part of Portneuf is located in a rural area, I am very happy that the throne speech commits our government to defining a renewed and modern direction for economic and rural development.

I cannot help but support the commitments made regarding increased efforts to reduce the delays in health care, clean up contaminated sites such as Shannon, create new, good-quality day care spaces, modernize the student loan programs and create the position of independent ethics commissioner.

Finally, I am particularly pleased with the Prime Minister's determination to improve the role of members of Parliament through democratic reform. That will enable me to defend the interests of the people of Portneuf and make their voices heard in the Parliament of Canada.

Seniors

[Carol Skelton, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, across Canada there are many cases of seniors abuse. This must stop.

Society's cowards take advantage of seniors' trusting nature, frail health and often lonely circumstances.

The government, in conjunction with its provincial counterparts, has failed to protect our elderly citizens. There must be more of an effort to root out those who abuse seniors. Too often they operate knowing their victims are too scared to speak up.

We must increase penalties for those who target the elderly. Bullies just do not hurt school children.

We must as a society send the government a message that our older generations need better protection.

Canada's seniors have built the nation we have today. We are indebted to them. Let us ensure they can live out their lives in the safe and friendly Canada they worked so hard for and put an end to seniors abuse.

Nicholas Goldschmidt

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Nicholas Goldschmidt, an extraordinary musical impresario and cultural entrepreneur who died in Toronto at the age of 95.

Niki, and anybody who knew him for more than 10 minutes called him Niki, was a conductor, an administrator, a teacher, a baritone and a pianist.

He came to Canada in the mid-1940s to become the first director of the Royal Conservatory Opera School which later became the Canadian Opera Company. He also met and married his wife, Shelagh Fraser, who has continued over these many years to be his greatest supporter and helpmate.

After going to the Edinburgh Festival in 1948, he asked why we could not do it in Canada, and he did, again and again. He founded the Vancouver festival. He founded the Guelph Spring Festival. He founded choirs and international choral celebrations, including the Bach international piano competition and Festival Canada at the National Arts Centre. Even last November he put on a month-long Benjamin Britten festival. He was planning festivals well into the future.

Auditor General's Report

[Bev Desjarlais, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, once again the Auditor General has highlighted the Liberal government's gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. It is mismanagement that started with the finance minister turned Prime Minister and it has continued year after year: $100 million for Challengers without a tender and without parliamentary approval; programs within the same department funding the same project and somehow not knowing it.

The Auditor General has noted eight different funding programs costing millions within INAC to fund economic development unsuccessfully.

Liberal government imposed third party management contracts costing first nations up to $320,000 a year are handed out without a tendering process and without the involvement of the first nations.

INAC squandered first nations resources without any regard for band members. The government has let first nations take the fall for being short of funds when in reality in many cases it is the Liberal government's handling of the funds that is the problem.

Numerous first nations communities are like Barriere, a community of 400 first nation residents crammed into 60 tiny homes, two-thirds of which are totally unfit for human habitation. Living conditions and poverty will never improve as long as the government fails to recognize it is the problem.

Haiti

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Haiti, the pearl of the Antilles, has seen the political, social and economic unrest that has plagued it for decades take a new turn for the worse. It is on the verge of collapse. The correspondent for the Journal de Montréal in Haiti wrote:

The insurrection that broke out in Gonaïves has flared up again. The uprising has left at least 40 dead since Thursday.

The UN's World Food Programme has stopped making deliveries, which hundreds of thousands of Haitians rely on for survival, plunging Haiti into a humanitarian crisis.

The troubles began in Gonaïves where Aristide's Cannibal Army turned against the president when the latter was blamed for the death of one of the army's leaders. The violence spread, with clashes between armed pro- and anti-Aristide gangs.

The Group of 184 and civil society, which have been calling for free and democratic elections and respect for human rights, have distanced themselves from this violence, but continue to call for the removal of President Aristide. Yesterday, the president said, “If not 5 years, then 10 years”.

The UN, France, Canada, and the OAS have insisted in vain on an end to the confrontations. The nation of dashed hopes needs guarantees.

Manitoba Winter Special Olympics

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, February 7 St. John's-Ravenscourt School was host to the Manitoba Winter Special Olympics where 147 athletes participated in sports such as curling, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and for the first time, figure skating.

Supported by 60 coaches and a host of volunteers, families and caregivers, these athletes were models of good sportsmanship, commitment to excellence and a passion to be the best that they can be in their respective sports.

It is important to note the involvement of the 20 law enforcement agencies in Manitoba which provide human and financial resources to the Special Olympics of Manitoba. Since 1988 they have raised $1.5 million for the Special Olympics, over one-half of it raised by the RCMP in Manitoba. Members of all agencies were present as volunteers for the athletes, teams and the competitions, or in uniform for the opening ceremonies.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

Lumber Industry

[Charlie Penson, Canadian Alliance, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, since 1960 the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board has enforced the lumber grading system in Canada. The board is made up of representatives of the lumber industry, consumer organizations, the federal and provincial governments. The board supervises 98% of Canadian lumber production, including that destined for export.

However, unlike its American counterpart, the Canadian board is not recognized by the government to supervise heat-treated lumber standards. Instead, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recently set up a costly separate process that is forcing the Canadian industry to conduct separate inventory controls.

It boggles the mind that the government would choose to burden the Canadian lumber industry with another level of bureaucracy during this tough time for the industry.

Auditor General's Report

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, today is definitely not a good day to be a Liberal. I quote the Auditor General:

--the federal government ran the Sponsorship Program in a way that showed little regard for Parliament, the Financial Administration Act, contracting rules and regulations, transparency, and value for money.

What an indictment. Did the Prime Minister think he was really going to get away with this?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the situation described by the Auditor General is unacceptable. Canadians deserve better and it is for that reason that the government has acted swiftly.

It is for this reason that the government has appointed a commission of inquiry. It is for this reason that the government has asked the public accounts committee be established immediately and that it meet as early as possible, including this afternoon. It is for this reason that the government has appointed a special counsel to recover the funds. We are acting now.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister loves to sweep issues like this aside. Does he not know that there are not enough judges in this country to go after the allegations that are made in the Auditor General's report?

Why did the Prime Minister stay silent when long ago he could have just said, “Stop it. This isn't right”?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that when money is allocated by a cabinet, by a minister of finance, or by a president of the treasury board, that in fact it is allocated on the basis that certain rules, very clear rules will be followed.

The problem is that those rules were not followed. This is at the heart of the Auditor General's report. It is for that reason that the government wants to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. That is why we called for a commission of inquiry.

[Grant Hill, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, one week into the Prime Minister's tenure and we have a scandal unheard of in Canadian history. That is the legacy of this man. The Prime Minister knew about the scandal yet he said nothing and he did nothing.

Why did he choose to be silent instead of speaking up?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the very first thing this government did on taking office was to cancel the sponsorship program. We did not wait a day. We did not wait five minutes. We acted. We acted today immediately upon the tabling of the report.

Therefore I ask the opposition, will it cooperate with the public accounts committee? Will it meet this afternoon?

[Leon Benoit, Canadian Alliance, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knew there was a problem and he continued to sign the cheques.

All through the sponsorship program he was vice-chair of the Treasury Board. The Treasury Board expressed grave concerns about the sponsorship program, yet the Prime Minister chose to do nothing about it. Why is that?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is, take a look at the way government works, or he may never have the opportunity. The fact is the rules are established.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. We have to be able to hear the questions and the answers. The Prime Minister has the floor. The member for Lakeland will not be able to ask a supplementary if he cannot hear the answer. The Prime Minister has the floor.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the problem described by the Auditor General is that the rules were broken. People did not know that rules were broken, but when the government became aware of that, let me simply point out and let me congratulate the current Minister of Finance, the former minister of public works, who on becoming the minister of public works took immediate action and is rewarded for it in very favourable comments in the Auditor General's report.

[Leon Benoit, Canadian Alliance, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is trying to blame the other guy, but he is every bit as responsible as Alfonso Gagliano. The Prime Minister was vice-chair of the Treasury Board. As finance minister he signed every cheque written by Alfonso Gagliano. Why does he not simply take responsibility for his role in this corrupt affair?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the Minister of Finance does not sign cheques. The member should get it straight.

More important, the President of the Treasury Board is putting in place a comprehensive plan to ensure that this kind of thing can never happen again. He will be speaking about it either in the House today or later on.

I look to the opposition members and ask them to cooperate with the government to put in place the kinds of measures so Canadians will know that in fact their money deserves the respect that we believe it does.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today some disturbing facts were revealed by the Auditor General, facts raised some months ago by the Bloc Quebecois and the opposition parties, and refuted by this government and ministers in the former government who are still in cabinet, including the Prime Minister. Today we are being told that a commission of inquiry, under a judge appointed by the government, has been established. If this body is to have the necessary credibility, it must be neutral.

This is what I am asking the Prime Minister. Is he going to create a commission of inquiry along the lines of the one headed by Lord Hutton in Great Britain, or one along the lines of the Cliche commission in Quebec some 25 years ago, with commission members approved by the parties in opposition?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the commission will have all of the powers allocated to it under the legislation governing public inquiries. Justice John Gomery of the Quebec Superior Court has been appointed. I do not think we ought to start attacking the integrity of the courts or that of a judge. It is very clear; this is a commission of inquiry for the purpose of proving the facts beyond any doubt.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in no way am I casting any aspersions on the integrity of the judge; rather I have some serious questions about that of the Prime Minister.

I would ask him this. Will he try to sweep the question under the rug, or will he agree to assure us that this commission of inquiry will not interrupt its proceedings during the next election, that it will get started promptly and, if need be, hold hearings even during the period leading up to the election? That is what I would like to know.