Deborah Grey

[Prime Minister, April 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the minister to stay tuned.

The question was very simple and it concerned Mr. Prince or any of his companies. The minister said that he would look into it. He has had 24 hours to look into it. This same question was raised yesterday.

Again, there could be some link. We do not know that but we want the minister to look into it. We are not asking for the release of any information. We just want the minister to tell us whether Jonas Prince or his companies received any direct or indirect government funding.

[Prime Minister, April 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, what about the $2.5 million for airbus and $45 million for Pearson? That is quite a chunk of change.

Yesterday we asked the industry minister a question about Jonas Prince. It involved his legal responsibility for the Business Development Bank and the Export Development Corporation.

Today I would like an answer to my question. Has Mr. Prince or any of his companies received any direct or indirect funding from Industry Canada, the Business Development Bank or the Export Development Corporation?

[Prime Minister, April 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that is not to mention the $2.5 million the taxpayers kicked in—

[Privilege, April 4th, 2001]

You should.

[Privilege, April 4th, 2001]

No I am not. I am just asking what it is.

[Privilege, April 4th, 2001]

What is that pin?

[Prime Minister, April 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I did ask him if anyone else was there. In fact he went on to say yesterday:

I was probably in Ottawa because it was the day after we defeated the Tories when I was forming a...government.

I would like to remind him that in fact the election was on October 25, 1993. This contract was evidently signed on November 1. When did he really sign that and who was there?

[Prime Minister, April 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday when the Prime Minister responded to my question about the bill of sale he said:

I recognize my name on that. It was my name. I had signed it a long time ago. I signed this contract. I was probably in Ottawa—

I would like the Prime Minister to think back, to think way, way back. Where was he and who was there?

[Supply, April 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that is probably the best thing. There is bitter partisanship on the other side of the House and on this side too. The best way to deal with the issue is to take it out of this place, because this is where politics reign.

I was attacked about the pension. I find it strange when someone talks about going back on their word. There was a little promise about scrapping, killing and abolishing the GST. There was a little something about the Airbus affair. It was a messy thing, was it not? It seems very strange that the member here is not even in his seat but is wandering all over the Chamber hurling insults. If the shoe fits he should wear it.

[Supply, April 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member started his remarks by saying he is not defending anybody. I can understand why he would not want to defend anyone: the Prime Minister.

I mentioned in my remarks that people have no trust in what he says. I think the member was right when he said that Canadians are frustrated with this. I am sure he would be stunned and surprised to learn that recent polls show that 54% of people who support the Liberal Party want an absolute and objective inquiry.

I know he has been exorcised, but let me address the pension issue. I was in the member's riding in 1996, and have been to lots of places across the country, to address the fact that when I opted out of the MP pension plan I was perfectly happy to continue contributing to RRSPs for the rest of my life. However the member knows, as all hon. members know, that as a result of negotiations last spring the Liberal Party put every member of parliament back into the pension plan, including myself. Because I now must pay premiums into the MP pension plan I can no longer contribute to my RRSPs. He could perhaps mention that to the people back home.