Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, there was a freeze on moneys available for the province of Quebec. The project was a good project. As money became available we invested in this very rural part of the province of Quebec because the Bloc member said it was a good thing to do, the province of Quebec said it was a good thing to do and the government felt it was a good thing to do. Sixty-six people are working on a very useful undertaking.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let me clarify for the House that in this particular project the application came when funding had been frozen in the province of Quebec because we had a number of projects requiring funding.

As money became available this project was funded because it was a good project. It was supported by the Bloc member and by the Government of Quebec. It was expected to create 62 jobs and it created 66. It gave Canadians in a very remote area the opportunity to work and we support it.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I was just saying again that the government in the province of Quebec would also have had input and would have supported the program.

It is clear that the undertakings we have engaged in are focused on ensuring that Canadians have opportunities for work.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again and again we have talked about individual projects in the House, and we will continue to talk about individual projects so that this House appreciates and understands the investments we are making.

I want to remind this hon. member that the federal government is but one partner. Madam Harel would have been an approver in this case. We must appreciate—

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member again that in all of these undertakings the Government of Canada is but one partner. In the context of community development there are provincial partners, there are local partners, there are private sector partners. As a result of these undertakings Canadians who otherwise would not have an opportunity are working.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in this particular case we will obtain the details and provide them to the House.

I want to be clear that in all of these undertakings the intention was to create jobs to support Canadians in an area of high unemployment. In all of these undertakings the province of Quebec had to agree with the undertaking, and it did.

The federal government was but one partner in these undertakings. There are many others. Fundamentally, they have made a difference in this riding and in so many others of high unemployment. Canadians understand that.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again, the money was invested to create opportunities in an area of very high unemployment.

As we have said, and as I have talked about before, in this particular project administrative errors were made. They have been clarified.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, clearly we are prepared to answer the questions. That is why last week we tabled the largest volume of information the House has ever seen in its history.

The hon. member asked about an independent review. I say again that an independent officer of the House, the auditor general, will be doing a full review of the transitional jobs fund and the grants and contributions in my department. That is good enough for me.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, fundamentally what is clear here is that the opposition is caught up in its own rhetoric and cannot get moving forward.

What we know to be true is that Canadians understand this issue. They know that we are fixing the problem. They are probably sitting at home right now wondering why the parties on the other side are not asking about the important priorities that are facing them today.

[Human Resources Development, February 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to accept the allegations made by the hon. member here today. What I will confirm, as I have confirmed over and over again, is that we are reviewing the files associated with the grants and contributions in my department. We will continue to make that information available and public.