John Manley

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I can understand that the hon. member would be opposed to Canada's visibility in Quebec. I can understand that he is a bit disappointed because the Parti Quebecois is now in third place in Quebec. I am sure that he is disappointed by the fact that support for separation is very low.

However, I believe it is because Quebecers now understand the costs of separation. They now understand that Canada is—

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this is utterly false. The Prime Minister simply repeated what he said several times in the House.

There are programs in place and if mistakes were made, we must correct them. If there are people who committed crimes, they will have to face the courts. This is normal, and this is what the Prime Minister said.

But he also added that the sponsorship program exists for several reasons. There are a number of members in this House, even Bloc Quebecois members, who support the sponsorship program.

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we need to take any lessons from members of the Alliance Party on caucus unity, that is for sure. I think there are a few of them who still have not come back.

If they are going to live in a glass house, they had better be careful what they do with their stones because the time has come for them to live up to the standards of probity that Canadians expect. Why now are they resisting referring back the Milliken-Oliver report to be updated in order to look at a standard of behaviour for members of parliament?

There is a pattern forming here. They want to obscure the issues in order to talk about something else because they must have something to hide. Well they can run, but they--

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I think the time has come for a little transparency on that side.

We have heard the Leader of the Opposition say that he is opposed to Canada's support for an international treaty stopping landmines. Why? Because the United States might not like it.

Who are his contributors? Who is behind the National Citizens' Coalition? Are they even Canadians? We do not know.

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in his call for transparency I hope the Leader of the Opposition is signalling a new day on his behalf, because what we have had from him has been a pattern of evasion.

He will not tell us who contributed to his leadership campaign. He will not tell us who contributed to the National Citizens' Coalition. In fact he is in the courts in the case of Harper v Attorney General of Canada trying to hide the dark money that is behind his past campaigns.

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is patently absurd to respond to a question so full of falsehoods. However there is no question that the Prime Minister has said that his first priority is the unity of this country.

If the day ever comes that the Leader of the Opposition becomes Prime Minister of Canada I think we know from his recent statements what he would do about the unity of this country. He would destroy it.

[Government Contracts, May 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, once again, this is not true. The Prime Minister did not say this. He simply said the same thing that he has said several times in the House of Commons.

Which is, that if there were abuses, those responsible would be brought to justice. In the end, if administrative changes to the sponsorship program are called for, we will certainly make them. If there are people who have committed crimes, they will be held responsible.

[Government Contracts, May 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, interestingly in the byelection campaign the Leader of the Opposition refused to attend public debates, an example that he followed from the member for Calgary--Nose Hill in the last general election. They refused to stand in front of their people and answer questions in open debate with other candidates for election. What is it about their views that they want to hide?

[Government Contracts, May 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about stonewalling, I think really it is time for that glass house to be careful where it is throwing stones. After all, who exactly did contribute to the leadership campaigns on the other side?

We have heard that the Leader of the Opposition denounces Canada's advocacy of a landmines treaty because the Americans might not like it. Were his contributors all Canadians? We do not know who contributes to the National Citizens Coalition. We do not know.

[Government Contracts, May 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of public works has explained what process was followed with respect to that contract. I hope that clarified any confusion the hon. member found in my earlier response in French.