Debates of March 21st, 2005

Sponsorship Program

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, the government has been clear that when we have all the facts, when Justice Gomery has concluded his work, and when legal action has been concluded, it will act. Any funds that were retrieved for partisan purposes from any firms or individuals implicated will be returned. We are a government, not a judge and jury. We are just the government. However, we respect the independence of a judicial inquiry and we want it to complete its work.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this minister talks of running a parallel system. He seems to be living in a parallel universe.

The Prime Minister promised that all ad scam information would be made public. Yet, while lawyers for Liberal-friendly ad firms are trying to have a publication ban on testimony by Jean Brault, Chuck Guité and Paul Coffin, there is a deafening silence from government lawyers. Canadians expect openness and transparency.

Will the government intervene to fight the publication ban or will it continue to run interference for the Liberal Party?

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

Mr. Speaker, clearly public interest in the activities of the commission must be balanced with the right of applicants to a fair trial. If Justice Gomery decides there ought to be a publication ban, we would argue that it should be limited in scope, so that at most the public's access to the testimony would only be delayed.

The fact is there are basic charter rights that guarantee the rights of individuals to a fair trial. This party is clear. We stand up for the charter of rights. At its convention that party wore pins that said “Its the stupid charter”. That is what those members think of the charter of rights.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the ugly truth about Liberal Party theft from Canadian taxpayers is finally coming out.

A year ago the Prime Minister promised that voters would have these facts before an election. He broke that promise and hid the organized money laundering that kicked back millions of public dollars into Liberal hands, including his own closest supporters. The Prime Minister told voters his competition had a hidden agenda. It turns out that the Liberals were the ones really hiding something.

How can the Prime Minister explain this betrayal?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a good thing the hon. member opposite is using the immunity of the House to protect herself in making those kinds of outrageous statements. If she, as a lawyer, were to make those kinds of statements in a courtroom without evidence, based solely on testimony before an inquiry on a daily basis, she would probably be disbarred.

She should be ashamed of herself, by dragging reputations through the mud here on the floor of the House of Commons without any firm evidence upon which to make those allegations.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that was a good try.

Testimony since the election has revealed a trail of taxpayer money that leads directly to the Liberal Party. No one believes the Prime Minister, at the time finance minister, vice-chair of the Treasury Board, and political minister for Quebec, could have had no clue that this was going on. If he did not, he is too dim to be Prime Minister.

Lately, he has done a lot of unconvincing huffing and puffing about promises kept. He promised Canadians the truth before the election. Why did he break that promise?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, what we see here is a really unfortunate course of conduct from that hon. member. Her stock and trade is character assassination. My colleague, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, is right. She would not dare step outside and say what she said in her first question. She should be ashamed of herself.

Airline Industry

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Rivière-Du-Loup—Montmagny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last fall, the federal government announced that it would underwrite the purchase of 45 regional jets by Air Canada. Even though three ministers made the announcement, five months later, the federal government has yet to honour its commitment.

How can the federal government justify the fact that, five months later, it has yet to fulfill this commitment, even though three ministers gave their word? What is it waiting for?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we do have a program in place for regional aircraft financing. We are negotiating with Bombardier on appropriate terms that will protect the taxpayer and support Bombardier in this particular purchase.

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Rivière-Du-Loup—Montmagny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the fact that the federal government has not yet honoured its commitments is creating huge problems for Bombardier, in addition to undermining this government's credibility with this company.

Does the government not realize that, by not keeping its word, it is undermining the project to build the C series at Mirabel and hurting economic development in Quebec?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we are not undermining the economic development of Quebec. We are supporting the aerospace industry in Canada. We are supporting it across Canada. We are supporting Bombardier. We are talking with Bombardier, trying to get the best deal we can for taxpayers and for its workers, and for the aerospace industry in Canada.

[Marc Boulianne, Bloc, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec is competing with others for the assembly of the C series, even though Bombardier seems to have a preference for Mirabel. Despite what the minister has said, the matter is not settled, because the regional jet financing is not settled.

Does the federal government not understand that, by dragging its feet in this way on the regional jet financing, it is compromising the development of the C series, along with the economic development of Quebec? What is keeping it from making a move at last?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we are working with Bombardier on the C-series project. We are trying to ensure that assembly takes place here in Canada. We will ensure, again, that the aerospace industry in Canada does survive, and that a key anchor in the aerospace industry is kept in place. We will support the aerospace industry and Bombardier.

[Marc Boulianne, Bloc, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when it came to developing the automotive industry in Ontario, the federal government had made commitments before even knowing the nature of the projects—time was of the essence.

So why, when it comes to the funding promised to Bombardier, is the federal government so obviously dragging its feet?

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we did commit to have an automotive strategy for Canada. We committed to ensure that our decisions were made in a timely manner to meet the needs of the automotive industry.

We are doing exactly the same thing in the aerospace industry. We are meeting Bombardier's timeframes. We are working with the aerospace industry to ensure we have an aerospace industry that is strong in Canada 10 years from now, 20 years from now and 30 years from now, unlike the members opposite who would let it go.

Sponsorship Program

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals would really like to keep it hidden that they have stolen money from Canadian taxpayers.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary—Nose Hill knows that she cannot suggest that any hon. members of the House have committed an offence. It appears that is what she was saying in her question. She skirted close to it the first time, but we will not have it. She said the Liberals, and we will not have that.

If the hon. member wishes to ask a question, that is fine, but she will go straight to the question and skip the preambles if they contain words that are out of order.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the question is very simple. If the Liberal Party did not steal money from Canadian taxpayers, why is the government launching a lawsuit to recover it?

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

Mr. Speaker, the government is launching a lawsuit to go after recovery of funds from some of these firms and individuals. That lawsuit has not concluded and will not be concluded until it goes through the appropriate legal process. That will be the time when we have the facts we need to pursue any other course of action.

What is really interesting is that the leader of the Conservative Party has said repeatedly that he believes that individuals have lied before Justice Gomery's commission. Yet, individuals in his own party are basing their entire line of questioning on that individual testimony. They cannot have it both ways.

The Leader of the Opposition said that--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary—Nose Hill.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals cannot have it both ways. Either money was stolen and they have launched lawsuits to recover it, or it was not. Which one is it? Why are they launching lawsuits if no money has gone missing?

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

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member took a little time to read the Auditor General's report that started this entire process she would realize that of course there were issues here. That is why the Prime Minister established Justice Gomery to do his work. That is why we asked Mr. Gauthier to recommend action on financial recovery. That is why we are taking that action in order to achieve that financial recovery despite the opposition from the Conservative Party that opposes the government's efforts to stand up for the Canadian taxpayer and to stand up for justice for all Canadians.

Air-India

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, for 20 years Canadians have lived with sadness, anger and disgust at the way the biggest terrorist act in Canadian history has been handled.

Increasing numbers of Canadians are outraged at the way this whole affair has been handled by all involved, including this Liberal government. The Liberal government needs to stop appeasing the fundamentalists. The need to get to the truth is a must. The government must call for a public inquiry if an appeal is not forthcoming. Yes or no?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I think everyone acknowledges the horror of this particular event and in fact I think it is important at this point that we do take stock of where we are.

There have been a number of proceedings in relation to this matter. There is an ongoing criminal investigation. I have indicated that I am more than willing to sit down and meet with representatives of the families to determine questions that remain unanswered and the best way in which--