Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I will be glad to reconcile the lists for the hon. member. Again, let us be clear. There were no master lists.

In response to the hon. member, when the human resources development committee asked for information on the details of federal grants and contributions from my department on a riding by riding basis, we provided it.

[Human Resources Development, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions, there are no master lists. Indeed, we have collected the information from seven different databanks. The information does change. Companies have name changes. There are circumstances when companies do not survive. The lists may change with a specific request made. The 10,000 pages that we presented to parliament last week are there. I would be glad to confirm the difference in the information the hon. member has if she wants to provide me the details.

[Human Resources Development, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I categorically reject the allegation made by the hon. member. With regard to that particular project, he knows full well that it is before the RCMP and I will say no more at this time.

[Human Resources Development, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let us review some of the facts. Again, if the hon. member wants to provide the details on those particular projects, I will find the information for him, and remember, Mr. Speaker, in all the transitional jobs fund projects the Government of Quebec had to concur before moneys flowed.

Again we are talking about a program that created opportunities for Canadians where there were none before, and from our point of view that is a good role for the Government of Canada to play.

[Human Resources Development, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member mentioned, we are talking about tens of thousands of grants and contributions. They are found in the ridings of all members of parliament. I would encourage members of parliament to take the information we have provided to them and go and visit these projects to see their money at work.

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that out of tens of thousands of projects sponsored by my department, I am currently aware of seven active RCMP investigations and two active police investigations on grants and contributions.

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, these questions have been asked before in the House and I have responded to them. What I can say about this particular undertaking is that it continues to thrive, it continues to employ Canadians and it has new contracts. The investment we made was supported and approved by the Government of Quebec.

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will be glad to look into this file on behalf of the hon. member.

I want to clarify again that the undertakings in my department are precisely to improve the management of our files so that we can confirm without a doubt to Canadians the appropriateness of the investments we make on their behalf. We know where the money in our investments is going. We know that they are making a difference in the lives of Canadians. But we also know that as a result of this continued line of questioning from members of that party that they do not believe the Government of Canada has any role to play in ensuring that Canadians across the country benefit from our good—

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes reference to the Opitciwan sawmill. As I did yesterday, I want to again confirm to the House that this project is making a real difference in a part of the country where unemployment was over 30%. We expected to create 62 jobs and we have created 66. Ninety-two per cent of those employed are aboriginals.

Is the hon. member saying that it was wrong for us to support this program?

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member on a number of occasions has spoken out positively about the work of the government and its grants and contributions. He knows how important it is that we fix the administrative deficiencies in my department so that the programs that have made such a vast difference in his riding can be continued and can be continued well.