Claude Drouin

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in thanking you for these 16 years you have devoted primarily to serving the people of your riding, since the first duty of members is to represent their constituents, defend their rights and work for the achievement of their projects. And you have done so very nicely.

We owe you our thanks. And we wish you as much success and pleasure in your future endeavours as you have had in your 16 years in this place. I have known and appreciated you as a colleague since 1997. I want to wish you health and much happiness with your family and friends.

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to the member's reference to my low attendance. Had he made inquiries, he would have found out that my wife and I had a child 10 weeks ago and I took a bit of time off in the early weeks to give her a hand.

Second, I would point out that steps were taken. We abolished the program in 2003. In 2002, it was managed by the public administration. When we saw the problem, we assumed our responsibilities and will continue to do so. The investigation is ongoing and the public will see that our approach is a responsible one.

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

What a thing to say.

Nonetheless, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts was asked to examine the matter immediately. The RCMP was asked to investigate, right off. A commission of inquiry is setting up and will begin working in the fall.

Charges have been laid. Allow me to draw a parallel. Something similar happened in the PQ Government of Quebec two or two and a half years ago. A minister had to resign over it and today he is in charge of international relations for Hydro-Quebec.

We are serious on this side of the House. We are talking about taxpayer dollars. Investigations are underway and the guilty parties will have to assume their responsibilities, as appropriate. I can assure the hon. members that the work will continue.

The hon. member talked about banners. Unfortunately, he did not—

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, although you are not asking me to, I withdraw my words, but that does not stop me from thinking them.

The Bloc is a little desperate and does not want to see what the government has done to shed light on the major problem in the sponsorship program.

He mentioned that their biggest accomplishment was to ask 441 questions on this matter. For the salaries we are paid here, I must say those were expensive questions, especially considering the results.

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is rare to hear things like this in the House. It is lucky that the member for Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île-d'Orléans is well insured, because uttering such imbecilities could be very bad for his health.

The Bloc is desperate. It has asked four—

[Supply, May 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member may have said more than he intended to. If not, he ought to withdraw his remarks. If he has proof, let him produce it, instead of coming up with gratuitous accusations. Let him provide proof. People must not make unfounded accusations.

I believe you need to enforce the rules.

[Public Safety, May 5th, 2004]

Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness inform the House about the role the federal government will play in maintaining safety, even if the Bloc is not interested?

[Public Safety, May 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the images from Kanesatake recently. We have noticed that there are public safety concerns that the Bloc does not seem too worried about.

[Whistleblower Protection, April 30th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

We recently learned that the CBC has asked to be removed from legislation protecting people who disclose wrongdoings.

We all know how important it is to ensure proper protection for all employees who disclose wrongdoings in the public service and crown corporations. Can the President of the Privy Council tell us whether he intends to amend his bill to follow up on the CBC's request?

[Bloc Quebecois, April 30th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the hon. member for Laurentides suggested that the Quebec caucus of this government was lacking arguments to prove the uselessness of Bloc Quebecois members in this House. Our government does not need arguments to demonstrate this reality. The empty rhetoric and the apathy of Bloc Quebecois members tell the tale.

The hon. member for Rimouski--Neigette-et-la Mitis will agree with me, since she once said that her caucus was particularly good at scoring in its own net. The hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie will also surely agree with me, after telling the media that he cannot prevent the Prime Minister from being re-elected, and after admitting to the daily Le Soleil that the Bloc Quebecois never does anything good and takes its orders from its head office, which is the Parti Quebecois.

Finally, our government is so acutely aware of Quebec's distinctiveness that a candidates manual was specially prepared for our Quebec caucus and will be distributed at the appropriate time.

I can assure the House that we will have no problems proving—