Rahim Jaffer

[Criminal Code, October 17th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to follow up on my questions of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration regarding the great pizza caper. I have asked him numerous questions on the subject. I would like him to comment specifically on our exchange during question period on October 5, 2005.

I was questioning the minister on his out of control spending on pizza and other food at Camarra's Pizzeria in Toronto, specifically about him spending $207 on a meal for himself and two guests on August 20. I have some specific follow-up questions to which I would like the minister to respond, but first here is some background for interested Canadians.

It came to light in the September 20 edition of the Journal de Montréal that in the 78 days between March 2 and May 18, the immigration minister had taxpayers pay for 30 different meals in various restaurants, occasionally with one or two other guests, racking up nearly $6,800 in hospitality expenses. When expenses claimed by his staff are added in, the total rises to 43 meals costing taxpayers $12,343.

If this is not enough, the minister and his staff have been double billing taxpayers for meals. According to various disclosures from the minister and his staff, he seems to have attended two breakfasts on March 22, two lunches on March 3 and two dinners on March 21. Either he is very hungry or he does not know which restaurant to go to.

On October 3 the immigration minister's latest expenses were released showing that he charged taxpayers for another $3,700 in meals between June and August, plus $1,500 in meals by his staff.

In the last six months the minister has billed taxpayers for 68 meals at a cost of $17,500. At that rate the minister is spending an average of $258 per meal with Canadians picking up the tab. He is spending more per meal than an average family of four spends on groceries in two weeks. Based on the cost estimated by Canada's national nutritious food basket, a family of four in Toronto, where the minister comes from, should spend $128 per week on groceries. That is $256 for two weeks, $2 less than what the minister spends on one meal.

These facts raise troubling questions. What was the purpose of these meals? For meals prior to the confidence vote, were they really planning sessions for a possible spring election? Was the minister using taxpayers' money to plan Liberal political activities?

All of those questions need answering by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. However, they are not the only ones. I was never given a satisfactory answer as to how he could spend $207 at Camarra's for three people. He did not answer the question on what was the purpose of the meeting. Was it for regional issues as he first claimed, or was it for immigration matters?

Additional questions arise out of these expenses. Who attended the meetings with the minister? Were they lobbyists, registered or otherwise? Were they for his political staff planning election activities? Did he take his family? What did he order that ended up costing taxpayers so much money?

I went to Camarra's with three of my colleagues on October 7 and spent $134 for four people, which is less than what the minister spent for two people on July 4. Simply put, why are his expenses so high?

[Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, October 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Pepperoni, meatlovers, vegetarian or Greek, Stuffed full of pizza the immigration minister is too busy eating to speak.

He's had so much fun stiffing Canadians with his bills,I had to see for myself, why so much overeating hasn't made him ill.

For example, at Cammara's where he's known as Pizza Joe. To see for myself, to his favourite joint I had to go.

I invited three friends to join me to dine.We ordered two pizzas, salads and some wine.

Attending were MPs for Simcoe—Grey, Edmonton—Leduc and Calgary Southeast.It cost us only $134 for the entire feast.

Even with four we paid less than Pizza Joe did for two.With a doggie bag in hand, how he spent so much...we haven't a clue.

We paid our own bill because that was our choice, Unlike the minister who stiffed Canadians, with his invoice.

Is overindulging the life of this minister? Or with the Liberals in government could it be something more sinister?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, that brings a whole new meaning to stakeholder.

The Minister of Immigration has eaten himself into a corner. On September 27 he said that his regional ministerial responsibilities were the reason for these meal expenses. Yesterday, he changed his tune and said that these meals were for “developing a plan for immigration”.

Obviously, the minister cannot remember which phony excuse to stick to. Which is it? Ontario issues, immigration issues or is the minister just out to lunch?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the pizza expenses keep piling up like a mountain of cheese for the immigration minister.

On August 20, the minister visited his favourite pizza joint once again and spent a whopping $207 for pizza for himself and two guests. That is $70 per person. I do not know about other members, but I am sure Canadians are getting indigestion just thinking about all that pizza.

The minister could not explain how he spent $138 for two, but could he now explain how he spent $207 on pizza for three?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have been asking pretty straightforward questions of the minister but he seems to always complicate the answer.

Managing to spend $138 at a pizzeria for two just does not add up. Either he ordered some very expensive wine, or maybe he ordered a lot of take-out, or maybe he is a very generous tipper. The most incredible thing is he is trying to justify that the taxpayers picked up this bill.

I ask the minister again, how did he manage to spend $138 on pizza for two?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the pizza flyers at our doors, two for one pizza, $19.99 pizza, pizza with chicken wings, and the list goes on, but I have never heard of a $138 pizza like the immigration minister spent for him and a guest on July 4 at Camarra Pizzeria in Toronto. I have heard of extra toppings, but this is ridiculous.

When the most expensive item on the menu is $34, how did he manage to spend $138 for two people at a pizzeria?

[Ramadan, October 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The month of Ramadan celebrates when the Holy Quran was sent down from heaven.

The fast of Ramadan lasts an entire month. It is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend time with their families and communities.

During Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. At sundown the fast is broken with a prayer and a meal called iftar . After the meal Muslims spend time visiting with their family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

Ramadan is a time to focus on family and faith. I hope all Canadians take time to experience and learn more about the Islamic faith.

On behalf of the official opposition I would like to wish all my Muslim brothers and sisters well during the observance of Ramadan in a joyful celebration of Eid.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we know Liberals are partial to fine dining, but the immigration minister takes the cake, or should I say the whole bakery?

According to Canada's national food basket, a family of four in the minister's riding should be spending $256 every two weeks on groceries. The minister is spending an average of $257 per meal with Canadians picking up the bill.

Would the minister please tell the House how these meals advance Canada's immigration policy?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the bevy of buffet expenses from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration knows no bounds. In the past six months the minister has charged over $10,500 in gluttonous restaurant expenses to the Canadian taxpayer. Not to be outeaten, his staff rang up an additional $7,000 in food expenses.

Would the minister please table any and all of the notes taken during these so-called working meals, or is an empty breadbasket the only thing Canadians get for $17,500?

[Foreign Affairs, September 28th, 2005]

One has to apply that suntan lotion sparingly, Mr. Speaker.

The Challenger logs show that, when he travels abroad, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is usually accompanied by an RCMP security detail. On two occasions, however, he took his chauffeur along as a “personal security advisor”.

Why did the minister rely on the RCMP for certain trips, but take his chauffeur/security expert on these two trips?