House of Commons Hansard #107 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I think, Mr. Speaker, it would be more appropriate to cast our eye on the benches of the official opposition over there. It seems to me that some, including the member for Newton—North Delta, would do almost anything to leave that side of the House.
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
The fact, Mr. Speaker, is some did.
Last night CTV television reported that the RCMP had launched an investigation into the corrupt deal making efforts of the Prime Minister. Then the station received a call from the Prime Minister's Office saying that the RCMP was only reviewing the complaints and further questions would be directed to the RCMP.
How did they know in the PMO, and could the Prime Minister tell us when his communications department became the official spokesperson for the RCMP?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me make it absolutely plain. No one from the Prime Minister's Office contacted anyone in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, we will just have to take their word for that. Time will tell. This is very reminiscent of the efforts to interfere with the Ethics Commissioner.
The Globe and Mail reports today that the RCMP said that it was only reviewing the complaint, only after the RCMP spokesperson, Nathalie Deschenes, told the Globe and Mail that an investigation had been launched.
Why was the police investigation suddenly downgraded to a review, and was the Prime Minister once again exercising political interference in an RCMP matter?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me clarify for everyone. The RCMP is an independent law enforcement body. As I have said in the House before, if anyone is in possession of any information that he or she believes points to an alleged criminal offence, it is that person's obligation to turn that information over to the RCMP. It is then up to the RCMP, and the RCMP alone, to review that information and determine whether an investigation is to proceed.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the matter of the tapes, the line of defence that the Prime Minister's chief of staff and health minister have been sticking to for the past few days is the following: the member for Newton—North Delta asked for future consideration in exchange for his vote, something they claim to have refused. That is what we have been told.
I have a very simple question for the Prime Minister. Was he informed by his chief of staff and his health minister that a Conservative member had tried to get compensation for his vote, yes or no?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has said before, he was aware that the hon. member had approached our side of the House, his office, about joining our caucus.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier, QC
Mr. Speaker, that was not the question. I did not ask if the Prime Minister knew about someone wanting to join the Liberal Party. My question is this: Did the PM's health minister and chief of staff tell him that the member was asking for compensation to switch sides? That is their current line of defence. Did they advise the Prime Minister that doing so would be a criminal offence? That is my question. I would like an answer. Was the Prime Minister informed, yes or no?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me clarify and I hope that I answer the hon. member's question. The Prime Minister knew that the member for Newton—North Delta had approached our side of the House about joining our caucus. The Prime Minister then made it absolutely plain that no offer was to be made to anyone in any way.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, it would be interesting to hear the Deputy Prime Minister answer the question put to her. Was the Prime Minister informed of the fact that the Conservative member was asking for some compensation or reward to join the Liberal caucus? Did the Prime Minister know that such a request had been made?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made it plain that no offer was to be made in this situation. I am sorry, I do not know what else one can say. The Prime Minister said there were to be no offers made and no offers were made.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. If the Prime Minister was aware that the member had set conditions for supporting the government and no offer was made, could the minister explain two things to us? First, why did the chief of staff and the Minister of Health spend four hours talking with the member? Four hours to tell him they had nothing to offer sounds like a long time.
Second, why did the Prime Minister not inform the RCMP, knowing that a criminal act might be committed? That is clear.
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me be plain about this. The Prime Minister was aware of the fact that the member for Newton—North Delta had approached our side of the House. The Prime Minister was clear that no offers were to be made to the member for Newton—North Delta and no offers were made.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is amazing what can be heard on tape from the Minister of Health. Just as an example, after 10 years of medicine being increasingly privatized in this country under the Liberal watch, here is what the Minister of Health had to say on tape on May 1: “We stand for public pay and public delivery”.
This week in Vancouver a private health clinic is opening. It costs $2,300 just to become a member. This is exactly the kind of two tier medicine we should not have. What is the minister going to do about it?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we do stand for public health care and public delivery of health care. That means that the delivery in this country has to be within the context and the four corners of the Canada Health Act. We will monitor this particular clinic and ensure that the Canada Health Act is enforced.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister is becoming a true Liberal after all, offering jobs on the one hand, breaking promises on the other.
People in Canada want their public health care system kept public. That is fundamental. A private clinic is opening in Vancouver. A person has to pay $2,300 just to walk in the door to get service. What does it take to get some action from this minister?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister provided an additional $42 billion to all the provinces to ensure public health care remains strong in this country for the next 10 years. I want to ensure that we enforce the Canada Health Act evenly across the country. We shall enforce the Canada Health Act to ensure that any delivery of health care in this country conforms with the Canada Health Act.
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is a shame to see a fight in the family. That sounds like the Prime Minister's kind of clinic.
It is amazing how the Prime Minister's version of the truth shifts from day to day as his chief of staff and his health minister are caught on tape trying to buy off the member for Newton—North Delta. Here is what the tape said. The health minister said:
I talked to the prime minister moments ago. He will be happy to talk to you over the phone tonight or in person if you want to move.
Why did the Prime Minister tell us yesterday that he had never offered to meet the member for Newton—North Delta when that clearly is not true?
Member for Newton--North DeltaOral Question Period
Vancouver South B.C.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I said yesterday that not much stock should be placed in those tapes. My suspicions have come true. Independent experts from CFRA have said the tapes had been doctored. So we not only have a serial taper in the House, we have a doctor in the House who is an expert in altering the tapes.
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, if the health minister is going to start promoting conspiracy theories, he really should get himself a tinfoil hat.
Canadians believe that small lies often hide big lies. They have to wonder what is going on with the Prime Minister and his shifting stories. His chief of staff is on tape saying:
--first, Prime Minister was quite happy to do this but literally he is going to get a plane to see the Queen but he is prepared to...talk to you directly both by phone and subsequently in person as we see it fit.
Why does the Prime Minister continue to deny his knowledge of the Liberal MP purchase plan?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I said before that the member for Newton—North Delta, the expert in doctoring tapes, came to us and made demands. The demands were rejected. He has now actually misplaced some of the tapes. He has misplaced the tape of a two hour conversation with me in my home, which those members said on May 22 that they had.
What is the involvement of the Leader of the Opposition in erasing or misplacing those tapes?
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect members of Parliament to act with integrity and to uphold parliamentary tradition.
Member for Newton--North DeltaOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. The hon. member for Regina--Lumsden--Lake Centre has the floor. We will have a little order please.
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, tradition suggests that when a minister of the Crown is under suspicion for potential criminal activity, that minister should step down. The tapes clearly indicate that the conversation between the Minister of Health and the member for Newton--North Delta was done for one purpose and that was to try to buy votes.
Will the Prime Minister simply do what is right, uphold the tradition of this House, and call upon the resignation of the Minister of Health?