Lost her last election, in 2006, with 39% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the sponsorship program that we have been discussing over this past number of weeks and the sponsorship program addressed by the Auditor General in her report of some two weeks ago in fact did not exist until 1997.
Sponsorship Program February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, of course we know that there were internal audits done in relation to sponsorship. For example the internal audit that was done in 2000 indicated that there were administrative and management problems with the program and from that point on they were addressed.
I want to reassure the hon. member that everything this government has done speaks to our commitment to getting to the bottom of what happened here and putting in place mechanisms to make sure it does not happen again.
Government Assistance February 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to speak with my provincial counterparts in relation to this matter. We are all aware of the Herculean task that those in the Province of Nova Scotia face in relation to digging out from this latest snowstorm.
My officials are in discussions with provincial officials and it is possible that the DFAA could apply in these circumstances. Those discussions are ongoing.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before and I believe I have made plain before, ministers on this side of the House will appear before either the public accounts committee or the public inquiry if we are requested to do so. At that point the hon. member can be reassured that all of us will be forthcoming. All of us on this side of the House want to get to the bottom of this matter, just as do all Canadians.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as has been said on a number of occasions in the House, there is a public accounts process and a public inquiry process. Ministers on this side of the House have made it plain that if we are called to appear before either of those processes, we will be there.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, you would know much better than I would, but I believe that until the Auditor General's report was tabled in the House we would in fact have run the risk of being found in contempt of Parliament by you, Mr. Speaker.
Let me reassure everyone in the House that upon minutes of the tabling of that report, we saw what the Prime Minister did. He put in place a series of measures, including a public inquiry. He asked the public accounts committee to constitute itself quickly. We are introducing whistleblower legislation. We have begun a review of the Financial Administration Act. He asked the President of the Treasury Board to--
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, far from blaming people, in fact what the Prime Minister has done is put in place a number of processes by which we can all find out what happened here. As the Prime Minister has indicated and as we have all indicated, whether it is the public accounts committee or the public inquiry, ministers of the government are willing to come forward and are willing to appear before these committees.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, let me say again that this is not about blaming anyone. This is about getting to the bottom of this situation. That is why there is a public inquiry. That is why the public accounts committee is at work. That is why the President of the Treasury Board is reviewing the actions of crown corporations referred to by the Auditor General.
We all want to get to the bottom of this matter. This is not about blame.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the hon. member that we are not in the business of blaming anyone.
What we want to do is get to the bottom of this matter on behalf of all Canadians. That is why we have a public inquiry. That is why public accounts committee is at work. That is why the Prime Minister has requested that the President of the Treasury Board review the crown corporations referred to by the Auditor General.
This is not about blame. This is about getting to the bottom of what happened here.
Sponsorship Program February 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister had requested that the President of the Treasury Board do a review of the crown corporations referred to in the Auditor General's report. In fact the President of the Treasury Board is conducting that review and he will report to the Prime Minister upon its completion.