Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Rcmp Investigations October 10th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I could also give him the example of the Ryder Travel Group which has received a $600,000 grant and has only contributed to the Conservative Party, not a cent to the Liberal Party. It is based on merit.
Also I can give an example which pleased the official opposition. The hon. member for St. Albert was very pleased to write to me on July 24 supporting the transitional jobs fund in the St. Albert constituency, with funds going to Alexander Wood Products.
I could tell them—
Rcmp Investigations October 10th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, that is ludicrous. All projects from the transitional jobs fund are based on merit. That is absolutely clear.
As of this morning there have been nine projects in the Prime Minister's riding. Seven of them did not give a cent to the Liberal Party.
A representative of Mégatec company said very clearly this morning that he gave money to the Liberal Party without being pressured by Mr. Corbeil or anyone, and received the project strictly on its merits—
Employment Insurance October 9th, 1997
But I would like to tell you that we have inherited an employment insurance system that did not work, that did not meet Canadians' current needs. The new system is supposed to help these people back into the job market, so that they are no longer dependent on it. This was a very important reform, something we are taking care over to ensure that we are measuring its impact everywhere that we said we would. That is what we are doing in the department.
Employment Insurance October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I find the remark about my integrity a bit stupid in today's context. Coming from the other side, however, that sort of petty partisan politics does not surprise me.
Employment Insurance October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, we are obviously aware of what the auditor general told us in his report and we have also noticed that he asked us for certain information that already appears in the government's budget each year.
So we were told that they did not know what we were doing with the employment insurance surplus. I wish to take issue with this approach, because this information is clearly indicated in the budget we table each year.
Fisheries October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, let us not exaggerate things here. We are talking about the livelihoods of Canadians that have disappeared, and we care for them. There are already excesses again on this side of the House.
This strategy was put forward in a situation of crisis and urgency, and out of the 40,000 there are 15,000 who have been able to adjust outside of the industry. That is something.
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
I am treated as a boy scout. Someone who has done his duty and called in the police is now being told that this is the behaviour of a boy scout. These people think we are boy scouts when do our duty with integrity.
This is not correct. The prime minister has never lobbied or influenced me. Good projects are part of the role of a good member of Parliament.
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I am outraged at this kind of behaviour. This is why Canadians are disappointed.
Government Grants October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, all the projects in the Prime Minister's riding or in any other riding have been approved by the province of Quebec. They have been approved by the department and are based on merit all the time, so much so that after I called the police in, I asked my deputy minister to review the whole process in which my department was proceeding. My deputy minister conferred with me that our process was transparent, that our process was with consultation, the strength of our system and they invited—
Government Grants October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the member has a hard time with chronology. I could not know on March 4 things that I found out on March 5, the very day I called the police in.
These people are so cynical. They do not understand a thing about integrity in government. I will say one thing. All projects have been approved based on merit.