House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 51% of the vote.
Export Development Corporation March 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, let us just go through a few facts. The 1995 net loss, $800,000; the 1996 net loss, $500,000; the 1997 net loss, $260,000. Are there any more facts that we need?
Miraculously Fugère and Champagne came on the board and they were given a $10 million line of credit. Now these are the facts and they speak for themselves. Why is it that Fugère and Champagne have such an amazing command over the public purse?
Export Development Corporation March 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the Deputy Prime Minister that this is the budget. If millions and millions of Canadian taxpayers dollars are not part of the budget, I do not know what is.
This scandal is spreading from the HRD minister. Now it is through international trade. The Prime Minister himself is involved in it. We know that. It is amazing how much money you can shake loose when you have friends in high places.
Fugère and Champagne have a long history of delivering cash. Now they have secured Earth Canada a $10 million line of credit, and I doubt if it was an accident. How is it that the very mention of their names turns on the taps?
Sandra Schmirler March 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, Sandra Schmirler, a daughter, a wife, a mother and a curling hero, succumbed to cancer today at age 36 in Regina. She had three world championships, three Scott Tournament of Hearts championships and the famous Olympic gold medal that she and her team won in Nagano.
I was in New Brunswick during the 1998 Winter Olympics. I set my alarm for 3.30 in the morning so I could get up and watch her great team play. I loved every minute watching those games.
Sandra is the most decorated women's curler in Canadian history. Her teams are legendary. We grieve with all of her teammates who have lost their skip and a dear friend today.
The world was her stage but Sandra's life is her legacy. On the ice, on the hospital bed, on the airwaves, she showed us how to have drive, determination and above all, love and laughter.
To her husband Shannon, her children Sara and Jenna, and to her entire family, we say thank you for sharing this marvellous woman with us. We grieve and we pray with you. The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Human Resources Development March 1st, 2000
Let me quote from Hansard :
As long as he keeps silent on this issue, he gives every Canadian...the impression that he himself, the Prime Minister, is there to help his friends, the friends who helped him.
That was not someone from the official opposition. That was this heritage minister back in the days when she believed that prime ministers should be accountable.
How can the Prime Minister brag that this little six point plan can fix everything—
Human Resources Development March 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, she talks about a few projects. Pretty soon so much will come to light that there will not be enough police in the country to do the investigations.
Human Resources Development March 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I can see the Liberals' campaign slogan “Calling all cars: We need help here”.
Last spring we asked the Prime Minister time after time about the several questionable grants and contributions to his own riding. Even though these grants involved individuals with chequered pasts—we know they had personal business dealings with the Prime Minister—he claimed he was only doing the work of a good MP.
How is it that doing the work of good little MPs results in RCMP investigations in their ridings?
Human Resources Development February 29th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, it wears thin. I am sure hon. ministers have been saying that for 21 years now and we know who was in power then.
There is a cast of thousands involved here. Even the current HRD minister had her hand in this pie when she was at Indian affairs. She wrote a letter approving $200,000 in funding to that sawmill right around the same time.
It was René Fugère who had the magic touch. HRD officials said they had no money for any project, until they realized that Mr. Fugère was involved.
Why is there one set of rules for the Prime Minister's friends and another for every other Canadian?
Human Resources Development February 29th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, in February 1998 the Opticiwan sawmill applied for a TJF grant and was told by HRD that there was absolutely no money left in the kitty. All of a sudden, along comes Mr. Fugère, the Prime Minister's buddy. The minister's office gets involved and just like magic $300,000 appears.
Why is it that public money follows Mr. Fugère like an orphaned duck?
Human Resources Development February 29th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, here is another name. Remember René Fugère, the fellow who profited from the famous hotel grant? Well, it looks like old René has been up to his tricks again.
In February 1998 the Opitciwan sawmill applied for a TJF grant and was told by HRD that there was absolutely no money left in the kitty. That seems kind of strange because along comes Fugère—
Points Of Order February 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, when we are trying to get ready for question period every day we go by Beauchesne's as to what is parliamentary language and what is not and by the new M and M standards.
I can appreciate that you try to referee this whole thing while it is going on, but at the same time, Mr. Speaker, if that kind of spending and giving of government grants does not fall under the administration of government then we do not have a clue what does. We need to know that before—