House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was bills.
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, even the police are involved in the sponsorship scandal. They were involved in the sponsorship game, defying all the administrative rules that were in place.
Because the RCMP was involved to that extent, does the Prime Minister understand and agree that the police will not be very helpful in supporting the commission of inquiry into the sponsorship scandal? Does he understand that?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of things people need to understand here.
As I have been informed by the RCMP, separate divisions were involved in this matter. Those carrying on the criminal investigations had absolutely no part in the request for dollars to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of the RCMP.
More important, I have been informed by the commissioner that he sought an independent legal opinion from a retired judge to investigate the very matter that the hon. member puts in question. That eminent jurist has provided an opinion, as I understand it, that indicates there is no conflict in the RCMP--
Government ContractsOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier.
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, we would be only too pleased to acknowledge the credibility of the RCMP, but the RCMP was part of the problem, part of the system.
Does the Prime Minister understand that the RCMP has no credibility whatsoever for investigating the government and the Liberal Party of Canada? They were working hand in hand.
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, as I am sure the hon. member is aware, criminal prosecutions are within the jurisdiction of provincial attorneys general. In fact, the attorney general of Quebec has been informed of the matter surrounding the RCMP.
Any final decisions in relation to concerns around conflict will be dealt with by the attorney general of Quebec or any other provincial attorney general who might be implicated.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister fancies himself a master of detail. Yet he expects us to believe that he knew nothing about what was going on in this massive government overspending.
He uses the words “intolerable” and “unacceptable”, and tells us that those responsible will be held to account, but is it not time that the Prime Minister held himself to account?
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, one of the things that the Prime Minister identified when he came into office was the need to work to enhance transparency in government. It is something the Auditor General has written about repeatedly. It is something to which we are committed.
I would invite the hon. member to work with us in putting those rules in place.
Greg Thompson Progressive Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is the custodian of the rules. When every rule in the book is broken, he is the man in charge.
Is it not time that the Prime Minister stood on his feet and accepted the responsibility, as former finance minister and minister responsible for the Treasury Board, that is vice-chairman of the Treasury Board, for some of those actions? When does this fall at his doorstep?
Stephen Owen LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, opposition members seem to forget the fact, which I am sure was given to their notice, that in 2000 the internal audit which exposed this problem was reported on the public works and government services website.
Let us remember again that the first two actions of our new Prime Minister were to cancel the sponsorship program completely and to approve the purchase of the maritime helicopters.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The crisis in Haiti is still persisting and is even getting worse every day. Some 40 people have been killed over the past few days, and a dozen cities are plagued by this incredible violence.
What does the Government of Canada intend to do, along with other countries such as France and the United States, to restore a degree of stability, or even give a ray of hope to the Haitian people?
Bill Graham LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that the situation in Haiti is of great concern.
This morning, I discussed it with Secretary of State Powell. We are working with the United States. The Prime Minister is in contact with the leaders of CARICOM regarding the situation in Haiti. We are implementing measures taken by CARICOM. We are working with the Francophonie, the United States, the OAS and CARICOM to put an end to violence in Haiti and to have a political dialogue. This is the only way to solve the problems in that country. We are very active and we will continue to be.
Kevin Sorenson Canadian Alliance Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has stated, “I was a member of cabinet. And the whole essence of cabinet is that you accept responsibility for what the government does...”.
This Prime Minister's five year silence on the sponsorship program has cost Canadian taxpayers $250 million. Why did this Prime Minister continue to give his seal of approval every time he signed those cheques?
Stephen Owen LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, to repeat, this problem was exposed in an internal audit in 2000. Within a year, the branch was closed down. The rules of sponsorship were totally changed. Finally, the sponsorship program itself was cancelled. This has been alive for over two years. Steps have been taken progressively, step by step, and we now have the most resolute action that we can possibly imagine, exactly in line with the recommendations of the Auditor General: independent, in-depth examination, urgently needed, and that is what is happening.
Kevin Sorenson Canadian Alliance Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister is the Sergeant Schultz of Canadian politics: he sees nothing, he hears nothing, he does nothing, but he is aware of everything. He was the second most powerful minister in Quebec. Indeed, he was the second most powerful minister in all of the country. The Prime Minister could have spoken up but he did not. Why did he remain silent?
Stephen Owen LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the people who acted were the ministers responsible at the time. First, the branch that handled these commission contracts was closed down. Commissions were stopped. The branch was closed. Eventually the rules were changed for advertising and sponsorship to do away with commission operations. New rules were put in place. Finally, we now have questions still outstanding from the Auditor General and we are taking steps to find out the truth.
Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General talks about sources of funds that were kept secret and she condemns the production of false invoices to support the transfer of funds between crown corporations such as VIA Rail, Canada Post, the BDC, Communication Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, whose managers are all former ministers or prominent Liberals.
Will the Prime Minister admit that all the crown corporations involved in the sponsorship scandal are, and this is some coincidence, managed by prominent Liberals who are part of the government's exclusive circle of friends?
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General indeed questions a number of the activities by the crown corporations, which is why I instructed the Secretary to the Treasury Board to write to the crowns today and ask them to review their audit procedures while we get ready to undertake a complete review of crown governance.
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Bras D'Or—Cape Breton, NS
Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a number of fishers in Atlantic Canada, mainly from Newfoundland and Labrador, have been denied access to employment insurance, and it has taken some time to address their issue.
Could the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development inform the House as to the status of these cases?
Joe Volpe LiberalMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that we have a resolution of yet another issue. At question, of course, was the eligibility of said workers under the EI rules. The appeal was launched to the Minister of National Revenue. The determination was that they are indeed EI eligible. My department will immediately implement the consequences of that. They are eligible and payments will begin immediately.
Jim Pankiw Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, the federal government is imposing special tax-free zones in Canadian cities. The urban reserve scheme means that Indians pay no federal taxes and their businesses are exempt from property taxes and enforcement of municipal bylaws. Urban reserves undermine the principle of equality and divide our community along racial lines.
Why is this government imposing segregationist and racist policies that prevent Indians from being full and equal participants in society?
Andy Mitchell LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, those comments are utter nonsense.
Our objective is to ensure that our aboriginal communities and aboriginal Canadians have an opportunity to develop economically, to share in the wealth of this country, and to share in the benefits of this country. That is our objective. Those are the goals we reach for. Those are the actions we are taking.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wish to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Philip Brown, Minister of Tourism for Prince Edward Island.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
The Chair has notice of a question of privilege from the hon. member for St. John's West.
Loyola Hearn Progressive Conservative St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. Just about a week ago, the government tabled in the House the report of the Special Committee on the Modernization and Improvement of the Procedures of the House of Commons. I will quote from that document, which was approved by the House. It states:
It is important that more ministerial statements and announcements regarding legislation be made in the House of Commons. In particular, topical developments, or foreseeable policy decisions, should be made first--or, at least, concurrently--in the chamber. Ministers, and their departments, need to be encouraged to make use of the forum provided by the House of Commons. Not only will this enhance the pre-eminence of Parliament, but it will also reiterate the legislative underpinning for governmental decisions.
At 2 p.m. today, the Prime Minister stood outside the chamber telling the media of his response to the Auditor General's report. Only three inches of oak separated the Prime Minister and the chamber, a chamber where the representatives of Canadians sit assembled. The Prime Minister has shown gross contempt by his failure to come before the House with a full statement of what must be one of the most serious financial debacles in the history of the country.
The Prime Minister talks a lot about the democratic deficit, and of course as I mentioned, tabled this just last week, but he only talks to the Liberal caucus. It would be interesting to ask what he told his caucus that he did not tell the House--and of course the media--but he refuses to talk to the representatives of the people of Canada in Parliament assembled. This is a gross contempt and the House should have an opportunity to censure it.