Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were in opposition, they condemned the Liberal Party's backroom deals and favouritism. Today, though, there is no difference between the Liberals and the Conservatives. For example, 47 Conservative members, including ministers, have handed out 181 partisan cheques done up in the Conservative Party colours and bearing the member's or the Prime Minister's signature, when in fact this is government money.
When it spent $108,000 on a one-hour press conference on the economic recovery plan, the Conservative government chose to spread propaganda rather than explain the real impact of its measures. This government does not distinguish between money it has promised and money it has spent, and it is constantly changing program names and classifications. It is hard to know where the $12 billion has been spent, if it has been spent.
We also condemn the $1.4 million contract awarded to a firm that employs a Conservative senator who sits on the Senate transport and communications committee.
The Conservatives promised transparency and ethics, yet today we are wondering whether they are worse than the Liberals.