Mr. Speaker, very clearly, every time a contract is awarded by this government, it must comply with Treasury Board rules and policies. This was the case with respect to the company referred to by the hon. member of the opposition.
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Government Contracts February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, very clearly, every time a contract is awarded by this government, it must comply with Treasury Board rules and policies. This was the case with respect to the company referred to by the hon. member of the opposition.
Sponsorship Program February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, if the comments reported in the newspapers are accurate, the government finds them completely inappropriate, especially considering that private details of this person's life have been revealed.
I would hope that the board of directors at VIA Rail will take appropriate action.
Sponsorship Program February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bédard has personally written to the Prime Minister of Canada. This letter is being considered as we speak by my colleague, the Minister of Transport, and by the President of the Treasury Board.
If the chairman of the board of directors said exactly what has been reported in the newspapers, we consider this to be completely inappropriate.
Sponsorship Program February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I think that the opposition party no longer knows what to say about our Prime Minister, because he did exactly what was called for under the circumstances.
He has explained exactly what he knew when he was finance minister. Now that he is Prime Minister, he has taken courageous steps to encourage the greatest possible transparency regarding this matter and that is what we will continue to do.
Sponsorship Program February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, if the comments of the Chairman of the Board of VIA Rail have been accurately reported in La Presse —without commenting on the employer-employee labour relations at the heart of the matter, I want to say to the members of this House that if these comments were made, they were and are completely inappropriate.
Sponsorship Program February 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the Prime Minister received a letter from Ms. Bédard directly. He referred this letter to the Minister of Transport and the President of the Treasury Board. We shall give serious consideration to all the facts stated by Ms. Bédard and appropriate action will be taken.
Lobbyists February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, first, the Prime Minister of Canada was not involved in awarding these two contracts. They were awarded by Industry Canada.
Second, Industry Canada followed the Treasury Board policy that for contracts under $25,000 a competitive process is not required.
Third, this is a firm with expertise, that has been working since 1998 within a research group for the Canadian Biotechnology Secretariat.I think that covers all the reasons that justify the awarding of these contracts.
Lobbyists February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, if there has been anyone who could be described as the most transparent during this entire process, it is certainly our Prime Minister of Canada, who has set up a series of procedures to account to the House for what has gone on.
With respect to the Earnscliffe contracts, they were contracts given by Industry Canada to a firm qualified as an expert since 1998, that works with the research team for the Canadian Biotechnology Secretariat, and that is an expert in the field, to support all biotechnology activities in the country. This was done in accordance with all the rules approved by the Treasury Board.
Lobbyists February 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I think people ought to be very careful when attacking the credibility of recognized firms in our country. These are private companies that play an important role in our society.
In fact, contracts were given that were under the $25,000 limit. Why were contracts given to Earnscliffe? As far as Industry Canada is concerned, Earnscliffe is a firm that has had expertise in biotechnology since 1998. The firm is on the research team for the Canadian Biotechnology Secretariat.
Sponsorship Program February 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Business Development Bank of Canada, there were two totally separate matters.
On the one hand, there is the Auditor General's report on the sponsorship program and, on the other hand, there is the ruling by Superior Court Justice Denis.
In the sponsorship matter, the Auditor General met with Mr. Ritchie, the chairman of the board, herself. The Auditor General's analyst met with all the board members. The Auditor General said she was satisfied with the answers she received from the BDC.