House of Commons Hansard #6 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was bills.
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the member and all members of the House that the Prime Minister and the government takes the views of the Auditor General very seriously.
Out of respect for the Auditor General, we will wait until her report is made public tomorrow and then we will respond.
Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC
Mr. Speaker, as regards the Auberge Grand-Mère issue, a court ruling was just issued in the case of François Beaudoin, the former president of the Business Development Bank of Canada, and that ruling is very damning for Jean Chrétien and his two henchmen, Michel Vennat and Jean Carle.
Considering the very strong condemnation of the behaviour of Michel Vennat, who is still the president of the BDC, will the Prime Minister recognize that he must immediately demand Mr. Vennat's resignation as BDC's president?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, like many Canadians, I am concerned by the finding and the ruling issued on February 6 by Mr. Justice Denis of the Superior Court of Quebec. I have asked the chairman of the board to inform me of the measures that the board intends to take. I remind everyone that this is a crown corporation with its own board of directors. Therefore, it is up to that corporation and its lawyers to decide what should be done. I do hope that the decision of the board will serve the best interests of all Canadians.
Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is strange to see that the Minister of Industry is now concerned about this issue, considering that, at the time, the ethics counsellor said everything was fine.
Following the sensational revelations made in that ruling, which highlighted the ties between Jean Chrétien and Michel Vennat, and considering that the latter was appointed president of the BDC by Jean Chrétien services rendered, is the Prime Minister not putting himself in a very embarrassing situation by leaving this individual at the head of the Business Development Bank of Canada?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, again, the Business Development Bank of Canada is a crown corporation with its own board of directors. Therefore, it is up to that board to make decisions, along with its lawyers, regarding the ruling made. I have asked the chairman to keep me informed. Then we will see what measures should be taken.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, the severity of Judge Denis's ruling has shed light on the unacceptable role of Jean Chrétien and his two associates in the Auberge Grand-Mère affair and in the subsequent firing of Mr. Beaudoin, the former CEO of the bank.
Considering the severity of the judge's statements, does the Prime Minister intend to allow the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to hold an extraordinary meeting to question Jean Chrétien, Jean Carle and Michel Vennat on their true role in the Auberge Grand-Mère affair?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. member for Roberval to allow the judicial process to follow its course. The decision was only handed down on February 6. First and foremost, it must be examined by the board of directors. We will wait and see what the board will do, before we take any action.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, as Judge Denis clearly indicated, the former prime minister, Jean Chrétien, intervened not once, but three times to insist that Auberge Grand-Mère obtain that loan. He even acted, it seems, as if he were the bank's sole shareholder. That is a very serious accusation.
Given that former prime minister Chrétien told us in the House that he had simply done his job as a member of Parliament, it is clear that he lied to the House. I would ask that the government allow him to be called before the committee to clarify this issue. It is extremely important.
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Roberval has decided to comment on one part of the ruling with respect to another part. It is a very long ruling and it must be analyzed, first and foremost, by the members of the board of directors, who are the people responsible. I think it is up to the members of the board to let the government know what they intend to do to follow up on this very troubling ruling.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, it has been over two years since the tragedy of 9/11 and the passage of time is no excuse for the government's complacency.
The new Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, along with the Canada Border Services Agency, must take an aggressive role in the fight against terrorism at home and abroad.
When will the Prime Minister's blueprint outlining the expansion of CSIS' responsibilities be made public? When will it allow the agency to conduct operations for intelligence gathering abroad?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has rightly outlined how seriously this government and the Prime Minister take the safety and security of Canadians. That is why he created a new department of public safety and security and why in fact we have a new border agency. We are working very closely with our American counterparts and our allies around the world to ensure that we are collecting the information and we are sharing the information where it is appropriate.
Let me reassure the hon. member that we are very much aware of both our domestic and our global responsibilities in the collection of data and the appropriate sharing of that data.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, there is really nothing new at all. We heard a lot of platitudes about non-state terrorism and the new Canadian blueprint that was going to guide the government's action but that provides no comfort, no answers to our country's vulnerabilities to terrorism. Canadians are still receiving information on Canadian domestic terrorism activities from foreign nations or on CNN.
When was the public safety minister made aware of the Library of Congress report dealing with planned terrorist attacks on Canadian soil and what specifically has she done since that time?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the hon. member that we receive information on an ongoing basis. We collect information here within this country. We receive information from agencies and entities around the world. Let me reassure the hon. member that we take all information received seriously. We analyze that information. We determine the risk in relation to that information and we act accordingly.
Diane Ablonczy Canadian Alliance Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the incredible ordeal of Mr. Beaudoin shows how hollow is Liberal talk of ethics. A judge called the actions of top Liberals ferocious, even nasty, and said they tried to break Mr. Beaudoin and ruin his career and that he suffered an unspeakable injustice at their hands, all because he dared to try to keep the money of hardworking Canadians out of the clutches of shady Liberal cronies.
Why did our then finance minister, now Prime Minister, breathe not a word of protest throughout this entire sordid affair?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, Judge Denis gave his ruling on Friday, February 6. The board of the Business Development Bank of Canada has to review this ruling and decide what follow up is needed.
I was told that the board would meet shortly and then inform the government of the measures they intend to take. Then, we will see what we need to do.
Diane Ablonczy Canadian Alliance Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, ethics counsellor Howard Wilson said he saw nothing wrong with the Shawinigate affair and that was after the Business Development Bank was bullied into giving a stinker loan that quickly went into default.
The Prime Minister now hides behind the very same ethics counsellor when his good buddies turn around and ask for money from the identical officials whom they gave big appointment favours to.
Is it not true that the Prime Minister is up to his eyeballs in this ongoing cycle of Liberal whitewash and cronyism?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, one might wonder why the Conservative Party is not very popular in Canada, but it is easy to understand, what with the questions asked in this House intended only to undermine the credibility of our Prime Minister, who is competent, honest and favoured by all Canadians.
Once again, I do not intend to criticize or comment on this ruling in the public arena. First and foremost, the board has to review the matter and take the necessary action.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, thousands of Canadians from all regions are sharpening their skates to glide along the world's longest skating rink or take part in Winterlude's many activities.
Last Thursday, members of the national capital region caucus publicly affirmed their support for the National Capital Commission and its chairperson.
Could the Minister of Canadian Heritage indicate to this House whether she supports the actions of her colleagues to ensure that the National Capital Commission can continue its mandate to make the capital region a symbol of unity and pride?
Hélène Scherrer LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the hon. member for Hull—Aylmer for his question, my first, and take this opportunity to recognize the contribution of the national capital caucus with regard to this issue.
The chairperson of the NCC is in his second term, which will end in September 2006. The NCC's board of directors supports the chair and wants him to finish his term.
In light of these facts, I have no intention of doing anything contrary to the board's resolution or the apparent consensus in the national capital region.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, as the NDP predicted, the Liberal government wants to go ahead with its privatization plans. The Prime Minister's right hand man is quoted in today's National Post as saying that he wants to see government operations privatized.
Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us why the government is prepared to abdicate its role in favour of the private sector and the banks, as the parliamentary secretary has said?
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for this question.
I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to say the government has no plans to privatize services. We are exploring a wide range of options. We have met with the unions. We have said that we will be including them in the process. We are going to look at every means possible to modernize the delivery of public services.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are in the process of doing exactly what they accused my leader, Jack Layton, of wanting to do: bringing in a privatized public service. That is what their plan is.
The parliamentary secretary refers to privatization of the hospitals, sewer system management, infrastructure and even services to the public. This is a total abdication of responsibility to the public.
Why does the Prime Minister want to abandon the role of the government to his friends in the private sector?
Reg Alcock LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Again, Mr. Speaker, the government has no plans to privatize services. We are looking at all programs of government and we are entering into discussions with the employees and others, but we have no plans to privatize public services.
Garry Breitkreuz Canadian Alliance Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, on December 5, 2002 the member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough moved a motion in the House that cut $72 million from the supplementary estimates, $72 million that were designated for the firearms program. The House agreed and voted on the reduction and get this: the government did not consider this reduction in the estimates a matter of confidence.
Will the Prime Minister explain why he will not let his MPs have a free vote on future reductions to the firearms program?
Jacques Saada LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, as far as the firearms registry is concerned, there are two possible questions: one, the fundamental issue of its existence, and two, the way it is administered and what improvements could be made to it.
I have no problems whatsoever with improvements to the program. But let it be properly understood: the program is in place, and it is there to stay. The firearms registry must continue to exist.
How can they be calling for a free vote when they have absolutely no interest in applying the same principle within their own caucus?