Debates of April 22nd, 2005

Government Contracts

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, his facts are totally wrong because I was never paid to arrange any meeting whatsoever.

Sponsorship Program

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister repeatedly promised to get to the bottom of the sponsorship scandal and yet he deliberately excluded chapter 5 of the Auditor General's report dealing with contracts between the Prime Minister's Office and public opinion research firms such as Earnscliffe.

In so doing, he has deliberately removed his campaign manager and chief of staff from the scrutiny of the Gomery inquiry. That is not only simply inexcusable, but by withholding key information from this public inquiry, what is the Prime Minister trying to hide?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the issues with respect to public opinion research have been examined on many occasions already. They were examined in an audit report in 1996 done independently by the firm of Ernst & Young. They were examined most recently by the Auditor General in her report in 2003 and she said this:

For the most part, we found that the federal government was managing public opinion research in a transparent manner and with adequate controls. The activities were centrally co-ordinated, as required by policies. Selection of suppliers for standing offers followed the competitive process.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during his testimony, Claude Boulay said that the Department of Finance imposed Pinnacle on him as the subcontractor for a contract exceeding half a million dollars, without a call for tenders. A document addressed to his policy adviser, Karl Littler, supports the fact that this contract had been discussed with the former Minister of Finance at a meeting on December 21, 1995.

In light of such revelations, how can the Prime Minister still say he lacked vigilance and that he is sorry? Is he sorry he got caught?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, this issue was discussed in the House many months ago. The evidence is very clear, from the written material that was before the public accounts committee and otherwise, that the facts are just not as described by the hon. gentleman. In fact, all of the evidence on the written record would demonstrate that competitive processes were followed and that the normal practices of the Department of Public Works were honoured.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are there. Claude Boulay, who campaigned for the Prime Minister, revealed that he pocketed a hefty 17% commission on that contract, simply for passing it on to Pinnacle.

How can the Prime Minister, who said he was sorry yesterday, explain that he turned a blind eye to all the rules so his “dear Claude” could pocket several tens of thousands of dollars along the way—a voluntary lack of vigilance, no doubt?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is making an extreme allegation. The facts of the matter are, from what is on the record and indeed what has been said in the House from time to time, that all of the appropriate competitive procedures were applied and there were no rules violated.

Fisheries

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in both the recent fisheries committee report and the post-season review, inadequate enforcement was identified as one of the key factors leading to the collapse of the 2004 Fraser River sockeye fishery.

Both reports strongly recommend that the number of enforcement officers be increased. Instead, an internal DFO document confirms the reduction of up to 80 fisheries officer positions in the next three years.

Could the minister tell us how doing exactly the opposite of what the reports recommend and reducing enforcement will protect this valuable resource?

[Raymond Chan, Liberal, Minister of State (Multiculturalism)]

Mr. Speaker, the minister in charge has received the report and is working diligently to meet all the suggestions. We will try our best to meet them to enforce the operations in the river.

Foreign Affairs

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am appalled to read that two Canadian companies are helping China to colonize Tibet. Nortel and Bombardier will assist in building a railway line in Tibet, a railway line designed to strengthen China's illegal occupation of Tibet. These companies are giving the same excuses that were given when South Africa was fighting for independence.

Why will the government not tell these companies their actions are against Canadian values? Why?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows very well the approach that we are taking.

We always discuss with the government of China the reality of Tibet, the quality of the human rights that are absolutely essential there, but this is a government that at the same time allows the private sector of Canada to develop around the world. We absolutely demand that our Canadian companies continue to work well on international markets. The private sector has some autonomy in the world. We know that as well they reflect Canadian values as much as possible.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the three announcements this week from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration were welcome developments. They will do much to help process citizenship applications faster, to provide a bridge to employment and citizenship for international students and to reunite families.

However, I know concerns have been raised with regard to the prioritizing of parents and grandparents and the potential costs to the health care system. Could the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration address the issue with the House?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I think everyone welcomed those three announcements, but in particular that latter one, because it allowed Canada to fulfill its commitment to all the skilled workers who came into the country with the expectation that they would then eventually be joined with their parents.

The announcement allowed parents and grandparents to come here on multiple entry visas. Those multiple entry visas are contingent upon health care insurance that is provided by the applicants. It is not a burden on the system. As well, it gives us an opportunity to strengthen the families and the concept of family that those members opposite do not understand--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley.

Wallace Harbour Lighthouse

[Bill Casey, Conservative, North Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, for decades the fishermen in Wallace have used the Wallace Harbour lighthouse as the only navigational aid to get into the long harbour leading up to the Wallace wharf.

Now the Coast Guard says it does not have enough money to buy a light bulb for the lighthouse and it is going to change the system and put in a less effective system.

The same fishermen who are worried about this matter watch television every day about the graft and the corruption and the kickbacks of millions and millions of dollars. They cannot understand why the Coast Guard and the Liberals will not buy them a light bulb for their lighthouse.

Will the Liberals announce today that they are going to maintain the Wallace Harbour lighthouse and put a new light bulb in it?

[Raymond Chan, Liberal, Minister of State (Multiculturalism)]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is very much on top of the file. In the recent budget, the Coast Guard's budget has been increased by $276 million over five years. I am sure the minister will apply those moneys according to the priorities in the department. He will do his best to meet all the requirements.

Government Contracts

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the transport minister. The question he was asked was not whether he attended a dinner as a paid lobbyist. The question was, did the Minister of Transport arrange a meeting with a cabinet minister or former cabinet minister and François Duffar or not? Yes or no?

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities)]

Mr. Speaker, the minister answered two questions very clearly on that point. If the member opposite is not satisfied with the answer the minister gave, he can direct those inquiries to the registrar of lobbyists. The registrar of lobbyists administers the Lobbyists Registration Act in a completely independent manner. His reports are made public.

If the member opposite wishes to pursue the matter further, he should address his complaints to the registrar of lobbyists.

[The Speaker]

The time for oral questions has expired.

Is the hon. member for Central Nova rising on a question of privilege arising out of question period?

Points of Order

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in response to an issue arising in question period. On behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada and in particular a highly respected communication officer for our party, Mr. Geoff Norquay, I would like to offer a retraction with regret and an apology for the inaccurate comparison made between the current Prime Minister and international terrorist Osama bin Laden.

In keeping with his vaunted and sometimes besieged leader's contrition last evening, I would offer a similar opportunity to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services to restore some semblance of lost lustre, a face-saving exercise, so to speak. I invite him to similarly withdraw and apologize for the identical comparison that was made, and in fact in far more scathing detail, against a man who rewarded him with a cabinet post, a staggering and ungracious slight on his part.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Central Nova has made his withdrawal. I am sure the long request he is making has been heard.

The hon. Minister of Public Works and Government Services is responding.

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

Mr. Speaker, as for the allegation made during question period by the member for Calgary Southeast, in fact I do not have any recollection. My staff has in fact confirmed that the member referred to the National Post . It has been verified that in fact there was not a comparison.

If there was something taken out of context, I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I would never compare our Prime Minister to Osama bin Laden in a reasonable context and I would certainly apologize. The fact is that I trust, as Canadians trust, the Prime Minister of Canada, somebody who is getting to the bottom of an important issue and making a difference in the lives of Canadians.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a separate point, but to comment on the last one, I thought he was shameless. It seems he does blush.

I have a comment respecting the answer given just recently by the minister responsible for cities or urban infrastructure. I am not quite sure why he is answering questions with respect to questions put to the Minister of Transport. In any event, he referred yesterday in question period to the lobbyists registrar as an “officer of Parliament”. I am sure he would like to have an opportunity to correct the record that the lobbyists registrar is in fact not an officer of Parliament.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities)]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is completely correct. I had it wrong yesterday. I apologize. He is an independent official operating in the industry department. He is not technically an officer of Parliament although his reports are delivered to Parliament.

Certificates of Nomination

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 110(2), I have the honour to table four certificates of nomination.