Debates of June 12th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Chair, it sounds a lot like the same old government with the same non-answers and no accountability. Has the government taken any action, any steps against GC Strategies to recover millions of taxpayer dollars for work that was not done, anything?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, I would say that this particular case is under investigation, and it is not appropriate for me to comment on that.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Chair, what a pathetic non-answer.

Has any government official who authorized payment to GC Strategies without proof of work been dismissed?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, we are here to talk about the main estimates for 2025-26. I wonder if my colleague would talk about our supplementary—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Chair, have any government officials who authorized these improper payments been subject to disciplinary action?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I was expecting that my colleague would talk about the main estimates. There are payment transfers to provinces, including his riding and home province as well—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Chair, has anyone in the government been held accountable for this colossal abuse of millions of taxpayer dollars?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, we are here to talk about main estimates for 2024-25, which include—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Chair, no monies have been recovered, no legal action has been taken against GC Strategies, no steps have been taken whatsoever to recover tax—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The time has elapsed.

The next member to be recognized is the hon. member for Elgin—St. Thomas—London South.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Chair, how many people work for the federal public service?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Chair, the federal workforce is over 350,000 people in the public service.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Chair, how many worked for the federal government when the Liberals took over in 2015?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, our population was about 35 million—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Chair, one of the minister's aides just handed him a piece of paper. I am hoping it has the answer.

How many people worked for the federal government in 2015 when the Liberals took office?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, my colleague expects that—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton—Chinguacousy Park, ON]

There is—

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will spot the minister; I am feeling generous. In 2015, it was 250,000. That is an increase of 107,000, or 40%, in the last 10 years.

Are taxpayers getting 40% more out of their federal government?