Val Meredith

[Human Resources Development, February 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if the partners would prevent the problem, the problem would not exist. Verbal assurances from this minister will just not cut it.

When a department official accidentally sent incriminating evidence to the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, the official phoned trying to get that member of parliament to destroy the document. Grant lists have been produced and altered depending on who requests them. Has the human resources minister not taken steps to protect documents because she wants to be able to reserve the right to alter them?

[Human Resources Development, February 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the HRDC audit found that 15% of the grants did not have applications on file. It showed that 87% had no evidence of supervision.

Over the past few weeks bureaucrats have been fanning out across the country desperately trying to create a paper trail. What assurances could the minister give Canadians that while the bureaucrats are trying to rewrite the files they are not rewriting history too?

[Privilege, February 15th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I have listened to the explanation of the deputy government House leader. I find it quite ironic that he can indicate that an individual would make an in-depth analysis of his feelings of the ideas behind a bill. When someone uses the term in-depth analysis, it implies that they have the document in front of them and have been able to analyse what it all means. I find it is very hard to believe the comments of the deputy government House leader.

[Human Resources Development, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to imagine being so cavalier about a billion dollar bungle.

At the same time as the human resources minister was boasting about her little six point plan she was cutting cheques for millions of dollars in more grants. She tried to cover up the audit and she got caught. She said she had a strategy to get out of the mess, but she blew millions of dollars more on the same grants. Instead of taking months to announce her six point plan, why did she not just quit signing the cheques?

[Human Resources Development, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the human resources minister has a peculiar sense of urgency.

In most circumstances the news of a $1 billion bungle would send shock waves through any organization. Immediate action would be taken, accounts would be frozen and people would be hauled up on the carpet. Not the human resources minister. She just gets upset if she cannot find a chequebook.

Why should Canadians have any faith that this minister will solve the problem?

[The Late Charles Schulz, February 14th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in one of life's unexplainable quirks of fate, as millions of people around the world opened their newspapers this weekend to read the last Peanuts comic strip, they heard of the death of Charles Schulz.

As a baby boomer, I do not recall a world without Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus Van Pelt, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and Woodstock.

For half a century, children and adults around the world have faithfully followed Charlie Brown's determined efforts to kick that football or fly that kite. We were enthralled by Snoopy's air battles with the Red Baron or his persistent efforts to steal Linus' security blanket.

While the world underwent great changes over the last 50 years, Charles Schulz was always there to bring a smile to our faces.

Today the world is a little sadder with the loss of Charles Schulz, but it will always be a better place because he has provided us with his enduring gifts of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and company.

[Human Resources Development, February 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday this minister told the House of Commons the proper process of obtaining a copy of a list of grants.

I would like to know from the minister why Liberal bagmen, binder boy and Liberal colleagues can get copies of the list but the rest of the members of parliament cannot? Why does this minister not provide a copy of the list to all members of parliament? What is she afraid of?

[Human Resources Development, February 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it would appear that there is a pattern here. The minister claims that she was told about her billion dollar bungle on November 17. However, on December 16 she stood in the House and pretended that all was well in her department.

Yesterday she appeared before the committee and denied that there was any kind of master list on the grants. Today we find out from the Liberal newspaper in Toronto that her colleagues were given a copy of just such a list.

Why does the minister not throw away her script and tell the truth?

[Supply, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot disagree with my colleague's comments. The interesting thing, and the minister reiterated it today, is that the margin was 12% for the jobs fund and yet Statistics Canada figures, government figures, show that the figure was 6% in 1999 in her riding, not 12%. The rate of unemployment was 8.4% in 1996. It shows that the rate of unemployment was going down in her riding. It certainly did not meet the 12% requirement of the minister's target level for the program. Her riding took money that should have gone to a more needy riding.

[Supply, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we will let Canadians decide for themselves. The minister had the auditor's report for five months. The official opposition put in an access request on the 17th and the minister released it on the 19th, five months after the fact. Circumstances show that it was probably the pressure of the official opposition's access request, which would have resulted in it being released anyway. Damage control says that it is better to release something than it is to have it otherwise released.