Michel Gauthier

[Rcmp Investigations, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs recently suspended an aide involved in a controversial issue, until the investigation into his conduct is completed, in compliance with the spirit of the government's code of conduct.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Why, in the case involving influence peddling, did the Prime Minister not act like his Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and comply with the government's code of conduct by suspending the person suspected of wrongdoing until all the facts were known?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we never find it reassuring when the Minister of Human Resources Development is answering questions. His answers are never very clear.

I have a question for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was aware that there were serious suspicions about a Liberal Party organizer. The most basic precaution for a government leader is to ensure that, during an election campaign, he and his ministers do not come into contact with someone under investigation.

Knowing that this was his responsibility, what did the Prime Minister do to avoid an unfortunate situation, that is, contact between this person and himself or his ministers?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knew from the beginning of last March that allegations of influence peddling had been made with respect to an organizer of the Liberal Party of Canada and that these allegations were sufficiently serious that a minister of his government put the RCMP in the picture.

My question is for the Prime Minister. What action did he take from that point on to ensure that neither he nor his ministers were compromised during the election campaign with someone about whom there were serious suspicions and who was under investigation by the RCMP?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knew, the Minister of Human Resources Development knew, the Quebec ministers knew, the Prime Minister's lieutenant knew, the organizers knew, the RCMP knew. Everybody knew, just not their boss.

What is the solicitor general's problem? Either he is frighteningly incompetent, or he is trying to mislead this House.

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, when pressed just now, the solicitor general told us that he knew that people in cabinet, people around him, the RCMP, were aware of the serious allegations against a Liberal party organizer.

Will the solicitor general confirm that he indeed stated that he was aware that some of his colleagues knew?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

Did the minister inform his colleague, the Minister of Public Works, who is responsible for the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party, of this problem within the Liberal Party?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works.

Was the Minister of Public Works, who is responsible for the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party, informed by his—

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, this is an investigation that implicates the Liberal Party of Canada, implicates ministers and goes right to the heart of the matter of government integrity.

Does the solicitor general still contend that he was not informed by the RCMP because they did not feel it was appropriate to let him know about an investigation into the government's integrity?

[Rcmp Investigations, October 2nd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, the former solicitor general explained in this House, in relation to the Airbus affair, that the way the system works, the first thing that happens when there is an investigation is that the RCMP informs the solicitor general, who then decides whether it is appropriate to advise the Prime Minister's office.

Since the system provides for the RCMP to inform the solicitor general, how can he stand up and tell us, as he did yesterday, that he was not informed?

[National Unity, September 30th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, are we to understand from what the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has said that, as far as he is concerned, Ottawa is home to the international standard of democracy and, therefore, every country in the world should consider that democracy in Ottawa is better than democracy in Quebec?