Bonnie Brown

[Human Resources Development, March 20th, 2000]

I have felt for a long time that this particular questioner does not want to know the facts.

My opinion has been reiterated by a mayor of a small municipality who travelled to Ottawa to defend himself and his city against her attacks. He says in the paper that the MP does not want to listen, that she does not want to hear facts, that she does not want to know them, and that there is no point. He is fearful that his town will be treated unfairly because she is only out to make a name for herself. That is what a mayor says.

[Human Resources Development, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have just taken the House through the numbers. The numbers are on papers that have been sent to the Bloc, the original questioners; but I do not even want to answer this question because the member—

[Human Resources Development, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, these two companies which emerged from the one company that applied for TJF funding have gone through ups and downs as do many firms in the private sector.

We can decide to abandon them or work with them, but I am happy to report that Technipaint has signed a contract with Bombardier for the painting of 82 regional jets and currently has 92 people working. Placeteco has a three year agreement with its employees and a five year contract worth $8 million with Bell Helicopter.

[Human Resources Development, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, at various times there have been as many as 135 people working at Placeteco.

The company did run into trouble in 1998 and the department had two choices: do nothing and let the jobs disappear or work to maintain the jobs and help create new jobs. We decided to continue the project and work with the company.

The original firm now exists as two companies, Technipaint and Placeteco that together employ 170 people with good prospects for future growth.

[Human Resources Development, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the minister stated in the House on Friday, there was no investigation of the particular file that was being asked about.

There was a mistake made by a rather lowly official who sent a fax to the Bloc Quebecois. It was explained later by the deputy minister that a mistake had been made. She apologized for it and she has since sent the answer to the question today to the member of the Bloc who asked the question in the first place.

[Council For Canadian Unity, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in the first contract we had with this group it was true that it was beginning a program. When one is beginning a program one has to reach out to find people to help and to find participants.

During the first term, the cost per participant was high and that is why, in signing a second contract to keep this good work going, we decided to pay this particular group on a per participant basis. Therefore the cost will come down to be more in line with the more usual payment.

[Council For Canadian Unity, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Council for Canadian Unity runs a very good program called “Experience Canada”. Between 1996 and 1999 it helped almost 500 young people gain valuable career related experience. It has an 83% success rate. We all know why the Bloc Quebecois is not particularly happy with this program.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the member is justified in his complaint if the telephone line did not give him the information he wanted. I apologize for that. I will see what I can do to fix it.

However, I would remind the member that there are 18 binders, five and a half inches each, of paper. His House leader and his Whip I believe are in charge of them. Those papers have been provided by the department for his perusal. I am sure he can find it in there.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we are only aware of nine investigations. I am sure the hon. member does not want to put anyone on this side in the position of perhaps saying something and interfering in a police investigation. I cannot imagine that the hon. member would want more information which might interfere in the securing of justice in this case.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I could not hear the name of the project to which the member referred. Therefore, I cannot answer. If the member will contact me afterward, I will look up the information and I will be happy to pass it on.