Mr. Speaker, we all have the greatest respect for Mr. Manning, and I know you do as well, for what he gave to this country and for his commitment.
I can say that I have defended many foundations and the great work they do. That is not the debate here. That is not the issue.
The member is quite right when he says that they do come before Parliament and they report to us on what they are doing. There is some phenomenal work, but there is still some $9 billion which has gone out to these foundations. What is the great objection to opening these books to the Auditor General? That is simply all we are stating. Nobody is questioning the foundations. Nobody is questioning the work they do and the benefits there are, but when we are spending $9 billion it is quite conceivable that some of that could go off the rails, or that maybe it is not being spent the way it is supposed to be spent. We do not know.
Those members say “trust us” and ask how we dare question the openness and accountability of these foundations. Quite frankly, it is not the foundations I am questioning. It is the honesty of the government. Its record is abysmal. It is absolutely disgusting. How do I know that in these hundreds of foundations there is not some foundation out there where money is not being used appropriately and there is not political interference? Because the record will show that this is what has happened in the past.
For the member to suggest that the people on this side are questioning the foundations is absolutely false. What we are saying is to give the Auditor General wide open and unfettered access to the books so that there can be accountability, openness and transparency, but as for this government saying to trust it, I am sorry, that is not in the cards.