Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, February 24th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as promised, I asked my officials to look into this file and I can confirm these facts to the House.

In December 1997 the department approved a project under the transitional jobs fund for $165,948 to create 42 jobs in the riding of Rosemont. Relevant community partners were consulted, including the province and the local MP. The company discussed with the Montreal centreville HRDC office its difficulty in finding a suitable location in Rosemont. The local office agreed to fund the project as long as jobs would still be created in an area of high unemployment.

The company then located to an area of high unemployment.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, there is great confusion here. There were no master lists and that has been clear.

In response to requests from members of parliament at the standing committee who wanted information about grants and contributions in their ridings, we prepared the information and it is now public.

In the notes to the reader, it is clear that because of technical difficulties the lists that are now presented may not be exactly the same as the lists that were requested in the past through access to information or through other manners.

Let us be clear: 10,000 pages, 30,000 projects—

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to repeat again that we have issued an unprecedented volume of information, 10,000 pages on 30,000 projects.

I will respond directly to the hon. member on this individual project. I ask him to take the time to look at the list, read the information that has been provided and look at the notes to the reader that explain in detail what this information is all about. Then perhaps we can have a reasonable conversation.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes reference to wasteful contributions. In his own riding he received around $30 million.

Would he call it wasteful to help support the British Columbia Interior Independent Living Resource Centre? Would he call it wasteful that we supported the Canadian Mental Health Association? Would he call it wasteful that we supported the Day Break Adult Day Centre for people in need of crisis intervention?

Perhaps the hon. member would like to visit these projects and determine if indeed the money is wasted.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again we are talking about thousands of projects.

As we said, if the hon. member would take the time to read the notes that accompany this information, it is possible that because we are using addresses of the organizations that received money, they may be in different ridings. Fundamentally we are talking about programs that have worked and they have worked in the ridings of members across the House.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the real point here is that jobs were created. Canadians who did not have the opportunity now have the opportunity.

The hon. member, should he want more information, can phone and we will provide him with that information.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the real data is out and they do not like it. They do not want Canadians to know that there are projects funded in every one of their ridings. They do not want Canadians to know that they do not know anything about it and that they really do not care that Canadians are being helped in an appropriate way.

What Reformers do not like is the fact that Canadians appreciate that the Government of Canada is there to help Canadians with disabilities, young people and communities which cannot, without assistance, provide opportunities for their members. That is what they do not like.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I think we have the opportunity today to review some of the facts that have been made clear over the last three weeks for those who may not have been here or who have not had the opportunity to look at them.

First, we know that a billion dollars is not missing, and these lists show that very clearly. Second, we know that grants and contributions are to be found in the ridings of all members of the House. Third, we are starting to see again that the Reform Party continues to use partial data and incomplete research to make accusations that are unfounded, particularly in areas like the targeted wage subsidy.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let me say again that any information the hon. member would like he can ask for. But he is not interested in the facts and I think that is because he now knows, because the lists are public, that $52 million from the Government of Canada is to be found right in his riding.

[Human Resources Development, February 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we have presented an unprecedented volume of information. For anyone who takes the time to read the notes, it has been made clear that because of technical challenges the lists may not be identical to the same lists that have been presented through access to information or others.

It is also clear that if the hon. member has any specific questions that he would like answered on any specific project we are prepared to provide him the information.