Debates of April 22nd, 2004

Sponsorship Program

[The Speaker]

Everyone knows that the President of the Treasury Board is a very popular minister but we have to be able to hear his answer and if everybody is yelling and cheering for him, we cannot hear it. The hon. President of the Treasury Board has the floor.

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the question was why should Canadians trust this Prime Minister on this question. Simply because he has set up the most open, transparent process it is possible to have. Day by day the facts are coming out. As I have always said, the Prime Minister has nothing to fear from the truth.

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is quite a mouthful coming from the $13 million man who just caused $83 million to evaporate into thin air.

We found out today that three former Liberal ministers of public works had a casual relationship with the truth in disclaiming any knowledge of a relationship to Chuck Guité.

Given that it is clear from today's testimony that the sponsorship program was designed by and for the Liberal Party with political direction from the very highest levels, why should Canadians trust the government to clean up the mess that it created?

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure to which testimony the hon. member is referring. The account that I heard of the testimony of Mr. Guité today said exactly the opposite, that there was no political direction in terms of the decisions he was making with respect to advertising firms.

Older Workers

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after a press conference called by the Whirlpool workers and the Bloc Quebecois, Human Resources and Skills Development staff met with the workers. These workers have an unusual and original proposal for providing assistance to workers aged 55 to 65 who are about to lose their jobs.

Can the minister tell us whether he intends to give a favourable response to the Whirlpool workers who came here yesterday to denounce his neglect?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, the only neglect that needs to be denounced made here is neglect of the truth. The truth is something the hon. member across the way has obviously never known.

The task force with which the meeting was held is going to produce a report, and when I get that report, I will reach my decision.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member for Montmagny-L'Islet has had the proposal from the Whirlpool workers in hand since last fall and has done nothing about it. In reaction to Bloc Quebecois pressure, Human Resources and Skills Development staff finally met with them yesterday.

Does the minister at last plan to approve federal funding for this project before the plant closes on May 14?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, I want to stress that the hon. member is aware that my department and the Government of Canada are always there, prepared to help workers in what is obviously an unfortunate situation.

We are trying to put in place the programs required to resolve the problems and what are, I hope, temporary interruption of earnings for all those who are out of work.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making a mockery of democracy. There is nothing democratic about appointing candidates in ridings and not allowing the people to choose.

In Edmonton East a favourite Liberal is in the process of being anointed and others are not even being allowed to compete. In Burnaby--Douglas the chosen Liberal poster boy is fast tracked while Canadians of Chinese origin are given the heave-ho.

How does the Prime Minister square these actions with his throne speech--

[The Speaker]

I think the hon. member for Elk Island knows that questions in question period must concern the responsibilities of the government. The appointment of candidates is a party matter and I need not remind him of that. Maybe in his supplementary question he will come up with a question that is relevant to the responsibilities of the government in the House.

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech said explicitly that the government would address the democratic deficit. I think it was called democratic renewal. If democracy does not include the election of candidates, than I do not know what democracy is. How does he square it?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly across the country, take a look at the Liberal candidates. They have won their nominations in open fights, and we are very proud of the great diversity of the Canadian population that is represented.

If one wants to talk about needs for the democratic deficit, I suppose one could call in Ezra Levant. I am sure he would be prepared to give us some advice. Perhaps we should call in Grant Devine. He might like to give us some advice. How about that epitome of Alliance democracy, the whole case of Jim Hart?

Human Resources Development

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, students across the country are either in the throes of exams or will soon finish their school year, and we all know that they will be on the hunt for summer jobs. I know that the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development announced the start of a summer career--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Whitby--Ajax has the floor and we will want to hear her question. If everybody keeps talking in the House instead of in the lobbies or out in the antechamber, it is impossible to hear, and the hon. member for Whitby--Ajax is entitled to be heard.

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development announced the start of a summer career placement program a few months ago and the deadline for employers to sign up has come and gone.

Could the minister inform the House how many students we expect to benefit from this very important summer project?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to do that because every year, as the member knows, the summer career placement program has been extremely successful. It even helps those in Bloc ridings because they cannot help themselves.

However, every summer the Government of Canada puts forward some $90 million to help 50,000 students who are in secondary schools or post-secondary education and who are pursuing career related employment.

I am proud to say that this is just one element of the youth employment strategy which on a year to year basis engages some one million young men and women around the entire country, and we are proud of that kind of achievement.

Foreign Affairs

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, earlier in question period the member for Okanagan--Coquihalla asked the Prime Minister about Earnscliffe's announcement of a new secretariat of the Government of Canada in Washington. The Prime Minister responded that he should have known about this because it was in the throne speech. Tell the Prime Minister it was not in the throne speech.

Has the Prime Minister had time to consult with Earnscliffe, and will he tell us that this announcement was in fact not in the throne speech?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech dealt extensively with our relationship with the United States. It dealt extensively with the need for a more sophisticated relationship.

In the debate here in the House surrounding the Speech from the Throne there was extensive discussion about this item before and during the throne speech debate. It was also discussed outside the House. As a matter of fact, I think it was about a week ago that I made another major speech where I announced it again.

The problem may well be that not only has it been announced once, it has been announced a number of times. I hope, surely to heaven, it is getting through to the hon. member.

Government Contracts

[Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in all fairness the Prime Minister should simply have got up and admitted he was wrong and mistaken, instead of weaseling out of the truth once again. He obviously is not going to do that.

However, there is another question on Earnscliffe. The Prime Minister was asked if he would reveal the total amounts of contracts that had been funnelled to Earnscliffe under the government. Will he agree to do that?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, information such as that is obviously public knowledge and I am sure it will be made available. There is a way in which it should be done, and it will be done.

Public Service

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Minister of Canadian Heritage said yesterday—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Québec. We must hear her question. There is too much noise today.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Minister of Canadian Heritage said yesterday, the letter received by Ms. Gendron was signed by an official from Canadian Heritage. The minister responsible is indeed the Minister of Canadian Heritage and it is up to her to take action.

If the minister refuses to act, are we to understand that she favours the decision of her officials over protecting the rights and freedoms of Ms. Gendron, who is, after all, engaged in a legitimate political activity?