Debates of Nov. 15th, 2005

Sponsorship Program

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party is trying to out-Gomery Gomery. Not only did Justice Gomery not make any reference to this in his report, but on top of that Madame Scherrer says she never received that money. The Louis-Hébert Liberal riding association says exactly the same thing. They must be taken at their word. Justice Gomery says nothing more.

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is in the report and it is in evidence.

Despite the Prime Minister's pre-election vote buying budget, his attempts to change the channel on the Liberal corruption will not change Canadians' impression of his party's entitlements. The Prime Minister refuses to launch a lawsuit against the Liberal Party to recover the full amount of money stolen through ad scam.

In fact, the justice minister has said that the government has made the determination of what his party owes. In other words, the party who stole the money decides how much it will pay back. The government only acts decisively when it is caught or when it is in its partisan interest.

When can Canadians expect the recovery of the full amount of money that the Liberal Party stole from Canadian taxpayers?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberal Party of Canada has repaid any funds received inappropriately to the Canadian taxpayer. That analysis was based on the facts in Justice Gomery's report.

The Conservatives are basing their number on the Bloc number and it is another example of the collusion between the Conservatives and the separatists on a matter that is not in the interest of Canadians. They ought to be focusing on public policy to benefit the country, not on fearmongering and scandalmongering and on areas where they are absolutely out to lunch.

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, fancy that: that member talking about party loyalty.

The Prime Minister kicked 10 people out of the Liberal Party as a result of--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

I think I will refrain from comment on that one. Perhaps the hon. member for Central Nova could proceed with his question and maybe skip some of the preamble.

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, they are sensitive over there.

The Prime Minister has kicked 10 people out of his party as a result of the Gomery report and only four public servants actually were given oral reprimands. This is the sum total of the consequences for Liberals in the worst modern political scandal in Canadian history.

The Prime Minister has refused to identify any of the ridings that received ad scam money, yet he has referred it to the police. Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us if there are any RCMP investigations actually under way to identify who stole the money?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is individuals named in the Gomery report are being held to account. Beyond that, the fact is the first thing the Prime Minister did upon receiving the Gomery report was to refer it to the RCMP for any further investigations.

We stand with Canadians who deserve and demand justice and the truth. That is why the Prime Minister appointed Justice Gomery, supported the work of Justice Gomery and accepts fully the conclusions in the report of Justice Gomery, instead of second-guessing the work of Justice Gomery who met with over 172 witnesses and read 28 million pages of documents in his work, unlike--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Centre-North.

Keeseekoose First Nation

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary North Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development said that the Keeseekoose First Nation was the subject of routine audits. I have a copy of the band's educational bank account records and there is nothing routine that I can see.

There was $600,000 stolen from the children's education fund and money spent in Santa Monica, California and in Hollywood at an exclusive jewellery store. Stealing money from school children seems perhaps routine to the minister, all in a day's work for a Liberal. Where is the forensic audit?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, first nations governments take accountability very seriously.

My department has advised me that this first nation identified financial irregularities in 2002 and 2003. The first nation acted appropriately. It called in the RCMP. Charges were laid. The matter is now before the courts.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary North Centre, AB]

The issue is, Mr. Speaker, what does this government take seriously? Three years after this matter was brought to the attention of the department, there has been no audit and there has been no prosecution, just more stolen money and this minister once again missing in action.

Is this not just one more big cover-up to protect someone, to protect the former chief, the defeated Liberal candidate?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, the hon. member's behaviour in this is shameful.

The RCMP was called in and took the appropriate action. Charges were laid. It is now before the courts.

Shame on those members.

Taxation

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first the Liberals tried to buy off Quebeckers with a sponsorship program paid for with their own tax dollars and now the government is trying to buy votes by promising tax cuts funded by Ottawa's surpluses.

Will the Prime Minister admit that nothing has changed, that this is more of the same and that his government, by trying to buy votes, is still exhibiting the same disdainful attitude toward the public that resulted in the sponsorship scandal?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, can the leader of the Bloc tell us whether he is against $30 billion in tax cuts? Is he against $4 billion for post-secondary education? Is he against $2 billion for enhancing ways for our country to prosper in a global knowledge-based economy? Is he against $1 billion for helping our businesses to benefit fully from the new markets in China and India? Is he against an economic statement aimed at ensuring a better future for generations of Canadians to come?

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are against the blackmail such as that being used by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, who is threatening not to implement the promised tax cuts if the opposition triggers an election.

Will the Prime Minister admit this is shameful blackmail since, once a ways and means motion is tabled, the budget is effective immediately?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is not a threat but reality. First, the Bloc is never able to celebrate anything positive in Canada. Our colleague, the Minister of Finance, has shown how vibrant our economy is right now, how we have created jobs in this country and how we have managed to maintain a balance in public finances and to invest in what is important for Quebeckers and other Canadians. The government's plan is clear: we have an economic update in the fall and a budget in February. We all hope there will be a budget next year.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once there is notice of a ways and means motion, this year's tax cuts are implemented. There is no need to vote on them.

The Minister of Finance's figures change magically according to the proximity of an election. Nine months ago, the minister announced a surplus of $4 billion for 2005-06, and now, miracle of miracles, it is over $11 billion.

How can the Minister of Finance justify, other than by the proximity of an election, an error of nearly 300% in his forecasted surplus, with no change in forecasts for economic growth or macroeconomic parameters?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that the economy of this country is performing very well. Accordingly, Canadians are able to enjoy an economic and fiscal situation that is really second to none.

Who said, “In general, I have to say that the statement by the federal Minister of Finance is good news”? Who said that? It was the Quebec finance minister.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I remind him that they are at 20% in the polls in Quebec.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec finance minister is a Liberal and has the same 20% standing in the polls as his party.

It is a replay of the same tape we have heard every fiscal year since 1998. Since then, this government's ministers of finance have been out by 300% on average in their surplus forecasts. This year is no exception.

Is it not obvious that the government is intentionally manipulating the figures for its own purposes and, in this instance, is doing so to buy votes and to make people forget its troubles with corruption?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I quote: “We are particularly pleased with the following measures: financial help for students; increased credits for workplace based training; the $1 billion for the fund for the provinces; $2.1 billion to sustain Canada’s leadership in university-based research and a plan to reduce personal income tax”.

That is what the Conseil du patronat du Québec had to say.

Parliament of Canada

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a few days, a majority of parliamentarians will express themselves clearly in favour of a reasonable compromise to avoid having an election during the holiday period. This would allow us to accomplish everything the Prime Minister says he wants to get done this fall. That is what Canadians want, and what the opposition wants. The only one too stubborn to accept this sensible approach is the Prime Minister.

Why is he refusing to compromise?