Debates of May 18th, 2005

Question No. 122

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Question No. 122 is extremely broad. It targets over 140 government organizations, many of which have undergone significant organizational and systems changes over the 12 year period covered by the question. The length of the question makes the task all the more difficult given that, under the applicable government records retention policy, federal departments usually keep their records for a period of six years only.

Extensive work has already been done to collect the relevant information from more than 140 government organizations in answer to this question. However, and in spite of the extensive efforts invested so far, the work is not yet finalized and a verification of the information has not yet been completed. Thus, more time is needed to perform the type of quality control that is necessary to ensure that the information provided to the House is as comprehensive and reliable as possible.

The government will provide a supplementary reply to this question as soon as the requested information is ready.

Question No. 123

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

Since October 23, 1993, did Earnscliffe or Veraxis or their principals receive any: ( a ) grants, contributions or loan guarantees and, if so, (i) what was the source (i.e., department, agency, crown corporation, special operating agency or foundation), value, date made and reasons for providing the funding in each case, (ii) what is their present status, whether paid, repaid, or unpaid, including the value of the repayment, (iii) what was the total amount each company received; and ( b ) contracts and, if so, (i) were the contracts fulfilled, (ii) what were their contract number, source, value, date made, reasons for providing the funding, (iii) were these contracts tendered and if the tendering was limited what would be the reason for the limitation, (iv) what was the total amount of contracts each company obtained, and what was the total amount of all the funds provided to these companies, (v) was it a standing offer, and, if so, what was the number and type of standing offer?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Question No. 123 is extremely broad. It targets over 140 government organizations, many of which have undergone significant organizational and systems changes over the 12 year period covered by the question. The length of the question makes the task all the more difficult given that, under the applicable government records retention policy, federal departments usually keep their records for a period of six years only.

Extensive work has already been done to collect the relevant information from more than 140 government organizations in answer to this question. However, and in spite of the extensive efforts invested so far, the work is not yet finalized and a verification of the information has not yet been completed. Thus, more time is needed to perform the type of quality control that is necessary to ensure that the information provided to the House is as comprehensive and reliable as possible.

The government will provide a supplementary reply to this question as soon as the requested information is ready.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 124 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 124

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

What suppliers have received current standing offers with the government, including all agencies, crown corporations, and foundations and, in each case (listed in order of the greatest amount to the smallest amount of business), specifying: ( a ) the standing offer number; ( b ) name of the supplier; ( c ) the name and address of the company (if different from supplier name); ( d ) type of standing offer; ( e ) date the standing offer was granted; ( f ) type of goods or services provided; ( g ) department, agency or crown corporation that awarded the contract; ( h ) total amount of business assigned to the supplier by the department, agency or crown corporation; and ( i ) the total amount of untendered business to the supplier by the department, agency or crown corporation?

(Return tabled)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this is my first opportunity as Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons to address one of these questions. I would ask you to call motion No. P-11

That an Order of this House do issue for: (a) the significant incident report(s) or a summary of significant incident reports issued with regard to HMCS Chicoutimi between October 2 and 6, 2004; (b) after-action reports issued in regard to HMCS Chicoutimi between October 2 and 6, 2004; and (c) a summary and/or a list of sea trials conducted by HMCS Chicoutimi prior to its departure from the United Kingdom for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-1, in the name of the hon. member for Cumberland--Colchester--Musquodoboit Valley is acceptable to the government, subject to the usual reservations concerning confidential information, and the documents are tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Subject to the reservations or conditions expressed by the parliamentary secretary is it the pleasure of the House that Notice of Motion No. P-1 be deemed to have been adopted?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

I would ask you to call Motion No. P-3.

That an Order of the House do issue for copies of the call log and all documents pertaining to the call log, including ministerial briefing notes, referred to in the exchange in the House on Thursday, October 21, 2004, between the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and the Member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-3, in the name of the hon. member for Saanich--Gulf Islands, is acceptable to the government and the documents are tabled immediately.

(Motion agreed to)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

I would ask you to call Motion No. P-6.

That an Order of the House do issue for copies of all studies and reports prepared by Donald Savoie for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, relating to the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers and No. P-6 in the name of the hon. member for New Brunswick Southwest, is acceptable to the government and the documents are also tabled immediately.

(Motion agreed to)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all other Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed that the remaining Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Business of Supply

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among all parties.

I have two motions to present for this evening's debate.

I will present the first motion and then the second motion. I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That during today's debate on the business of supply, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be entertained by the Speaker.

[The Speaker]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, there have been discussions among all parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

The motion regarding this evening's debate in the committee of the whole of the main estimates is this. I move:

That notwithstanding Standing Order 81(4)(a), within each 15 minute period, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members for speeches or for questions and answers, provided that, in the case of questions and answers, the minister's answer approximately reflects the time taken by the question, and provided that, in the case of speeches, members of the party to which the period is allocated may speak one after the other.